Calls for L-plate review as young Qld drivers cop highest fees in the nation

Young Queensland drivers are paying more than seven times the rate of L-platers down south, prompting calls for a review into licence fees.

The State Government says calls for a review into the price of learner licences are being considered “against competing requests”, as analysis shows new Queensland drivers cop the highest fees in the country.

Blake Perkins, of Deagon in Brisbane’s north, got his learner’s permit as soon as he could, needing a licence for his job delivering pizza.

His parents were forced to step in to help him afford the $186.55 fee – a rate more than seven times that of New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory.

“It’s an absolute money grab to be honest, it’s a bit of a shambles,” Blake said.

“You just want to get that licence and be able to drive around and have that freedom but you’re not able to because of the cost.”

The Year 11 student graduated to his P-plates last week just three days after becoming eligible on his 17th birthday.

Blake said he would have preferred his licence to be valid for less than the three year standard if it meant fees were brought down.

“It doesn’t make sense, you only need it for 13 months basically – there’s not much point of it lasting that long,” he said.

Blake Perkins, 17, of Deagon has just passed his learner driver test but it wasn't cheap with Queensland drivers facing the highest fees in the country. Picture; Zak Simmonds

Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said many of his constituents had raised similar concerns, and called for a review of learner licence fees.

“We need a fairer reflection of the timelines, not arbitrarily forcing all learners to buy three-year licences,” Mr Bennett said.

“Its seems like a bit of a price gouge … if there’s one cohort we should be reviewing it’s this one to help young people and students get their licence.”

“Provisional, probationary, and open licence drivers can all opt to pay between one and five years. Why aren’t our learner’s given the same choice?”

While Queensland charges the most for learner licences, many other states have longer validity periods: Victoria offers learners 10 years for $26, a fee often waived entirely under a new safe driver scheme.

Transport Mark Bailey says licence fees are determined on a cost recovery basis. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said Queensland’s fees were determined on a cost recovery basis and necessary for running the licencing system.

“It seems Stephen Bennett needs to do his homework before blatantly misrepresenting the learner driver process,” Mr Bailey said.

“[The fee] goes directly into the cost of producing the licence, the logbook, maintaining the security of the system and supporting new drivers with the tools they need as they learn.

“The reality is, the average time for learner drivers to hold a licence is 20 months – not 12 or 13.”

In a response to parliament Mr Bailey said he had noted community concerns on the issue.

“All requests for change in services are considered and prioritised against competing requests across Queensland and the levels of funding currently available,” he said.

STATE	COST OF LEARNER PERMIT	COST OF FULL LICENCE
QLD	$186.55 for 3 years	$147.70 for 3 years
NSW	$26 for 5 years	$144 for 3 years
VIC	$26 for 10 years	$85.50 for 3 years
WA	$126.10 for 3 years	$163.50 for 5 years
SA	$69 for 2 years	$167 for 3 years
TAS	$35.29 for 5 years	$79.49 for 3 years
ACT	$51.10 for 5 years	$211.10 for 5 years
NT	$25 for 2 years	$104 for 5 years