2002

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ROAD TRANSPORT (PUBLIC PASSENGER SERVICES) APPROVAL OF TAXI SECURITY CAMERA STANDARDS 2002

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Circulated by authority of

Bill Wood MLA
Minister for Urban Services

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ROAD TRANSPORT (PUBLIC PASSENGER SERVICES) APPROVAL OF TAXI SECURITY CAMERA STANDARDS 2002

DISALLOWABLE INSTRUMENT - DI 2002 - 166

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Overview

The Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Act 2001 and regulations made under it permit the Road Transport Authority to approve Standards for security cameras in taxis pursuant to sub-regulation 156(1) of the Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Regulations 2002.

The Standards are the first such Standards to be approved by the Authority.

The principal impact of Taxi Security Camera Standards will be to give privacy protection to the public and taxi drivers and allocate responsibility to accredited taxi network providers, accredited taxi service operators and authorised installers for the type, installation, testing of security cameras, and the procedures for downloading, storage and destruction of security camera images.

The Standards will ensure consistency within the taxi industry for the specifications of security cameras utilised.

Details

To ensure high consumer and taxi driver privacy protection, security camera images may only be downloaded for authorised purposes.  Mandatory requirements are also specified for the storage, release and destruction of security camera images. Accredited Taxi Network Providers will not be permitted to release security camera images to the media.

Under the Standards, security cameras must be constructed and supported by the manufacturer’s proprietary software to minimise tampering or adjustment of the camera system and unauthorised access to camera images. 

A specific Standard has been included to require Accredited Taxi Network Providers to appoint a Security Liaison Officer.  This will ensure that appropriate internal security mechanisms will be developed by the network and will provide for efficient access by the Road Transport Authority and State and Federal Police Forces. 

The Taxi Security Camera Standards will comprise part of the required standards for Taxi Network Provider and Taxi Service Operator Accreditation under the Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Regulations 2002.  Non-compliance with the Taxi Security Camera Standards will allow the Road Transport Authority to undertake disciplinary action against the Accredited Taxi Network Provider and Accredited Taxi Service Operator pursuant to those regulations.