Case 97: Refusal to issue driver licence overturned

VICFreedom of movementWomen
Written By Rachel Richmond
Photo of a woman in a waiting room. Photo by PeopleImages on iStock

Photo by PeopleImages on iStock

A woman living in Wodonga in Victoria needed to travel across the Murray River to Albury in NSW for medical treatment. She was prevented from doing so during COVID-19 border closures because she had a NSW drivers licence which was insufficient proof that she resided in Wodonga for the purposes of the border bubble travel arrangement. VicRoads refused her request to convert the licence to a Victorian one on the erroneous basis that her licence was suspended. She complained to the Victorian Ombudsman which made enquiries with VicRoads regarding the impact of its decision on the woman’s right to freedom of movement and her ability to attend medical appointments. VicRoads confirmed the licence was not suspended and issued a new Victorian licence free of charge.

Source: Victorian Ombudsman, The Ombudsman for Human Rights: A Casebook, p. 35

Rachel Richmond
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