The order structures taxi charging around several discrete concepts: standard fares (flagfall, distance rate, waiting time), temporal tariffs (first, second, third, fourth tariffs), taxi area categories, definitions of waiting time tied to speed thresholds, specified extra charges, taximeter calibration, and the special treatment of wheelchair‑accessible services.

Standard fares: For each schedule the order sets a three‑part metered structure , a flagfall, a per‑kilometre distance rate, and a per‑minute waiting time rate. The specific dollar amounts differ across Schedules 1-3 and across taxi categories; the Schedules require taximeters to be calibrated to record those amounts (Schedules 1-3, tariff clauses).

Temporal tariffs and tariff hours: The order uses the terms first tariff and second tariff (and, for wheelchair services, third and fourth tariffs) to allocate different rates by time of day. In Schedules 1 and 2, first tariff commonly applies between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays that are not public holidays; the second tariff applies to remaining times (Schedules 1-2, cl 1). For wheelchair‑accessible taxis the third tariff applies between those weekday hours and the fourth tariff at other times (Schedules 1-2, cl 1). Schedule 3 adopts a simpler two‑tariff model that applies uniformly to all taxi areas (Schedule 3, cl 1-2).

Taxi area distinctions: The order distinguishes urban taxi areas (Hobart, Launceston, Burnie, Devonport, Perth, Ulverstone, West Tamar), King Island and Flinders Island taxi areas, and regional taxi areas (s 3 and Schedules 1-3, cl 1). These distinctions feed into different distance and waiting time rates and different speed thresholds used to calculate waiting time.

Waiting time: Waiting time is defined by either a stationary vehicle or a moving vehicle travelling below a speed threshold. The speed thresholds are specified by taxi area and tariff and differ between Schedules 1, 2 and the uniform approach of Schedule 3 (Schedules 1-3, cl 1). That is, what counts as waiting (and is charged by the minute) depends on the tariff in force and the taxi area.

Extra charges: The order contains a confined list of surcharges and pass‑throughs: weekend night surcharge ($4 in s 5(1)(a)), New Year’s surcharge ($7 in s 5(1)(b)), accounting fee up to 5% for credit arrangements (s 5(2)), cleaning fee up to $100 where soiling occurs (s 5(3)), and pass‑through of tolls/ferry/entry fees if a receipt is produced or liability incurred (s 5(4)).

Wheelchair‑accessible and high‑occupancy fares: The order sets higher flagfall and per‑kilometre rates for wheelchair‑accessible taxi services while conveying a passenger travelling in a wheelchair (Schedules 1-3, cl 5). It also permits a high‑occupancy vehicle tariff for wheelchair‑accessible taxis carrying five or more passengers, equivalent to the fourth tariff in the relevant schedule (Schedules 1-3, cl 6).

Taximeter calibration and recording: All specified tariffs are expressed as "amount recorded on the taximeter when the taximeter is calibrated to record" the flagfall, distance, and waiting time amounts (Schedules 1-3, tariff subclauses). This imposes an operational requirement: taximeters must be set to the legally prescribed numeric values for the applicable tariff and schedule.

Interpretation and status: The order expressly applies the Acts Interpretation Act 1931 as if the order were by‑laws (s 3(2)), and it revokes the prior Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries (Taxi Fares) Order 2022 (s 6; Schedule 4). The instrument is a delegated rule made by the Transport Commission and administered by the Department of State Growth (Schedule 4).

Primary affected parties

• Taxi operators holding licences under the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008: they are the party who must ensure taximeters are calibrated to the schedules, who may lawfully charge the standard fares and permitted extra charges, and who will need to update pricing systems and driver instructions when each new schedule commences (s 4; Schedules 1-3 tariff clauses). Where an operator is identified in the order as the "responsible operator of the taxi licence" they have the explicit ability to impose the $100 cleaning fee estimate (s 5(3)) and may recover tolls etc. (s 5(4)).

• Taxi drivers: drivers set the meter at the commencement of a hiring and will be the frontline decision‑makers applying the correct tariff (first/second/third/fourth) and surcharges depending on time of hire, area and passenger characteristics (Schedules 1-3; s 5). Drivers also may impose cleaning charges (s 5(3)), and may require passengers to pay tolls or fees where a receipt is available or liability is incurred (s 5(4)).

• Wheelchair‑accessible taxi operators and passengers travelling in wheelchairs: the order expressly identifies these services and gives them distinct, higher tariffs while conveying a wheelchair passenger (Schedules 1-3, cl 5). Operators of wheelchair‑accessible taxis also may apply the high‑occupancy tariff when carrying five or more passengers (Schedules 1-3, cl 6).

• Hirers (passengers): passengers are the payers of the metered fares and the enumerated extra charges, including surcharges tied to hire commencement times, any accounting fee where they have credit arrangements, cleaning fees where they soil a vehicle, and pass‑through tolls/ferry/entry fees where those are incurred (s 5).

Secondary affected parties and administrative actors

• Booking platform operators and dispatch services: while not named, these entities will need to reflect the legal tariffs and surcharges in price estimates and booking receipts to avoid charging above the legal fare. The order does not reference app providers but their systems will interact operationally with the tariff settings required of operators.

• Taximeter suppliers, installers and calibrators: providers of taximeter hardware and calibration services will need to update or reconfigure devices to the numeric values set for each tariff and schedule and to the waiting time speed thresholds specified by area and tariff (Schedules 1-3, cl 1 and tariff subclauses).

• Transport Commission and Department of State Growth: the Transport Commission made the order (Schedule 4) and the Department administers it. They are responsible for publication, notification (Gazette on 22 January 2025 noted in Schedule 4), and likely compliance oversight under the parent Act, although the order itself does not set out enforcement steps.

Who is not affected directly

• Non‑taxi hire vehicle services such as ride‑share platforms operating outside the Act’s licensing regime: the order applies to taxis operating under licences in accordance with the Act (s 4 and Schedules 1-3, cl 2(1) and cl 2(1) in Schedule 3). If a vehicle is not operating under a licence governed by the Act, the order’s fare prescriptions do not, on their face, apply.

Geographic and temporal scope

• Geographic: the order applies across all taxi areas defined in the Act, with explicit categories for urban taxi areas (named), King Island and Flinders Island taxi areas, and regional taxi areas (s 3; Schedules 1-3).

• Temporal: the order’s tariffs are phased: Schedule 1 for 29 January 2025-28 January 2026, Schedule 2 for 29 January 2026-28 January 2027, and Schedule 3 for 29 January 2027 and subsequent years (s 4; Schedules 1-3).

Practical impacts

• Small operators and sole‑operator drivers bear the compliance work of re‑calibrating meters, training, and managing receipts for tolls and cleaning charges. Larger operators and fleets must coordinate changes across multiple vehicles and update fare displays and booking systems. Passengers will see the effects through higher or differentiated flagfalls, distance and waiting rates and limited specified surcharges.

Duties imposed by the order (explicit)

• Charge only the prescribed standard fares and permitted extra charges: the order sets the "standard fares for the hire of a taxi" and the specific surcharges and fees that "may be charged" (s 4; s 5). Operators and drivers must conform their taximeters and charging practice to those amounts.

• Calibrate taximeters to record the specified amounts: each tariff clause is expressed as "the amount recorded on the taximeter when the taximeter is calibrated to record" the specified flagfall, distance and waiting time rates (Schedules 1-3, tariff subclauses). The duty to ensure calibration aligns with the schedule is therefore central to compliance.

• Apply the correct tariff by time and by taxi category: the order defines when the first/second/third/fourth tariffs apply and links particular tariffs to taxi area categories and to whether the vehicle is conveying a passenger in a wheelchair (Schedules 1-3, cl 1 and tariff clauses). Operators must ensure the meter setting corresponds to the correct tariff for each hire.

• Maintain receipts and evidence for pass‑through charges: s 5(4) allows charging a hirer extra for road tolls, ferry charges and entry/exit fees if the responsible operator or driver is able to produce a receipt demonstrating payment, or has incurred or will incur liability. The practical duty is to retain receipts or equivalent documentation.

• Estimate reasonable cleaning costs and limit the cleaning fee to $100: s 5(3) permits the responsible operator or driver to charge up to $100 "being the amount that the responsible operator or driver estimates to be the reasonable costs of cleaning the taxi". The operative duty is to form an estimate of reasonable costs no greater than $100 and to charge only that amount.

Rights and discretions granted by the order (explicit)

• Right to collect fares set out in the schedule: operators and drivers have the right to charge the flagfall, per‑kilometre and waiting rates as recorded on properly calibrated taximeters (s 4; Schedules 1-3).

• Right to levy specified surcharges and fees: operators and drivers may charge the weekend night surcharge or New Year’s surcharge when the hire commencement falls within the prescribed times (s 5(1)); may charge an accounting fee up to 5% where credit arrangements exist (s 5(2)); and may charge cleaning fees up to $100 and pass through tolls/ferry/fees under the conditions stated (s 5(3)-(4)).

• Right to apply wheelchair and high‑occupancy tariffs: wheelchair‑accessible taxis conveying a passenger in a wheelchair are entitled to apply higher third or fourth tariffs (Schedules 1-3, cl 5). When carrying five or more passengers these taxis may apply a high‑occupancy tariff equivalent to the fourth tariff (Schedules 1-3, cl 6).

Operational duties the order implies

• Configure dispatch and booking systems to the legally prescribed fares and surcharges to avoid non‑conforming price quotes. While the order does not regulate booking platforms, operational compliance requires alignment.

• Recalibrate meters and ensure meter certificates (where statutory certification exists under other laws or under the Act) reflect the correct tariff settings for the current schedule; Schedule 3 changes both monetary rates and waiting time speed thresholds, so recalibration and possible hardware or software updates will be required.

• Provide receipts and records: given the pass‑through rules and accounting fee structure, operators should maintain receipts and records of credit arrangements, toll payments, cleaning charges and the basis for any estimate charged.

Duties not specified in this order

• The order does not specify notice or display obligations for fares, nor does it set enforcement procedures, penalty amounts, or inspection processes. Those elements, if present, would be found in the parent Act or other subordinate instruments; they are not included in this order itself.

The order itself contains no express penalty provisions, infringement notices, or criminal offences. It is a regulatory pricing instrument that prescribes fares and permits a discrete set of additional charges, but it does not specify the mechanisms for enforcement, sanctions or administrative review within its text.

What the order does show about enforcement mechanisms (implicit)

• Delegated rule status and administrative oversight: the order was made by the Transport Commission and is administered in the Department of State Growth (Schedule 4). This locates administrative responsibility for publication, notification and oversight with those authorities. The presence of the Transport Commission as maker and Department as administrator implies those bodies will be the practical points of contact for compliance queries and likely the initial investigators of non‑compliance, but the order does not itself authorise inspectors or prescribe enforcement steps.

• Taximeter calibration as an enforceable nexus: because the tariffs are defined as "amount recorded on the taximeter when the taximeter is calibrated to record" (Schedules 1-3, tariff subclauses), legal compliance turns on proper calibration. Enforcement in practice would typically proceed by checking meter settings and calibration certificates, though the order does not set out inspection powers or penalty amounts.

• Requirement to produce receipts for pass‑throughs: s 5(4)(a) requires that to charge a hirer for tolls/ferry/entry fees the operator or driver "is able to produce a receipt demonstrating payment". Failure to produce such receipts would undermine the entitlement to charge those items; enforcement would therefore hinge on production of documentary proof.

What is not in the order (and the consequence)

• No statutory fines, infringement amounts, or default remedies are specified in this order. It does not say what happens if a driver overcharges or refuses to accept the lawful fare, nor does it provide a private right of action or administrative penalty. Those matters may be governed by the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 or other instruments, but absent those texts here the order itself does not create its own penalty regime.

Practical implication for compliance and dispute avoidance

• Operators and drivers should assume that non‑compliance with the tariff settings or improper application of surcharges could expose them to administrative action under the parent Act, local licensing conditions, consumer law complaints or enforcement by transport authorities, even though the order does not set out those mechanisms. Because the order ties entitlements to documentary proof (receipts) and to meter calibration, keep records and calibration certificates current as primary evidence in any compliance check.

• Passengers who dispute charges will have the contractual or statutory avenues available under the Act or general consumer protection laws (not set out in the order). For immediate safeguarding, operators should maintain receipts, invoices and a clear audit trail for accounting fees, cleaning charges and toll pass‑throughs.

Direct cross‑references within the order

• Parent Act: The order explicitly references the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 by defining "Act" as that statute (s 3(1)). The order applies to taxis "operating under a licence in accordance with the Act" (Schedule 3, cl 2(1)), so its practical legal effect is conditional on the licensing regime established by the Act. Any enforcement mechanisms, licensing conditions or further regulatory duties relevant to fare compliance are likely in that Act rather than in the order.

• Section 93 of the Act: The definition of vehicles covered by the wheelchair‑accessible tariff includes "a vehicle approved under section 93 of the Act to provide a service equivalent to a wheelchair‑accessible taxi service" (Schedules 1-3, cl 5(1)(d)). That cross‑reference means vehicles approved under s 93 of the Act fall within the tariff regime; the meaning and eligibility criteria of s 93 are therefore relevant to tariff application but are not reproduced in this order.

• Acts Interpretation Act 1931: s 3(2) provides that the Acts Interpretation Act 1931 applies to the interpretation of this order as if this order were by‑laws. That governs interpretive presumptions (such as singular/plural rules, time computation, and other general interpretive doctrines) as if the order were by‑laws, which may affect how specific terms or transitional provisions are read.

Interaction by omission

• Enforcement and licensing: The order does not contain enforcement provisions or penalty schedules. Enforcement and sanctions for breaches of fare prescriptions, and the power to inspect and test meters, will rest with the parent Act and any subordinate enforcement instruments. Practitioners must look to the Act and associated regulations for penalties and procedural mechanisms.

• Consumer law: The order prescribes what may be charged, but it does not address broader consumer protections (e.g. misleading pricing or unconscionable conduct) under consumer protection statutes. Operators should consider obligations under Australian Consumer Law and any relevant state consumer protection provisions in fare communication and billing.

Operational and technical interfaces

• Taximeter certification standards under other rules: The order creates a substantive requirement to calibrate taximeters to specific numeric values. Any statutory or regulatory regime that prescribes how meters are certified, who can perform calibration, and the form of certificates will intersect with the practical implementation of this order; those procedural requirements are not in the order and must be located in the Act or other technical rules.

• Local government fees or permits: The order permits pass‑throughs for "entry or exit fees" and ferry charges (s 5(4)). If local authorities or ports impose such fees, operators may recover them subject to the receipt/liability condition, but those third‑party fee regimes are external to the order.

Transitional and revocation effects

• Revocation of prior fares order: The Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries (Taxi Fares) Order 2022 is revoked by Schedule 4 (s 6). This creates a clear temporal replacement: from 29 January 2025 the 2022 order no longer governs fares. Operators must replace the old settings with the new schedule values and retain any evidence of compliance during the transition.

Administrative law and publication

• Rule‑making and publication formalities: The order was made by the Transport Commission and published in the Gazette on 22 January 2025 (Schedule 4). The Rules Publication Act 1953 compliance is noted in Schedule 4. These procedural steps affect legal validity and may be relevant to challenges based on improper promulgation, but no grounds for review are included in the order.

Documented origin and key dates

• Made and sealed: The order was made by the Transport Commission at a meeting on 13 January 2025. The common seal of the Transport Commission was affixed on 13 January 2025 in the presence of Cynthia Heydon, Commissioner for Transport (Schedule 4 signature block).

• Gazette notification: The order was notified in the Gazette on 22 January 2025 (Schedule 4).

• Commencement: The order takes effect on 29 January 2025 (s 2).

Revocation of previous instrument

• The order expressly revokes the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries (Taxi Fares) Order 2022 (s 6; Schedule 4). That is the single express amendment/removal action recorded in the instrument. The change is not incremental amendment of the 2022 order, but a full replacement of fares with the 2025 instrument.

Staged tariff design and intended temporal adjustments

• The order establishes a stepped implementation of fares: Schedule 1 covers 29 January 2025 to 28 January 2026; Schedule 2 covers 29 January 2026 to 28 January 2027; Schedule 3 applies from 29 January 2027 and for subsequent years (s 4; Schedules 1-3). This structure effectively sets out future, pre‑determined tariff levels for two consecutive 12‑month periods and then a standing schedule thereafter. The order does not include an automatic annual indexation formula; rather it specifies fixed numeric values for the three timeline points.

Observations on change between schedules (documented within the order)

• Monetary changes across schedules: The flagfall, distance and waiting rates differ between Schedules 1, 2 and 3. For example, the urban first tariff flagfall is $4.60 in Schedule 1 (Sched 1 cl 2(2)), rises to $5.40 in Schedule 2 (Sched 2 cl 2(2)), and is $6.20 under Schedule 3 (Sched 3 cl 2(2)). Distance and waiting rates similarly increase in the later schedules. These changes are explicit and scheduled by year.

• Structural difference by Schedule 3: Schedule 3 consolidates the fares to apply "to all taxis operating under a licence in accordance with the Act, in all taxi areas" (Schedule 3 cl 2(1)), and specifies uniform waiting time speed thresholds (Schedule 3 cl 1). That is, Schedule 3 abandons some area‑specific distinctions that appear in Schedules 1 and 2, replacing them with a uniform statewide standard. That structural shift is itself an amendment in policy and operational terms embedded in the instrument.

No recorded amendments after making

• The instrument as provided contains no subsequent amending instrument or notation of later amendments. The recorded amendment history is the replacement of the 2022 order and the staged implementation across 2025-27. Any subsequent amendments would need to be located in later made orders or secondary instruments; none are present in the supplied text.

The Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries (Taxi Fares) Order 2025 text contains no litigation record, no reference to judicial decisions, and names no cases. The instrument is a subordinate pricing order and the supplied materials do not include any judicial interpretation or challenges.

What the absence of litigation content in the instrument implies for practitioners

• No in‑text precedents: Because the order contains no litigation history, practitioners must look elsewhere (decisions under the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008, administrative decisions, or tribunal determinations) for any case law on meter calibration disputes, lawful application of surcharges, or disputes over cleaning fees and pass‑through recoveries. None are referred to in the order.

• Potential avenues for challenge not specified: The instrument does not state appeal routes or merits review mechanisms for disputes about tariff application or the reasonableness of cleaning fees; such remedies, if any, will be found in the parent Act or general administrative law pathways. In the absence of litigation history within the order, reliance on statutory review or general administrative law principles is necessary.

Matters likely to generate future litigation or disputes (based on instrument content)

• Disputes over what constitutes "reasonable" cleaning costs up to $100: s 5(3) leaves the operator or driver to "estimate" reasonable cleaning costs; the lack of objective formula may give rise to disputes and claims of overcharging.

• Meter calibration and tariff selection: because legality of charges is tied to taximeter calibration (Schedules 1-3), disputes may arise about incorrect meter settings, whether meters were properly calibrated for the applicable tariff, or whether the correct tariff was in force at the commencement of the hire.

• Application of wheelchair‑accessible and high‑occupancy tariffs: conflicts could arise over whether a vehicle qualifies as a wheelchair‑accessible taxi under s 93 of the Act, whether a passenger is "travelling in a wheelchair", or whether a high‑occupancy surcharge is properly applied when passenger counts are close to the five‑passenger threshold.

• Pass‑throughs and receipt requirements: s 5(4) conditions pass‑through on production of receipts or liability; disputes may focus on the sufficiency of evidence or the timing of liability.

Because none of these matters are litigated or decided within the text, the order should be treated as a rates and process instrument; any contested interpretation or enforcement will need to be resolved through proceedings under the Act or in general jurisdictions.

1. Meter calibration is the legal linchpin. Each tariff is defined as the amount "recorded on the taximeter when the taximeter is calibrated to record" the specified flagfall, distance and waiting rates (Schedules 1-3). That means a meter showing a different figure, or calibrated to the wrong tariff, undermines the operator’s entitlement to charge the amount. Ensure calibration certificates and meter software reflect the precise numeric rates and the correct tariff selection for time of hire.

2. Waiting time depends on speed thresholds that vary by schedule and area, and in Schedule 3 those thresholds change to a single statewide standard. For example, Schedule 1 specifies urban waiting thresholds of 18.1 km/h (first tariff) and 15.1 km/h (second tariff) (Schedule 1 cl 1), while Schedule 3 sets waiting time at moving speeds of 16.2 km/h (first tariff) and 13.5 km/h (second tariff) (Schedule 3 cl 1). These numeric differences affect when time‑based charges apply rather than distance charges. Taximeter logic and driver practice must reflect the correct thresholds.

3. Tariff classification depends on both time and taxi category. For wheelchair‑accessible vehicles the third tariff (weekday day hours) and fourth tariff (other times) apply; for typical taxis first and second tariffs apply (Schedules 1-2, cl 1). Under Schedule 3 those distinctions are consolidated, but practitioners must check which schedule is in force for any given date and which taxi category their licence is tied to.

4. Surcharges apply only if the hire commences within specified windows. The weekend night surcharge ($4) applies to hires commencing between 10 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday and 10 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday, "if those periods do not occur during" the New Year’s window (s 5(1)(a)). The New Year’s surcharge ($7) applies to hires commencing between 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve and 6 a.m. New Year’s Day (s 5(1)(b)). Precision is required: the entitlement to these surcharges is tied to the moment the hire commences, not when the trip traverses those periods.

5. Accounting fee limited to credit arrangements. s 5(2) permits an accounting fee "not exceeding 5% of the metered fare" only "in the case where credit arrangements have been made with the hirer". Do not apply the fee routinely for cashless payments unless there is a discrete credit arrangement; otherwise the charge may be outside the order’s permission.

6. Cleaning fee is capped and discretionary but subjective. s 5(3) permits a charge "of up to $100, being the amount that the responsible operator or driver estimates to be the reasonable costs of cleaning the taxi". The statute does not provide criteria for "reasonable", nor a dispute mechanism. Record the basis for the estimate, photographs, invoices for cleaning services and any witness statements to support the amount charged.

7. Toll/ferry/entry pass‑through requires proof or liability. s 5(4) permits charging for tolls etc. only if the operator/driver can produce a receipt or has incurred/will incur liability. Operators should retain receipts and document when liability is incurred to avoid disputes.

8. Wheelchair passenger status is a trigger for different tariffs. The higher wheelchair tariffs apply "while conveying a passenger travelling in a wheelchair" (Schedules 1-3, cl 5(2)). Clarify what evidence or practice will be used to confirm when the wheelchair tariff is applicable, and ensure dispatch and meters are set accordingly.

9. High‑occupancy tariff limited to wheelchair‑accessible vehicles carrying five or more passengers. The high‑occupancy option is not a general group fare; it applies only to wheelchair‑accessible taxis, remote area equivalents or substitute wheelchair taxis when carrying five or more passengers (Schedules 1-3, cl 6). Operators offering non‑accessible large vehicles cannot rely on that clause.

10. Revocation of 2022 order is complete. s 6 and Schedule 4 revoke the 2022 fares order. Operators who have not transitioned systems, meter settings and training to the 2025 order risk non‑compliance after 29 January 2025.

11. Absence of enforcement details in the order. The order does not specify penalties, inspection powers or dispute resolution processes. Operators should not assume non‑enforcement; check the parent Act for enforcement mechanisms and keep records (receipts, calibration certificates) in case of compliance investigations.

12. Timing mismatch between making and commencement. The order was made and sealed on 13 January 2025, published on 22 January 2025, and commences on 29 January 2025 (Schedule 4; s 2). This gives a short practical lead time; ensure rapid reconfiguration and staff communication.

Step 1 , Identify applicable schedule and taxi category

• Determine which schedule applies to the date of each hire: Schedule 1 for hires between 29 January 2025 and 28 January 2026; Schedule 2 for 29 January 2026 to 28 January 2027; Schedule 3 from 29 January 2027 and subsequent years (s 4).
• Confirm which taxi area the licence relates to (urban, King Island/Flinders Island, regional) and whether the vehicle is a wheelchair‑accessible taxi, remote area wheelchair‑accessible taxi, substitute wheelchair‑accessible taxi, or a vehicle approved under section 93 of the Act (s 3; Schedules 1-3, cl 5(1)).

Step 2 , Update and calibrate taximeters

• Reprogram taximeters to the exact flagfall, per‑kilometre and waiting time numeric values specified for the applicable schedule and tariff. Each tariff clause is framed as the "amount recorded on the taximeter when the taximeter is calibrated to record" those figures (Schedules 1-3).
• Ensure meter software or hardware also implements the correct tariff switching logic by time (first/second/third/fourth tariffs) and by taxi category. Pay special attention to the waiting time speed thresholds for the area and tariff in force (Schedules 1-3, cl 1).
• Obtain and retain calibration certification or a calibration record if such certification is required by the parent Act or transport regulators. This is primary evidence of lawful meter settings.

Step 3 , Update booking, dispatch and point‑of‑sale systems

• Configure booking apps, dispatch systems and fare estimate calculators to reflect the legally prescribed fares and permitted surcharges. Ensure surge or dynamic pricing features do not override or exceed legal fare caps. While the order governs taxis under licence, non‑conforming fare displays create consumer disputes and potential regulatory attention.
• Ensure the system computes the correct surcharge where the hire commences within the specified night/weekend or New Year’s windows (s 5(1)). Use hire commencement timestamp to determine surcharge applicability.

Step 4 , Establish procedures for extra charges

• Accounting fee: implement a documented policy that applies a ≤5% accounting fee only where bona fide credit arrangements are in place with the hirer (s 5(2)). Maintain records of the credit agreement and the fee applied.
• Cleaning fee: create a documented cleaning charge policy that sets out circumstances in which the operator or driver may estimate cleaning costs and charge up to $100 (s 5(3)). Preserve photographic evidence, cleaning invoices, and a written estimate to justify the amount charged in case of dispute.
• Tolls/ferries/entry fees: require drivers and operators to collect receipts and log liabilities for any pass‑through items (s 5(4)). Design a receipt collection and reconciliation process to demonstrate entitlement to charge passengers.

Step 5 , Train drivers and frontline staff

• Train drivers in: which tariff applies at which times and under what circumstances; the correct selection of meter tariff settings; the threshold for charging waiting time versus distance; the narrow conditions for surcharges, accounting fees and cleaning/toll pass‑throughs; and documentation requirements for receipts and cleaning estimates.
• Provide drivers with quick reference aids showing tariff times, surcharge windows and cap levels. Ensure drivers understand that the hire commencement, not trip duration, determines surcharge eligibility.

Step 6 , Record keeping and evidence preservation

• Maintain calibration certificates, meter logs, fare receipts, transactional records showing fare computation, copies of toll/ferry receipts, photographic evidence for cleaning incidents and documentation of credit arrangements. Because entitlement to certain charges is conditioned on documentary proof (e.g. s 5(4)(a)), retain originals or certified copies.
• For cleaning charges, maintain a contemporaneous estimate and evidence of cleaning costs (invoices, supplier receipts). Record the identity of the responsible operator and the driver who applied the charge.

Step 7 , Communications to customers

• Ensure fare information supplied to passengers (via apps, websites, on‑vehicle signage if required by other rules) aligns with legal tariffs. While the order does not prescribe display obligations, clear communication reduces disputes. Disclose the existence and timing of weekend and New Year’s surcharges, the accounting fee policy when applicable, the possibility of a cleaning fee up to $100, and toll pass‑through conditions.

Step 8 , Review licensing conditions and parent Act obligations

• Check licence conditions imposed under the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 for any additional fare display, recordkeeping, accreditation or meter testing obligations. The order ties into that Act and a licence may contain conditions that affect compliance (Schedules 1-3 cross‑refer to licences "that has a condition imposed on the licence authorising the tariff ..." in cl 2(1)(b) type provisions).

Step 9 , Prepare for scheduled transitions

• Note the staged rates and prepare system updates in advance of each schedule’s commencement date. The short window between publication (22 January 2025) and commencement (29 January 2025) shows the need for timely implementation. Build a calendar reminder for 29 January 2026 and 29 January 2027 for the subsequent automatic schedule changes.

Step 10 , Address disputes and inspection readiness

• Anticipate potential audits or customer complaints by keeping a readily retrievable file for each vehicle: calibration certificate, recent fare logs, receipts for tolls/ferries, records of credit arrangements, and any evidence supporting a cleaning fee. In the absence of penalty specifications in the order, such documentation will be fundamental to defending lawful charging in any regulatory or consumer dispute.

Practical checklist (condensed)

• Confirm applicable schedule and taxi area.
• Recalibrate meters to exact numeric values and record certificate.
• Update dispatch/booking systems and fare displays.
• Adopt documented policies for accounting fees, cleaning charges and toll pass‑throughs; collect receipts.
• Train drivers and staff on tariff application rules and documentation requirements.
• Retain calibration certificates, receipts and evidence for all extra charges.
• Monitor for further orders or amendments from the Transport Commission or Department of State Growth.

Following these steps aligns operational practice with the text of the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries (Taxi Fares) Order 2025 and positions operators to demonstrate compliance if questioned by regulators or challenged by customers.