Qld digital ID to be pushed by state government but residents given choice

The new state government wants to increase the number of Queenslanders using digital ID platforms, while simultaneously boosting “old-fashioned” customer service.

The Queensland government wants to increase the number of people using digital ID platforms, while still offering choice.

The new state government wants to increase the number of Queenslanders using digital ID platforms, while simultaneously boosting “old-fashioned” customer service, particularly in rural and regional areas.

Minister for Customer Services and Open Data Steve Minnikin – in a newly established portfolio – said his goal was to make engaging with government services “more pleasurable”.

“There’s this cultural block between government departments, a lot of them don’t share data, we want to break through that attitude,” Mr Minnikin said.

“When someone calls in, they don’t really care which department is looking after it, they just want to have their issue solved as quickly as possible, not be transferred from one to another.”

Minister for Customer Services and Open Data Steve Minnikin said his goal was to make engaging with government services “more pleasurable”. Picture: Peter Carruthers

But the former realtor and property developer said his charter included making Queensland Government services more accessible.

“A lot of surveys I’ve seen point to the fact typical Queenslanders, about 75 per cent would prefer a digital platform, but we’ve only got about 18 per cent of people that have taken up the digital driver’s licence. Most people don’t even know it exists,” he said.

“Every five years or so, you’ve got your license renewal. For a lot of people you have to check into a customer service centre, take a ticket and wait, everyone knows that story.

“But in New South Wales, because they’ve got the technology, you have your license renewed and paid for and sent directly to your digital wallet in a day.

The Queensland Government wants to boost the uptake of Digital IDs. Picture: iStock

“We want to push that, that’s very much a modern approach.”

But Mr Minnikin said any moves to boost digital uptake would be balanced with the option to “give people choice” to engage traditionally.

For rural and regional centres, including Cooktown where young drivers are reportedly struggling to access government services to obtain licenses, Mr Minnikin he would be looking to share responsibilities between departments to “boost productivity”.

“Let’s go back to the start of this conversation, a typical Queenslander, they don’t really care which department; most people just want to get their ‘thing,’ whatever that ‘thing’ is done quickly.

An older image of a regional Department of Transport and Main Roads office. The Queensland Government wants to boost “old-fashioned” service. Photo Tara Miko / CQNews

“But a lot of departments don’t even have shared email servers and some are using technology that’s almost 25 years old.

“My commitment is we will be making sure that the existing range of government service centres are actually boosted and improved.

“We will be looking at the whole of Queensland and doing a complete strategy in the first six months of 2025, as to what’s there at the moment, where’s the gap, and how can we fill it.”

Originally published as Qld digital ID to be pushed by state government but residents given choice