❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses updates to the driver's license application form, the inclusion of specific personal details, address requirements, and license costs. The response clarifies the reasons for data collection and current practices.
AnsweredQoN 682Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Drivers Licence Application form through the Department of Transport and ask: (a) When was the Driver Licence Application form last updated? Please detail the changes made; (b) Please identify if the changes were made due to the Transport Legislation Amendment (Identity Matching Services) Act 2021 or not; (c) Was the general public notified of the changes? If yes, on what dates and in what form; (d) Has the Department sought advice on whether the inclusion of ‘multiple birth details’ can be removed off the form; (e) Has the Department sought advice on whether the inclusion of ‘hair colour’, ‘body build’ and ‘eye colour’ can be removed off the form; (f) Do any other Australian jurisdictions still include ‘multiple birth details’ or ‘hair colour’, ‘body build’ and ‘eye colour’? If yes please detail; (g) Has the Department updated their address portal to allow post office boxes to be included on drivers licences, learners permits and probational licences? If not why not; and (h) Has the Minister been briefed on drivers licence costs and what actions are underway to reduce drivers licence costs to everyday Western Australians where possible?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 March 2023
Responded by
Minister for Transport; Planning; Ports
Response time
7 days
(a) 14 December 2022 – minor wording and layout changes to improve readability and flow of the form.
(b)-(c) N/A.
(d)-(e) The collection of this information is to support the biometric integrity of the driver licensing system and to try and eliminate the requirement to investigate facial recognition matches where twin or multiple birth siblings exist.
(f) Yes. South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory include eye colour.
(g) No. The Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Regulations 2014 requires a residential address, which is consistent with other Australian licensing jurisdictions.
(h) The driver’s licence fee is calculated on a cost recovery fee for service arrangement, in line with the Department of Treasury’s guidelines on costing and pricing.
(b)-(c) N/A.
(d)-(e) The collection of this information is to support the biometric integrity of the driver licensing system and to try and eliminate the requirement to investigate facial recognition matches where twin or multiple birth siblings exist.
(f) Yes. South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory include eye colour.
(g) No. The Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Regulations 2014 requires a residential address, which is consistent with other Australian licensing jurisdictions.
(h) The driver’s licence fee is calculated on a cost recovery fee for service arrangement, in line with the Department of Treasury’s guidelines on costing and pricing.
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