Your papers please.

Are you an Australian citizen, but were born overseas? Do you look 'white'? Do you speak with an accent? Then, you are now required to carry proof of citizenship with you at all times. This is because the Immigration Department no longer has the time to do the required checks. They're too busy deporting enemies of the state. So, if they even suspect you're a rag-headed terrorist about to launch armaggedon then they'll sin-bin you.

Even immediately after the debate was lost in the 80s we were hearing about the introduction of the Australia ID Card. So far it has been limited to a few wackos and in general governments have steered clear of any sort of universal ID card. How long before we hear an urging by more prominent members of the government for such a measure? I bet they'll use three excuses to sway the general public:

1. That old bugbear: Terrorism
2. It will stop detention and expulsion of citizens
3. The yanks have just introduced their own universal ID card and the Poms are about to do the same. We'll need to keep in step with both of them.

I give it six months.