Multimillion-dollar Department of Transport and Main Roads project scrapped

A project which was supposed to improve the booking system for the Department of Transport and Main Roads has failed, costing taxpayers more than $4 million. It comes as Queenslanders are forced to wait over a month to take driving tests.

Queensland taxpayers have forked out more than $4m on a failed bid to create a new booking system for drivers licence tests and vehicle inspections at the state’s Department of Transport and Main Road.

It comes amid lengthy delays for practical driving tests in South East Queensland due to Covid and recent floods, with eight testing areas experiencing wait times of at least 40 working days.

The $4 million system was supposed to be a new way for Queenslanders to book driving tests and vehicle inspections. Picture: istock

TMR has confirmed a recommendation has been made to pause or close their booking system project, after they splashed $4.5m on the unfinished proposal.

The project – which was supposed to create a new booking system for drivers licence testing and vehicle inspections – was initially meant to cost $3.3m, before the budget was later extended by over $1m.

“Through the project life, TMR encountered complex challenges which required significant customisation of the third-party system to achieve the optimal outcome for Queenslanders,” a TMR spokesman said.

“Due to the barriers faced integrating the new system with TMR’s existing registration and licensing platform, it was recommended that the project be paused or closed to allow time to reassess.”

The spokesman suggested they were incorporating components of the system into other projects, and that they would leverage its technology.

LNP customer service spokesman Steve Minnikin slammed the spend on the system as an “extraordinary waste of money” – accusing the government of being unable to roll out IT projects.

LNP customer service spokesman Steve Minnikin. Picture: AAP/Image Sarah Marshall

Meanwhile, new figures have revealed there has been an increase in wait times for practical driving tests in the wake of recent floods, as well as the staffing impacts caused by Covid.

It has meant some testing sites, such as Sherwood, Redcliffe, Cleveland and Caloundra, were experiencing wait times of more than 40 working days as of April 28.

The TMR spokesman insisted the delays were not due to the failed booking system project or the current booking system.

One Brisbane mum who didn’t want to be named said her son’s driving test was cancelled just hours before it was due to start, forcing them to rebook for the first available session in eight weeks time.

“He’s going to have to miss school for it. They didn’t proactively contact us, and it’s very late notice. He was completely devastated,” she said.

The department is offering extra car tests on Saturdays at select locations, and says it is constantly reviewing and scheduling additional testing opportunities where possible.

The LNP’s Mr Minnikin suggested the government was overseeing a decay in essential services.

“This affects people’s ability to work, pick the kids up from school or even just get around,” Mr Minnikin said of the driving test delays.