Appears as an improvement (?) to the procedure - for renewal anyway - you do application/documents on line, checks carried out and meeting with agent to confirm original documents (these two actions timing appears variable, maybe simultaneously) then the new card is posted out.
Did the application 5 days ago and authorised them to proceed with the checking, waiting to hear if any paperwork hassles and a time for the document meeting.
As I live in regional Vic but nominated Essendon as meeting point that may hold things up another couple of weeks.