During Question Time in the Upper House today, the Andrews Labor Government finally revealed it will take around a year-and-a-half to clear the driver licence testing backlog.
Labor’s Roads Minister, Jaala Pulford stated that the Andrews Labor Government is ‘hoping’ to have 700 tests done by the end of this week. With 55,000 cancelled practical drive tests to be rebooked and undertaken before new appointments open, many applicants will be waiting until the end of next year before being able to get their licence.
This is a staggering failure by the Andrews Labor Government to resolve an issue impacting on the lives of many young Victorians.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Road Safety and the TAC, Brad Battin:
“Once again, the Andrews Labor Government is failing young Victorians. Young people have waited long enough through the pandemic to get their licence, but because Ministers have been too busy stacking branches, they will have to wait even longer.
“Daniel Andrews has wilfully ignored repeated ideas proposed by the Liberal Nationals that will make a real-world, instant impact on testing rates. When will this Government wake up and help our young people?”
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Rural Roads, Roma Britnell:
“The Andrews Labor Government’s attempts to clear one backlog is going to create another one.
“Hours need to be extended across all testing sites, especially those in rural and regional areas that only test a one or two days a week, and weekend testing must be introduced.
“We need a ramped up and expanded testing system to help clear the backlog, not government spin that achieves nothing.”
