National ID is less common than you'd think in developed countries. The USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand all lack national or citizen ID like what's

National ID is less common than you'd think in developed countries. The USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand all lack national or citizen ID like what's common in Europe. Australia is quite similar to the USA in the practical application of this. As far as I'm aware, all the different IDs the government gives you (TFN for tax, medicare for healthcare, etc.) are theoretically optional. In practise, you'd get taxed at the maximum withholding rate (but refunded the excess at the end of the financial year), miss out on cheap healthcare and other benefits, and wouldn't be allowed to drive. You are required to register to vote though, and voting is compulsory, but the information they keep is fairly minimal. Generally the opposition is on the basis that the government should be trusted with as little information on its subjects as possible. Think of the worst thing that the government, or a third party that gains access, could do with the information they have on you, and then expect it to happen. Obviously its a spectrum, most people would be opposed to a national database of everyone's DNA, and most people would agree that a government needs some amount of information in order to function effectively. So most people have an opinion somewhere in the centre.