The state government has delayed its rollout of digital licences in Townsville after major data breaches at Optus and Medibank.
Townsville was scheduled to be the second trial location for Queensland's digital licence app in late 2022, after it was first introduced on the Fraser Coast in March.
But Townsville must now wait until 2023, with the state government blaming increased pressure on cyber security testing services.
"As technology changes, hackers are becoming more and more sophisticated," Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.
"In the current climate, there is increased demand on ... security testing."
Digital licence could be safer
The digital licence is optional and will be accepted as a form of identification at banks, pharmacies, pubs and clubs.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads said 700 people and 120 businesses took part in the Fraser Coast trial.
The Townsville rollout will test the app's capacity to handle marine licences and use by vendors in the city's Safe Night precinct.
Cyber security expert Dave Lacey says digital licences are attractive because they do not necessarily contain all the information available on a physical licence.
"If you need to access a pub and prove that you're a certain age, the app can be configured in a way that can show you're eligible without revealing your full date of birth, for instance" Professor Lacey said.
"If the app is done right and the information is captured in the right way, it can be a hell of a lot safer than a physical form posted in the mail."
Professor Lacey, who manages Australia's national identity and cyber support charity IDCARE, said individuals also have a responsibility to look after their personal information.
"Not many people know this, but you do need anti-virus on your mobile phone," he said.
"If you've got an app that has a digital licence, but that app has a virus on it, that can place things at risk."
"The scam risk is always going to be there."
Medibank and Optus breaches prompt rethink
The personal details of millions of customers were exposed in major cyber attacks on Medibank, Optus and other companies this year.
Mr Bailey said the government would follow other jurisdictions in undertaking additional security testing as the app is developed.
He said the statewide rollout of the digital licence was still on track for 2023.
Although New South Wales and South Australia have issued digital IDs for years, the government said Queensland’s digital licence app would be the first in the country to comply with international standards.
