Aussies who have their personal data compromised in the Optus cyberattack will be issued new driver’s licence numbers. 

Australians who have had their data compromised in the Optus cyberattack will be issued new driver’s licence numbers, state governments have clarified. Optus will bear the fiscal responsibility of the change. 

Earlier today, Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello took to Twitter to apologise for the delay in ironing out the “pathway forward”. He confirmed that Optus will be contacting customers in the coming days and confirming whether they need to apply for new driver’s licences. 

On the heels of his announcement, Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia have issued advisories for people who need new licence numbers due to the cyberattack.

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NSW residents with a digital driver’s licence can apply for a new card on the Service NSW app. They will then receive a temporary card number, while a new plastic licence will be sent through physical mail to their address within 10 business days. 

Earlier, NSW residents had to report any incidents of theft to the police to procure a police event or ReportCyber receipt number (CIRS). Following this, they would be required to fill out a form which, of course, led to public outcry and concerns around how vulnerable it would leave people in the interim between starting proceedings and getting their replacement licences. 

In Queensland, impacted residents will have their licences replaced free of cost. Residents can visit a Transport and Main Roads Queensland Customer Service Centre with a confirmation of the data breach from Optus or any valid third party, and ID proof for the replacement. 

In a statement on Twitter, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: “The licence is a highly secure ID document, but we’ve been hearing from a lot of people who are concerned, so we are giving people the opportunity to obtain a fresh licence.” 

In Tasmania and South Australia, residents can head to their nearest service centre to attain new licences. 

In Victoria, residents whose data has been breached will be eligible for replacing their drivers licence at no cost. Residents who receive confirmation of personal data breaches from Optus can contact VicRoads and have their licence records flagged. 

While residents in Victoria and Queensland will be issued new numbers at no additional cost – asking Optus to bear the costs of the nationwide change –  NSW residents will be expected to pay a $29 replacement fee. However, as specified by Dominello on Twitter, a “reimbursement advice will be issued by Optus to customers in the coming days”.

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