How the government plans to use YOUR credit card details to track visits to coronavirus hotspots, despite enforcing check-in technology at all restaurants, bars and cafes
The federal government is planning to use credit card payments to track coronavirus outbreaks - despite already encouraging diners to check-in at restaurants, bars and cafes with QR codes.
Australia's contact tracing methods were analysed by chief scientist Alan Finkel in the National Contact Tracing Review, which was shared with the National Cabinet on Friday.
The report provided a series of recommendations to continue to proactively fight the global health crisis.
While registering at public venues is already expected at most establishments, the report said the government could also use technology to track hotspots through bank statements.
Australia's contact tracing methods were analysed by Chief Scientist Alan Finkel in the National Contact Tracing Review, which was shared with the National Cabinet on Friday. Pictured: Pedestrians walk through Flinders Street Station on November 6
The government is planning to use credit card payments to track coronavirus outbreaks (stock image)
'The Commonwealth should lead the development of arrangements between states and territories and payment card providers so that contact tracers from the states and territories will be able to request contact details of persons who have made a transaction at a hotspot venue,' the report reads.
Dr Finkel acknowledges that 'privacy rules will apply' and some jurisdictions will require legislative change.
The report said recording details of attendees at pubs, restaurants and other public issues should be a 'condition of entry'.
Collecting the data electronically is strongly encouraged and pen and paper should only be used as a last resort.
'In the event of an outbreak, every effort should be made to go hard and go early,' the report reads.
The review also recommends fully digital data collection, better use of apps to enter venues and improved airline passenger information collection.
In the report, Dr Finkel (pictured on Friday) provided a series of recommendations to continue to proactively fight the global health crisis
The document will be sent to US president-elect Joe Biden, who is looking to Australia as he prepares to make combating the pandemic his top priority when he takes office next year.
Dr Finkel said the review was put together following discussions with state and territory - who shared their contact tracing and outbreak management systems.
'Perhaps the overriding conclusion from our report is that there is good reason to be confident in the contact tracing and outbreak management systems in Australia,' he said after National Cabinet on Friday.
'But, as was pointed out to me again and again and again, that is the second line of defence. Critically important is the preventative measures, which start from the responsibility of the individual.'
The report said recording details of attendees at pubs, restaurants and other public issues should be a 'condition of entry'