Labor leader Anthony Albanese pushes for national driver’s licence

The opposition leader has revived an old plan to do away with the state driver's licence in favour of a national program.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese believes abolishing individual state driver’s licences in favour of a national licence could help reduce red tape and boost the economy.

Mr Albanese told The Daily Telegraph about the plan, which he looks set to present to the National Cabinet established during the COVID-19 pandemic, but which has apparently been such a success that it will replace the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).

“There are legitimate differences between the states but some of it is just bureaucratic. It doesn’t make any sense,” Mr Albanese said.

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NSW recently introduced digital driver’s licences.

Mr Albanese tried to get a national driver’s licence implemented when he was federal transport minister under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, but was unsuccessful.

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Labor leader Anthony Albanese tried to implement a similar scheme when Labor was last in government. Picture: AAP / Lukas Coch

Road rules also differ across states, which would be another factor when new drivers go to sit a driving test.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said national standards have worked for some specific programs in the past, but warned against moving too quickly on the plan.

“You’d have to be careful we aren’t trying to create a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist,” he said.

Do you think a national driver’s licence would be better than what we have now? Have your say in the comments below.