Some Queensland residents to finally get access to digital licence trial after delays

Some Queensland residents to finally get access to digital licence trial after delays
Residents within the north Queensland metropolis of Townsville will have the ability to entry the state’s new digital licence as the brand new expertise is progressively rolled out.
The app has been redesigned following a pilot program run on the Fraser Coast in 2020. Townsville was meant to get its arms on the brand new licences final yr, however delays meant the trial was pushed again to late April.

Here’s all the pieces you have to know concerning the digital licence rollout, together with who in Townsville can attempt it, and when it will likely be launched throughout the state.

A driver presenting their digital licence app to a Queensland police officer.
Townsville residents will have the ability to use Queensland’s new digital licence as a part of a trial. (Supplied/Queensland Government)

Who can use Queensland’s digital licence?

The Queensland authorities is rolling out its digital licence to residents of Townsville in a staggered trial.

The first teams to get entry to the app are:

• Townsville Chamber of Commerce
• Townsville Liquor Accords
• Local, State and Federal Government businesses
• Significant native companies and trade teams
• Palm Island and indigenous group representatives.

The trial will then be progressively prolonged to all of Townsville, with eligibility decided by a resident’s postcode.

People who participated within the unique 2020 trial of the licence on the Fraser Coast can even have the ability to take a look at out the brand new model of the licence.

The app will probably be out there on each Android and iOS units, and the state authorities recommends having the most recent model of the working system.

A Queensland digital license being used to verify the user's age.
The digital licence is because of roll out to the remainder of the state later this yr. (Supplied/Queensland Government)

When will the remainder of the state get entry to it?

While a date has not been set for the whole, state-wide rollout of Queensland’s digital licence, an announcement from Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey mentioned it would occur “later this year”.

What type of ID does the digital licence embody?

Queensland’s digital licence is not only for driver’s licences – it can be used for picture ID playing cards and marine licences.

The digital licence additionally complies with ISO worldwide normal 18013-5, that means it will likely be in a position for use in different jurisdictions in Australia and world wide just like the European Union and components of North America.

Currently, New South Wales and South Australia are the one Australian states to make use of digital licences.

An aerial photograph of Townsville.
Townsville’s trial was meant to begin in 2022, however delays pushed it again to April 2023. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Why have there been delays within the digital licence rollout?

The Townsville trial was initially meant to roll out in late 2022. However, that was pushed again to April 2023, partially on account of elevated demand for safety testing following final yr’s Optus information breach and Medibank hack.

“As technology changes, hackers are becoming more and more sophisticated,” Bailey mentioned in November.

“In the current climate, there is increased demand on … security testing.”

In saying the beginning of the trial in Townsville, Bailey mentioned he was assured within the safety of the app.

The second the sky turned black

Since inception we have taken the time and put in the effort to make sure that we aren’t just delivering the best digital licence but the safest as well,” he mentioned.

Fellow MP Les Walker additionally praised the privateness measures included within the digital licence.

“Security and privacy are a top priority for the project,” he mentioned.

“Your private information is stored safely and securely and is encrypted on your device.”

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Source: www.9news.com.au