New security measure for Queensland driver licence following Optus hack

Queensland has changed the way a resident's identity can be verified when using a driver's licence in light of major data breaches like Optus and Medibank.

The new layer of protection means organisations like banks and telecommunication companies will use two-factor verification to confirm a person's identity from Monday, November 7.

This verification will be done through the Australian government's document verification service.

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Customers will have to provide their driver's licence number and a unique card number to reduce the risk of unauthorised access to their identity.

The change means you can no longer just use the driver's licence number to verify your identity.

"The driver licence card number changes each time your licence is renewed or replaced," Transport and Main Roads Queensland said.

"This unique card number is like the CVV number on a credit or debit card."

It comes after millions of Optus customers across Australia were forced to get a different driver's licence after their personal details were compromised in the hack.

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Transport and Main Roads Queensland said if you haven't been impacted by a data breach, you can keep your current driver's licence number and card number.

But for those who have been impacted by data breaches, particularly Optus, can still change their driver's licence number free of charge.

Transport and Main Roads Queensland added the change "reduces the risk" but urged Queenslanders to stay alert and vigilant for suspicious activity.