Yes, that's how it used to be...
When I moved to Perth just before 2000 I went to change driving licence to WA one and was asked do I want with photo or without photo?
I couldn't believe it! I asked is there difference in price, he said no. OK give me with photo then just in case. Then they changed the law in 2002 I think.
Now tragicomic true story, I won't say which small town this happened in WA.
Local guy had drink with his mates and around midnight left the pub driving home some 20 kms away. Half way he ren over something and stopped only to find it was drunk Aboriginal man!! He checked him out but he was dead, killed instantly. So he drove back to report this to local policeman. He woke him up and told him what happened. Policeman told him he shouldn't have driven after such accident to which this man told him how else he would report such a thing? (since there are no phones or mobile phones at the time.)
So the policeman said OK let's drive there...
And on the way there policeman ren over another drunk Aboriginal man and killed him instantly!!
The man asked policeman what are we going to do now? Who's gonna drive now?
So, not just happy stories from the "days"
Just now on Perth news young mother got arrested for 7x over legal alcohol limit with child in back seat!!