On April 23, the WA Labor government announced the introduction of a digital driver’s licence, available on the ServiceWA app.

$28.2 million of the state budget is being used on this project, in order for the app to begin being tested in mid-2027.

WA Police Force commander Rod Wilde believes the new scheme will be more convenient.

“I think it’s a real positive, as obviously technology is moving ahead really quickly, and people contain most of their information these days on their phone,” he says.

Retail assistant at Liquor Barons in Ballajura Liz Hamley is also excited by the move.

“I think if we can have everything on our little digital wallets, I’m very much for that,” she says.

She does worry people will be able to create fake ID’s more easily.

“I feel, especially for younger people, it is going to be a lot easier for them. They have a lot more access to AI, Chat GPT and all those online platforms, which I’m sure can enable them to make fakes,” Ms Hamley says.

However, Mr Wilde believes this issue will decrease once the IDs are in full swing.

“We don’t see a lot of actual fake driver’s licences, perhaps there used to be many years ago, when they were all paper-based. Now, even with plastic driver’s licences, they are much harder to copy and with digital, the emphasis really is around the security of that information,” he says.

He suggests those with a digital ID should have “strong passwords and two-factor authentication” to make sure that your data and personal information is secure.

Mr Wilde says facial recognition will allow police to check if “the person is who they say they are”.

But for people working within retail, who don’t have to access to the same systems as the police, checking the ID’s is challenging.

Ms Hamley says retail businesses have not yet been properly trained to check the new ID’s.

“We haven’t had any instruction on any sort of digital ID. At the moment, we will only accept a hard copy,” she says.

Although the change is largely accepted by the public, Mr Wilde is concerned the less tech-savvy will be at a disadvantage.

“It’s difficult for older people, certainly. You know, some of the elderly or not so elderly people aren’t that tech savvy, perhaps that creates vulnerabilities,” he says.

Liz Hamley suggests there should be an option to carry both a physical and digital card for these situations.

“I feel that there should be an option for both. I think a lot of older people don’t want to learn those new skills and things. So I definitely feel that it could be a barrier if it’s only a digital ID we’ll be able to accept.”

Despite perceived risks, Mr Wilde believes being smart on your digital device is the main priority.

“There is a risk for people, but again, they just need to make sure they protect all that information and not share it where it won’t be safe,” he says.