'It doesn't make any sense': The HUGE change that could be coming to Australian driving licences
- Anthony Albanese has suggested bringing in a national driver's license system
- The Opposition leader said it 'makes sense' to scrap state driver's licences
- Mr Albanese called keeping it separated by state is simply 'bureaucratic'
- Each state currently has its own laws surrounding issues such as elderly drivers
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
State driving licences will be scrapped and replaced with a nationwide system, if federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese gets his way.
Mr Albanese has called on state and territory leaders to work together to create a national driver's licence.
'There are legitimate differences between the states but some of it is just bureaucratic. It doesn't make any sense,' he told the Daily Telegraph.
Scrapping state driver's licences and bringing in a nationwide system would simplify driving post-coronavirus, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese suggested state and territory leaders could work together to make it easier to update the process while reinvigorating the economy
During his time as the transport minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments, Mr Albanese unsuccessfully tried to get consensus on a national driver's licence system.
Each state currently has its own laws surrounding issues such as drivers over the age of 75.
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Elderly drivers in New South Wales must retest and seek medical certificates, while Victoria has more lax rules.
Learner drivers in NSW are not allowed to travel at more than 90km/h where the posted speed limit is above 90km/h.
Whereas in Victoria, learner drivers are allowed to drive at up to the posted speed limit.
Costs for being on the road differs between states, costing $138 in NSW and just $82 in Victoria
In Queensland, leaner drivers must log 100 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours of night driving before they can obtain a P1 licence.
NSW learner drivers must log at least 120 hours of supervised driving time including at least 20 hours of night driving.
Costs for being on the road also differs between states, with a licence costing $138 in NSW and just $82 in Victoria.
Peter Khoury, a spokesman for the NRMA, the chief motoring body in New South Wales, said if the proposal were to get the green light, premiers would need to agree on which state's laws to keep and which to abolish.
'We've seen some examples where (national standards) have been beneficial such as disabled parking rules and child restraint laws, but that's a specific road safety program,' he said.
Mr Khoury said leaders would need to make sure they don't create a solution 'to a problem that doesn't exist'.
