The move to remove gender from Queensland driver’s licences has been widely reported this morning, an anti-discrimination measure that was made effective back in 2016.
The Courier Mail this morning claimed to have obtained an internal document outlining that gender and height were removed because of complaints made by the LGBTI.
“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,” the leaked document reportedly said.
Owner//Driver contacted Roads Minister Mark Bailey for clarification, and it was confirmed the removal of height and gender was made effective from October 2016.
It was confirmed by Bailey’s office that the primary drivers for the move to scrap the information were amendments to the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act in 2013 and the improvement of biometric imaging and facial recognition technologies.
“The internal document referred to in media reports this morning provides a high-level summary for front line staff,” a Government spokesperson said.
“The changes to federal legislation and technological improvements were not identified as drivers of change in that document. They should have been and we’ve asked that this additional information be included.
“TMR continues to collect and record information on gender when a person applies for a licence.
“Improvements in technology means information that identifies an individual can be readily accessed in other ways.
“For example, police have 24-7 access to this information, including the digital photograph as it appears on the licence, through QLite tablet devices.
“TMR has advised that other jurisdictions are making similar changes.”
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington took to Twitter this morning, criticizing Labor for the move.
.@AnnastaciaMP and @QLDLabor need to focus on real issues affecting Queenslanders like jobs, congestion, crime, health and education and not this political correctness rubbish. #howmuchdidthiscost #whatsnext #qldpol https://t.co/QGrd3dXgvJ
— Deb Frecklington MP (@DebFrecklington) January 11, 2018