DRIVER'S LICENCE RENEWAL

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:02): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Government Enterprises a question about online driver's licence renewals.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Service SA provides a face-to-face driver's licence renewal service for its network in metropolitan and regional customer service centres in Australia Post locations. This is how I have always renewed my licence. However, I understand that this service, too, is moving into the digital age. Will the minister advise how South Australians are now able to renew their driver's licence online rather attend a customer service centre?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:03): As members may be aware, since 28 September 2009 South Australians have been able to renew their driver's licence online. This can be done through the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure's EzyReg website administered by Service SA, where increasing numbers of people are already registering their vehicles and boats, I am pleased to say. This enhanced capability complements the extensive and growing network of locations where driver's licence renewals can take place, as well as through Service SA's 20 metropolitan and regional customer service centres.

The public can renew their licence at 72 Australia Post outlets. While the network of locations is extensive and growing, it is not open 24 hours, seven days a week. The introduction of the online service gives South Australians the flexibility of renewing their driver's licence at a time and location that suits them, for example, at home, their local library or any outlet that provides internet access. Motorists will need to attend authorised locations to have their licence photograph taken every 10 years, but if they choose to renew their licence more frequently they no longer have to attend a service centre in person. With 276,000 licence renewals each year, online renewals will make the government more efficient as well as produce time savings for customers.

The new renewal options will be sent, via an information notice, to drivers whose licences are due to expire. We note that, whilst licences can currently be renewed for up to 10 years, 65 per cent of South Australians choose to renew for five years or less, with 35 per cent renewing one year at a time. So, obviously the option for renewing online will be a great convenience for people who renew their licence frequently.

With the new licence renewal option within the online environment, EzyReg, in lieu of having a new licence photo taken, the client's stored image and signature will be used in the manufacture of a new licence or permit, provided that the photo image is not more than 10 years old at expiry. The ability to renew a driver's licence online is expected to shift the demand from that face-to-face customer desk service to an online environment. Migration of service uptake to online services will reduce not only the cost of delivery but also the pressure on queue waiting times in terms of the face-to-face service arrangement. Service SA continues to try to encourage services to the electronic online and self-service channel to ensure increased efficiency and, obviously, to monitor the cost of services.

This move by the government to offer driver's licence renewals online brings South Australia in line with most other states and territories. This government remains committed to improving and extending the services offered to the public of South Australia by providing easier access for services across the state.