New ID Card coming to WA

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said West Australians will soon have access to the new WA Photo Card as an option to verify their identity, should legislation pass state parliament.

Mr Blayney said the voluntary proof of identity card was a welcome aid for people who don’t hold a driver’s licence or passport.

The WA Photo Card would hold the same level of integrity as a driver’s licence and would be recognised by the Department of Transport as a primary form of photographic identification.

The card will replace the current Proof of Age card and would be available to people aged 16 years and older. 

Mr Blayney said it will hold a number of security features including a unique identification number to prevent fraud and identity crime. 

He said the WA Photo Card will particularly benefit seniors and people with disability who do not hold a driver’s licence or a passport, and cardholders can use it for domestic air travel and establishing financial accounts.

“Driver’s licences and passports are two of the primary photographic documents used to verify a person’s identity and if you don’t own one of these, your options for photographic identification are limited.” 

Mr Blayney said the card was vital for seniors, who no longer needed a driver’s licence or passport, or had never driven, to provide identification details.  

The card will be available from the Department of Transport’s Driver and Vehicle Services Centres for an approximate fee of $35.20. The fee was set on a cost recovery basis, including photographs taken at the centres. WA Photo Cards will be valid for five years.

The WA Photo Card Bill was expected to be introduced into State Parliament later this year and the card would be available to the public in early 2014.