The Minister for Human Services Joe Hockey, confirmed briefing sessions were held with Robert Brandewie, former director of the Defense Manpower Data Centre, which provides information services for DoD's military personnel, civilian employees and contractors.

Brandewie, who also met with AGIMO, gave a first-hand account of the challenges surrounding the US DoD's Common Access Card program which issued more than 11 million smartcards by August, 2006.

Hockey is overseeing the introduction of Australia's own health and social services access card which will replace 17 existing welfare cards and will link Medicare, Centrelink and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

The access card will be phased in over two years from 2008 at a cost of more than A$1 billion (US$755.2 million).

Brandewie is currently senior vice president of public sector solutions for security vendor Actividentity, which was the provider in the CAC program.