New Queensland Driver's Licences-more secure ID - RSA

The Queensland Government is introducing more secure, more durable and more credible licences, authorities and proof of age cards to replace the laminated cards and marine licence confirmation reports that have been used for the past 20 years.

Unlike the current laminated cards, the new cards use smartcard technology and are extremely hard to tamper with or duplicate.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads will begin transitioning to the new cards in late 2010.

The cards include:

  • Driver Licence
  • Heavy Vehicle Driver Licence
  • Adult Proof of Age Card (which will replace the current Card 18+)
  • Industry Authority (which includes driver authorisations, dangerous goods driver licences, tow truck drivers and assistants, traffic controllers, driver/rider trainers and pilot and escort vehicle drivers)
  • Marine Licence Indicator (for marine licence holders who do not have a Queensland driver licence).

The cards will be introduced in a rolling program, with cardholders transitioning to the new cards when their existing licence or authority expires. Queensland driver licences are issued for a period of up to five years, so it will take approximately five years for all cardholders to replace their laminated licences or authorities with the new cards. During that time, both laminated cards and the new cards will be recognised licences, authorities and proof of age cards (provided they are current).

The cards will be credit card-sized, plastic and embedded with a mini computer chip and various visual and technological security features, such as holograms, which will make it easier to identify forgeries. These security features will ensure that the cards, including the information stored on the computer chip, will be extremely difficult to tamper with or duplicate.

The smartcard technology used is well tested and is increasingly being adopted around the world for a range of applications because it provides higher security protection against fraud than traditional laminated cards or plastic magnetic stripe cards.

This technology is currently used successfully in:

  • Australian passports
  • transport cards
  • credit cards such as those issued by most large financial institutions.

Secure your identity

In addition to moving to new cards, Transport and Main Roads will further enhance security processes by introducing facial image recognition.

Facial image recognition is one form of biometric technology that uses special equipment and software to measure key facial features depicted in a digital photo, such as the distance between your eyes, nose and mouth. The software then compares the characteristics of this photo with the characteristics of the other photos stored on file. It is virtually impossible for two people to share exactly the same facial characteristics, including identical twins.

When you apply for a licence, authority or proof of age card, your photo and signature will be captured digitally and securely stored by Transport and Main Roads.

Prior to issuing the card, your photo will undergo a ‘one-to-many’ comparison with the images stored on Transport and Main Roads’ database and, if there is a match, the card will not be issued and the matter further investigated and potentially referred to the police for further action.

At subsequent renewals, your photo will undergo a ‘one-to-one’ comparison – that is, a comparison with the stored photo to ensure the applicant is the same person Transport and Main Roads has issued a card to in the past – before undergoing the ‘one-to-many’ comparison again.

Facial image recognition will reduce the likelihood of one person unlawfully holding multiple cards in different names ensuring that a person has only one licence, authority or proof of age card of the same type.

It will also assist in identifying if people try to obtain cards using fake or stolen identity documents, helping to protect Queenslanders against identity theft and fraud.

Facial image recognition is currently used by:

  • The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade use facial image recognition when issuing Australian passports.
  • VicRoads has implemented facial image recognition.
  • New South Wales Road Transport Authority installed facial image recognition in 2009 and is now incorporating this within their licence enrolment process.

Pictures of these new cards are incorporated in CFT Queensland OLGR RSA courseware.

Department of Transport Fact Sheet