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The implications of the Chandler accreditation case are only just starting to be understood. Michael Noel Chandler and Changa Enterprises Pty Ltd were found guilty of 12 charges of breaching the NSW Passenger Transport Act. They include: - the major liability to accredited operators who 'lend' their accreditation to other operators - the defining of who is accredited on major sub-contract jobs, such as rail replacement. It appears that the head contractor needs to carry accreditation for all the sub-contractors whether they have accreditation or not - the need for the head contractor to carry public liability insurance for all sub-contractors, whether they are accredited are not - Self drive and hire and drive operations may be illegal in NSW. Certainly anyone who hires a coach and then charges passengers must be accredited as well as the hirer. This also has major implications for schools and clubs who charge for the use of their buses. - Details of what State Rail pays for rail replacement may now be public - and a TV network is looking for a major expose on how some coach companies are paid much more than others. With State Rail of NSW contracting out more than $10 million of rail replacement (accelerated with breakdowns in the system and running the Canberra services with coaches for the next month), a major review is underway internally about the implications. Associated legal action also puts some doubt on how accreditation of coaches are shared or recognised across state borders. A Transport NSW spokesman declined to offer further comment on the case. Further reports in ABC next month and through this website.