The licence will be based on a contact-only smartcard (details of which have not yet been released) which will store the digitised photograph, signature and other useful information; all protected, according to Unisys spokesperson Claire Hosegood by "Public Key Infrastructure" when queried by ITwire.

As with all facial-recognition biometric identity systems, all newly captured faces will be compared against all currently stored images to detect multiple licences for the same person.  Human intervention will then be triggered to confirm the validity of the licences.

In order to drag the drivers licence system "kicking and screaming into the 21st century," any licence holder with a smartcard reader attached to their PC will be able to use a PIN to connect to the card and the Queensland Transport website to update details.

According to Hosegood, "The equipment and staff training needed to issue the new driver licence cards will be progressively rolled out across the state with implementation expected to be complete in 2010.  Drivers will not be required to apply for a smartcard licence until their existing licence expires.  As Queensland driver licences are valid for up to five years it will take up to five years for all Queenslanders to replace their laminated licences with smartcards."

Just as with current licences, Queensland drivers will have to attend a licence issuing centre to have their digital photograph and digitised signature collected.

So, how secure will it be in real life?  Read on…