Ballarat taxi passengers could soon be paying more, if a proposal by the Essential Services Commission is adopted.
Following a review into taxi fares and surcharges across the state, the Commission recommends increasing unbooked taxi fares across Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo by 5.7 per cent.
It also recommends keeping the maximum surcharge for card payments at 4 per cent and 6 per cent for charge cards.
The decision does not cover pre-booked fares or rideshare operators.
The commission says the increase is driven by the boost in the minimum wage and increased vehicle and insurance costs since 2022.
In a statement, the commission’s Executive Director of Price Monitoring and Regulation, Marcus Crudden, says the decision strikes a balance between protecting consumers from paying too much and ensuring taxis remain an accessible option.
