[WA] Queues for DoT Drivers License Replacement for Victims of Optus Cyberattack

wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 18:43
Last edited 03/10/2022 - 20:04 by 1 other user

So I am one of them and this morning I decided to call DOT in WA to see whether the driver’s licence replacement was any different from a standard lost or renewal replacement. Just right after I dialled 131 156 and before the option menu, there was an automatic voicemail that those drivers affected by the Optus cyberattack and needed to have their driver’s licences replaced would need to get to one of the DOT centres.
When I got to the nearest DOT centre this afternoon, I could see from distance that there was a queue all the way from the DOT centre entrance to the car park. None of them was wearing a mask or could be bothered to practice social distancing.
My understanding is there are millions of people affected by this Optus cyberattack. Do you think this is the most efficient and safest way to get the driver’s licence replaced? If not, do you have any better ideas?

Poll Options expired

  • 27
    Yes. It’s the best and only way.
  • 6
    No. There are other better ways.
  • 2
    Yes and no. It is the most efficient but not the safest way.
  • 5
    No and yes. It is not the most efficient but the safest way.
General Discussion Driver's Licence

Related Stores

Department of Transport, Government of Western Australia
Department of Transport, Government of Western Australia

Comments

  • Vancomycin 1000mg on 03/10/2022 - 18:57
    +3

    The department of transport in Perth has all been this mess before. Peak COVID times they had strict restrictions inside but had 50 people lining up in the 40 degrees heat. By far the worst government agency out there.

    • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 19:08

      Don’t forget only started about 15 years ago shopping centres in WA were allowed to open after 6pm (except for Thursdays).

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 03/10/2022 - 19:02
    +4

    There has to be a better way, for all states.

    I pity the staff at the centres, definitely going to have to deal with some irate users.

    • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 19:05

      I bet there will be the same amount of staff to handle triple amount of drivers. Funny enough that Passport renewals can be partially done online and only the last step needed be completed in an Austpost centre. Unsure how and why DL must only be done in centre.

      • Tiller76 on 04/10/2022 - 12:14

        Isn't that the normal practice though for passports? I thought you filled everything online and made an appointment at Aust Post. Then had to attend with the photos and original forms? To me it does not sound like there is anything different for the passport process?

        • wtfnodeal on 04/10/2022 - 13:18

          This DL replacement takes us back to the days before we invented internet, you have to walk into a DOT centre to get your DL replaced. Judging by the time saved when most can be done online and a lot more Auspost centres than DOT centres, the number of passport applications processed is much more than DL applications in a day.

  • freefall101 on 03/10/2022 - 19:16
    +2

    In Victoria you go online to flag your account as having been breached, which will stop people making changes to your DL account or requesting info (fat lot of good that does).

    They also just have a tick box saying "I want a new one" and they'll get back to you. There's a warning it'll take a while, but that definitely seems the easier way of doing it. It's not like they'll have the equipment to print 5 million new licenses overnight.

  • ozhunter on 03/10/2022 - 19:21
    +12

    None of them was wearing a mask or could be bothered to practice social distancing.

    🤣🤣🤣

    Have you not noticed this since the mandates were over?

      • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 19:32
        +13

        There are still people hospitalised from a plethora of things every single day.

          • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 20:16
            +13

            @wtfnodeal: Just stay inside where it's safe mate, it'll all be ok in two more weeks.

            • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 20:41
              -2

              @brendanm: Do you think they can process all the DL replacement applications within 2 weeks? Let’s say, in WA there are 500k (about 22% based on 2.3 million of registered vehicles) motorists affected by this cyberattack, 30 DOT centres (could be a lot less), meaning each centre processes 16k applications in 10 business days (2 weeks), each centre opens for 9 hours a day, 185 applications to be processed every hour which is equivalent to 3 applications every minute.

  • iamherenow on 03/10/2022 - 19:29

    Suggestion for easier to read title:

    DOT WA DL REPLC for VIC of STO CA

  • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 19:32
    +14

    Oh hurray, yet another Optus leak post!

    None of them was wearing a mask or could be bothered to practice social distancing.

    No one has done this for months, you don't even have to wear them on a plane etc anymore, deal with it.

    • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 19:49
      -6

      Mask wearing is still mandated in hospitals.

      • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 19:55
        +4

        Didn't know the RTA was a hospital. The more you know.

        • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 20:00
          -5

          Then why did you mention not needing to wear masks on a plane?

          • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 20:15
            +7

            @wtfnodeal: It is a confined space with recycled air, with people centimetres from each other. The rta car park is not.

            • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 20:20
              -2

              @brendanm: You honestly believe they don’t wear masks, can’t be bothered to practice social distancing while lining up at the car parks but will put them on and practice social distancing once they get into those tiny DOT centres?

              • vodamerc on 03/10/2022 - 20:26
                +11

                @wtfnodeal: You need to chill, the world has moved on from the tyranny that was covid. If you want to wear a mask and distance from others, go ahead, no one is stopping you.

                • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 20:53

                  @vodamerc: I’m not one of the COVID high risk groups by the way. You believe one wears a mask and practices social distancing is to protect itself?

              • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 20:31
                +6

                @wtfnodeal: Where did I say that? I said you need to get over it, as none of that garbage is mandated anymore, and, shock horror, the moment it wasn't mandated, no one cared anymore.

                • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 20:47
                  -2

                  @brendanm: May I know what is your age group? And “none of that garbage is mandated anymore” because you believe you are not one of the COVID high risk groups so it is garbage in your opinion?

                  • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 20:49
                    +4

                    @wtfnodeal: I know I'm not in one of the at risk groups.

                    It is garbage in the governments opinion, as well as that of the vast majority of the public obviously, otherwise everyone would be wearing masks even though it's not mandated.

                    • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 21:06
                      -1

                      @brendanm: “Otherwise everyone would be wearing masks even though it’s not mandated.” You know I once went (when masks no longer mandated) to a Gumtree seller’s (an elderly woman) house to pick up an item, the moment she opened the door and saw me with my mask on she said: “Sorry. Where is my manner.” and immediately went to put on a mask. I guess it is hard for you to understand what is the real reason for putting a mask on.

                      • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 21:07
                        +7

                        @wtfnodeal: Cool story. The real reason for putting the mask on is simply to so as you're told.

                        You do you, wear the mask and stay away from others forever if that's what you want to do, others are free to do as they wish.

                        • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 21:44
                          +1

                          @brendanm: You are told? You meant because it was legally required to do so? You don’t try to understand why people or our government tells you to do but simply follow what you are told to do?

                          • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 22:54

                            @wtfnodeal: Lol. It seems you struggle with reading comprehension.

                            • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 22:59

                              @brendanm: LOL. You seem to struggle to make good use of your freedom to think but only follow what you are told to do so.

                              • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 23:00
                                +1

                                @wtfnodeal: Again, your reading comprehension sucks. I never wore the mask. Most people only did because they were told to, hence the fact that no one wears it now, with mandates gone, even though covid is apparently still around.

                                • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 23:07
                                  -1

                                  @brendanm: Alright I will leave you alone. Hope you find a way to manage your anger and take back your freedom to think soon.

                                  • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 23:11
                                    +2

                                    @wtfnodeal: I'm not the one raging at people lawfully lining up at the rta.

                                    • wtfnodeal on 04/10/2022 - 01:22

                                      @brendanm: LOL! I was raging at the people lawfully lining up at the rta? Maybe that’s what you would have done and that’s why you thought of me that way? You need to seriously change the way you think.
                                      You think people wear masks because they are told to do so maybe that’s because you don’t know the main functions of those simple, non-surgical masks.
                                      You never wore the mask? I hope that is just you or only a minority of the people otherwise our country is doomed. Try think like the elderly woman I met and not to be too self-centred.

                                      • brendanm on 04/10/2022 - 07:40
                                        +1

                                        @wtfnodeal:

                                        You think people wear masks because they are told to do so maybe that’s because you don’t know the main functions of those simple, non-surgical masks.

                                        Why aren't people wearing them now? Their function hasn't changed, only the mandates. It's almost like they were only wearing them because they were forced.

                                        You never wore the mask?

                                        Nope. Not in any normal setting.

                                        Try think like the elderly woman I met and not to be too self-centred

                                        I had an elderly woman thank me for not wearing it, as she was sick of the mandates as well. Which one of our elderly women was correct?

                                      • iCandy on 04/10/2022 - 10:44

                                        @wtfnodeal: Dude, sunlight kills the virus s why would anyone wear a mask outdoors?? “Surgical” masks are worn to stop the surgeon from accidentally spitting or sweating into a patient. The holes in the masks are too large to stop the tiny virus free m entering. The news, just yesterday, published the mind games they played to get the public to follow their ludicrous orders during the pandemic, including referring to killing grandma if they didn’t wear a mask. I’m a grandma and I never wore a mask because they don’t work for stopping this virus. If YOU are worried then YOU wear a mask. Stop trying to guilt others into doing something stupid so you feel safe! How selfish of you.

                                        • wtfnodeal on 05/10/2022 - 10:14

                                          @iCandy: Sunlight kills the virus? Then what the vaccines for?

                                          • iCandy on 06/10/2022 - 09:36
                                            +1

                                            @wtfnodeal: Making you feel superior.

                                            • wtfnodeal on 06/10/2022 - 11:01

                                              @iCandy: Making you feel selfish!

                                              • iCandy on 06/10/2022 - 18:42
                                                +1

                                                @wtfnodeal: Take your absurd fear and be gone with you.

                                                • wtfnodeal on 06/10/2022 - 19:23

                                                  @iCandy: Sure if you can stop pretending you know and try to misinform people anything about virus first.

  • Puglife on 03/10/2022 - 21:12
    +9

    Came here for the drivers licence post…felt like i walked into a SlavOz party.
    Seriously how does a post like this end up with COV-ID discussion. People really need to move on already…

    • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 21:19
      +4

      Seriously how does a post like this end up with COV-ID discussion.

      Perhaps look at how it started?

      • [Deactivated] on 04/10/2022 - 01:53
        +1

        they can't help it. they see "covid", the rage builds up inside, they can't help but make a comment about him, despite his absence from this thread (so far)

    • ozhunter on 03/10/2022 - 21:20
      +1

      But covid is here to stay, so I guess so is the discussion about it. Having to go to the DOT centre in person while covid is around is what this post is about.

    • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 21:32

      For some reason most comments are related to the safety rather than the efficiency on how DOT handles the DL replacement. But please feel free to comment on both and there is a poll option.

      • vodamerc on 03/10/2022 - 21:42
        +5

        There's no safety issue. You are delusional.

        • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 21:48

          That is your opinion. There are 2 votes go to the ‘No. There are other better ways.’

  • spackbace on 03/10/2022 - 22:34
    +6

    None of them was wearing a mask or could be bothered to practice social distancing.

    Good thing you didn't go to the Royal Show then

    Or the movies

    Or any shopping centre

    😂

    • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 22:51
      +1

      The difference between your mentioned scenarios and this queuing for DL replacement because of Optus cyberattack scenario is the former ones have choices whether to do so but the latter doesn’t.

      • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 22:56
        +3

        Just go there, wear your mask, and tape a large hula hoop to yourself using cutoff broomsticks, so people can't get within 1.5m of you. Then you will be perfectly safe.

        • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 23:04
          -2

          You are not angry are you? If so I can’t imagine how do you manage your anger if you need to be in the queue for hours for the DL replacement.

          • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 23:14
            +3

            @wtfnodeal: Just trying to help you out with your social phobia. I don't have to get a licence replacement. If I did, I would wait until all the panicked people got theirs done, and go later on.

      • spackbace on 03/10/2022 - 23:21
        +3

        Well, it does…

        Has anyone stolen your identity over the weekend? So why'd you have to be there today?

        • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 23:35

          I didn’t go there on purpose. I had a click and collect somewhere nearby (only less than 1/2 km away from the nearest DOT centre) and thought to drive past to see what was queue like. I was surprised to see people lined up so closely (less than a few inches away one from another) that even a sneeze and everyone would’ve picked up the delicious scent. Probably because they were told to stay on the cramped footpath and not to stand on the parking spots.
          Edit: I did get a lot of calls and texts from unknown numbers and online casino, bitcoin and lucky draw winning emails recently.

          • spackbace on 03/10/2022 - 23:42
            +3

            @wtfnodeal:

            I didn’t go there on purpose.

            and thought to drive past to see what was queue like.

            So you went there on purpose…

            • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 23:50

              @spackbace: Maybe I should have said I deliberately drove past the DOT centre because I didn’t want to do an illegal u-turn after picking up my online order from the shop nearby?

              • spackbace on 04/10/2022 - 00:02
                +7

                @wtfnodeal: Why didn't you get it delivered?

                Seems risky, going into a store and all

                • wtfnodeal on 04/10/2022 - 00:18

                  @spackbace: I chose that store because only it had the stock I needed, it was very unlikely for me to line up for hours to collect my online order, I needed it today, and I am a tight arse (after weighing in all the possible costs and benefits).

                • wtfnodeal on 05/10/2022 - 11:40

                  @spackbace: I think you are right. I would like to have my DL replacement delivered without having me to walk into a DOT centre. Can you please let me know if there is an option? I am happy to pay the delivery fee.

  • Davo1111 on 03/10/2022 - 23:01
    +3

    its not a legal requirement to wear a mask

    • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 23:08

      But is there a risk to queue in a DOT centre for hours to wait for a DL replacement? Is there a better way to get it done?

      • brendanm on 03/10/2022 - 23:14
        -1

        But is there a risk to queue in a DOT centre for hours to wait for a DL replacement?

        No.

        • wtfnodeal on 03/10/2022 - 23:21

          Cool story. It is in fact better than mine.

      • Davo1111 on 04/10/2022 - 00:50
        +3

        There's also a risk you get hit by a learner driver doing the test.

        • wtfnodeal on 04/10/2022 - 01:26

          Well, judging by the comments here, the chance you run into someone in the queue who has never worn a mask during the COVID pandemic is higher than getting hit by a car.

          • SBOB on 04/10/2022 - 18:17

            @wtfnodeal: Wait….is past mask wearing a contributing factor to current infectious ability?

            • wtfnodeal on 04/10/2022 - 18:50

              @SBOB: I was saying running into a person like brandanm (and Karen) who had never worn a mask during a COVID pandemic chances were higher than getting hit by a car somewhere near a DOT centre.

  • Dorge on 04/10/2022 - 07:48
    +1

    This post is hilarious. Poking the bear of a hate for queues + optus hack + covid. Bringing back memories of the covid test queues. Made my morning. Not sure anyone cares if it safe, since when did queuing up for hours like a Russian bread line become normal in Australia?

  • mrkorrupt on 04/10/2022 - 10:58

    maybe that was the hackers intention, hack optus to spread the covid virus…. genius really

  • Jared17 on 04/10/2022 - 13:01

    I'm not gonna risk gettimg covid for this

    • wtfnodeal on 04/10/2022 - 13:22

      You can wait until everyone has got theirs replaced and hope by the time you are ready to have yours replaced your identity has not been stolen for multiple times yet.

  • whatwasherproblem on 04/10/2022 - 17:06
    +2

    My understanding is there are millions of people affected by this Optus cyberattack.

    Perhaps, but the at-risk group is the 10,000 or so that actually did have their data disseminated during the initial proof. I'd suggest that they're the ones that should be first in line to get their driver's licence boosters. The rest of us should EquiVax and monitor for symptoms.

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