Electronic records and digital signatures gain legal recognition, with certification controls, cyber-offence penalties, and electronic evidence rules.
Electronic records that remain accessible and usable for later reference satisfy writing requirements, and prescribed digital signatures satisfy signature or authentication requirements. Government filings, licences, approvals, payments, retention and Gazette publication may be conducted electronically in prescribed forms, although no person may compel a Government body to accept electronic records. Authentication uses asymmetric cryptography, hash functions and a subscriber-specific key pair; secure status depends on prescribed or agreed security procedures and integrity safeguards.