Canberra Airport - Rego ACT - ACT Government

8. Fare – Commercial Viability And Deregulation
Canberra Airport accepts that a number of our proposals will have a commercial impact on
the taxi industry. Notwithstanding this, Canberra Airport does not support the complete
deregulation of the determination of the fare – Canberra Airport is concerned that if the
determination of the fare is completely deregulated there is a potential for a marked decrease
in the service offering and quality provided to the end consumer. (With reductions in fares as
a result of greater competition through an open market, there are inevitably cost cuts and
service reductions).
Canberra Airport is a supporter for the pricing and structure of fares to allow for the recovery
of all costs associated with the taxi industry including the provision of commissionaires, staff
training, uniforms, performance measure implementation, costs of licences etc. In this regard,
Canberra Airport accepts that the taxi industry is a commercial business and should be
allowed to function that way. There needs to be an acknowledgement that with higher service
standards, more plates and with our smaller population base, fares cannot be set at a similar
level as the larger locations - it is in some ways only natural that our fares should be higher.
If we are to increase the number of plates (something that Canberra Airport believes is
essential), at the same time implement a series of performance measures, as well require the
provision of commissionaires at certain taxi ranks (something that Canberra Airport believes
is essential to the efficient operation of the taxi industry), and given our smaller population as
compared to the larger cities - then there will be additional costs which will need to be
included in the taxi fare.