Australia's Treasury has launched a public consultation on proposed reforms to how the Data Standards Body develops, maintains and communicates regulatory data standards for the Consumer Data Right and Digital ID. The package would set clearer foundations for what the standards should cover, introduce a more structured standards development lifecycle, and make release timing more predictable. For CDR, Treasury proposes up to two standards releases a year in May and November, with implementation periods standardised at 12 months for low-impact changes, 18 months for moderate-impact changes and 24 months for substantial or complex changes. The consultation proposes two sets of foundations for future standards work. Characteristic foundations would emphasise harmonisation, efficiency, technology neutrality, clarity, and enforceability and auditability. Strategic foundations would focus on user control, user experience, privacy, security, data, system performance and interoperability, with application varying across CDR and Digital ID. Treasury also sets out a seven-phase lifecycle for standards work covering observation, assessment, discovery, validation, decision, release and support, with stronger use of evidence and cost-benefit analysis. Formal consultations would move from GitHub to the Treasury consultation platform, while Treasury is also seeking views on whether CDR change proposals and a public backlog should continue to be maintained through GitHub. For Digital ID, future changes are expected to be published no more frequently than annually, with obligation dates always set, while Treasury and the Department of Finance consider whether current requirements remain appropriate as private sector participation begins from 30 November 2026. Submissions are due by 29 May 2026. After the consultation closes, the Data Standards Body will review feedback, publish a summary of outcomes, and incorporate agreed reforms into its standards development and delivery processes.
Department of Treasury (Australia) 2026-04-30
Australia's Treasury consults on Data Standards Body reforms including twice yearly CDR releases and standard implementation periods
The Australian Treasury has launched a consultation on reforms to how the Data Standards Body develops, maintains and communicates regulatory data standards for the Consumer Data Right and Digital ID, including clearer scope, a structured seven-phase lifecycle and more predictable release timing. Proposals include up to two Consumer Data Right standards releases per year with standardised implementation periods by impact level, less frequent Digital ID updates with set obligation dates, and shifting formal consultations from GitHub to the Treasury consultation platform while seeking feedback on GitHub’s future role.