Version No. 037
Bus Safety Act 2009
No. 13 of 2009
Version incorporating amendments as at
11 September 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
Part 1—Preliminary
1Purpose
2Commencement
3Definitions
3ATransport Integration Act 2010
4Objects of bus safety
5Crown to be bound
6Interaction with Occupational Health and Safety Act
7Declaration powers of Safe Transport Victoria
8Declaration of substances to be a drug
Part 2—Principles of bus safety
9Principle of shared responsibility
10Principle of accountability for managing safety risks
11Principle of enforcement
12Principle of transparency and consistency
13Principle of participation, consultation and involvement of all affected persons
Part 3—Bus safety duties
Division 1—The concept of ensuring safety
14The concept of ensuring safety
Division 2—Safety duties
15Duty of operator
16Duty of procurer
17Duty of bus safety worker
18Duties in relation to bus stopping points and bus stop infrastructure
Division 3—Bus inspections and safety audits
19Bus safety inspections
20Safety audits
Part 4—Accreditation of operators of bus services
Division 1—Preliminary
21Purpose of accreditation
Division 2—Bus operator accreditation
22Offence if operator of bus service is not accredited
23Application for accreditation
24Decision on application for accreditation
25Accreditation to be refused in certain circumstances
26Accreditation may be refused in certain circumstances
27Disqualification from ability to apply for accreditation
28Notification and reasons to be given if accreditation refused
Division 3—Provisions relating to accreditation
29Classes of accreditation
30Issue of certificate of accreditation
31Conditions on accreditation
32Offence to fail to comply with conditions of accreditation
33Time within which Safe Transport Victoria must make decision whether to accredit operator
34Accreditation lasts until cancelled or surrendered
35Accreditation cannot be transferred
36Requirements relating to drivers who hold probationary driver licences
36AAnnual accreditation fee
36BOffence for driver to provide bus service without appropriate driver licence
Division 4—Variation and surrender of accreditation
37Accredited bus operator may apply for variation
38Accredited bus operator to notify of relevant changes in circumstances
39Variation of accreditation on Safe Transport Victoria's own initiative
40Surrender of accreditation
Division 5—Bus services under corresponding law
41Unaccredited operators from outside Victoria
42Criteria on which accreditation application of operator accredited or registered under corresponding law to be assessed
43Notification of changes in circumstances in respect of accreditation or registration under corresponding law
44Co-ordination between Safe Transport Victoria and corresponding Bus Safety Regulator
Division 6—Suspension, cancellation and other disciplinary action
45Immediate suspension of accreditation
46Disciplinary action against an accredited bus operator
47Procedure and powers concerning disciplinary inquiries
48Procedure for taking disciplinary action
49Effect of suspension
Division 7—Exemptions granted by Safe Transport Victoria
50Definition
51Accreditation exemption for operators
52What applicant must demonstrate
53Determination of application for exemption
54Application for variation of an exemption
55Determination of application for variation
55APrescribed conditions and restrictions
55BVariation of conditions and restrictions
55CSafe Transport Victoria may make changes to conditions or restrictions
55DRevocation or suspension of an exemption
55EPenalty for breach of condition or restriction
Division 8—Miscellaneous
55FOperator to return certificate when accreditation cancelled or surrendered
55GSafe Transport Victoria may request information
55HCommunication with responsible person
Part 4A—Accreditation of drivers of commercial bus services and local bus services
Division 1—Preliminary
55IPublic care objective