LEGAL AFFAIRS — IDENTITY THEFT — DRIVERS’ LICENCES

2654. Hon Alison Xamon to the minister representing the Minister for Transport:

I refer to victims of identity theft in Western Australia (WA) who are currently not permitted to apply for a new driver’s licence number when their licence has been compromised by criminals, thus leaving them vulnerable to further abuse, and I ask:

(a)  does the WA Government intend to enable WA victims of identity theft, to apply for a new driver’s licence number;

(b)  if yes to (a):

(i)  when is it anticipated changes will be made; and

(ii)  what mechanisms will be used; and

(c)  if no to (a), why not?

Hon Stephen Dawson replied:

(a)–(c) Due to current system designs and integration with the WA Police Force, the Department of Justice and interstate government record systems, the Department of Transport (DoT) will not change a person’s driver’s licence number. Driver’s licence numbers are used by DoT and law enforcement agencies as a prime identifier of drivers and riders in WA, and are linked to driving history and traffic records.

DoT has an interim manual process in place to alter details on a compromised driver’s licence, to prevent the validation if further fraudulent attempts are made to use the card or card details.

DoT is developing a solution in the use of a unique serial number printed on the driver’s licence card that would flag and invalidate lost or stolen cards.

 

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