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Some changes have begun, and include:

  • the release of new owner operator taxi licences (OOTLS) has been suspended until 2024
  • taxis can now be used until they are aged 12 years from the date of manufacture
  • taxis no longer need to be new when they are first used as taxis, as they can be aged up to seven years from the date of manufacture
  • luxury hire car licences cost less, as they now cost $3 000 on issue of licence

The next set of changes will be announced.

1What are the changes?

The changes seeks to deliver a level playing field for all those in the industry. Annual administration fees, safety requirements and accountabilities will be applied fairly across all industry participants.

The key elements of the framework are:

  • Suspension of the release of new Taxi licences – suspend the mandated release of new owner-operator taxi licences (OOTLs) for four years (2021 to 2024), and no change to the number of taxi areas but minor modifications to boundaries.
  • Reserve prices for new owner-operator taxi licences– values will be set by the Economic Regulator but for years 1-5 the value of taxi licences determined by the Economic Regulator will be no less than 90 per cent of the previous year.
  • Maintain the existing luxury hire car and restricted hire vehicle licences – ride-sourcing vehicles will remain unlicensed but services will be captured in the regulatory framework through the accreditation of the booking service provider.
  • Regulation of booking service providers – key industry participants who benefit financially from the industry, including ride‑sourcing platforms, such as Uber, and taxi networks, will be regulated and able to be held accountable for any breaches in safety.
  • Introducing a chain of responsibility model – all parties who have control or influence over passenger transport services are responsible for complying with, and for breaches of, these laws.
  • Introducing a primary duty of care – each party in the chain of responsibility will have a primary duty of care to ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and other persons while they are engaged in providing the service.
  • Regulation of drivers – through regulations, ensure that drivers are suitable to be providing commercial public passenger vehicle services.
  • Regulation of vehicles – through regulations, ensure that all vehicles are safe to be transporting passengers.