Fines for Unaccredited Bus Drivers and New Rules for Driver Permission and Shared Vehicle Hire
Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2023
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
commercial driving criminal penalties driver accreditation driver licensing information sharing privacy professional licensing public transport road transport transport safety
Introduced by: Harriet Shing MLC (ALP); The Hon Melissa Horne MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Safe Transport Victoria must suspend a driver accreditation if the driver's licence is suspended or cancelled.
Safe Transport Victoria must suspend an accreditation and serve an immediate notice if a driver is charged with a category 1 offence.
Safe Transport Victoria can suspend an accreditation immediately if it believes it is in the public interest.
Safe Transport Victoria must cancel an accreditation if a driver is found guilty of a category 1 offence.
Safe Transport Victoria must cancel an accreditation if a driver becomes a registered sex offender or is subject to a serious offender supervision order.
Drivers face a fine for failing to carry or produce their accreditation certificate when asked by police or transport safety officers.
People face a fine for breaking conditions attached to the surrender of a driver accreditation.
Accredited drivers cannot transfer or give their accreditation to anyone else. Doing so is void and carries a fine of 60 penalty units (2026: $12,546).
Bus drivers must be accredited to provide commercial or local bus services. Drivers who are not accredited can be fined 60 penalty units (2026: $12,546).
Safe Transport Victoria must refuse driver accreditation if the applicant does not have an Australian driver licence, has a category 1 offence conviction, or is a registered sex offender or serious offender.
Safe Transport Victoria must refuse driver accreditation if the applicant has a category 2 offence conviction or an active category 1 charge, unless they are satisfied it is appropriate to grant it.
People or companies cannot offer electric scooters, bicycles, or other light vehicle types set by regulation for hire in a sharing scheme without an agreement with the local council. Individuals can be fined 60 penalty units (2026: $12,546) and companies can be fined 300 penalty units (2026: $62,730).
Passenger transport companies, bus companies, and transport officials can be fined 50 penalty units (2026: $10,455) if they use or share public transport movement information for unapproved reasons.
People applying for driver accreditation must meet requirements set by Safe Transport Victoria. This can include training, qualifications, medical and fitness tests, photos, and signatures.
Accredited drivers must follow all conditions of their accreditation. Drivers who fail to do so can be fined 30 penalty units (2026: $6,273).