DRIVE A2B June 2017

MAGAZINE 

on the ranks since 1966 

DRIVE 

Voice of the Victorian Point-to-Point Transport Industry 

JUNE 2017 

NO 02 

incorporating 

VOICE 

OF THE TAXI INDUSTRY 

TAXI 

IT’S 

TIME 

for the Victorian 

Government to make the 

fair and right decision. 

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WHAT’S BEEN 

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The Directors of Trade Promotions Pty Ltd (publishers 

of Taxi Talk) believe that to remain competitive and 

relevant to this industry – the commercial passenger 

vehicle industry – it’s time for Taxi Talk – Voice of the 

Taxi Industry to be rebranded. 

Taxi Talk was published for 51 years (1966 - 2017) 

and the new brand of DRIVE A2B - is incorporating 

everything from Taxi Talk in DRIVE A2B plus more. 

We didn’t sell Taxi Talk, we have simply rebranded 

it DRIVE A2B - Voice of the Victorian Point-to-Point 

Transport Industry, to keep current and competitive 

with this digital technologically savvy age we are 

living in. 

We pride ourselves on reporting news of the Pointto-Point 

Transport industry, both in Australia and 

overseas, when it happens as it happens. Everyone 

is entitled to have their say and DRIVE A2B magazine 

gives everyone the opportunity to do just that! 

Delivering news on all the different facets of this commercial passenger vehicle industry. 

DRiVE 


incorporating 

TAXI 

VOICE 


MAGAZINE 


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CONTENTS 

REGULARS 

FEATURES 

14 Uber fails in Europe 

Hans Althoff takes a look at why Uber has 

failed, and is failing, in Europe. 

16 Surviving tough times 

Taxis and hire cars must survive through the 

hardest times yet. 

18 VHCA update 

A summary of what the VHCA has been up to 

in the past month. 

28 Your say 

Letters and emails received by DRIVE A2B 

regarding the point-to-point transport industry. 

30 Industry statistics 

Figures for last month’s Victorian taxi and hire 

car industry statistics. 

32 Interstate news 

Report on what’s happening around Australia 

in our industry. 

38 Overseas news 

Updates on the point-to-point industry all 

around the world. 

FRONT COVER 

Travelling the countryside 

by Anna Grigorjeva 

10 CPVI Bill 

It was handed to the Economy and 

Infrastructure Committee for deliberation 

and reporting and we have an update from 

the meetings. 

22 Government has it wrong 

Graham Watt MP gives his view on the 

current status of the Victorian taxi and hire 

car industry. 

Editor 

Mrs Toni Peters 

Publisher 

Trade Promotions Pty Ltd 

PO Box 2345, Mount Waverley Vic. 3149 

Advertising enquiries 

Mrs Toni Peters 

P 0400 137 866 

E tonipeters@DRIVEA2B.com.au · 

W www.DRIVEA2B.com.au 

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submitted by the 15th of the month prior to 

publication date. 

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DRIVE A2B magazine · June 2017 5

Welcome 

to the June 2017 edition of 

Editorial 

DRiVE 


Last year the 

government 

created a Hardship 

Fund to help those 

in the taxi industry with an 

immediate financial need. 

Apparently all the $4 

million has been paid out 

in full - with 50% of the 

Hardship Fund going to the 

fund administrator. How is 

that fair? 

And then there’s the $50 

million Fairness Fund 

that some 1,500 taxi 

licence holders have 

lodged applications for 

assistance. Not one penny 

has been seen from this 

Fairness Fund. Apparently 

Minister Jacinta Allan is 

waiting to get the $2 levy 

in place before giving any 

assistance to those in need. 

The government, in this 

case specifically the Taxi 

Services Commission (TSC), 

has made many of us wary 

of trusting the government. 

Over the last 18 months the 

TSC has cracked down on 

compliance by taxi drivers 

and hire car operators, 

whilst completely ignoring 

the conduct of unlicensed 

operators. This is not just 

Uber, SheSafe, GoCatch 

but also private operators 

running private cars, not 

attached to a Network 

Service Provider and 

transporting people for 

monetary return. 

Time and time again the 

TSC has been made aware 

of these instances but have 

failed to enforce the law. 

This inability, or 

unwillingness, to reprimand 

the unlicensed entities 

working illegally inside the 

taxi and hire car industry 

has devastated the belief of 

thousands in the fairness 

and basic reliability of 

government. 

Currently the Taxi Services 

Commission is leasing 

2,000 taxi licences for 

$23,017 pa. If the proposed 

bill goes ahead there won’t 

be any more leases and the 

government will lose $46 

million per year. 

Is this perhaps why they 

have not included a sunset 

clause for the $2 levy in the 

proposed bill? Is it that they 

still want to get their hands 

on this $46 million revenue 

that they are now going to 

lose due to the cancellation 

of all taxi licences? 

Really! The government 

surely doesn’t want to 

6 DRIVE A2B magazine · June 2017

MAGAZINE 

incorporating 

VOICE 


TAXI 


have their cake and eat it 

too. They can’t continually 

bleed this industry dry, or 

can they? 

13CABS, which is owned 

by Cabcharge, owns 34 taxi 

licences - most of which are 

WATs. Interesting to note 

that neither David Samuel 

or Stuart Overell strongly 

opposed the compensation 

package of $100,000 - $50,000 

at the recent committee 

hearing. It was as if they 

didn’t really care about this. 

Perhaps because they 

have already written down 

the value of their licence 

ownerships, they are just 

keen to move on...... 

Lucky for some to have a big 

profit margin that enables 

them to claim such a big 

capital loss against it. 

Mark Shehata, VTHF, said at 

the committee hearing that, 

“the first licence held by an 

individual or company, should 

not be valued any more or less 

than the 20 th licence”. 

It shouldn’t matter whether an 

individual, a trust or a company 

owns the licence. They should 

all be reimbursed equally. 

Denis Nelthorpe, CEO 

WestJustice, thinks that people 

who purchased licence plates 

many, many years ago should 

receive less payout than those 

who purchased five years ago. 

For example, Nelthorpe 

believes that if you purchased 

a taxi licence in 1986 for 

$59,000, you should receive 

less compensation for the 

cancellation of your licence 

than the person next door 

to you who in 2012 paid 

$460,000. 

He believes that the person 

who purchased the licence in 

1986 has had a good return on 

the licence and doesn’t need to 

be compensated as much. 

But the taxi licence is property - 

it is an asset - just like a house 

is. So what does it matter 

when someone purchased the 

property? It only matters when 

they sell it. 

Nowadays taxi licence 

holders can no longer sell 

their taxi licence anywhere to 

anyone, because the Andrews 

government is cancelling their 

licence. So, they need to be 

paid a buyback fee by the 

government that is both fair 

and equitable. 

It’s not rocket science, is it? 

Toni Peters 

EDITOR 

Views expressed in any article in DRIVE A2B magazine are those of the individual contributor and not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept any 

responsibility for any opinions, information, errors or omissions in this publication. To the extent permitted by law, the publisher will not be liable for any damages including 

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remains with the individual contributors and may not be reproduced without permission. 

DRIVE A2B magazine · June 2017 

7

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE 

UBER IS 

ILLEGAL 

And so it has been confirmed. The operation 

of Uber in Victoria has always been and 

currently is, ILLEGAL. 

At the recent inquiry 

into Victoria’s 

Commercial 

Passenger Vehicle 

Industry bill, many 

questions were asked of Mr Lucas 

Groeneveld, General Manager, 

Uber Victoria and Tasmania. 

He stated that Uber has 18,000 

driver partners in Victoria and they 

have done some 850,000 rides 

since they have been in town. 

He believes that the $2 levy would 

have a severe impact on their 

business and Uber would increase 

fares to cover this. He also stated 

this levy would create entry barriers 

for new players in this point-topoint 

industry. 

Uber doesn’t have any wheelchair 

accessible vehicles operating in 

Victoria, but they are looking to 

introduce UberAssist, whereby 

the drivers assist the passengers 

to enter and exit the vehicle. At 

this stage they are not even 

considering providing vehicles that 

can transport wheelchair-bound 

passengers. 

The legality of Uber’s operations 

in Victoria was questioned a 

couple of times. It was stated by 

members of the committee that 

Uber had been operating illegally 

for many years and Groeneveld 

was asked how they had got 

around that. 

The response from Groeneveld was 

another version of the sales pitch 

on how Uber operates and how the 

current legislation was drafted and 

in place well before this technology, 

smart phones and apps, were 

available. He mentioned that 

Government has acknowledged 

that the legislation is out-ofdate 

and that the Commercial 

Passenger Vehicle Industry bill 

was about incorporating this 

technological advancement and 

ride-sharing apps and putting 

everyone on a level-playing field. 

A great sales pitch - but not an 

answer to the question asked. 

Mr Bernie Finn (Chairman of 

the Economics & Infrastructure 

committee) directly asked Mr 

Groeneveld, ”Why has Uber not 

been prosecuted in the years that 

you have been operating illegally in 

Victoria?” 

Mr Groeneveld answered, ”No 

comment on that, I am not in a 

position to comment.” He went on 

to say that they work hand in hand 

with law enforcement, Victoria 

Police and other government 

bodies regularly. 

Mr Finn immediately stepped in to 

say, ”A company operating illegally 

has a good working relationship 

with police!” 

Now, the question has been asked 

and the answer is on file.... What’s 

next? 


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CPVI bill 

At the last sitting of the Legislative Council, it was 

decided to ask the Economy and Infrastructure 

Committee to examine the Commercial 

Passenger Vehicle Industry Bill 2017. 

The Economy and Infrastructure 

Committee held public hearings on 

the CPVI Bill at Parliament House 

on 23 and 24 May. 

This committee consists of 

members of the Legislative 

Council and was chaired by Bernie 

Finn (Western Metropolitan). In 

attendance were:- 

Cesar Melhem (Western Victoria), 

Luke O’Sullivan (Northern Victoria), 

Shaun Leane (Eastern Metro), 

Jeff Bourman (Eastern Victoria), 

Samantha Dunn (Western Metro) & 

Nazih Elasnar (Northern Metro). 

The Committee heard from 

witnesses who presented 

arguments for and against 

sections of the proposed bill. 

Richard Bolt (Secretary, Dept of 

Economic Development, Jobs, 

Transport and Resources) stated 

that the figure of $100,000 for 1 st 

licence and $50,000 for 2 nd , 3 rd and 

4 th licences was decided upon by 

policy analysts/specialists and that 

it was a judgement - not a formula. 

DEDJTR stated that the value of the 

business is not being taken away. 

That the licence plate was not the 

value of the taxi business. 

They also didn’t mention that taxi 

licence values plummeted after the 

Fels’ inquiry report was released 

and has continued to tumble ever 

since. Nor did they mention the 

arrival of Uber and other ridesourcing 

companies to Victoria in 

2012 and the government’s inability, 

or unwillingness, to prosecute illegal 

ride-sourcing drivers and operators. 

And both of these have had a huge 

detrimental impact on the value of 

taxi and hire car licence plates. 

It seems that the personnel from 

DEDJTR don’t fully understand this 

industry. Perhaps they have been 

living in a mushroom field. 

The Hon Jeff Kennett stated later 

during the meeting that this bill, 

this legislation, is not a reform, it 

is a cancellation of licence plates. 

The payment of compensation to 

plate owners is for reducing the 

price of a licence plate to zero - 

and the transition payment should 

not be taxed. 

Now he certainly understands this 

industry very well! 

VHCA stated that they have had 

communication from numerous 

overseas investors who are 

interested in launching claims under 

investor-state dispute resolution 

treaties for compensation. Their 

understanding is that the treaties 

are very clear, that compensation 

must be paid for assets confiscated, 

at the value of the asset before the 

government announcement was 

made. In the case of taxi licences, 

this is about $400,000. 

And the VHCA believe that 

Victorian licence holders should be 

compensated at the same rate as 

foreign licence holders. 

VHCA’S CONCERNS 

1. The bill confiscates property 

without compensation; 


Witnesses agreed on 2 things 

98% of the industry’s taxi licences are held by single to 

4-licence owners. 2% are owned by multi owners with 5 

or more licences. Also, by not having a sunset clause with 

regards to the $2 trip levy, the government could continue to 

charge this levy for ever and ever and ever........ 

2. The bill imposes a substantial 

compliance burden on small 

operators; 

3. The bill imposes a cost burden 

which is too high and should 

be removed. 

4. The bill devalues businesses 

without providing a pathway to 

an exit or industry transition 

5. The bill, on advice received, 

violates human rights and is 

grossly unfair to those who 

have built an industry over 

decades. As such this bill has 

been referred to the Scrutiny of 

Acts Committee to reconsider 

the compliance of this bill with 

the Charter of Human rights. 

$2 LEVY 

The DEDJTR, when calculating the 

numbers of trips per year, which is 

needed to calculate when the pot 

of money for the Transition and 

Fairness Funds will be repaid, has 

only relied upon taxi booking trips. 

This is because the Taxi Services 

Commission only has data on taxi 

trips. They have not taken into 

account the rank and hail trips, hire 

car trips or ride sharing trips. 

They also stated that the duration 

of the levy would probably be 8-10 

years before the compensation 

was repaid. They have based their 

equation on 23 million trips per year. 

David Samuel, 13CABS General 

Manager, told the committee they 

did around 20 million trips per year. 

Therefore the total trips per year, in 

Victoria looks like this:- 

13CABS 

Silver Top Taxis 

Hire Cars 

Ride sourcing 

20 million 

20 million 

5 million 

5 million 

giving a total of 50 million trips per 

year. More than double the amount 

that the DEDJTR has used in its 

calculations. 

So, if they are wrong about this 

- then what about the rest of the 

figures that they are quoting to 

everyone? 

Much discussion was had about 

whether current taxi businesses 

could absorb the $2 levy without 

passing on the cost to consumers. 

In short, the answer is NO. 

Eleanor Fitz, Wodonga Taxis 

says, “Short fares are the norm 

in regional and country areas. If 

we have to put a $2 levy on to the 

fare, passengers aren’t going to 

pay it. They won’t be able to afford 

it and will seek alternative travel 

arrangements.” 

Steve Armstrong, Chairman Ballarat 

Taxis, stated that most of the 

country taxi operations are either 

co-ops or very small and it would 

make it virtually impossible to exist 

if they had to absorb the $2 levy. 

VHCA suggested that all trips 

booked through a booking service 

provider be levied $1 per trip. 

But that the levy only be applied 

to operators or companies that 

undertake at least 75 trips in a given 

quarter. 

By the way, the State Revenue 

Office advised that it is going to 

cost at least $1.5m to setup and 

start collecting the levy. Then later 

on there will be the extra ongoing 

costs for compliance, objections, 

challenges, litigation, etc. 

This meeting was the Hon Jeff 

Kennett’s AC (former Victorian 

Premier) first appearance before 

a committee hearing and he said 

“The fact that I am here should tell 

you how serious this is!” 

He told the committee how some 

people in the industry are losing 

their livelihood - losing everything 

they have got - not just their licence, 

but everything they have come 

to this country for - their home, 

livelihood and family. 


11


Mr Kennett said, “These people 

deserve to be treated as you would 

want to be treated yourself if you 

were in these circumstances.” 

He said, “You have a responsibility 

as parliament to treat these people 

with respect. The responsibility of 

government is always virtually to be 

the safety of their community at any 

cost.” 

He asked them to put politics aside 

and take a bipartisan approach and 

treat this matter decently, fairly and 

quickly. 

Mr Kennett pointed out that we 

didn’t need to change legislation to 

incorporate ridesharing - as change 

requires good management and not 

necessarily legislation. But what’s 

done is done and we certainly need 

to move forward. 

It was stated that many claims to 

the Fairness Fund will be rejected 

due to the fact that the owners are 

simple working people, who have 

not kept the records required to 

have a successful claim. 

He indicated that we have not seen 

any payment from the Fairness 

Fund as Jacinta Allan, Minister for 

Transport, is waiting to get the $2 

levy passed before any payments 

are made. Mr Kennett argued that 

this is totally unfair and unjust. 

In summary, Mr Kennett’s 

suggestions to the committee 

were:- 

• Compensation for the 

cancellation of all licence 

plates should be fair and 

equitable. 

• All compensation payments 

to be made within 30 days of 

Royal Assent being granted. 

• Introduce KPIs to monitor the 

collection of the $2 levy vs 

compensation packages and 

Fairness Fund. 

• Either pass the bill with 

amendments accepted - or 

totally reject the bill. Do not 

accept a piece of legislation 

that is going to worsen the 

situation. 

INDUSTRY LOSSES 

We heard from many about the 

plight of individuals and families 

since the falling value of the taxi 

licence plates. 

We heard about people who have 

lost their property to the banks as 

they found it increasingly difficult 

to meet loan repayments; people 

suffering from depression and 

mental anguish; the significant 

decrease in business - a business 

that is no longer sellable; the human 

and commercial toll taken on all 

within the Victorian taxi and hire car 

industry; those who have committed 

suicide or attempted suicide. 

MOVING ON 

Andrew Baruch, Vice President 

VHCA, stated that VHCA would like 

three criteria to be met with this 

legislation: 

• The viability of the industry into 

the long term, with sustainable 

returns to allow for investment, 

capital expenditure and long 

term future; 

• Minimum conditions for drivers 

to prevent a new generation 

of working poor, wholesale 

exploitation and drivers working 

dangerously long shifts; 

• Proper protection for the 

travelling public, including 

insurance, a requirement that all 

ride-share vehicles have a fivestar 

ANCAP safety standard, 

verifiable identification for all 

rideshare drivers and vehicles, 

and a maximum online-time to 

prevent tired drivers being on 

the road. 

Mr Kennett said the result must be 

fair and equitable to all in the taxi 

and hire car industry. 

Georgia Nicholls, CEO Victorian Taxi 

Association, advised the inquiry to 

“thrash out the bill, don’t throw it out 

- do your job and make a decision”. 

“Industry personnel’s assets have 

been substantially reduced, lives 

have been destroyed and the mental 

anguish is incomprehensible,” said 

Ms Nicholls. 

Mr Samuel voiced that he would 

like the government to stop talking 

- do their job - and take care of the 

people who have invested in this 

industry. Then appropriately deal 

with companies who have come in 

and broken the law. 

So, now the committee has had its 

public hearing for the inquiry into 

the Commercial Passenger Vehicle 

Industry bill 2017. What we have 

to do now is wait. Just a bit more. 

The committee must report back to 

the Upper House on 8 June. 


What does the future of 

transport look like? 

SYDNEY 

MELBOURNE 

Peter Harris AO Chairman, 

Productivity Commission 

Professor John Quiggin 

Australian Laureate 

Fellow in Economics 

University of Queensland 

Dr Jennifer Kent 

Research Fellow University 

of Sydney 

Nicole Spencer 

Commonwealth 

Department of 

Infrastructure and 

Regional Development 

Professor Bert van Wee 

Professor of Transport Policy 

Delft University of Technology, 

The Netherlands 

Dr Tim Williams 

CEO, Committee for Sydney 

Professor Michiel Bliemer 

Professor of Transport Planning 

and Modelling University of 

Sydney Business School 

Dr Elliot Fishman 

Director, Institute for 

Sensible Transport 

Mechanisms for enhancing the 

productivity of our cities through 

transport innovation and policy 

reform 

Disruptive transport technology, 

driverless cars and the implications 

for government 

Local government’s role and 

the opportunity presented by 

disruptive transport technology 

and road user pricing 

Congestion charging: practice and 

impacts 

The Hon John Brumby AO 

Professorial Fellow, 

University of Melbourne 

and Monash University 

Professor Ian Harper 

Reserve Bank Board Member 

and Senior Advisor to 

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu 

Professor Bert van Wee 

Professor of Transport Policy 

Delft University of Technology, 

The Netherlands 

Alyssa Serafim 

Principal Infrastructure 

Advisor 

Infrastructure Victoria 

SEMINAR TOPICS 

Professor Michiel Bliemer 

Professor of Transport 

Planning and Modelling 

University of Sydney 

Marion Terrill 

Transport Program Director 

Grattan Institute 

Professor Graham Currie 

Professor of Public Transport, 

Monash University 

Dr Elizabeth Taylor 

Research Fellow, 

RMIT University 

Dr Elliot Fishman 

Director, Institute for 

Sensible Transport 

Electric vehicles: the consequences 

on fuel excise revenue 

Road user pricing in the digital age: 

Using technology to provide the right 

pricing signals to manage road use 

The human response: How road 

user pricing is likely to impact on 

transport behaviour 

The politics of road user pricing 

Emerging transport challenges in a 

growing Melbourne and Sydney 

SYDNEY 

Tuesday 8th August 2017 

MELBOURNE 

Thursday 10th August 2017 

Register at www.sensibletransport.org.au Registrations close 1st August 2017 

Produced by 

PLACES STRICTLY LIMITED

TAXI NEWS 

The Europeans are a fairly 

conservative lot and are reluctant to 

use credit cards in the same manner 

as Americans and Australians do. 

UBER 

FAILED IN 

EUROPE 

BY HANS ALTHOFF, Taxi Owner/Operator 

I am sitting here in the small 

country town of Prerow in 

Northern Germany and want to 

give the readers of DRIVE A2B 

an impression of why and how 

Uber failed to be successful in 

Germany. 

Wherever and whenever I asked 

people in the smaller townships 

about Uber they either did not 

know much about it or simply 

said that Uber was banned in all 

major cities in Germany. 

I asked a Taxi Driver in Frankfurt 

about Uber and was told that 

Uber operated illegally in several 

cities in Germany and that they 

discontinued their operations 

after being told by German 

authorities they could only 

continue to offer their services 

if they obeyed the German Law 

and all German Regulations. 

So, it is very simple. Uber 

can only exist where they are 

allowed to break the law or when 

Governments change laws and 

regulation to accommodate 

Uber. 

Digging a bit deeper I did 

find several other reasons 

why Uber found resistance in 

Germany. The Europeans are a 

fairly conservative lot and are 

reluctant to use credit cards in 

the same manner as Americans 

and Australians do. Also, 

Germans and most Europeans 

are struggling with the fact that 

they have to give up some of 

their nationalistic thinking in 

favour of being Europeans, first. 

Therefore they have a very 

critical view of America and 

big American companies. They 

also reject American business 

practices where a “dog eat dog” 

mentality exists and where 

declaring bankruptcy is worn as 

a medal of honour rather than 

something to be ashamed of. 

They also have not forgotten 

that many European Banks and 

other institution lost billions of 

dollars, when they were sold 

worthless pieces of paper 

as triple A securities by the 

Americans. This in turn affected 

the pensions of many European 

citizens and led to the Global 

Financial Crisis. 

So, all in all, it seems that in 

Europe the overwhelming 

population wants a socialistic 

democracy rather than American 

capitalism. 

It is also interesting to note 

that in all discussions, Taxi 

Licence Values did not even 

get a mention. This is the case 

because each jurisdiction in 

Germany charges a Licence Fee 

that varies from jurisdiction to 

jurisdiction and is rather modest. 

However, these Licence 

conditions are strictly enforced. 

Therefore there was virtually 

no impediment against Uber to 

operate and compete against 

the German Taxi Industry. 

Put in a different manner, it 

means that the business model 

of Uber is so flawed that Uber 

finds it impossible to compete 

when they are forced to abide 

by Consumer Protection and 

Uber only exists where 

they are allowed to break the law or when 

governments change laws to accommodate them. 


Work-laws of other countries. 

By simply enforcing the laws 

of the country and by refusing 

to give in to the demands of 

an American company that 

seems to have unlimited 

funds available, Uber stopped 

their destructive behaviour. 

I wish that our Victorian 

Government would also 

enforce our laws and not 

change them in favour of an 

American Bully that wants 

world domination in an 

industry of their choosing, by 

using money as a tool. 

I also wish that our 

Government would start 

treating its citizens fairly and 

stop using the Taxi Industry 

as a political football. 

I can still dream and maybe 

some things will have 

changed for the better when 

I return home to Australia in 

June. 

Germany sends 

Uber case to 

Europe’s highest court 

- the European Court of 

Justice. 

BY REUTERS 

Last month, Germany’s highest 

court ruled that Uber’s Black 

service had violated the country’s 

competition laws, but referred the 

case to the European Court of Justice to decide whether its view was in 

line with broader European Union laws. It wants clarification from the 

higher European court before issuing a final ruling. 

The Uber Black service provides professional drivers in luxury sedans. 

The usual Uber service offering standard cars driven by freelance 

drivers was already suspended in Germany in 2015 after court 

challenges. 

In May, Uber was confronted with the biggest challenge yet in Europe, 

after the European Court of Justice was advised to rule that the ridehailing 

firm is actually a transport service, not an app. 

The German court ruled that Uber Black had infringed German 

competition law because it assigned rides to drivers and rental car 

companies from its European headquarters in Amsterdam. Under 

German law, ride requests have to be made through sedan companies 

rather than to drivers directly. 

Judge Wolfgang Buescher argued that Uber is not just an intermediary 

in this business but involved in financial management, organization and 

marketing. A ruling by the European Court of Justice is expected to 

take at least a year before the German court takes a final decision. 

The business model of Uber 

is so flawed that Uber finds it impossible to compete when they are 

forced to abide by Consumer Protection and Work-laws. 


15

VICTORIAN TAXI & HIRE CAR FAMILIES 

Taxis and hire cars to 

survive through the 

hardest times yet. 

SURVIVE 

TOUGH 

TIMES 

The taxi industry is 

continuing its business 

despite the intolerable 

attitude and lack of 

governance from both the 

government and its agency. 

It is positive to see that the 

public are aware of using 

non-compliant cars and drivers 

and the dangers involved. 

There have been too many 

incidents where, in such a short 

space of time, the illegal entity 

has been a platform for too 

many incidents where the public 

have been placed in danger. 

The state government in its vote 

grabbing best, is riding on a 

crest of hysteria that is about to 

come crashing down. 

The state Labor party has made 

up legislation in such haste, that 

taking away the taxi industry 

and people’s lives with it, will 

be the best solution for all 

Victorians. Or so they think. 

The state Labor party did 

succeed in sending the 

Commercial Passenger Vehicle 

Industry Bill to the Upper House 

only to have it referred to 

parliamentary committee by the 

Upper House. 

On that same day the VTHF 

organised a rally in front of 

parliament to urge the Upper 

House to understand the cruelty 

of this bill. 

The rally was well attended and 

three members of the Upper 

House spoke about this unjust 

bill along with organisers. 

Sandy Spanos, spokesman for 

Victorian Taxi Families, called 

for the Andrews Government to 

rethink the plan. 

“This Bill strikes at the 

livelihoods of over 5,000 

Victorian taxi licence holders,’’ 

she said. 

“It’s like renting your house to 

someone and when the law 

changes, they get the right to 

live in the house and you lose 

your house.” 

The time has come where the 

passage of the bill if passed as 

is, will crush not only a viable 

industry but will have a huge 

impact on individuals and 

families. This poorly conceived 

bill will create an industry that 

the public will never dare use. 

The VTHF have pleaded with 

the government and various 

ministers and members of 

parliament that this bill will not 

do anyone justice, and before 

it goes to a vote, consideration 

must be given to the 

unnecessary financial ruin it will 

cause on a social and economic 

level. 

The VTHF will continue with 

every possible avenue to have 

justice restored to the taxi 

industry and seek your ongoing 

continuing support. 

This poorly conceived bill 

will create an industry that the public will never dare use. 


DRIVERS, OPERATORS, LICENCE HOLDERS 

of Victorian Taxis or Hire Cars 

UNITE 

WITH US 

TODAY 

FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL 

vthfamilies@gmail.com 

Visit and have a chat with us at: 

1st Floor, 129 Roden Street, West Melbourne 

(above Embassy Cafe) 

The Victorian Taxi & Hire Car Families 


17

VICTORIAN HIRE CAR ASSOC. 

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT THE VHCA 

HAS BEEN UP TO AND OTHER INDUSTRY 

NEWS THAT EFFECTS US ALL. 

Commercial Passenger 

Vehicle 2017 Bill 

At the time of writing, this bill has been sent into 

committee for review. The VHCA’s solicitor, Nadav 

Prawer of Mann Lawyers, has identified several flaws 

in the proposed legislation and in Minister Allan’s 

response to the committee. 

These flaws include the potential for:- 

• breach of human rights 

• breach of Australia’s legal obligations under free 

trade agreements with other countries, and 

• information provided by the Minister that appears 

to be in error at law. 

As well this bill increases the chance of sovereign risk 

in Australia. 

The VHCA and Mann Lawyers have commissioned 

advice from JS Barber SC, who advises that taxi and 

hire licences are considered to be “a valuable item 

of property” and that the proposed legislation would 

effect a “deprivation of property”. 

This bill will return from the committee on 8 June. So, 

who knows what will have happened by the time this 

article is read. We will continue to lobby all relevant 

stakeholders. Let’s hope for a good outcome… 

Taxi Services Commission 

After months of inaction from the Taxi Services 

Commission (TSC), VHCA President Rod Barton sent 

an email to Aaron De Rozario (CEO) asking them if the 

TSC has a policy of ignoring illegal activity. 

The next day the TSC was back in action at Melbourne 

Airport – again chasing VHA and Taxi drivers. Ignoring 

illegal ride sourcing providers. The gift that never 

stops giving! 

The VHCA and Mann Lawyers have referred the TSC 

actions, or rather the lack of, to the State Ombudsman 


Our Facebook page 

is constantly updated 

with industry relevant 

information. 

We look at:- 

• how Uber and others are faring 

overseas 

• what is happening that is relevant 

to our members, and 

• how we can improve everyday life. 

We welcome contributions to our page 

– these can be submitted either via 

facebook or directly emailed to us at 

info@vhca.com.au. 

as we believe that the TSC is clearly failing 

their statutory obligations to enforce current 

legislation. 

It’s our belief that the TSC should not be acting 

as if proposed legislation is already in place. 

The TSC are public servants; 

not Uber’s servants and as such should be 

enforcing the law. 

If Aaron De RozarIo is unwilling or cannot do his 

job, then he needs to resign to restore the hire 

car industry, the taxi industry and the public’s 

confidence in the regulator! 

Playing Politics 

The VHCA has been actively working with 

politicians of all persuasions. Surprisingly some 

Labor pollies will not even see the Members 

constituents, let alone us! 

You can sit there and complain 

about how unfair this 

all is .... but what we 

know is, at this stage, 

you are going to get 

100% of NOTHING. 

JOIN US and maybe, 

just maybe, we will 

get a little bit of 

something! 


19

VICTORIAN HIRE CAR ASSOC. 

Interesting strategy considering an election 

is fast approaching. Special shout out to 

Jeff Bourman of the Shooters, Fishers and 

Farmers Party and Dr Rachel Carling-Jenkins 

of the Labor Democrats Party in particular 

for their understanding and support. 

We are also pleasantly surprised by the 

different political parties who showed their 

support at the rally on Parliament Steps 

earlier last month. We will be continuing 

dialogue with them and with all relevant 

stakeholders. 

More work coming back 

to us? 

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has 

forced Uber to advise all financial and 

pertinent details of all its drivers to the ATO. 

Furthermore, Uber has advised that the ATO 

will continue to request this information on 

a quarterly basis and that the ATO will, in all 

probability, use data matching to ensure they 

are not losing out on any revenue (GST). 

Anyone want to bet on how many drivers 

have stop driving for Uber? 

How well is Uber going in Oz? 

Well... 

less than 8% market share 

after being here since 2012, losing 10s of millions in Oz 

forced to subsidise fares, up to 40% discount, trying to 

bribe new users 

legal action pending here and around the globe 

lost Federal Court case with Australian Taxation Office 

(ATO) 

Uber drivers now have to pay GST 

Uber drivers’ bank accounts now being monitored by 

ATO 

Uber have to prop up drivers’ wages because they can’t 

get them to come out in peak periods and drive 

struggling to get drivers with cars 

now having to encourage Car Fleets to lease cars 

to Uber drivers because these people do not have 

appropriate cars 

Uber drivers rolling strikes in Melbourne because Uber 

drivers cannot make enough to cover their expenses 

they claim 

Uber is a public relations disaster 

National and International companies banning staff from 

using Uber for business. 

Yep, they’re certainly 

kicking goals! 

CLASS 

ACTION 

REGISTER YOUR 

EXPRESSION 

OF INTEREST 

www.vhca.com.au 

The VHCA has been canvassing 

support for a class action against Uber 

– visit vhca.com.au/class-action. 

We have received support from 

colleagues who control almost 

1000 taxi and hire car licences – 

phenomenal work. 

We have been approached by solicitors 

and litigation funders who are carrying 

out their own due diligence as we speak. 

We expect that we will be able to start 

the action sooner, rather than later. 

Once the litigation funders agree to 

take this on, we will be advising all 

those who have expressed interest that 

they need to join the VHCA. This is an 

annual membership of only $120. 

We will be running the class action 

on behalf of our members who have 

registered their interest in this action. 

If you wish to be part of this class 

action, contact us and register your 

interest today! 


UNFAIRNESS 

FUND 

BY LINDA DE MELIS 

Many who thought about 

lodging an application to the 

Fairness Fund found it too 

difficult to even contemplate. 

The application forms were only 

available in English, the supporting 

documentation required was extensive 

and you had to give a copy of the 

2015/16 tax return (which some had 

not yet completed). 

Even personal professional accounting 

advice discouraged people from 

applying. They were told not to bother 

as it was most likely only for those who 

would be left destitute. 

Of those who did submit an application, 

many did so last year. The industry 

is jumping at shadows and is so 

reactionary that the financial position 

of these people may have changed 

substantially since then. Are we able 

to update submissions to reflect the 

present day? Probably not. 

There is much disbelief and lack of 

understanding of the Bill. Many people 

still do not realise that the licences and 

leases are about to be removed, that 

they are going to be valued at ZERO! 

Many within the Hire Car industry don’t 

believe it will effect them – they think 

that it will only effect the Taxis. In part, 

these people have been duped by the 

misleading spin from Jacinta Allan and 

the Victorian Labor party who have said 

that this is ‘the most generous package 

Australia-wide’, where in no other 

state have licences been revoked and 

property seized. 

It is so unconscionable that we have 

difficulty convincing people that it is 

true. 

WestJustice appeared at the recent 

Economy and Infrastructure committee 

inquiry and reported that they had 

received calls from around 1000 

people. Via the telephone they were 

able to assist approx 500 people. Of 

those 500 people they had 200 faceto-face 

interviews and assisted 150 

of them with their applications. Denis 

Nelthorpe considered that 130 of those 

were in a very bad financial situation 

and WestJustice had serious concerns 

about the welfare of 16 applicants, 

who were actively followed up due to 

potential self-harm. 

The Fairness Fund can never 

capture the vulnerable, disheartened, 

disbelieving and incapable - these 

people did not apply. The government 

has a responsibility to protect the 

people, not destroy them by ambush. 

The only solution is to offer real 

compensation to owners so that they 

capture the many who will slip through 

the cracks. This calls for a capital buy 

back of each and every licence, as the 

assets and property they have always 

been considered to be. Of course an 

allocation of additional funds should 

remain, but if the buy back of all 

licences proceeded with a fair valuation 

against each, the Fairness Fund could 

be significantly reduced. 

The Fairness Fund must be paid out 

to those who have applied and are 

successful, immediately. It must 

provide interim relief to those in need, 

until this mess is sorted out. 

BECOME A 

MEMBER OF 

THE VHCA 

ONLY 

$ 

120 

annual membership 

per person 

send the following via email to treasurer@vhca.com.au 

1. Membership details - Your Name * Email * Mobile Phone no. * # MH Licences * # SV Licences 

2. Receipt of your payment advising your bank reference and amount paid. (A receipt will be sent to you) 

Please pay direct into our bank account Account Name: VHCA #2 Account BSB: 083337 Account no: 408246370 


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POLITICAL VIEW 

The conversation around taxi 

licences is passionate, but who 

wouldn’t be passionate when 

talking about their life’s work, 

their livelihoods. 

GOV’T 

HAS IT 

WRONG 

BY GRAHAM WATT MP 

Life is uncertain, business 

is volatile, but government 

should be reliable, 

consistent and trustworthy. 

When it comes to the taxi industry 

over the last few years; the 

Andrews Labor Government has 

been none of those. 

It was less than four years ago 

that the now Minister for Roads 

spoke of licences and assets 

interchangeably, he railed for 

compensation, he was the owners 

champion and then… he got into 

government. 

Earlier this year, I tried to remind 

him of that and the parliament 

descended into chaos. The Acting 

Speaker who is a member of 

the government shut down the 

Legislative Assembly in an effort 

to gag me from speaking out, from 

simply quoting the now minister. 

Four years ago he was right, 

hardworking ordinary Victorians 

invested in the taxi industry, 

bought licences and ran 

businesses, some for decades. 

They were tradeable; in fact it was 

the Bracks Labor Government 

who set up the Bendigo Stock 

Exchange Taxi Market, in 2006. 

Banks treated them as assets; 

governments both State and 

Federal treated them as assets, 

right up until the Andrews 

Labor Government decided to 

compulsorily acquire them last 

year. 

Since then the government has 

done a complete about face, talk 

of compensation has dissipated 

and licences are no longer assets. 

The government has been slow to 

act and dragging their feet. 

It was in June 2016 that the 

Minister for Transport announced 

that Uber would be regulated, 

more than 6 months after the 

court declared them an illegal 

service. 

GRAHAM WATT MP 

Member for Burwood 

Another two months and in 

August we heard of the transition 

assistance (note that talk of 

compensation has disappeared) 

spread over eight years and only 

for the first two licences. 

Fast forward to February 2017 

and we finally see legislation 

and still no compensation, 

The government has done 

a complete about face, talk of compensation has 

dissipated and licences are no longer assets. 


The Andrews Government 

has it wrong and I will continue to say so until it is fixed. 

even the transition assistance is 

missing. Apparently that will be 

an administrative decision by the 

minister, a sort of trust me I’m a 

politician arrangement. 

The government website currently 

tells us that assistance will now 

be provided for up to four licences 

over two years, $100k for the first 

taxi licence and $25k for the first 

hire car licence (even though I 

specifically remember being told 

by the ministers advisors during a 

briefing it would be $40k). 

The Taxi Services Commission 

website tells us that not a single 

metro taxi licence has sold since 

September, and why would there be 

when there is no compensation if 

you bought after 15 August? 

So we have “assets” that have been 

massively devalued, in some cases 

worthless, certainly untradeable and 

no compensation. Too bad if you 

planned on retiring any time soon! 

The government’s legislation to 

legalise Uber is currently sitting 

in limbo, after being referred 

to a committee of parliament. 

If the votes in the Legislative 

Assembly are anything to go by, the 

government’s bill could be in trouble 

in the Legislative Council. 

All the while licence holders are 

telling me that they cannot get to 

speak to the Minister or the Premier. 

As a Member of the Victorian 

Parliament I too have been kept in 

the dark about the changes to the 

industry, just like every driver, owner 

and passenger. 

The conversation around taxi 

licences is passionate, but who 

wouldn’t be passionate when 

talking about their life’s work, their 

livelihoods. 

I don’t condone the actions of 

some during this transition but I 

do understand, the Andrews Labor 

Government has it wrong and I will 

continue to say so until it is fixed. 

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Road Safety 

SAFE WORK 

AUSTRALIA’S 

ROAD 

TRANSPORT 

INDUSTRY 

PROFILE 

Safe Work Australia (SWA) is an 

Australian government statutory 

body that develops national 

policy relating to Work, Health 

and Safety (WHS) and Workers’ 

Compensation. 

They are an inclusive, tripartite 

body— working in partnership 

with governments, employers and 

employees. They also compile 

reports on accident statistics 

within the workforce. 

The Road transport industry 

comprises work involved in the 

transportation of freight by road 

and the operation of buses and 

other vehicles (eg taxis) for the 

transportation of passengers. 

Australian Bureau of Statistics 

data shows that the number of 

workers in the Road transport 

industry has grown by 16 per cent 

over the 13 years from 2003 to 

2015. 

In 2015, 74 per cent of Road 

transport industry workers 

were classed as employees 

and were covered by workers’ 

compensation schemes. 

While there have been substantial 

reductions in the numbers and 

rates of injuries and fatalities 

in this industry over the last 15 

years, the Road transport industry 

remains a high risk industry 

with claim and fatality rates 

substantially higher than the all 

industry average. 

The Road transport industry 

accounts for 2 per cent of the 

Australian workforce, however, 

it accounted for 17 per cent of 

work-related fatalities in 2015 

and 4 per cent of serious workers’ 

compensation claims in 2014-15 

year. 


al 

lth 

the 

is 

is one 

oad 

e 

ANALYSIS OF VEHICLE FATALITIES 

ssengers. 

Trend 

Road transport fatalities which occurred from 2013 to 2015 have been analysed in further detail 

rkers n of in the Road transport industry has grown by 

using a variety of sources including information from the National Coronial Information System, Over th 

03 to 2015. In 2015, 74 per cent of Road transport 

the National Dataset for Compensation-based statistics, notifiable fatalities from states and there h 

loyees and were covered by workers’ compensation WORK-RELATED FATALITIES 

territories and data reported by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional 

claims 

per Economics. 

industry each year. Figure 1, however, shows that despite Only a p 

uctions in the numbers and rates of injuries and fatalities the frequency rate of serious claims in the Road transport sustain ind 

cent the Road of 

The sample of 108 worker fatalities occurring between 

transport industry remains a high risk industry 15.5 claims 

2013 

per 

and 

million 

2015 

hours 

was selected 

worked in 

in 

2001-02 

order to 

to 11.3 include claim 

ver 

conduct further analysis regarding the circumstances 

lly higher than the all industry average. 

2014-15p. 

which 

This 

led 

rate, 

to the 

however, 

incident, 

remains 

how and 

almost 

when 

double deaths the rat 

oad 

the incident occurred, and the type of vehicle involved. 

million hours 

As work-related 

worked) and 

fatalities 

was the 

data 

sixth 

is 

highest of all industry natura 

for 

ed 

2 

by 

per cent classified of the Australian according workforce, to the workers’ however, industry it of employer, some fatalities in Road transport may 

ted fatalities in 2015 and 4 per cent of serious workers’ Figure 1: Serious claims: frequency rate (serious claims suicide 

occur whilst the worker is not driving a vehicle – for example, unloading/ loading or undertaking 

Road transport and all industries, 2001-02 to 2014-15p difficul 

the 

maintenance. 

Fatalities and serious injuries in the Road Transport Industry 

Over th 

fatalities in the Road transport industry 

18.0 

Fatalities by time and location of death 16.0 

Road t 

% Main causes of fatalities % 

14.0 

sustain 

Of the 108 Road transport fatalities, 78 workers Where (72 per cent) the injuries died while occurred driving on country 

y of 43 injury 1 Vehicle collision 77 

12.0 

all wor 

5100 

claims 

roads. The highest number accepted of per fatalities year on country roads occurred in the late afternoon and 

he object, 29 substance 2 Hit or by circumstance moving objects that was principally 7 

10.08% 

period. 

evening, between 4 pm and 8 pm (19 fatalities). By contrast, Hand, fingers half of & the thumb fatalities (15) on metro 

isease) 16 causing roads 3 injuries occurred Being hit the during by two falling the Road object morning, transport between industry 4 4 am The and fatality midday. 8.0 rate for the Road transport industry in 2015 was 

the type of work carried out in each. For example, Trucks, 15% 

which was 6.0 the sixth highest 7% 

Worker fatalities 

fatality rate of all industry sub-d 

Wrist, Road elbow Transport 

national rate 

4.0 

34 

Table 11: Worker of 1.6 fatalities: fatalities number 

All per industries 100,000 by time workers. and 

number by time and location of & death, forearm2013 to Road frei 

location 92 per cent of death, 2.0 

(535 2013 out of to 583) 2015 of fatalities (combined) 

27% 

2015 (combined) 

the road transpor 

0.0 

Time 10% Trends of incident fatalities Country 

21% 

Metro 

Back 

Total 

12am to 4am 15 4 19 

s, while other persons were responsible for 12 per cent of While there has 9% 

4 am to 8am been some volatility year-on-year, over the 

Ankle & lower 11 leg 8 19 

transport. 

8am has to 12pm been a 34 per cent 8 decrease 7 in the 15 rate of fatalities in th 

2003 to 2015 

As compared shown in with Table a 41 2a, per Road cent freight decrease transport across accounts all industries. for the 

tage by agency causing the injury in the Road transport 

12pm to 4pm of 15 road transport 5 20 

serious claims in the Road transport industry – of the 4245 se 

ombined) 

4pm Figure to 8pm 3: Worker fatalities fatalities: 19 occurred fatality 2 rate 21 (fatalities per 10 

34% 

77% 92% 

fatalities 

8pm 

industry transport to 12am 

in 2014-15p, industry 10 and road 3545 all were freight industries, 4 Road 

14 2003 freight to transport 2015 an 

decrease were due to Total 

Road Road 

Total Road all freight transport transport also has a significantly higher frequen 

in rate of fatalities 

Road Total 78 30 108 

Freight vehicle Passenger collisions industries 

Transport passenger 30.0transport – 12.5 serious claims per million hours w 

21% 1% 17% 2% 

7.6 in Road passenger transport. 

25.0 

Source: Safe Work Australia, National Data Set for Compensation-based Statistics 2014-15 

and Work-related Traumatic 8% Injury Fatalities Data 6% Set 2015. 8% 6% 

6% 5% 6% 5% 

20.0 

Fatalities Source: Safe Work 

5% 

by Australia, worker National 

5% 

activity Data Set for Compensation-based 

5% 

and type 

7% 

of Statistics crash 2014-15 and Work-related Traumatic Injury 

Fatalities Data Set 2015. 

15.0 

s, kegs, As shown 

6% 

in Table 12, 

1% 

almost half 

5% 

(49 fatalities) 

5% 

of the 108 Road transport fatalities were as a 

result of a single vehicle crash, with the majority occurring 10.0 on country roads. 

0% 25% 5% 0% 

DRIVE A2B magazine · June 2017 27 

There 2% were 36 fatalities 7% which occurred 3% as a 2% result of a 5.0 multiple vehicle crash, of which 16 

2001–02 to 2014–15 

Shoulder & 

taset irect for cause Compensation-based of 21 per cent Statistics of (NDS) serious and claims the Work-related for injuries Traumatic in upper arm 

oded according to the Type of Occurrence Classification System 3 rd Ed. 

data ses, are trolleybuses presented using and the Australian minibuses and New were Zealand the Standard cause of Industrial injury in 

w Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) 2006. Data on 

workers’ 

oad 

road 

passenger 

transport compensation workers 

transport. 

and therefore excludes reduction 

some workers, such as 

l workers including self-employed workers, unpaid volunteers etc. Further 

nd e found most died 

on the common 2015 

in rate of 

Safe Work cause Australia was website. Traffic serious and claims ground surfaces, 

Knee & 

upper leg 

SERIOUS WORKERS’ COMPENSATION 

Frequency rate (serious claims 

per million hours worked) 

ties per 100 000 workers 

2001-02 

2002-03 

2003-04 

2004-05 

2005-06 

2006-07 

2007-08 

A serio 

compe 

which r 

of one 

numbe 

2014-1 

the lett 

more c 

jurisdic 

2008-09

Your Say 

Fairness - the key word 

by David Brooks 

FAIRNESS, this is the key word 

about this whole fraud that the 

Andrews Government is putting 

across. 

There is NO fairness to the 

current taxi owners, operators 

and drivers, in what Andrews 

is trying to put over everyone, 

including some of his own 

stalwarts. 

Taxi people have had to abide by 

Government law and regulations 

for the past 55 years that I have 

been involved in the taxi industry. 

If a taxi breaks down and the 

driver uses his private vehicle 

to complete the journey, under 

current regulations he will be 

charged and taken to court. 

Yet, an Uber driver can do the 

trip in his private vehicle and 

not be charged, even though 

he is breaking current law and 

regulations. 

Now tell me how this can be 

called fair trading? 

Since this all blew up the past 

year, I have spoken to many 

people in the industry, and none 

have agreed that Andrews is 

doing the right thing. Not one 

has said, yes, it is a fair deal. 

If the government wanted to 

acquire 10 properties for a new 

freeway, they would have to pay 

ALL property owners a fair price 

for every property. If a person 

or company owned 5 of those 

required properties, he would 

not get a quarter of its value for 

one property, and half again for 

3/4 of them and nothing for the 

remaining property. 

Yet this is what the present 

government is trying to do to the 

taxi owners, and they call it “fair”. 

Various prominent people have 

written articles published in 

the Herald Sun, agreeing with 

Andrews. Only one, Jeff Kennett, 

has publicly stated that Andrews 

proposals are very wrong indeed. 

How any politician can believe 

and state that this compensation 

deal / transition fund / fairness 

fund is a FAIR deal, beats and 

amazes me. 

The government set up taxi 

licence plate trading on the 

Bendigo Stock Exchange (BSX). 

The Andrews government is 

trying to change the game, to buy 

back these licences at a quarter 

of their value when last traded on 

the BSX. 

All I can say, Mr Andrews , who 

the bloody hell is your deal fair 

for? 

Andrews broken promise! 

This photo was taken with Premier Daniel 

Andrews before the last election stating that 

he would look after the Taxi Industry – yet 

another broken promise - MBR 


HAVE 

YOUR 

SAY 

Send your thoughts to us! 

Send your email (info@DRIVEA2B.com.au) or 

sms (0400 137 866) to us and we shall print 

it here - where you can HAVE YOUR SAY! 

Well done DRIVE A2B 

Congratulations on the new magazine! - G Schmidt 

Just picked up a copy of the first ”Drive A2B”, 

congratulations, love the look and feel - R Barton 

Congratulations DRIVE A2B on your inaugural magazine. 

The fresh new look makes readability easy and we found 

the up-to-the-minute local, State and international content 

informative, engaging and totally relevant to diverse 

interests within this industry. Well done DRIVE A2B; keep it 

coming. - TiCKTOC 

Congratulations on the rebranding, it looks fab. - A Viani 

Good to see that Taxi Talk is moving on to better things with 

the new Drive A2B - N Mowbray 

I wish you every success in your new venture. The right 

move in the current environment. - K Dunn 

I am delighted that you have taken this step and ’moved with 

the times.’ Every month I have enjoyed reading Taxi Talk 

and it has been particularly pleasing to read your ’edgy’ bits 

as you have covered changes in an objective way. Some of 

your editorial content has been ’right on the money’ and it is 

clear that you can see things as they are. Will I continue to 

read ’DRIVE A2B?’ You betcha! - D Clark 

I found the first edition of Drive A2B to be great and I hope 

you are able to maintain the high standard you have set. 

- J Glazebrook 

Deregulation is 

the religion of 

parliamentarians. 

by John Glazebrook 

After attending the Taxi protest on 

the steps of parliament [last month] 

it is clear to me that our politicians 

are committed to deregulation; 

even though the electorate isn’t 

and even though there is no 

evidence that deregulation has any 

real benefits for consumers and 

producers alike. 

Need 

LEGAL 

assistance? 

Serving the Taxi Industry 

for over 30 years 

• Business 

• Commercial 

• Conveyancing 

• Estate Planning 

• Family 

• Litigation 

• Probate 

• Taxation 

• Superannuation 

After demonising taxis for 25 

years, over professional standards, 

our politicians have allowed 

Uber into the industry despite its 

compromised history and dodgy 

business model. 

AMS 

LAW 

Adams Maguire Sier 

176 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe 

Email: amsr@amslaw.com.au | Phone: 9497 2622 


29

Victoria 

These statistical figures 

are as at 30 April 2017 

Industry 

Statistics 

These figures are 

updated and published 

on the Taxi Services 

Commission website 

Taxi Licences 

Zone 

Licence 

type 

# of 

licences 

30/6/16 

# of 

licences 

30/04/17 

Changes 

since 

30/6/16 

Metro Conventional 4,217 4,164 -53 

WAT 443 447 4 

Total 4,660 4,611 -49 

Urban Conventional 420 418 -2 

WAT 85 80 -5 

Total 505 498 -7 

Regional Conventional 264 271 11 

WAT 72 75 3 

Assignments 

Active in April 2017 118 

Fee per month (metro) $1,380 

Number of drivers 

Active drivers 16,611 

(drivers who have recorded at 

least one shift last year) 

Accredited drivers 55,887 

(taxi, hire car & bus) 

Compliance 

outcomes 

Vehicle inspections 1,536 

Rectification notices 99 

Infringement notices 24 

Regulation 20 notice 10 

Official written warning notices 13 

Total 336 350 14 

Country Conventional 127 129 2 

WAT 35 35 0 

Total 162 164 2 

Totals Conventional 5,028 4,982 -46 

Area 

WAT 635 637 2 

Total 5,663 5,619 -44 

Hire Car Licences 

# of 

licences 

30/6/16 

# of 

licences 

31/3/17 

Changes 

since 

30/6/16 

Metropolitan 1,136 1,140 4 

Country 63 64 1 

Special Purpose Vehicles 966 978 12 

Restricted 610 629 199 

Totals 2,775 2,811 36 


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P: 0400 137 866 

E: tonipeters@DRIVEA2B.com.au 

Metropolitan Taxi Club 

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Around Australia 

Interstate 

News 

Did you know that in South Australia.... 

• The maximum EFTPOS and credit card fee 

for point-to-point transport is 5 per cent; 

• There is a $1 levy on all point-to-point 

transport trips; 

• There are penalties for unlicensed and 

unaccredited passenger transport services, 

including docking driver’s demerit points, 

suspending their licences or disqualifying 

them from driving; 

• Courts are enabled to recover any profits 

obtained through committing an offence, 

such as running an unaccredited service? 

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said, 

“While our reforms have opened up the taxi and 

chauffeur vehicle industry to new competition, 

we have to ensure strict accreditation and 

vehicle standards for all drivers and operators 

are maintained.” 

“Our overriding concern is that drivers, cars 

and booking services are safe. The community 

expects us to enforce the law and put safety 

first and that is what we are doing,” he 

continued. 

Mullighan has also introduced tougher penalties 

for those who contravene the regulations. 

STH AUSTRALIA 

Prior to 1 May 2017, 300 drivers had been 

caught in breach of regulations - including 

Uber, taxi and chauffeured car drivers. 

Ride sourcing drivers, like Uber’s driver-partners, now 

need to pay $237.26 annually. They also must have 

police checks, vehicle safety inspections and driver 

accreditation. 

The law also imposes stricter restrictions on drivers 

of ride-sourcing services, such as zero alcohol 

requirements and fatigue management. 

Mark Bailey, Qld Road Safety Minister said they were 

the same requirements imposed on taxi drivers and 

the laws went a small way to levelling the playing 

field for app-based services and taxis. 

The Opposition did not oppose the bill but LNP 

spokesman Andrew Powell said the legislation was 

flawed. “They’ve achieved something that possibly 

no other government has achieved before — where 

no part of the industry was happy with all or part of 

this legislation,” he said. 

“At the end of the day the industry wanted it to go 

through reluctantly — to give some level of stability 

and certainty to an industry that has been crying out 

for it.” 

Taxi Council of Queensland CEO Benjamin Wash 

said “The fact that there’s no cameras and there’s 

no minimum conditions for personalised transport 

drivers or people in booked hire services, it beggar’s 

belief that the Government’s dropped the ball so 

badly on this.” 

QUEENSLAND 

Uber says the new laws makes Qld one of the 

most expensive places in Australia to become a 

ride-share driver. 


Up to 40 Canberrans will be recruited to test facetracking 

technology in autonomous cars, in a trial 

funded by the ACT government. 

The WA taxi industry wants 

compensation in the form of 

a buyback scheme where taxi 

plate owners would be paid up to 

$295,000. 

Labor MP Tony Buti is conducting 

the review, but so far there is no 

sign of when it will be completed 

or what it will deliver. 

“Before Uber came in, the plates 

were around the $300,000 mark. 

They official current price from the 

department is $85,000,” said Ms 

Papamichael, a Perth taxi owner/ 

driver. 

“They [the government] made the 

laws. I bought that plate with laws 

in place. And they’ve said, ‘oh well, 

don’t worry about it now’,” Ms 

Papamichael said. 

Ms Hart, also a taxi owner/driver 

said, “It’s not a disruption, it’s a 

destruction. Destruction of the taxi 

industry”. 

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti 

said she expected the process 

would be finalised within several 

months. 

“Dr Buti and I are currently working 

as quickly as possible to see the 

fairest outcome for taxi plate 

owners, drivers and the public,” 

she said. 

WEST 

AUSTRALIA 

It’s not disruption - it’s destruction. 

Seeing Machines, a company listed on the London 

Stock Exchange but headquartered in Canberra, 

specialises in face-tracking technology in vehicles, used 

largely to date in the mining and trucking industries 

to ensure drivers are staying awake and focused. The 

technology is to be commercialised in cars in the U.S. 

from September. 

Seeing Machines executive chairman Ken Kroeger said 

little was known about that transition from autonomous 

driving to taking control of the car - including whether it 

took five seconds or 30 seconds for drivers to refocus, 

and how it differed from driver to driver. 

The research team would recruit drivers of different 

ages and with different sex, skin colour, use of make 

up and hair to capture the complexity of human faces. 

They would be given an autonomous car to drive for two 

weeks at a time and the technology would read their 

reactions. The research uses face signals and reactions 

to look at how quickly a driver can assume control of 

the car when required. 

Seeing Machines grew out of the Australian National 

University 15 years ago, and the trial is being done 

jointly with the ANU and the University of Canberra. 

University of Canberra researchers are looking at the 

health and social impacts of driverless cars, and the 

ANU is working on data analytics and computer vision. 

The Seeing Machines eye and face tracking technology, 

which measures data such as blink rate and eyelid 

aperture and precisely where a person is looking, 

doesn’t require drivers to wear any sensors. 

The data on driver behaviour will help improve 

technology to make driverless cars safer, and help 

governments make laws to govern the use of driverless 

cars. 

ACT 

Canberrans to be recruited in trial of 

face-tracking technology in driverless cars. 


Health 

Caring for someone with 

depression or anxiety 

can be challenging. 

DEPRESSION OR 

ANXIETY CARERS 

Although every 

personal experience 

is unique, there are 

aspects of the role 

that are common to 

many carers. 

The beyondblue guide for carers 

Supporting and caring for a person with anxiety and depression 

The beyondblue Guide for carers 

includes helpful information for 

carers and relatives of people who 

have either just been diagnosed, 

are recovering, or are in the early 

stages of depression/anxiety. 

The guide covers topics such as: 

• recognising that something is 

not right 

• taking the first step 

• getting to the first appointment 

• accessing information 

• keeping up the momentum 

• working towards recovery 

• overcoming setbacks 

• emergency and crisis 

situations. 

www.beyondblue.org.au 1300 22 4636 

The Guide can be viewed and 

downloaded at beyondblue.org. 

au 


If you know someone with 

depression or anxiety encourage 

them to seek professional help. 

Things you can do to HELP: 

Let the person know if you’ve 

noticed a change in their behaviour. 

Spend time talking with the person 

about their experiences and let 

them know that you’re there to 

listen without being judgmental. 

Suggest the person see a doctor 

or health professional and/or help 

them to make an appointment. 

Offer to go with the person to the 

doctor or health professional. 

Help the person to find information 

about depression and anxiety from 

a website or library. 

Encourage the person to try to get 

enough sleep, exercise and eat 

healthy food. 

Discourage the person from using 

alcohol or other drugs to feel 

better. 

Encourage friends and family 

members to invite the person 

out and keep in touch, but don’t 

pressure the person to participate 

in activities. 

Encourage the person to face 

their fears with support from their 

doctor/psychologist. 

It would be 

unhelpful to: 

• put pressure on the 

person by telling them 

to ‘snap out of it’ or ‘get 

their act together’ 

• stay away or avoid 

them 

• tell them they just need 

to stay busy or get out 

more 

• pressure them to party 

more or wipe out how 

they’re feeling with 

drugs and alcohol. 

If you have 

any doubt, 

then don’t. 

Scammers are smart. As professional criminals, they know all the tricks and 

have all the tools, so it’s easy to get caught out online. Be scam savvy – visit our 

website for more information and take our scams quiz. 

consumer.vic.gov.au/scamsavvy 

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 


Major 

Events 

Showcase of Melbourne’s 

upcoming major events. 

Dialogue in the Dark 

Festival 

2 June onwards 

Held at Harbour Town Docklands , Dialogue in 

the Dark is an immersive experience in total 

darkness through which, led by blind guides, 

guests interact and communicate relying 

solely on their other senses. Visitors to the 

exhibition will lose the sense they rely on the 

most - their vision- as they touch, feel, hear 

and explore the unseen and learn to “see” in 

complete darkness as they discover an iconic 

Melbourne like never before. 

Within a 60 min tour experience, guests 

will discover how to orientate and move 

themselves in the dark, identify the world 

around them through the other senses and 

collaborate without sight. 

2017 Melbourne 

International Jazz 

Festival 

2 - 11 June 

The Festival opens with an extraordinary 

collaboration with the Melbourne 

Symphony Orchestra and the Arts Centre 

Melbourne, Hamer Hall. A Celebration 

of Ella and Louis featuring Patti Austin 

and James Morrison, and closes with the 

world’s most-awarded female jazz vocalist, 

the divine Dianne Reeves. 

For families and children, there is Play 

School’s Big Jazz Adventure at the 

Melbourne Town Hall. 

For those looking for some gospel and funk 

gold, try Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles 

at 170 Russell. And there will be club gigs, 

held at The Jazzlab in Brunswick and The 

Toff in Town in the CBD. 

36 DRIVE A2B magazine · May 2017

Chevrolet Brazil 

Global Tour 

9 June 8pm at the MCG 

Wine & Wildlife 

10 - 12 June at Healesville Sanctuary 

From 11am to 4pm each day, five event spaces 

including undercover pavilions and grassy picnic 

lawns will showcase a line-up of Yarra Valley 

wineries, craft breweries and hearty winter food for 

you to sample and purchase. 

Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour will see the 

Brazil and Argentinian national teams go 

head-to-head in the ultimate football match. 

Brazil and Argentina are bringing their best 

available talent to Melbourne, as well as 2016 

Olympic Games Gold medal winner, Neymar 

Jr, fans can look forward to seeing Messi 

along with Brazilian stars Dani Alves, Filipe 

Luís, Fernandinho, Philippe Coutinho and 

Willian. 

Healesville Sanctuary is just one hour’s drive 

from Melbourne’s CBD through Victoria’s beautiful 

wine country. Tastings are included with general 

admission. Zoos Victoria members and children 

under 16 receive free entry all weekend. 

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or sms 0400 137 866 

DRIVE A2B magazine · May 2017 

37

Overseas News 

DIDI CHUXING 

Didi Chuxing, China’s largest ride-hail 

service, has closed a $5.5 billion round 

of funding valuing the company at 

around $50 billion. That’s up from $34 billion, 

Didi’s last valuation when the company 

acquired Uber’s China assets. 

Part of that new injection of cash — which 

could make Didi one of China’s most 

valuable companies — will be dedicated 

to the company’s artificial intelligence and 

self-driving efforts as well as its international 

investments. 

In March, the ride-hail company that was 

founded in 2012, opened up an Artificial 

Intelligence (AI) lab that would focus on 

developing intelligent driving systems in 

Mountain View, California. 

The lab is the first physical footprint the 

company established outside of China, and 

it’s already attracting top talent. Didi hired 

famed security expert Charlie Miller away 

from Uber’s self-driving arm, as well as Dr. 

BY KATIE CHALLANS 

Fengmin Gong, the co-founder of Palo Alto 

Networks and now Didi’s vice president of 

information security. 

Before that, Didi’s international presence 

largely consisted of investments in foreign 

ride-hail companies like Grab, Ola, Lyft, and 

most recently Brazil’s 99Taxis. However, Didi, 

Grab, Lyft and Ola have mostly abandoned 

the tangible products that came out of what 

was once referred to as the international ridehail 

alliance. Didi, Lyft, and Grab have done 

away with the cross-booking platforms the 

companies rolled out in China and the U.S. 

with much hype, as the costs outweighed the 

benefits. 

Those relationships first became frayed after 

Didi’s acquisition of Uber. At that time, Lyft 

said it was re-evaluating its partnership with 

the company. As for Ola, since Didi made 

such a small investment in the company, a 

source close to Ola said little changed in the 

company’s day-to-day affairs. 

38 DRIVE A2B magazine · May 2017

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 

BY SCOTT CANON 

CHONGQING, CHINA 

Almost exactly one year ago, the 

carsharing pioneer CAR2GO opened 

its first Asian location in Chongqing 

in southwestern China. 

In that time, it has become clear, flexible 

carsharing also works in the Middle 

Kingdom. The demand for the smart 

CAR2GO, which is on the roads in 

Chongqing with the brand phrase “JiXing” 

(“set off immediately”), is enormous. 

Thanks to unparalleled growth in the 

number of customers, Chongqing has 

become CAR2GO’s largest location 

worldwide after just one year. 

In order to adapt itself better to the local 

mobility needs, CAR2GO merges with 

CAR2SHARE, the station-based carsharing 

program in China. 

The business region of CAR2GO in 

Chongqing comprises 86 square kms. 

Olivier Reppert, CEO of CAR2GO says 

“Flexible carsharing reduces traffic in 

cities, frees up valuable parking space 

and improves air quality. CAR2GO is thus 

helping to improve the quality of life in 

Chongqing while at the same time fulfilling 

the mobility needs of residents. We are 

therefore convinced that we will encounter 

a great response to our mobility services 

offered in other Asian metropolises as well.” 

In order to make the mobility services 

offered even more attractive in the future, 

CAR2GO and CAR2SHARE are merging 

under the roof of Mercedes-Benz Auto 

Finance Ltd. to form the consolidated 

CAR2GO CHINA. 

Kansas City’s licensed taxi business is about 

to all but disappear. But not its taxis. 

Last month, Missouri Governor, Eric Greitens 

signed a law pushed by ride-hailing companies 

Uber and Lyft. 

It poses lighter regulation than Kansas City’s 

ordinance governing drive-for-hire businesses. 

Crucially, it declares that the rules passed in 

Jefferson City trump those adopted by City Hall. 

The Kansas City ordinance had been designed, 

amid much debate, to adapt to the app-driven 

business models used by Uber and Lyft. The city 

wanted those businesses to operate under the 

same rules as traditional cab companies, including 

stringent background checks on drivers. 

Yellow Cab CEO, Bill George, said “cabs that have 

operated under the Yellow Cab and 10/10 Taxi 

will be shifted to zTrip, a Transportation Network 

Company (TNC) -- subject to the same state 

licensing standards as fellow TNCs Uber and Lyft. 

“We were ambivalent about the bill” that Greitens 

signed into law, George said. “But it gave us the 

flexibility we needed. ... We’re always going to 

survive.” 

George said Yellow Cab would continue to get city 

licences for 40 to 50 traditional taxis, at a cost 

of $250 each, so that those vehicles can pick up 

passengers hailing rides from the curb at Kansas 

City International Airport. 

The rest of the fleet will take a CAN’T-BEAT- 

’EM-JOIN-’EM approach to competing with Uber 

and Lyft. 

Under the zTrip brand, the cars will be available by 

smartphone app. 

George notes that unlike the better-known ridehailing 

networks that grew out of Silicon Valley, his 

zTrip cars will also be available by dispatch, can 

be booked in advance and will accept payments 

not just through an app, but with credit cards and 

cash. 


39

Overseas News 

TIMMINS, ONTARIO, CANADA 

The two Timmins taxi companies, Vet’s Taxi 

and Northern Taxi, profoundly disagree over 

the need for additional taxi licence plates 

that would put more taxis on the road. 

The disagreement started at the April 2017 

Timmins Police Services Board meeting 

when the owner of Northern Taxi, Dauda Raji, 

asked for additional taxi plates to serve his 

taxi business, that he claims has grown by 

about 500 per cent. 

Raji started Northern Taxi a little over a year 

ago when he purchased six taxi licence 

plates from A-1 Taxi. 

Rick Lafleur, Vet’s Taxi owner, owns 18 taxi 

licence plates and strongly disagreed with 

granting Northern Taxi additional licences. 

He spoke on behalf all Vet taxi drivers and 

brokers, who collectively own another 31 

plates for a combined total of 49 plates. 

Lafleur pointed out that the current taxi bylaw 

had set a limit of 60 plates for a reason, 

and additional plates should not be granted. 

BY FRANK GIORNO 

“The current by-law is based on the formula 

of one taxi to serve 1,000 people,” noted 

Lafleur. “Even by that standard with 60 taxi 

plates we have too many,” he told the board. 

Raji asserted that, “Northern Taxi wants to 

meet the needs of my customers, and right 

now I cannot do so with the fleet that I have.” 

One option is for Northern Taxi to purchase 

taxi licence plates from Vet’s Taxi, but 

Raji argued the asking price of $30,000 is 

prohibitive. 

Lafleur said that the current market value 

price of $30,000 for purchase of an existing 

taxi licence plate is very fair, as the price 

reflects the cost of purchasing a business 

that has been developed over the years by 

the taxi operator. 

The Timmins Police Services meets again in 

June and a decision is expected then. 


AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES 

Toyota, one of the world’s largest 

automakers, will use the NVIDIA 

DRIVE PX AI car computer platform 

to power advanced autonomous 

driving systems planned for market 

introduction. 

“Toyota has worked on 

autonomous driving technologies 

for over 20 years with the aim of 

reducing traffic fatalities to zero 

as an ultimate goal, achieving 

smoother traffic, and providing 

mobility for all,” said Ken Koibuchi, 

executive general manager at 

Toyota, Japan. “Through this 

collaboration, we intend to 

accelerate the development of 

autonomous driving systems that 

are even more safe and capable.” 

NEW ZEALAND 

Uber is set to raise minimum fares 

to $6.50 across the country after 

drivers complained they didn’t make 

enough money from short-distance 

rides. 

There are two parts of their new 

prices: one that will affect everyone 

using the platform and one that only 

applies for short rides where the 

“minimum fare” applies. 

The first is a new booking fee of 55 

cents that will apply to all rides. 

The second is an increase of the 

minimum fare by 95c, which means 

the ride will cost $5.95 before you 

take off. In total this raises the base 

rate by $5 to $6.50 - but if your ride 

is already going to run higher than 

the minimum fare, the only bump 

you’ll see is the 55c booking fee. 

The change takes the minimum 

amount a driver can make per ride 

to $4.28, after Uber takes its cut. 

In New Zealand the company has 

repeatedly flouted local law by not 

requiring new drivers to obtain a P 

endorsement. 

“We envisage a future society 

where autonomous vehicles whisk 

people safely and comfortably 

around beautiful cities,” said 

Jensen Huang, chief executive 

officer and founder of NVIDIA. “The 

development of a self-driving car 

is one of the greatest technical 

challenges that’s ever been tackled. 

“We’re combining breakthroughs 

in AI and high performance 

computing to build NVIDIA DRIVE 

PX, the brain of the autonomous 

car. This announcement with 

Toyota is the strongest indication 

that this autonomous future will 

soon become a reality,” he said. 

Autonomous vehicles require an 

onboard supercomputer to process 

and interpret the data from all the 

sensors on the car. While many 

prototype vehicles contain a trunk 

full of computers to handle this 

complex task, the NVIDIA DRIVE 

PX platform equipped with the 

next-generation Xavier processor 

will fit in your hand and deliver 30 

trillion deep learning operations per 

second. 

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Taxi Licences 

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Contact Peter on 0487 268 882. 

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[lease for 6 or 12 months] Have a tree change. 

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Ring Rob on 0417 386 311. 

Advertisers’ 

Directory 

Adams Maguire Sier Lawyers....29 

Airport Taxi Car Wash..................31 

Alpha Hearing..................................2 

Consumer Affairs Victoria..........35 

Embassy Cafe...............................31 

Inst. for Sensible Transport........13 

Metropolitan Taxi Club......... 31, 43 

SOD-1 Plus.....................................41 

The Owners Association...............4 

Ticktoc......................................22-23 

Toyota Australia............................44 

Victorian Hire Car Assoc.............21 

Vic. Taxi & Hire Car Families.......17 

Victoria Taxi Club............................9 

Yarra Finance................................23 


LOWER annual contributions 

GENUINE replacement parts 

FAST repair turn around 

FAST claims recovery 

FREE legal advice 

Comprehensive 

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NO joining fee 

Metropolitan 

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Club 

PHONE 9388 0722 

360 Brunswick Road, Brunswick 

EMAIL 

daniel@metropolitantaxiclub.com.au 

vi@metropolitantaxiclub.com.au 

BRUNSWICK ROAD COLLISION 

CENTRE (Melbourne) 

• Taxi resprays from $1200 (conditions apply) 

• Quality jobs 

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Contact Ibrahim 

0422 431 823 or 9380 9935 

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• Low prices 

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Contact Daniel or Ibrahim 

9388 1425 or 9388 0722 

MORELAND TAXIS P/L 

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• New and clean taxis 

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Phone 

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SAVINGS AND COMFORT 

RANK FIRST WITH 

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Working in the highly competitive taxi industry, you 

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and standards high. Toyota Camry Hybrid delivers 

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Advanced engine technology delivers remarkable fuel 

economy to rein in ongoing costs, while the spacious 

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features make it the preferred choice for both 

drivers and passengers. 

Visit your local Fleet Specialist Dealer 

or call 1800 444 847. 

TFM1993 TT 06/17 

toyota.com.au/fleet

DRIVE A2B June 2017

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