DRIVE A2B February 2018

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INTERSTATE NEWS WA taxi industry COMPENSATION BY JOSH CHIAT Western Australia (WA) taxi drivers Neville Sly and Sam Hussain say they should be included in industry compensation being funded through a 10 per cent levy across the taxi and ride-sharing industries. WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti, says money taken from regional taxi operators through a Statewide levy will not be funneled into a metropolitan buyback scheme, despite the concerns of country taxi licensees who want to be included in industry compensation. Under the proposed scheme, which has already met opposition from Perth’s taxi industry, a minimum of $100,000 would be offered to metropolitan plate owners who had seen the value of taxi plates swan dive since the introduction of Uber in Perth in 2014. The McGowan Government plans to fund it through a 10 per cent levy charged across WA’s on-demand transport industry over four years. It will also allow on-demand transport operators to work anywhere in the State and alter their operating hours. But country licence owners will not be offered a buyback at all, with the Department of Transport advising country licences differ from metropolitan plates and are often negligible in value. Ms Saffioti said the State Government was planning to consult with regional taxi operators before presenting the final legislation to Parliament. “The State Government is still liaising with regional operators and is considering a number of options to support them during the temporary levy period,” she said. “We intend to have a support package for regional operators in agreement before the new legislation is introduced to the State Parliament.” Twin City Cabs president Neville Sly, whose organisation runs 38 of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s 44 taxis and includes 36 licence owners, said any compensation should be applied across WA, with the proposed legislation opening the gates for charter vehicles from anywhere in the State to move in on the Goldfields market. He said deregulation would have a negative impact on the value of Kalgoorlie-Boulder licences, some of which had traded for more than $200,000, and which were already getting harder to trade on. “If they’re going to compensate the metropolitan area and we’re under the same legislation why can’t we be compensated?” he said. “We paid as much as the metropolitan area, and some areas might have paid more.” Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson questioned why regional operators would be forced to pay the levy if their funds would not be used for the buyback scheme. “At the very least, the State Government should be offering the same compensation to regional operators if they’re serious about acknowledging the significant changes to the on-demand transport industry,” he said. “If the revenue won’t be used to fund the buyback, why impose the tax on country taxis in the first place?” 22 DRIVE A2B magazine · February 2018
RUMOUR MILL What we hear Are these rumours, fiction or the truth hidden in plain sight? By 2019 the TSC will be absorbed into either the Department of Transport or VicRoads. TSC Industry Compliance Officers will be doing a lot more checks on ride-share drivers, to see whether they have applied for both driver accreditation and a hire car licence. There has been over 10,000 applications for new licences. This is about half the number of Uber drivers on the road - where’s the other half? Many taxi drivers will not continue to drive for their past owners. They are going to try their hand at going it alone. 1HZ4VT - Gotcha! You were spotted last month at Melbourne Airport operating as a taxi, with dome light and 13CABS decals and you still had private plates on!!! Where are your taxi plates? The Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Amendment (Further Reforms) Bill 2017 was passed by the Victorian Parliament on 12 December 2017. The TSC says that once this bill is made law, the reforms will create greater competition, better service and improved passenger safety. Oh, how we really do hope so! BE PART OF THE STORY Melbourne Airport will soon be using eTAGS instead of Swipe Cards for access to the taxi holding system. Join the Conversation DRIVE A2B loves hearing what you think about the magazine, your taxi owner or driver, your network service provider, or just taxis in general. Email DRIVE A2B at info@drivea2b.com.au or sms DRIVE A2B at 0400 137 866. Remember to include your name, address and phone number for authentication. DRIVE A2B magazine · February 2018 23
Page 1 and 2: MAGAZINE on the ranks since 1966 DR
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS WHAT’S INSIDE 6 VH plate
Page 5 and 6: It was recently pointed out to the
Page 7 and 8: VicRoads document printed and given
Page 9 and 10: PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS WANTED We are
Page 11 and 12: enforced the law and met their stat
Page 13 and 14: CPVAA continued CLASS ACTION VS UBE
Page 15 and 16: Introducing AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST T
Page 17 and 18: ARE YOU PUTTING A TAXI ON THE ROAD?
Page 19 and 20: ANNUAL ROADWORTHY INSPECTIONS VicRo
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Page 25 and 26: BOOKING SERVICE PROVIDERS as at 6 D
Page 27 and 28: HYPERLOOP brings airplane speeds to
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Page 33 and 34: Driver Adverts want a driver? want
Page 35 and 36: employment status is due in the UK
Page 37 and 38: QUEENSBERRY ST SEUM SWANSTON ST LYG
Page 39: MELBOURNE CRUISE SHIPS FEBRUARY 201

DRIVE A2B February 2018

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