SCHEDULE 1 - Criteria for Whee SCHEDULE 1 - Criteria for Wheelchair-accessible taxis, Remote Area wheelchair-accessible taxis and Substitute Wheelchair-accessible taxis

Section 3

1.   Criteria

(1) The Commission may approve a vehicle for use as a wheelchair-accessible taxi, a remote area wheelchair-accessible taxi or a substitute wheelchair-accessible taxi if –

(a) [Schedule 1 Amended by No. 61 of 2011, s. 57, Applied:01 Jul 2013] the vehicle has no more than 12 seats in any configuration; and

(b) the vehicle complies with the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 formulated under section 31(1) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 of the Commonwealth; and

(c) any modifications to make the vehicle wheelchair-accessible do not significantly alter the original external appearance of the vehicle; and

(d) [Schedule 1 Amended by No. 61 of 2011, s. 57, Applied:01 Jul 2013] [Schedule 1 Amended by No. 28 of 2020, s. 66, Applied:30 Dec 2020] the vehicle is fitted with a wheelchair restraint assembly that complies with AS/NZS 10542.1.2015; and

(e) any hoist or ramp fitted to the vehicle complies with AS 3856; and

(f) the vehicle is fitted with a secondary, independent emergency-release mechanism on the wheelchair entry door that is clearly labelled with the words "EMERGENCY RELEASE"; and

(g) the vehicle has an access door adjacent to each outboard seating position; and

(h) the vehicle has adequate luggage space to the rear of the rearmost seat when the vehicle is not configured to carry a passenger seated in a wheelchair; and

(i) [Schedule 1 Amended by No. 28 of 2020, s. 66, Applied:30 Dec 2020] the vehicle, at the time of approval for use, is not more than 7 years old.