QLD Drivers Licences up 71 %

[csv8]

QUEENSLAND motorists are being slugged with increases of up to 71 per cent for new smartcard driver's licences since their rollout less than three years ago.

The cost of the new licences, which drivers can sign up for from one to five years, has risen by an average of 63 per cent since they were introduced in late 2010.

About half of the state's 3.4 million registered drivers have already bought the new plastic credit-card sized licences but about 1.69 million drivers are still using the old laminate cards.

The cost of a one-year smartcard licence climbed by 71 per cent from $37.35 in 2010-11 to $64.20 in 2012-13.

The cost of a two-year smartcard licence also rose by 71 per cent from $52.05 to $89.50 in the same period.

Five-year smartcard licences rose by 49 per cent from $96.05 in 2010-11 to $143.75 in 2012-13.

A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Scott Emerson blamed the hefty increases on the former Labor government.

"The increase to the cost of a driver's licence reflects the cost of producing the new card which was set under the previous government," she said.

"Unfortunately this is another example of Labor's reckless spending with no consideration for the impact it would have on taxpayers."

The cost to roll out the new Queensland licensing system was about $139 million and it's hoped all drivers will have migrated to the new technology by the end of 2017.

The Newman Government is looking at ways to reduce the data added to the chip and help make it smaller and cheaper which would help reduce the computer systems needed to manage the licences and cut costs.

The cards have a number of visual and technological security features designed to make it easier to identify forgeries.

Queensland Council of Social Service director Mark Henley said the rising costs to smartcard licences was yet another increasing cost for Queenslanders.

"I think it's really important that the Government has a holistic view of any of the prices or costs that they passed on to the public with goods or services they provide such a licence," he said.

"They need to have a line of sight of what the overall impact is for people.

"One of the biggest problems people face is managing the increasing costs across a variety of services and this is another increase in cost people have to wear."

RACQ executive manager of public policy Michael Roth said the licence increases were "steep" but their implementation of the system was "a good decision."

The option to renew laminated licences was phased out in October.

Drivers cannot upgrade from a laminated card to a smartcard online, it must be completed at a Department of Transport office.

Smartcard users are able to renew their cards electronically.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/nat...-1226652577103