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I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way but another issue with licensing is that we have drivers on our roads who are driving on overseas licenses obtained in places where the testing is, to say the least, inadequate. I know of a case (admittedly some years ago) where someone thought the appropriate way to obtain an Australian license was to hand over the paperwork with a few $50 notes. When they were told that they would have to do a test they said 'oh I see' and handed over a few more. Luckily for them they weren't charged. Their academic supervisor was contacted and told to come and collect the person and explain how things work in this country.
It is an open secret that some students have overseas licenses obtained in exactly that way. Some of the 'driving' I've seen suggests the 'driver' has never had a lesson. A few months ago I observed a neighbour get a friend to back their car 5m down a wide driveway, presumable because they couldn't, and then drive off into the traffic. It is no wonder there is not a straight panel on that car.
Luckily the number of such cases on our roads is quite small (most overseas students I see are competent drivers) but that is no reason to sweep it under the carpet. However I don't know that I have a good solution. Allowing drivers with overseas licenses on our roads in normally part of a reciprocal arrangement that allows Australians travelling overseas to drive. Can you imagine the outcry if suddenly no one could drive overseas unless they obtained a local license? Alternatively, can you imagine the political row if we said we would accept licenses from country X but not Y?
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