Four states now offer its residents the option to have a digital driver’s licence but it’s not expected in the ACT until the system’s interoperable with other jurisdictions. Photo: NSW Government.
Canberrans will be given a timeline on the roll-out of digital driver’s licences and proof-of-age cards in the Territory. But don’t expect to use your phone instead of a plastic card anytime soon.
The Legislative Assembly unanimously voted on a private members motion brought by Shadow Government Services and Customer Service Minister Ed Cocks for the government to deliver the update by the end of 2026.
Mr Cocks said Canberrans deserved to have their ID “at your fingertips” and the ACT needed to catch up with other jurisdictions.
“Every sector of the economy has been moving towards digitisation to make things more convenient for consumers, it just makes sense,” he said.
“Why are we the nation’s capital but [we’re] lagging behind on digital service delivery?”
He pointed to the availability of digital driver’s licences in South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and across the border in NSW. He said other jurisdictions had already done the work to iron out the issues.
“The waiting’s been done, the seeing has been done … it’s about time Canberra caught up,” Mr Cocks said.
“Canberrans deserve digital innovations that are implemented well, on time and practically to make their lives better.”
Finance Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith agreed a digital driver’s licence would be helpful, but she said it wasn’t as “simple and straightforward” as Mr Cocks implied.
“There’s no doubt a digital driver’s licence would provide a convenient way for many people to carry and display their driver’s licence,” she said.
“[But] it is important to note acceptance and use of digital driver’s licences in other jurisdictions varies.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said private sector confidence in the digital licences as valid forms of identification was “low” and pointed out NSW’s digital licences weren’t recognised across Australia as valid forms of ID, including in the ACT.
Queensland remains the only state with a digital driver’s licence compliant with national agreed standards, known as ISO 18013-5.
Ms Stephen-Smith said this complicated matters.
“We are in a position where we cannot both align with NSW, which would clearly be our preference … and comply with [the national standard] as agreed by digital and data ministers,” she said.
“[That compliance] is clearly going to be the long-term objective.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said the ACT Government wanted to ensure, when it did bring in a digital driver’s licence, it would “do it once and do it right” to avoid extra costs.
“There is a growing expectation in Canberra that the ACT should have a mobile driver’s licence [option], we completely recognise that,” she said.
“But there’s also an expectation from Canberrans this technology will be interoperable with other states.
“[We’re] ensuring we do it once and do it right.”
