Criminal history checks for passenger transport driver applicants and driver authorisation holders
To ensure the safety of children, other vulnerable members of the community as well as the personal safety of passengers and their property all driver authorisation applicants and current driver authorisation holders must have a satisfactory criminal history.
Criminal history checks are undertaken as part of the application process on all driver authorisation applicants before an application can be approved. Holders of driver authorisation are also subject to ongoing monitoring of any changes to their criminal history.
When assessing the suitability of an applicant the Department of Transport and Main Roads considers criminal history offences and charges that constitute a driver disqualifying offence.
Driver disqualifying offences relate to specific offences under the Criminal Code 1899, Drugs Misuse Act 1986, Weapons Act 1990, Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994, Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Regulation 2018 and offences against a law of another jurisdiction, including outside Australia, that substantially correspond to an offence under any of the above acts and regulations.
For further information, refer to the information bulletin 'Driver Authorisation—Effect of a Driver Disqualifying Offence'.
More information
For further information concerning driver authorisations, click on the links below or contact your nearest passenger transport office.
- Last updated 31 July 2023