Big change coming to driver’s licences
The Queensland Government has removed the requirement for gender to be shown on all driver’s licences following complaints from the LGBTI community.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) confirmed that height was also removed as a requirement, due to concerns that the collection of personal information was potentially discriminatory.
However, the Department said the decision to create genderless licences was to make drivers and marine licences comply with new anti-discrimination laws, reported the Courier Mail.
A spokesman for Roads Minister Mark Bailey said that the change was influenced by improvements in technology that meant the data was unnecessary to identify someone.
“TMR has received complaints and suggestions from members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community about displaying gender/sex (M or F) on TMR cards,” a department document said. Other information, such as eye and hair colour, is also being removed from records associated with licences.
“TMR has received feedback that the collection of personal information (eye and hair colour, complexion, height) may be perceived as discriminatory by some members of the community.”
Police will continue to have access to information on gender through databases, and drivers will continue to be asked to nominate their gender when applying for a licence.
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington described the changes as “madness” and said the Government needed to focus on more significant matters.
“It is offensive to taxpayers that their hard-earned money has been wasted on this rubbish,” she said.
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