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Seven years on, still no ACT digital driver licence

Documents obtained under freedom of information by Canberra Liberals MLA Peter Cain show the ACT Government has spent seven years discussing a digital driver licence with NSW without delivering one. Photo: NSW Government

Canberrans are still waiting for digital driver licences seven years after the ACT Government began discussions with NSW about introducing the technology, the Canberra Liberals say.

Shadow government services minister Peter Cain says documents obtained under freedom of information show Access Canberra first met Service NSW about digital driver licences in July 2019, with NSW later offering to share its expertise and digital assets at “minimum cost”.

The documents show meetings, presentations, ministerial briefs, business cases and options papers continued between 2019 and 2025, but the ACT still does not have a digital driver licence.

“NSW had already built the technology for a digital driver’s licence and was offering to share it at minimum cost,” Mr Cain said. “Instead of delivering, the ACT Labor Government spent seven years holding meetings and writing business cases.”

In October last year, Liberal MLA Ed Cocks successfully moved an Assembly motion calling on the government to assess interstate models, identify costs and delivery options and report back by May 30 this year with a preferred pathway and implementation timetable. The Liberals say there has been no substantive response or clear delivery date.

Mr Cain compared the delays with the introduction of MyWay+, saying Canberrans had been promised a new public transport ticketing system in 2016 but it did not begin operating until late 2024.

“People in Queanbeyan, just over the border, have had a digital driver’s licence for years,” he said. “Canberrans don’t need more plans about plans.”

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2 Responses to Seven years on, still no ACT digital driver licence

Jack Daniel says: 20 August 2026 at 4:29 pm

The ACT Government does not need to reinvent the wheel. Other states and countries use technology. It’s time to move with it ACT.

Reply
Anthony says: 26 August 2026 at 1:58 pm

Jack, it’s even worse than that. Our son recently renewed his licence on 4 June. He was given a 28 day paper temporary licence. On the 29th July after still not receiving his licence we put in a complaint to Access Canberra – surprise surprise no response. On the 3rd August his new licence arrived envelope post dated 31 July !!! They cannot even issue a licence in a reasonable timeframe (within their temporary licence range), and then they send these highly personal identification documents by standard un-registered mail.

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