The Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) assists with the travel needs of people with accessibility and mobility needs by offering subsidised CPV fares to members.

Members get 50 per cent off the total fare, up to $60, with some restrictions. If the subsidy changes, payment terminals will be updated automatically. Drivers don’t have to do anything.

CPV registration conditions state that vehicles that can provide unbooked services (services hailed on the street or at a taxi rank) must be able to provide services for the MPTP.

Fares

If the trip is unbooked and commences in metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Ballarat or Bendigo, the fare charged to the customer must not exceed the maximum fare determined by the Essential Services Commission.

When providing a CPV service to an MPTP member:

  • charge the same fare as any other passenger for the same trip
  • only charge an MPTP subsidy to a member if that MPTP member has travelled in the vehicle
  • apply any discounts or offers as advertised by your provider prior to the MPTP subsidy being applied
  • the total cost to the member can include the fare and any extras related to the trip, including
    • booking fees
    • flag fall
    • fare
    • levy recovery charges
    • late night or holiday fees
    • tolls
    • airport charges
    • high occupancy vehicle (HOV) charges. Please note that this fee can only be applied for five or more passengers (including a person(s) who uses a wheelchair or other mobility aid). It cannot be applied where the passenger requests a larger than standard vehicle because they use a wheelchair.

If a non-cash payment surcharge applies to taxi fares, it should only be charged after the MPTP subsidy is discounted from the member’s portion of the fare.

If a fee is charged for something not related to the trip, such as cleaning or tipping, it should only be applied after the MPTP subsidy discount is taken from the member’s portion of the fare.

An emergency paper MPTP transaction can be provided if:

  • the CabCharge EFTPOS device is malfunctioning
  • an MPTP member’s carer has lawful possession of the member’s card due to that member’s severe disability and the carer is at the pick-up location rather than the drop-off location.

Before a member signs an emergency voucher, make sure to fill out all the details about the trip and fare.

If the MPTP card has ‘must sign’ on it, ask the member to sign the voucher and check that the signature matches the one on the card.

Give the member a copy of the voucher and return their card. Make sure to also provide the emergency voucher copy to your BSP to process.

Using fare calculation devices for MPTP trips

A Fare Calculation Device (FCD) is used to calculate fares and must be switched on and operating for all journeys. The FCD must be:

  • visible to passengers who are facing forward
  • accurately recording and displaying the fares and additional charges for the service.

A subsidised fare must not be processed for a MPTP member where their card has been rejected by the electronic terminal as:

  • subsidy cap reached
  • card expired. Do not proceed with voucher payment
  • card cancelled. Do not proceed with voucher payment.

If a passenger requests a receipt, it should include:

  • the driver’s accreditation number if provided by a booking service provider
  • the name of the booking service provider
  • the registration number of the vehicle
  • all the items which make up the fare and any additional fees, rates and charges
  • the total amount paid
  • the date of the payment.

If you use a device to calculate the MPTP fare, it must be on for the entire trip. However, you cannot use the device for things that are not related to the trip, such as carrying packages or shopping for the MPTP member. It also must not be stopped and re-started during one individual leg of the trip in order to avoid the maximum MPTP subsidy payable for that leg of the trip.

To receive a lifting fee, don’t start the device until after loading a passenger who uses a wheelchair and make sure to stop the device before unloading the passenger.

For shared trips, please see ‘Managing shared rides’ below.

The FCD must not be running while a MPTP passenger with a wheelchair/scooter taxi card is being loaded or unloaded. However, the FCD may be turned on during the loading/unloading process if the passenger is an interstate member of a respective taxi subsidy scheme and presents an interstate voucher for payment.

You should contact the passenger/s to let them know you have arrived. You must speak to them or their carer — leaving a voicemail message is not considered as having made contact.

You may not start the FCD until you have contacted the passenger and the pre-booked time has passed.

If the passenger is running late and they ask you to wait, you can turn the FCD on at the time they booked. However, as a matter of customer service, you may decide not to do so.

If you do choose to start the FCD while you are waiting for a MPTP member, you must pause the FCD before you commence the loading process and only start again just prior to moving off.

Where you have been hailed on the street or at a rank, you should wait until the passenger has entered your vehicle, you have started the engine and are about to indicate to pull out into traffic before you start the FCD.

Except as described above, you should only pause the FCD when you are responsible
for a delay. For example:

  • if you need to stop to refuel although generally this should be done when you have no passengers
  • if you need to stop to repair the vehicle (e.g. flat tyre)
  • until you are back on the correct route.

You must also pause the FCD when instructed to do so by an Safe Transport Victoria Authorised officer.

Managing shared rides

A shared ride is when a CPV picks up either:

  • two or more MPTP members at one location and drops them at different locations
  • picks up two or more MPTP members from different locations and drops them at one location.

To get the MPTP subsidy, at least one MPTP member must be in the vehicle during the shared ride.

You may only charge extras once for the trip. However, if you drop off multiple MPTP members using wheelchairs at different locations during a shared ride, you can claim a lifting fee for each member.

Using a fare calculator for shared trips

For shared trips where no passenger is in a wheelchair, you have two options to use your fare calculation device.

You can turn on the device when you pick up the first person and turn it off when you reach the final destination.

Any MPTP member who travels to the final destination can pay for the trip, but if the fare is too high (over $120), you must tell the passengers who will pay before the trip starts.

 

You turn on the device when you pick up the first person and turn it off at the first stop.

You repeat this process for each subsequent leg of the trip.

You can only calculate one fare for one trip, and you cannot charge any member for more than one leg of the trip, even if multiple passengers get off at the same place.

Please note: if a high occupancy vehicle fee applies then it may only be applied once.

How your BSP can start providing MPTP services

In order to offer MPTP services, any BSP must use an authorised data collection provider (DCP).

A DCP provides technology (including a user interface) for drivers and members to process MPTP transactions. This includes managing data and payments and preventing fraud. Sometimes, a BSP can apply to become a DCP and offer services to itself.

Our DCP Expansion Project streamlines the application process to become an authorised DCP, increasing transportation options for MPTP members.

There are several conditions a potential DCP must meet in order to offer or support MPTP services and all applicants will be evaluated based on the criteria provided. Interested providers must also attend a briefing session with Safe Transport Victoria to discuss the application.

The process is fair and equitable for all potential providers, regardless of their business size or status.

Prospective providers will be assessed against a range of criteria. Assessments will take into consideration:

  • financial capability
  • insurance cover
  • any potential conflicts of interest
  • business capability – for example resources, risk management, customer service
  • the user experience for MPTP members and industry (drivers, booking service providers, vehicle owners)
  • innovation and value-adding potential
  • social benefit
  • past performance and current work
  • systems to measure and monitor performance
  • pricing
  • value for money.

If you are interested in becoming a DCP, please contact DCPExpansion.Project@safetransport.vic.gov.au.

  • Wheelchair accessible vehicles– The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (DSAPT) outline the requirements and design standards that all wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) are required to meet and comply with. These include WAVs having wheelchair/occupant restraint systems, grabrails, signs and alarms. Braille is required in all WAV vehicles in line with Commonwealth requirements.
  • Taxis (booked, unbooked) and Rideshare vehicles– These vehicles must carry a current, annual Certificate of Roadworthiness for the licensed vehicle or current evidence that the vehicle has passed a CPVV-approved inspection process.

Carrying assistance animals

Assistance animals help hundreds of Victorians to live independent lives. They assist their owners by giving them a greater sense of freedom and helping them with their daily tasks.

Under the Commonwealth’s Disability Discrimination Act 1992, you cannot discriminate against a person with a disability because they possess, or are accompanied by, an animal trained to assist them to alleviate the effect of the disability.

Drivers must take a passenger with an assistance animal in the passenger area of the commercial passenger vehicle.

Assistance animals can include dogs for people who are vision or hearing impaired, medical alert animals, mobility assistance animals and psychiatric service animals.

The regulations require that CPV drivers transport passengers with their assistance animals.

Refusing to carry an assistance animal is an offence under the current Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Regulations 2018 and may result in penalties against a driver who is found to be in breach of these regulations.

 

Some assistance animals wear identification and others do not. As long as they’re trained to help a person alleviate their disability, they’re considered an assistance animal.

Assistance animals are highly trained to ensure appropriate and exceptional behaviour and health standards, so they can be safely admitted where other animals are not otherwise permitted.

Every assistance animal is clean and trained to be quiet, well behaved and obedient.

A person who is travelling with an assistance animal can choose where to sit in the vehicle with their animal. However, the animal will usually sit in the floor area in front of the front passenger seat. This is the safest area for the animal and the car occupants in the event of a motor vehicle accident.

 

Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Regulations 2018

Part 6: Operational Requirements

26 Assistance animals

(1)  The driver of a commercial passenger vehicle being used to provide a commercial passenger vehicle service must accept an animal for carriage in that vehicle if—

(a)  the animal is an assistance animal; and

(b)  the animal is accompanied by a passenger of the commercial passenger vehicle.

Penalty:    10 penalty units.

(2)  In this regulation—

assistance animal has the same meaning as it has in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 of the Commonwealth.