DNA from all.

With a state election now just days away New South Wales premier Morris Iemma has introduced a law and order component. He has promised that - if re-elected - he will amend the law to make it compulsory for the police to record DNA from even minor offenders. Presumably, this means that people charged with minor crimes such as graffiti, Jay walking or riding a bicycle without a helmet would have their DNA placed on the state data base.
The civil liberties people are outraged, and yet a proposal some years ago to record the DNA of all people in this country is still bubbling along in the background.
It was proposed that all babies at birth have their DNA recorded and that mature citizens be recorded at such times as they entered hospital, a nursing home or started employment in any government capacity.
The idea was not popular and the politicians backed off, but there would have been obvious advantages. As well as solving crime promptly a national DNA data base would be invaluable for identifying victims of accidents. Had such a scheme been in existence two Australians deported as illegal immigrants would not have spent time dumped erroneously in foreign countries.
But it would also have aspects of " big brother ". At present the state has no right to record it's citizens fingerprints unless they are criminals. DNA would be more intrusive than fingerprints and yet in some instances fingerprints are required for security purposes in job specifications.
Civil Liberties people put forward another warning. DNA provides traces that could identify a person of belonging to certain ethnic groups. Had it been available in Hitler's time it would have been invaluable in identifying and rounding up Jews.
We are probably some way from the compulsory recording of fingerprints and DNA - but that day will eventually arrive. It will sneak in by the back door. Soon we may discontinue PIN to use an ATM. Instead we may gaze into the camera and the machine will make an identity check by recording the unique aspects of our eyes. Already sensitive areas of some processing plants can only be accessed by finger and palm print recognition.
Iemma's proposal may founder on the anvil of public opinion - and at best it may be just another electoral promise from a desperate politician - but keep in mind that the idea is active in many scientific minds who see benefits far outweighing the loss of privacy. It may not occur in the near future - but it would be a brave soul who consulted the crystal ball and proclaimed - never !