Oz went the expensive way
Emu has a point, ASIC has cost the industry heaps & the fees are a burden on the individual pilot. No doubt these fees in Australia will increase over time.
It did not have to be that way.
Even after the terrible events of 9/11, when the TSA "tookover" US airport security, there was a similar scheme suggested, however the final (sensible) codified regulation is that an FAA airmans certificate is only valid with photo ID. This ID includes Company ID, a driver license or passport etc.
There is still no fee for the FAA to issue licenses, or ratings etc, let alone medical certificates, however if you need a replacement certificate, you need to send (or credit card on their website) US$2.00 (same fee for 20 years) and they will send you via first class mail a new plastic hologramed license featuring Orville & Wilbur Wright in commemoration of 100 years of powered flight.
Being a foreign carrier driver (Non US), my regulator and airline issues lots of paper/plastic etc. but I don't have to pay for it.