Tradespeople have a more convenient and secure way of giving their customers peace of mind when showing their work credentials in digital format through the Service NSW app. The NSW digital contractor licence is the second trade licence and credential to be digitised, following the launch of the digital white card in April 2021, which has more than 185,000 people using it in the Service NSW app.
The latest updates make it easier for people across NSW to do business, and safety features in the app ensure that customers have proof they are getting their service from legitimate people.
The Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading stated that the new licence app will strengthen consumer safeguards for prospective tradies. She said that a digitised licence adds another layer of protection for consumers by allowing them to quickly check details such as name, date of issue and any conditions. She noted that this is a perfect case of a licensing regime keeping pace with modern technology, making it easier for tradies to do business while protecting consumers from dodgy scammers.
The digital contractor licence can be added through the Service NSW app. It is for individual contractor licence holders only through their MyServiceNSW account.
The benefits of the new digital licences are as follows:
- Updates in real-time – digital trade licences update in real-time, so users do not have to wait for a new plastic card to be posted when their digital version is renewed or if they change their details. They can even view their digital trade licence when they have no data coverage, as long as they remain logged in to the Service NSW app.
- Security – users’ licence is protected by the security on their smartphone (for example, PIN, fingerprint and facial recognition) as well as the security of the Service NSW app. To ensure the security and privacy of licence holders, the government developers have built strong partnerships with cyber security and identity theft experts. This has resulted in comprehensive security measures to protect their information and identity at all times, similar to those used for internet banking.
- Lost – if a user loses their smartphone, their digital licences and authorisations are protected by their phone’s PIN, their Service NSW app PIN and, if available, their touch ID.
In a similar vein, OpenGov Asia previously reported that Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads has signed a contract with the ANZ branch of a French multinational company to continue the delivery of the state’s new Digital Licence App.
The new app has been developed by the company in partnership with two Queensland-based SMEs. It has been designed to comply with the ISO-18013-5 Mobile Driver Licence Standard, allowing the state’s digital driver licences to be recognised and used worldwide.
Under the extended agreement, the company will build on its successful pilot with residents of the Fraser Coast in 2020 to introduce further functionality before working with the department to make the app available to other regions before rolling it out statewide.
As well as driver’s licences, the app will initially incorporate marine licences and proof of age cards. The agreement leaves open the option to expand to other state government credentials and services in the future, according to the CEO of the ANZ branch of the company. He noted that the company is excited that over 3.9 million Queenslanders will soon be able to access the Digital ID Wallet via the Digital Licence App, proudly developed in partnership with TMR and the two aforementioned Queensland SMEs.
