When is this licence required?
An explosives driver licence is issued for five years and is required if a person is transporting explosives by road.
When is this licence not required?
An explosives driver licence is not required when:
- a person is only transporting explosives on mine sites.
- holders of shotfirers, fireworks operator, fireworks contractor and pyrotechnics (special use) licences transporting up to Category 2 loads of explosives and the explosives are:
- for their own use, and
- authorised under the licence to possess.
- holders of explosives driver licences issued in other Australian States or Territories. Interstate licences are recognised under the Western Australian regulations. There is no requirement to apply for mutual recognition of these licences to work in Western Australia as an explosives driver.
For further information on interstate explosives drivers licence, refer to Mutual Recognition section.
Who can apply?
The applicant must:
- demonstrate a suitable driving record over the five years prior to making application
- be at least 21 years of age
- hold a current motor driver’s licence issued anywhere in Australia or New Zealand
- have applied for, or hold a Western Australian dangerous goods security card, or hold a recognised security clearance
- pass a medical assessment against the standards in Assessing Fitness to Drive – Medical Standards for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers 2022, not more than six months before the day the application is lodged
- pass an approved Explosives Driver training course not more than 6 months before the application which covers the following units of competency:
- TLID0014 - Load and unload explosives and dangerous goods
- TLID3015 - Identify and label explosives and dangerous goods
- pass the relevant offence requirements.
Applications can only be made online through the Safety Regulation System. Refer to Lodging the application for more information.
Required supporting information
Applications for an explosives driver licence must be accompanied by specific information. Before completing your application ensure you have high quality colour images of the following documents.
If you have recently submitted an application for a different licence type and items provided with that application are still valid, they are prepopulated by the Safety Regulation System for subsequent applications. This may mean you do not have to obtain a new medical certificate or driving records.
The payment of fees must be by Visa or MasterCard.
| Item | Document details | Date before lodgement date |
|---|---|---|
|
Competency training |
Statement of attainment or certificate of competency in a course which includes the units:
|
Not more than 6 months |
|
Medical |
Assessed against the standards in Assessing Fitness to Drive – Medical Standards for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers 2022. |
Not more than 6 months |
|
Motor driver licence (MDL) |
Colour image of both sides of the MDL issued from any Australian state or Territory or New Zealand. |
|
|
Photograph |
Passport quality photo (The passport photograph must be a JPEG file). |
Not more than 6 months |
|
Relevant offence |
Documents detailing any conviction and/or charge pending relating to a relevant offence. |
|
|
WA driving record |
National Police Certificate (NPC)
WA Certified copy of Traffic Infringements
|
Not more than 6 months |
|
Other WA driving record |
Other notices issued, if applicable:
|
In the last 5 years |
|
Non-WA driving record |
The driving records are required from Australian States or Territories and/or New Zealand where an MDL was held within the past five years, and/or you incurred a traffic offence or conviction where an MDL was not held (refer to driving record contact details). |
Not more than 6 months |
Failure to provide the required documentation will delay processing of applications. Most applications are dealt with within 20 business days.
The following information may assist in obtaining the required supporting information.
Driving record
Driver training
Medical fitness
Assessing Fitness to Drive - Medical Standards for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers is available from Austroads.
Relevant offence
Applicants must disclose details of any “relevant offence” for which they have been convicted, or have charges pending. A relevant offence is an offence against:
- the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 (Act), or any regulations made under the Act
- any law of another place that substantially corresponds to the Act or the regulations made under it.
Security clearances
Applicants must hold or have applied for a Western Australian dangerous goods security card, or hold a recognised security clearance before they can apply for an explosives driver licence.
The table below details interstate legislation where a licence or permit issued under that legislation may be recognised as a security clearance in WA.
| State or Territory | Legislation |
| New South Wales | Explosives Regulations 2013 |
| Queensland | Explosives Act 1999 |
| South Australia | Explosives (Security Sensitive Substances) Regulations 2006 |
| Tasmania | Security-Sensitive Dangerous Substances Act 2005 |
| Victoria | Dangerous Goods (Explosives) Regulations 2011 |
| Northern Territory | None applicable |
| Australian Capital Territory | Dangerous Substances (Explosives) Regulations 2004 Dangerous Substances (General) Regulation 2004 |
For more information on security clearances refer to Security clearances
Mutual recognition
Holders of explosives driver licences issued in other States and Territories of Australia are deemed to be so licensed in Western Australia (WA). There is no requirement to apply for mutual recognition of your interstate licence even if you become a WA resident.
However, you are not prevented from applying for mutual recognition if you wish to obtain a WA licence.
This does not apply for holders of New Zealand explosives driver licences who must apply for mutual recognition of their licences.
For more information refer to Applying for mutual recognition
Application fees
The licence fee payable covers the five year period of the licence.
For information regarding application and renewal fees please see Schedule of fees and charges.
Applications can only be made online through the Safety Regulation System. Refer to Lodging the application for more information.
Renewing the licence
Renewal notices are sent three months prior to the licence expiry. The licence must be renewed prior to expiry. If you require a licence after a licence expires, you must apply for a new one.
Licences must be renewed prior to expiry. If you require a licence after a licence expires, you must apply for a new one.
For more information see Renewing an explosives driver licence
Updating personal details
To update your personal details, or provide the department with information relevant to your licence, log on to Safety Regulations System. There is no fee required.
Complying with a licence condition
If you are granted a licence with a condition where a review is required, a notification is sent six weeks prior to the review due date. To comply with the condition you must provide the documentation required by the review due date. Conditional compliance applications must be lodged online.
If you do not comply with the condition, you will be deemed unfit to perform the licensed activities on the grounds of your non-compliance with the condition and action may be taken to suspend your licence.
Applications can only be lodged online.
Lodging the application
The completed application form, together with supporting documents and the fee(s) payable to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
You must apply online via the Safety Regulation System (SRS).
If you have an existing SRS Ex account, Log on to SRS
Enter your Ex-Account number and password and follow online instructions to complete your application
If you are a new user go to SRS new user
Register for an ex-Account number.
Contact details
For any enquiries please contact Dangerous Goods Licensing:
Phone: (08) 6251 2300
Email: cso@dmirs.wa.gov.au
Public registers
The licensing regulations create public registers which require information about licence holders and licences to be publicly available. The actual information published in each licence register depends on the licence type.
Typically the register includes:
- Licence number
- Licence holder
- Conditions on licence(if any)
- Expiry date of licence
Route selection
There are general criteria regarding the transportation of dangerous goods and explosives. These are addressed in What are the route restrictions for dangerous goods and explosives transport?