Smart Licence on the Cards

The State Government will be seeking expressions of interest next year for the delivery of a new Queensland smartcard driver's licence by 2008, Premier Peter Beattie said today.

"The new licence technology required in this day-and-age will be a giant step in the right direction in the fight against identity fraud and it will also deliver other benefits to Queenslanders," Mr Beattie said.

"As well as incorporating microchip technology, the successful tenderer will be working closely with the Queensland Government to update the licensing technology we need to have in place across the State.

"The way driver's licences are currently made and the way information is stored needs to be brought into the new digital age.

"Queensland is the Smart State, and we will have a smarter licensing product in place in 2008."

The call for tenders is also expected during 2006, after assessing the expressions of interest.

The new licence will feature an embedded microchip, and holders will have choices about how some of their information is displayed.

"Licence holders will be able to opt to have some of their personal information, such as their address, moved from the display panel and put instead on the microchip, which the old cards don't allow," Mr Beattie said.

"This new technology will feature advanced cryptography, making the licences extremely difficult to inappropriately access or alter, without actually destroying the chip in the process.

"My main concern when we look at this next year will be ensuring that this new, more efficient system does not create any problems in relation to privacy."

Owners of the new licence will set a four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) to the card to help protect their privacy.

Additional information is available on the website: http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/new_driver_licence

Premier's Office: (07) 3224 4500