The final stage of a comprehensive reform of taxi and on-demand transport in Western Australia will be in place from July 2020.
Drivers who hold F and T drivers licence extensions, which are currently required to drive fare-paying passengers, will have 12 months from July to transition to a new Passenger Transport Driver (PTD) authorisation.
In line with other industries where safety and suitability of workers is a major focus, such as the building trades, people driving fare-paying passengers will need to apply for authorisation and renew it each year for a fee.
According to the Government of Western Australia, the on-demand transport reform package has already delivered significant improvements including more accountability for drivers and greater safety for passengers. It has also resulted in mandatory signage requirements for all on-demand vehicles, allowing customers to easily identify the service they are using.
“The introduction of Passenger Transport Driver authorisations completes the biggest reform of the on-demand transport industry in Western Australia’s history,” said Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
“The community rightly expects there will be checks and balances in place to ensure people driving passengers are of fit and proper character and are medically fit – this reform helps ensure that.”
Read more on the Government of Western Australia website
