Loophole allows international licence drivers to rack up 50 demerit points before being suspended and avoid massive fines
- NSW Transport minister Andrew Constance critcised the loophole on 2GB
- He said foreign drivers should be required to get an Australian licence
- A loophole currently allows them to avoid driving penalties and restrictions
A legal loophole that exempts drivers with international licences from driving restrictions and penalties in Australia has been slammed.
Currently, non-permanent residents and tourists who hold foreign licences are not required to get an Australian licence in NSW and can drive with a foreign-issued one for as long as they are in the country.
These motorists can also incur up to 50 points before getting a suspension, police revealed.
Non-permanent residents and tourists who hold foreign licences are not required to get an Australian licence in NSW and can drive with a foreign-issued one for as long as they are in the country
The loophole was slammed on 2GB on Thursday after Ray Hadley looked into the issue after receiving complaints from a listener.
NSW police revealed there is currently no way for authorities to verify whether a foreign licence is legitimate and said a driver’s previous violations do not apply here.
NSW Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance criticised the rule saying foreign drivers should be required to get a licence.
He said the root of the problem is that government databases don’t have any profiles on tourists, or those on working visas, until they commit their first offence.
‘The stink of it, this is where I’m particularly angry, there’s potentially up to an eight-week lag,’ Mr Constance said.
‘The question I’ve been asking myself in the last 24 hours is, when someone comes into the country you have to declare a banana but you don’t have to declare whether you’ve got an intention to drive,’ he added.
‘My preference would be if you’re on a working visa, or a student visa, well then you should be required to get a driving license in NSW.’
Mr Constance said the government will be looking into the issue, as well as regulations in other states such as Queensland, where the rules appear to be stricter.
International-licence drivers automatically lose their licence after getting four points or more, in Queensland.
A legal loophole that exempts drivers with international licences from driving restrictions and penalties has been slammed by Australians