VicRoads bungles rollout of first digital driver’s licences

The treasurer has apologised after a huge technical error led to 57,000 motorists being incorrectly named in an email about new digital licences.

An example of what the digital driver’s licences will look like in Victoria.

A major technical error has been blamed for the bungled rollout of Victoria’s first digital driver’s licences.

It’s understood about 57,000 motorists in Ballarat received an email from VicRoads, prompting them to register their interest for the trial.

But motorists were left confused when they were addressed by the wrong surname.

Craig Hughes told the Herald Sun he originally dismissed the email he received about 5pm on Wednesday.

“Dear Craig Taylor,” the email read.

“Digital driver's licences are rolling out across Victoria by 2023 and we’re starting with Ballarat!

“As a full licence holder in Ballarat, you’re now eligible to register your interest to participate in the digital driver's licence pilot.

“Be the first to get your licence on your phone.”

The email Ballarat customers received on Wednesday.

Mr Hughes, who was incorrectly called Craig Taylor, said he was shocked.

“I thought it was a scam and I was surprised to learn it was real,” he said. “How did the government get this so wrong?”

VicRoads chief executive Dean Tillotson apologised for the blunder.

“We apologise to customers in Ballarat impacted by an error in the email inviting them to sign up for the digital driver's licence pilot,” he said.

“The error is limited to an incorrect name reflected on the direct email and no other personal information has been disclosed.”

Treasurer Tim Pallas apologised for the bungle, acknowledging it was unnecessary and had caused a “degree of administrative burden”.

“It was a mistake,” he said.

“The trial will continue unaffected as a consequence of them remedying the situation but it is unfortunate and we apologise for the inconvenience.”

Opposition innovation spokeswoman Bridget Vallence said the Andrews government had “stuffed up” at the first hurdle.

“The Andrews government talks a big game when it comes to modernising and digitising government services, yet they can’t even get an email right,” she said.

“We can’t have any confidence that the Andrews Labor government will get this right into the future.”

Ms Vallence said many highly respected Australian companies weren’t bidding on government projects given the Andrews government is “so dismal when it comes to IT programs”.

“They stuff up all the time. They can’t get the scope right. They don’t understand the systems,” she said.

The Herald Sun understands the technical team at VicRoads will be reviewing the systems and processes to determine how the error occurred.

The six month trial of the digital licences will begin in July before a statewide rollout neat year.

The new technology will give motorists the choice to store a digital version of their driver’s licence in the Service Victoria app or the soon-to-be launched myVicRoads app.