Taxi bailment

The Queensland Government no longer regulates the requirement for mandatory written bailment agreements between taxi operators and drivers.

‘Bailment agreement’ refers to a business relationship between a taxi operator and an authorised taxi driver. It can cover topics such as what payment will be given by the driver to the operator for the right to bail their vehicle for a period of time as well as any other entitlements or obligations agreed to.

Any taxi service bailment agreements in force immediately before 9 June 2017 will still continue. Taxi operators and drivers are still able to enter into new bailment agreements if they choose to.  The Department of Transport and Main Roads has published a model bailment agreement which may be utilised by operators and drivers.

Agreements between personalised transport drivers and operators may be subject to workplace relations law, or, if they are an independent contractor, other legislation, such as the Independent Contractors Act 2006, may apply.

In some cases where an operator employs fewer than 20 people, they may be covered by the unfair contract provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.