DRIVE A2B March 2019

DRIVE
Voice of the Australian Point-to-Point Transport Industry
MARCH 2019
NO 21
INDEPENDENT INDUSTRY NEWS
For Taxis - Hire Cars - Ride Sourcing - Owners - Drivers - Operators - Suppliers - Networks

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CONTENTS
EDITION 21
www.drivea2b.com.au
DRIVEA2B
8
QUEENSLAND NEWS
Personalised Transport Ombudsman is the
newest edition to Transport for Main Roads
portfolio, yet it appears that the new office has
not been grated the power to enforce decisions.
14
VICTORIA NEWS
$1 Commercial Passenger Vehicle
Levy - 5 months on. Is it working as
smoothly as the State Revenue Office
had hoped?
16
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OUR COVER: The iconic Sea Cliff Bridge, in
the northern Illawarra region of NSW is an
hour's drive south of Sydney.
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER VEHICLE
ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
News update from the association which is
your voice at government meetings, forums
and inquiries.
Editor
Mrs Toni Peters
Publisher
Trade Promotions Pty Ltd
PO Box 2345
Mount Waverley VIC 3149
4 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

19
VIC INDUSTRY STATS
A summary of the monthly
statistical figures published
by the CPVV for the Victorian
Commercial Passenger Vehicle
industry.
27
NSW NEWS
NSW taxi owners, operators and
drivers have joined the Class
Action against Uber.
36
NT NEWS
Concern for the future of Darwin
taxis with many drivers earning
less than the minimum wage.
22
FOCUS ON TRANSPORT
Update from Victorian MP, Rod
Barton, Leader of the Transport
Matters Party.
32
WA NEWS
On-Demand Transport industry
has been reformed and new
regulations are here.
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DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 5

EDITORIAL
DRIVERS
HAVE RIGHTS
Last month NSW ALP leader,
Michael Daley, pledged to give
rights to rideshare drivers
and food delivery riders,
such as minimum rates and
the right to take complaints
against employers through
the NSW Industrial Relations
Commission.
"Food delivery riders and
rideshare drivers are being
killed, bashed and abused. They
face sexual assaults, physical
assaults and their companies
are offering little or no support
or compensation. They are
having their pay checks robbed
by being forced to work for low
rates, and in some cases put
on shifts without guarantees to
any wages at all. This is 18th
century exploitation by 21st
century technology," says Tony
Sheldon, TWU's co-ordinator on
the On-Demand economy.
"Transport workers deserve
rights. They deserve to be
paid a minimum rate and they
deserve the right to challenge
an unfair sacking," he continued.
This is all very nice, but what
about the taxi and hire car
drivers?
They don't receive any minimum
rates, no sick leave or annual
leave and the payment of
superannuation and worker's
compensation are sometimes
in doubt. They also face the
possibility of being killed,
bashed and abused - albeit
the introduction of mandatory
fitting of safety cameras has
helped reduce these cases.
It seems that the NSW ALP and
TWU are taking pity only on the
new on-demand entrants, when
they should be looking at the
transport industry as a whole.
What applies to truck drivers
(minimum pay rates, leave
accumulation, etc.) should also
apply to couriers, ride share and
most definitely apply to taxi
and hire car drivers!
Rod Barton MP, Leader of
Victoria's Transport Matters
Party, says that taxi drivers and
the new CPV licence holders
were all struggling to find work
and make a decent living.
“Since the reforms Taxi drivers,
6 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

generally speaking, earn below
the living wage – as low as
$10 an hour. They earn no sick
pay, no superannuation, they
have no holiday pay and not
all get worker's compensation
entitlements. There is no award
to protect them.”
It is about time that the
Victorian government also
recognised that drivers in
the public transport industry,
specifically commercial
passenger vehicles' drivers, are
not paid sufficiently to make
ends meet.
Police Checks
In Victoria, Commercial
Passenger Vehicles Victoria
(CPVV) conducts a national
Police Check for all Driver
Accreditation applicants.
"Once accredited, drivers are
checked weekly against Victoria
Police's database to identify any
new charges or convictions.
Any driver who is charged with,
or convicted of, an offence is
then assessed for suitability
as a Commercial Passenger
Vehicle driver," says Aaron de
Rozario, CPVV CEO.
That is great news! Especially
as there are over 92,000
Commercial Passenger Vehicle
drivers in Victoria. Just as taxi
and hire car drivers were always
vetted before being allowed to
ferry passengers from A to B,
so now are the new entrants - ie
the rideshare drivers. And they
are all constantly monitored.
Touting
Since the Victorian legislation
changed in September 2017,
and the influx of CPV cars on
the roads, there have been
many problems. Congestion is
a major one. So many people
driving passengers from A to
B with ride share entities, has
been the main cause of the
increase in road congestion in
Melbourne.
People who used to catch a bus,
train or tram, now take a rideshare
car to get them to their
destination. They don't have
to wait as long for their pickup
as there are some extra 53,500
commercial passenger vehicles
registered, but this all adds to
our road congestion, pollution
and in turn, decrease in the
average Commercial Passenger
Vehicle driver's wages.
CPV Signage
The only rule regarding signage
for Victorian commercial
passenger vehicles is that the
vehicle must have identifying
livery, decals, company/entity
signage OR they can just have a
bit of paper with the letters CPV
printed on it. Really!
Anyone can print this sign (it is
available on the CPVV website)
stick it on their car window and
purport to be a CPV accredited
driver/vehicle and tout for fares.
There have been reports of
drivers at Melbourne Airport,
major events, city hotels and
city taxi ranks who have been
touting for fares and offering
discounts for cash.
How does the passenger/public
know if this vehicle is safe,
roadworthy and accredited?
How do they know if the driver
is accredited and therefore
police checked?
Victorian government certainly
has some work to fix the current
loopholes in their regulations.
Mrs Toni Peters
DRIVE A2B Editor
Email: tonipeters@drivea2b.com.au
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 7

Personalised
Transport
QUEENSLAND
NEWS
OMBUDSMAN
The establishment of a Personalised
Transport Ombudsman (PT Ombudsman)
has the Taxi Council of Queensland
(TCQ) questioning the lack of power the
independent officer will have, saying the role
presents as a “toothless tiger” with limited
scope to benefit the sector.
The PT Ombudsman will impartially
hear and act on complaints from drivers,
passengers and operators of personalised
transport services, however TCQ CEO, Blair
Davies, says for the new office to make a
difference the Ombudsman needs to be
given broader powers than just being able
to compel people to attend a meeting.
“The proposed office presents as a
toothless tiger, so limited in scope it risks
being of no real usefulness for stakeholders
in the personalised transport industry,” Mr
Davies said. “We need to see some teeth
given to the tiger to address the mounting
issues in the personalised transport
industry.
“We continue to hear reports every day of
rogue behaviour by booked-hire drivers. For
example, the practice of touting for cash
jobs is a common occurrence and totally
off the radar of the booking platforms.
That means the usual safety protections
that passengers rely on and expect are all
missing for lots and lots of trips performed
by booked-hire drivers. It’s the type of
serious public safety issue that the PT
Ombudsman needs to be able to intervene
in but to do so, the office would require
broader powers.
“As the Bill stands, it only allows the
8
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

Perhaps Queensland’s newest
Ombudsman will need to have two
offices, one in Brisbane and another
in Amsterdam?
Ombudsman to receive complaints,
attend meetings to mediate
said complaints and advise on
alternative dispute resolution.
Without any actual compelling
power to enforce decisions the new
office may not offer much benefit
to the industry.”
Mr Davies says when it comes
to the taxi industry, disputes
between drivers and operators
are usually referred to the Taxi
Council or the respective booking
company and are always quickly
resolved. Situations requiring an
Ombudsman’s input are likely to be
very few and far between.
“The taxi industry really doesn’t
need another independent third
party to help mediate resolution
of disputes. Of course, the case
of booked-hire drivers may be
completely different because, in the
case of Uber drivers for example,
they sign up to their disputes being
arbitrated in The Netherlands.
Perhaps Queensland’s newest
Ombudsman will need to have
two offices, one in Brisbane and
another in Amsterdam?” questions
Mr Davies.
The Bill also recognises the
Department of Transport and Main
Roads (TMR) needs more help in
enforcing the road rules and TCQ
supports amendments targeting
non-compliance by personalised
transport drivers.
“TCQ wants to see TMR do a better
job in reining in rogue behaviour
by booked-hire drivers. These
drivers know they are not permitted
to tout, accept street hails or
use taxi ranks. Strengthening
TMR’s powers to impose driver
sanctions in those circumstances
is a welcome development
notwithstanding it being odd that
the new Ombudsman is not being
given any role to assist in that
area.”
The Taxi Council believes
establishing and maintaining
the PT Ombudsman presents as
having a significant financial cost
and those funds could potentially
be better spent elsewhere.
“It’s worth looking at the more
pressing issues faced by the taxi
industry and consider where else
the funds could be better spent,
such as compensating taxi licence
holders badly affected by the
devaluation of their assets, helping
industry members struggling to pay
Government fees, or funding safety
equipment replacement such as
the in-vehicle security camera
systems,” said Mr Davies.
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DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019
9

QUEENSLAND
VICTORIA
NEWS
DRIVER
TRAINING
update required
Due to significant changes to anti-discrimination and disability laws which impacts on the
responsibilities of drivers of taxis, limousines and booked hire vehicles, all drivers must complete
a training update which addresses these new responsibilities. All drivers must also show
competency through a written or practical assessment. Effective 1 August 2019, it will be an
offence for drivers to provide a relevant service without having completed the required training.
Anti-discrimination
a) drivers are aware of their
responsibilities regarding
passengers, including:
• the types of discrimination
and how discrimination
occurs;
• the types of sexual
harassment and how
sexual harassment occurs;
b) drivers deal appropriately
with passengers and adopt
behaviours that avoid
discrimination and harassment.
Disability awareness
a) drivers are aware of the
types of disability and their
impacts on passengers’
participation in the service;
b) drivers communicate
effectively with passengers
with disability by using
appropriate verbal and
non-verbal communication
methods;
c) drivers identify the individual
needs of passengers with
disability and meet those needs
appropriately and respectfully;
and
d) drivers are aware of and
meet their responsibilities
regarding passengers with
assistance animals.
Wheelchair
Accessible Vehicles
WAV drivers are required to
complete additional training in
providing wheelchair accessible
services.
Action required
Authorised booking entities
(BEAs) and service operators
may determine the best training
delivery method suitable and
are responsible for ensuring
their drivers are trained.
a) Authorised booking entities
and operators can develop
their own training or engage
a training service to develop
and provide the training to their
drivers;
b) training can be provided
through instructor-led sessions,
or computer or web-based
methods;
The required training does
not need to be provided by a
registered training organisation
(RTO); however, an RTO may be
used.
10

Major Events in Brisbane
NOOSA FESTIVAL OF SURFING
9-16 March
The Noosa Festival of Surfing has firmly established itself as the
leading surf cultural event in the world. It is also the biggest surfing
event in the world by competitor numbers. With perfect waves on five
point breaks, free movies and live bands plus cold beer and wine at the
festival village right on the sand in front of the break, it’s the world’s
best surf party.
The Noosa Festival of Surfing has a long history of creating innovative
events, from specialist nose-riding in the early days to the Logger Pro
and the surfing dogs today, and its professional divisions attract the
very best surfers from all over the planet. But at its core are the age
divisions from grommets to grandpas, and the team divisions that bring
together generations of families and foster team and club spirit.
FEAST OF THE SENSES FESTIVAL
28 – 29 March
Showcasing their amazing variety of exotic tropical fruits, produce,
seafoods and meats the Feast of Senses Festival is like no other
festival in Australia. The program incorporates food events, farm
trails, cooking competitions and culminates in a huge market day
extravaganza showcasing all the local produce. The Feast of the
Senses is now the Guinness World Records Holder for the World's
Longest Banana Split recorded at 8040 metres. They know a thing or
two about bananas.
Major Event in Adelaide
The Adelaide Festival is internationally
recognised as Australia's pre-eminent
arts festival, providing audiences with a
survey of the most original and acclaimed
artists and performing arts organisations
working in the world today. The program
traverses a cross-section of music,
theatre, dance, literature and visual art
from artists of diverse backgrounds and
cultures.
Every major capital city in Australia has its
own arts festival, but ask those who work
in the industry and most will tell you the
same thing: Adelaide Festival is the big
one.
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019
11

WINE &
CHEESE
FEST
The Australian Muriel’s Wedding The Musical is coming
to Her Majesty's Theatre Melbourne and opening night is
March 23.
Saturday 9 March 11am-6pm
Indulge in the ultimate tasting experience at the
Wine and Cheese Fest, to be held at Seaworks in
Williamstown. Sample the best wines, cheeses and
artisan foods the region has to offer at the newly
renovated Seaworks seaside warehouse. Featuring
cheese making masterclasses, live music, Kids Zone
and the always popular Grape Stomp competition.
www.wineandcheesefest.com.au/
Send your entries and your name to:
email: info@drivea2b.com.au
sms: 0400 137 866
10 x
DOUBLE
PASSES TO
BE WON
SIMPLY ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS...
1. What is the name of the fantastic competition at
the Wine and Cheese Fest?
2. How many years has the Wine and Cheese Fest
been held in Melbourne?
3. What is the address of Seaworks?
The story is about socially awkward Muriel who wants
nothing more than to get married. Unfortunately, due to
her oppressive politician father, she has never even been
on a date. Ostracized by her more socially adept friends,
Muriel and friend Rhonda, move from their small Australian
town to the big city of Sydney, where Muriel changes her
name and begins the arduous task of redesigning her life to
match her fantasies.
It celebrated its world premiere in Sydney in November
2017 and was hailed a smash hit by critics and audiences
alike: “The music was sensational” The Daily Telegraph
- “Has the biggest heart in the world…Will leave you smiling
for days” Time Out.
SIMPLY ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS...
1. What is the name of Muriel's husband?
original Sydney cast
3 x
DOUBLE
PASSES TO
BE WON
2. Which critic said the music was "sensational"?
3. What is the address of Her Majesty's Theatre?
12 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

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$1 CPV TRIP
LEVY
VICTORIA
NEWS
The Victorian $1 Trip Levy which was
introduced as a means to recoup monies into
government's purse for the Fairness Fund and
compensation for the revocation of Victoria's
taxi and hire car licences, has been in place for
some 5 months now.
The collection of the Trip Levy is not without
its challenges though. For the State Revenue
Office there are challenges to ensure that all
those who are required to be remitting the levy
are doing so.
For the taxi driver and operator the challenge
is to get the time to accurately report on the $1
levy and then forward the payment. And taxi
drivers actually have an additional task - if they
pick up a fare from a Rank or Hail then they
must add the $1 onto the fare and keep track
of the levies received, report and pay them too.
The State Revenue Office (SRO) has been
checking the registration of persons/entities
who are obliged to be registered for the Levy
and monitoring their quarterly returns.
"The State Revenue Office has access to data
from a range of sources, including Commercial
Passenger Vehicles Victoria, so we have a
good understanding of who is and who isn’t
paying the levy and we can be very targeted
with our compliance work," said a State
Revenue Office spokesperson.
The SRO have been and will continue to cross
check all this information received with the
SRO database.
The SRO is quite happy with the compliance
at this stage, and the SRO spokesperson
said "Experience tells us the vast majority of
Victorians want to do the right thing and meet
their obligations. What we’re seeing here is that
this industry is no different. Compliance is very
high, with both booking services and rank and
hail drivers paying the levy."
14
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

Is the $1 trip levy providing sufficient
funds to government, and are the monies
received meeting the budget forecasted?
Yet what we are hearing from
the coal face is that many, many
drivers/entities are not paying the
$1 levy to the SRO, and it appears
that the SRO is attempting to
enforce the payments, but they are
not catching everyone nor every
dollar.
The SRO told us that they have "met
with Commercial Passenger Vehicle
service providers across Victoria to
ensure they understand the levy and
their obligations."
But just because they might
understand what the SRO requires
them to do, doesn't mean that
the drivers/entities are or will be
compliant.
And the administrative costs
to drivers/entities is not to be
overlooked either. To produce
quarterly returns for the Levy is time
consuming and who pays for this?
Not the government!
The SRO says that when they
review the procedures for the levy,
after a year of operation, they may
consider changing the obligation to
report from quarterly to annually for
smaller entities.
"We will continue to engage with
providers to help them register,
lodge returns and pay the levy."
We had asked the SRO to provide
figures as to the percentage of
entities that are registered to remit
the $1 Trip Levy and the amount
received to date for it, but they
declined to share this information
with us. What we do know is that
the takings received has been
reported to Government, and
perhaps we will learn this figure in
due course.
ACCIDENT
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DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 15

NEW
VICTORIA SOUTH
WALES NEWS
NEWS
CPVAA
NEWS UPDATE
Your voice at state government
meetings, forums and inquiries
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Last month the Commercial Passenger Vehicle
Association of Australia (CPVAA) entered two
submissions to public inquiries relevant to the
industry, making sure that the views and needs
of our members are represented.
First up was the
Essential Services
Commission's (ESC)
review of taxi non-cash
payment surcharge
pricing.
Currently drivers can add a
maximum 5 percent surcharge
to all non-cash trips to cover
the costs of accepting and
processing these payments.
In our submission we warned
the ESC that consumers would
likely pick up the bill if noncash
payment surcharges are
dropped and if they chose to
reduce the maximum cost of
non-cash payment surcharges
it would adversely affect the
bottom line of the smaller
players in the industry.
The ESC has the power to set
maximum non-cash payment
surcharges for the taxi industry.
In 2014 legislation was passed
reducing the surcharge on
non-cash transactions from
10 percent to 5 percent, and
the current review's aim is to
determine if this is a fair value.
In our submission we also
noted that:
• Despite the ESC striving to
speak with all stakeholders
the CPVAA, as one of
the largest registered
representative bodies
in the industry, was not
called upon for its opinion;
Since our submission we
have been asked to come
in and chat with them.
• The current surcharge of
a maximum 5 percent
represents a fair value of
the costs of accepting
and processing non-cash
payments;
• Providers of this
technology often have
significant additional
costs when compared
André Baruch
President, CPVAA
to providers of similar
technologies in other
areas;
• The ESC should keep
their review simple and
use a benchmarking
methodology to calculate
fair costs.
We also made a
submission to the
Inquiry into the Victorian
On-Demand Workforce,
often referred to as the
gig-economy.
The gig and on-demand
economy has rattled no
other industry quite like
the passenger transport
sector. The likes of Uber
have unscrupulously entered
the industry cashed up and
aggressive in their campaign to
attract both drivers and riders
alike. Our submission explored
both positive and negative
consequences across the
16 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

Maurice Blackburn has announced an
extension for registrations for the Class
Action against Uber.
transport industry as a result of the
emergence of ride share and the
on-demand workforce
Our recommendations included:
• independent oversight of the
dynamic pricing models used
to determine surge pricing
and off-peak rates for rideshare
operators to ensure
that it can't be manipulated
by drivers or the booking
services;
• that vehicle roadworthiness
and safety should be
mandated and enforced
by the regulator to ensure
that passenger and driver
safety are not compromised
by private commercial and
economic considerations. It
should be a condition of the
commercial passenger vehicle
annual permit that an RWC be
presented on both application
and renewal;
• a valid Insurance Certificate of
Currency for commercial use
be presented to the regulator
on application and renewal
of an annual Commercial
Passenger Vehicle permit;
• curtailing the influx of
Commercial Passenger
Vehicles into the market
through a considered rise in
the cost of the CPV annual
permit rather than by applying
a market cap on vehicles,
which would be difficult
to fairly manage across
the different sectors of the
industry; and
• a retrospective adjustment
to the transition package
received by licence owners
reflective of an independent
valuation of licences and
buyback of each individual
one.
I'm looking forward to the
opportunity to present to the inquiry
committee in the coming months.
Finally, Maurice Blackburn has
announced an extension for
registrations for the Class Action
against Uber.
We urge all drivers, operators
and licence holders to put their
name to this case as we take
Uber to task over the devastation
its illegal activities caused the
market. Register at www.
mauriceblackburn.com.au/
uberclassaction
Safe travels, André
www.cpvaa.com.au
@CPVAA
info@cpvaa.com.au
Your representative with Government and
all other relevant industry stakeholders,
including Melbourne Airport.
Why wait any
longer?
Join CPVAA
today!
ONLY
$
120
per person
per year
Visit www.cpvaa.com.au and follow
the links to join us and become part
of the voice in the Australian Point to
Point transport industry.
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 17

ROD BARTON MP
Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region
Parliament of Victoria | Legislative Council
Electorate Office:
128 Ayr St, Doncaster VIC 3108
Phone: 03 9850 8600
Email: Rod.Barton@parliament.vic.gov.au

VICTORIAN INDUSTRY
STATISTICS
The statistical figures
on this page are as at
31 Jan 2019
TOTAL REGISTERED
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER VEHICLES (CPV)
30-Sep-17 31-Dec-17 31-Mar-18 30-Jun-18 30-Sep-18 30-Nov-18 31-Jan-19
TOTAL CPVs
AS AT 31/1/19
61,999
CPVs INCREASE
SINCE SEPTEMBER 2017
733%
5000
7271
29843
8503
9615
37104
42720
10319
10533
10876
636
47157
745
802
865
947
964
931
2824
13396
50192
UNBOOKED CPVS WHEELCHAIR VEHICLES BOOKED CPVS
IN A NUTSHELL !
UNBOOKED CPVs
COUNT IS UP
343 5,876
Since Nov 2018 Since Oct 2017
WHEELCHAIR CPVs
COUNT IS DOWN
33 295
Since Nov 2018 Since Oct 2017
BOOKED CPVs
COUNT IS UP
3,035 47,368
Since Nov 2018
Since Oct 2017
COMPLIANCE OUTCOMES - for January 2019
Vehicle Inspections 657
Infringement Notice 14
Official Warning (Written warning) 12
Rectification Notice (CPVV defect notice) 89
Defect Notice (VicRoads defect notice) 3
NUMBER OF ACCREDITED
VICTORIAN CPV DRIVERS
62076
30-Sep-17 31-Dec-17 31-Mar-18 30-Jun-18
30-Sep-18 30-Nov-18 31-Jan-19
65543
75731
81089
SOURCE: These figures are updated and published monthly on the Commercial
Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV) website
86085
ACCREDITED CPV DRIVERS
89568
92479
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 19

Major Events in
Melbourne
Moomba Festival
8 - 11 March
Brace yourselves Melbourne, Moomba Festival is
back in full swing with a chock-a-block program
of free events and activities celebrating our
wonderful city.
Get ready to be treated to four jam-packed days
of carnival rides and games, kids' activities,
nightly fireworks, water sports and much more.
Don't miss the outstanding Moomba Masters
Championship, the wacky and wonderful Birdman
Rally on Sunday and, of course, the iconic
Moomba Parade on the Monday.
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
9 - 24 March
The 2019 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
returns for its 27th year in 2019. The Festival will
celebrate Melbourne as one of the world's great
food cities, and Victoria as a foodie destination, with
extraordinary experiences and guest chefs from
around the world.
EVENTS
Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix
At speeds of over 300 km/h, the world’s fastest cars and
their drivers will once again take on the exhilarating turns and
straights of the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit at the Formula
1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2019.
The FIA Formula One World Championship encompasses
nearly every continent on the planet, with the 2019 season
consisting of 21 races and Australia is first on the calendar. In
2019, Lewis Hamilton starts his world championship defence
in Melbourne, with the likes of Sebastian Vettel and local hero
Daniel Ricciardo providing plenty of fight.
Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli AP
The passion of Ferraristi will be ignited by the Ferrari
Challenge Trofeo Pirelli - Asia Pacific which showcases the
state-of-the-art 488 Challenge race car.
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
Equipped with a 4.0-litre, rear-mounted engine producing
485hp, a mix of young guns, highly credentialed professional
drivers and semi-professional racers will pilot the most
powerful 911 GT3 Cup cars ever.
Australian GT Championship
With up to 30 exotic GT3 and GT4 cars from some of the
world’s most exclusive brands on track – including Ferrari,
McLaren, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche and Lamborghini –
the Australian GT field, worth over $30 million, is the largest
Level 1 category in Australia.
Australian Formula 4 Championship
With the season opener of the Formula 4 season coinciding
with the Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2019, fans
will witness the next generation of young Australian drivers
competing on the global stage.
20 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

92,479
Victorian
accredited
Commercial Passenger Vehicle
DRIVERS
as at 31/1/19
female
6% not
declared
17%
male
77%
10 Facts about you
1. You're reading this right now.
2. You're realising that it is a stupid fact.
4. You didn't notice I skipped three.
5. You're checking now.
6. You're smiling.
7. You're still reading this even though it's stupid.
9. You didn't realise I skipped eight.
10. You're checking again and smiling about how you fell for it again.
11. You're enjoying this.
12. You didn't realise there's only supposed to be ten facts.
The word
strengths
is the
longest
word
with just
one vowel.
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 21

VICTORIA
NEWS
FOCUS ON
TRANSPORT
ROD BARTON MP
I am delighted to report a great
win in my first month as a
member of the Victorian State
Parliament. In late February I
presented amendments to a
motion that were instrumental
in initiating a review of the
Commercial Passenger Vehicle
Industry (CPVI) reforms.
The motion has called for the
Parliament's Economy and
Infrastructure Committee
to review the government’s
CPVI reforms and investigate
further possible amendments
to ensure Victorians benefit
from the best functioning CPV
industry possible.
This inquiry will seek to review
the mechanism by which the
government deregulated the
taxi and hire car industry.
Former Victorian taxi
and hire car licence
owners are due
proper compensation
for the government
acquisition of their
property.
I will continue to push to make
sure this "unfinished business"
has the attention and resolution
it deserves.
The inquiry will also pave
the way for some sensible
legislative amendments to
end the irresponsible flood of
commercial passenger vehicles
on our roads, which has left
drivers fighting for work on
the streets of Melbourne like
seagulls at the beach.
I accept that the point-to-point
transport industry has evolved.
We are all in this together now
— taxis, hire cars and our new
commercial passenger vehicle
licence holders - and despite
much bad blood over the
past five years we must work
together to fix the problems we
now face as an industry.
All drivers deserve to work in an
industry where they can earn a
fair wage, with fair benefits for
their effort.
It is no longer possible to build
a career as a commercial
passenger vehicle operator -
taxi, hire car or CPV - because
the industry is flooded with
drivers representing an
increasingly transient and
disgruntled workforce.
At the end of January 2019
there were 10,876 cabs on our
streets. There were over 50,192
Rod Barton MLC
hire cars including newcomers
such as Uber, DiDi, Ola and
GoCatch.
We also estimate that there
are over 92,000 drivers out
there scratching for work. Over
the 18 month period since the
reforms the industry has grown
nearly 750 percent with this
figure increasing month on
month.
CPV drivers are truly the
bottom of the food chain.
It comes as no surprise that
touting is now on the increase.
In desperation, drivers are
approaching people at the
airports, major events and on
the city streets offering rides,
often for cash.
22 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

All drivers deserve to work in an industry
where they can earn a fair wage, with fair
benefits for their effort.
In the media we have also seen
drivers directly contacting clients
by text message - an unacceptably
aggressive and intimidating form
of touting.
The public deserves a safe and
reliable commercial passenger
vehicle network and if we allow the
current free-for-all to continue we
run the risk of ruining Melbourne's
reputation.
The economic viability and
sustainability of the commercial
passenger vehicle industry is
inherently linked to driving and
vehicle standards and quality of
service.
Unfortunately, the consequences
for this ultimately translates in
this industry to reduced consumer
safety and unsavoury business
practices.
This review will give voice to
what is a rapidly expanding and
evolving industry and I hope to
see recommendations from the
committee that will steer it to
achieve a better balance between
the desires of the consumer, those
people who service them and the
community at large.
I welcome your input as
I prepare my submission
for the review
committee.
Please email your concerns and
stories to rod.barton@parliament.
vic.gov.au
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 23

Need some
answers
Kelly recently wrote to us and
asked a few questions....
And we have provided some
answers in response to same.
Since when has Uber
been allowed ‘Rank and
Hail’ status as seen at the
Australian Open?
It’s not just the Australian
Open that they are permitted
to do this, it is also at the
Australian Grand Prix,
Melbourne Cup Week, AFL
Grand Final day, just to name
a few. They claim that it is not
Rank and Hail as they aren’t
sitting on a rank with the first
vehicle served first – no – they
are sitting in an area (aka rank)
waiting for the app to contact
them to move to the front of
queue to collect their fare. We
have raised this concern many
times in previous editions of
both Taxi Talk – voice of the
Victorian Taxi industry and
DRIVE A2B, but to no avail.
I bring to your attention that
your publication DRIVE A2B
is purporting to represent the
Taxi industry (taxi driver/
services and genuine Hire
car driver/service providers)
it falls short on providing
a real voice to have CPVI
regulations be re-written
(and enforced).
Whilst we would like to get the
CPVI regulations re-written,
or at least amended to have a
fairer outcome, it is not up to
us to push this barrow. It is
up to the public to lobby their
local members of Parliament,
and then in turn for the
MPs to vote accordingly in
Parliament. We happen to
have a great asset at present
in the Legislative Council,
Rod Barton MP, Leader of the
Transport Matters Party. Mr
Barton is looking to get a
review of the CPVI regulations
and is asking the tough
questions, like ‘why aren’t
the clauses of the legislation
being enforced?’. We will
be printing updates from Mr
Barton each month.
Why aren’t rideshare
companies and drivers
displaying proper vehicle
signage as per the legislative
requirements? Many cars
seen are without stickers,
some have sheets of paper
stuck on screens with sticky
tape.
All vehicles registered as
a Commercial Passenger
Vehicle must display a form of
identification when they’re in
service, so they can be easily
identified. Identification may
include:
• registration number
plates bearing the word
‘accredited taxi’ or VHA,
VHB, VHC prefix
• signs, symbols, notices
or labels identifying the
vehicle as a Commercial
Passenger Vehicle
• company branding
or logos that clearly
identify the vehicle as a
Commercial Passenger
Vehicle.
24 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

Send your thoughts,
comments and questions
to us!
Email (info@DRIVEA2B.com.au)
SMS (0400 137 866) to us
and we shall print it here
- where you can
HAVE YOUR SAY!
Drivers - be quiet!
Re DRIVE A2B Feb 2019 issue page 5,
Drivers – be quiet
The CPVV have created
a sample CPV sign
as guide for vehicle
owners offering booked
services. This can
be printed in any size,
colour, shape and
affixed to the inside of
one of the vehicle’s rear
windows by any means.
Perhaps a further
requirement for these
rideshare vehicles
could be on-board
cameras?
In unbooked vehicles
(taxis) it is compulsory
to have security
cameras fitted and
operational. In booked
vehicles (including
ride share vehicles) it
is NOT compulsory. A
vehicle’s owner MAY
fit a CPVV approved
security camera if they
wish, that is, install the
camera system on a
voluntary basis.
______________ Kelly
Please
explain...
The Victorian
government is saying
they had deregulated
commercial passenger
transport, but I strongly
disagree.
The deregulation has
given benefit to public
but despite to drivers
and operators and the
reason is Cabcharge.
Cabcharge still holds
a monopoly and even
worse they are not
giving their terminals to
independent operators.
The bottom line is depot
fees are not coming
down and even in one of
the worst case scenarios
13cabs destroyed
operator wealth by
putting an age limit on
vehicles.
So to me this industry is
not deregulated unless
benefits are passing on
to real workers as well.
__________________ Raj
It is certainly rude, unprofessional and
unacceptable behaviour for cab drivers
to use their phones while they have
passengers on-board.
In the last number of years the taxi
industry has seen a new breed of taxi
drivers who lack customer service
attitudes and manners, and that’s all
due to the lack of proper training and
monitoring. It is certainly some drivers'
behaviour that has added to the problem.
But this does not free taxi networks, taxi
owners and their representatives from
their responsibility for the situation the
taxi industry is currently facing. High
fare increases, running filthy and poorly
maintained cars caused high level of
public complaints to the media and to the
government transport authorities and this
prompted the government to authorise
Uber and to wash it’s hands from the taxi
industry and left it to destroy itself.
Maybe we should ask ourselves as to
why the NSW Government and other
state governments did not issue more
taxi plates for sale or lease at a reduced
price for the Uber drivers? Or increase the
number of taxis on the road and therefore
increase the competition, whereby still
maintaining its control on the taxi industry
under one operating rule, instead of
authorising Uber as a competitor under
different rules?
____________________________________ Ben
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 25

WELCOME
LEE FURLONG
NEW
SOUTH
WALES
NEWS
Lee joined the NSW Taxi Industry in 1992
working as a casual telephonist while studying
computer science working his way up to
establish Manly’s first Customer Service/Driver
relations department.
He left the industry briefly and bought a Café
but as we all know the taxi industry gets into
your blood so after moving to the UK, Lee took
a role with Premier Despatch – at the time
London’s second biggest private hire operator.
After 5 years in London, Lee returned to
Australia in 2001 to set up a new call centre for
Manly Cabs. He then took on a new role with
Legion Cabs in Sydney where he remains today.
Lee was elected to the Board of the NSW Taxi
Council in 2014 and elected Chairman in 2018.
Lee is a passionate advocate for the industry
and its people “In a service industry like ours,
the people who make up the industry are our
biggest asset. Our diversity and rich history
as an industry is something to be incredibly
proud of. I’m still in regular contact with
customers who became friends 25 years ago
and I think that shows one of our industry’s true
strengths – that is our deep connection to the
community”.
26
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

UBER
CLASS ACTION UPDATE
The NSW Taxi Council held a
briefing day with Maurice Blackburn
on Wednesday 6 February, 2019, at
the Panarcadian Club, Ashbury.
There were two briefing sessions
held on the day, 11am and 6pm,
with over 400 Taxi Industry
representatives attending across
both sessions. The sessions were
very informative, with Elizabeth
O’Shea from Maurice Blackburn
providing a very comprehensive
and insightful brief about the class
action.
This was followed by a question
and answer session. Attendees
were provided the opportunity to
raise questions they had about
the class action. There were also
opportunities for one on one
engagement with representatives
from Maurice Blackburn.
Maurice Blackburn is still taking
registrations. Please visit http://
www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/
uberclassaction
Cheap Set Price Vehicles
available - lpg/petrol
Ford Falcon $ 300 per week
Toyota Altise $ 350 per week
Toyota Hybrid $ 400 per week
SAVID TAXIS
Ring Sam or Russell on 03 9584 7700 / 03 9584 7171
• No need for Radio Network affiliation
• Driver responsible for fuel
• No Radio/Dispatcher
- Bottle, Hail & Street work only
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019
27

NEW
SOUTH
WALES
NEWS
LICENCE
VALUES
Licence values for freehold licences
experienced a decrease from $92,500 in
December, to an average of $82,400 for
January 2019, with the highest selling
price being $95,000.
10 transfers occurred during the month
of December - 4 deceased estates and 5
actual sales.
Sydney Taxi Licence Plates
$400,000
$350,000
$300,000
$250,000
$200,000
$150,000
$100,000
$50,000
$-
Jan-15 Jan-16 Jan-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Dec-18 Jan-19
Average Transfer Value
JAN '19 AVERAGE
LICENCE VALUE
$82,400
CTP
LEVELLING THE
PLAYING FIELD
Over the past two years, the
NSW Taxi Council has been
working with the office of
the Minister for Finance,
Hon Victor Dominello, as
well as the State Insurance
Regulator (SIRA) on delivering
a competitor neutral
Compulsory Third Party (CTP)
scheme for taxis.
This has resulted in a staged
rollout of numerous reforms
to the CTP model for NSW,
including:-
28 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019
1. Savings for taxis on CTP
premiums from 1st
December, 2017.
2. Rideshare paying $0.10
per engaged kilometre on
all fares that are carried
out from 1st April, 2018.
3. Currently working towards
an engaged model
for Taxis, for rollout in
Sydney Metropolitan
District from mid 2019.
Whilst there have been
significant savings for Country
and Regional Operators in
NSW, it is the view that the
engaged model for taxis
will be rolled out in Sydney
Metropolitan areas in the first
instance.
The Country and Regional
locations will be rolled out in
the near future.

ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE PAYMENT SCHEME
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) are
working to complete the assessment
of applications for Assistance
Payments by 31 March 2019,
however if needed, this timeframe
may be extended.
Applicants will be advised in writing
of the outcome of their application
once it has been determined. To date,
a number of applicants have received
correspondence that advises:
• the Panel has recommended
them for a payment and of the
amount of payment
• payment is based on the
guidelines for payments
determined by the Panel and on
the information and evidence
provided in the application
• TfNSW is advising them of
the payment so they may
seek independent legal or
professional financial / taxation
advice in relation to the
additional assistance payment
scheme and their individual
circumstances
• of the options to either take the
payment in a lump sum or in
three equal instalments over 3
financial years
• to advise TfNSW of their
preferred option so the payment
can be arranged
Applicants will also be kept updated
at key stages of the process via the
following Transport for NSW web
page.
https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/
projects/point-to-point-industryassistance/additional-assistancepayment-scheme.
Taxi
Coverage
in Melbourne
Crown Cabs and
SLYYK
DEPOT FEES just got a
whole lot CHEAPER!
CROWN
TAXI COVERAGE
Owners receive
BONUS
totalling $120
off their annual Depot Fees
when they take coverage and join the network for 12
months. Owners will receive 12 payments of $10 per Depot
Fee cycle - totalling $120 pa.
CROWN TAXI COVERAGE
10/62-68 Garden Drive, Tullamarine VIC 3043 Phone: 1300 121 314
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DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019
29

NEW
SOUTH
WALES
NEWS
NSW TAXI COUNCIL
WAT TRAINING
The NSW Taxi Council
launched the Wheelchair
Accessible Taxi (WAT) Training
in early February, 2019. The
training was a success with
all students passing through
as competent. The NSW Taxi
Council will continue to deliver
the WAT training, with the next
course scheduled for early
March. For more information
please contact the NSW Taxi
Council on (02) 8339 4644.
The NSW Taxi Council also
delivers the Gold Level
Training. This program
focuses on upskilling
Taxi Drivers who provide
transport to passengers with
Special Needs. The Gold
Level Training has received
endorsement from the
Department of Veteran Affairs,
and is a great program for any
Taxi Network looking to build
their business with the special
needs sector. For more
information, please email
training@nswtaxi.org.au
Need
LEGAL
assistance?
AMS
IVANHOE LAWYERS
176 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe
E: amsr@amslaw.com.au
P: (03) 9497 2622
Business
Commercial
Conveyancing
Estate Planning
Family
Litigation
Probate
Superannuation
Taxation
Serving the Taxi Industry
for over 30 years
AMS
LAW
30
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

Major Event in
New South Wales
HARBOUR
SCULPTURE
16 March
Free and highly successful,
this Australia Day Awardwinning
annual exhibition
will feature more than 100
sculptures, created by
some of Australia’s most
recognised artists. Artists
aim to present, support and
encourage contemporary
Australian sculpture that
reflects the history and place
of sculpture in Australia.
This not-for-profit and
volunteer-based community
organisation, is dedicated
to fostering contemporary
art. The event is expected to
attract 30,000 plus visitors
this year, from all ages,
including school groups,
college students, art lovers,
senior citizens and the
curious.
Artists share in cash prizes,
provided for by generous
sponsors, and all works will
be available for sale. For the
first time, schools can also
enter artworks for prizes.
Outdoor exhibits can be
viewed at beautiful Clarkes
Point Reserve, Woolwich,
and indoor sculptures will
be easily accessible, inside
the Hunters Hill Sailing Club.
Come and engage with the
community in this visual
experience of sculptural
works against their beautiful
harbour location.
Melbourne Airport Unigas
Melrose Drive, Tullamarine
CAR
WASH
FREE
HOT DRINK
WITH EVERY
AUTO
CAR WASH
Available at Melrose Lounge.
Collect your voucher
from the Unigas office.
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019
31

WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
NEWS
O
D
T
D N EMAND
RANSPORT
reforms
Paying the Levy
The On-demand passenger transport
Levy will commence on Monday 1
April 2019. Booking services are
responsible for paying the Levy to the
Department of Transport (DoT).
The Levy fare will be based on either
the metered fare or the contract fare
agreed with the passenger, prior to
the GST being applied.
Most other fees relating to the
journey, such as cleaning fees and
airport charges, will be excluded from
the Levy fare.
Booking services should familiarise
themselves with the regulations,
which are now available on the
Department of Transport (DoT)
website.
32
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

How to identify an
authorised
booking service
As of Monday 1 April 2019, if
a booking service is operating
without authorisation or
without an association arrangement
with an authorised
booking service, they will be
liable for penalties of up to
$200,000.
A list of authorised booking
services will be published on
the DoT website in March.
The public will be able to
check whether a booking service
is authorised by searching
either the business name
or authorisation number.
DoT will conduct a range of
activities to ensure that booking
services are authorised,
including undercover operations,
audits and investigations.
On-road patrols will
continue to be performed by
DoT Education and Compliance
Officers. Officers can
check whether a vehicle
is being operated for hire
and reward while on patrol,
regardless of the plates
displayed.
There are no immediate
changes to plates. Taxi plates
will continue to be required
and charter vehicle plates will
remain optional for those doing
on-demand charter trips.
In mid-2019, further regulations
will require on-demand
vehicles (taxi and charter) to
have either external livery or
windscreen signage.
Responsibilities
for authorised
booking
services
On 28 February 2019,
all on-demand booking
services became accountable
for the safety
of the services that are
provided.
As an authorised booking
service, you will
have responsibility for
keeping various records,
having a readily accessible
complaints-handling
process, maintaining a
safety culture through a
formal Safety Management
System and, if applicable,
collecting and
paying the On-demand
passenger transport
Levy.
Most of these responsibilities
are not new -
they are already required
and will continue to be
required as either part
of the charter operating
conditions, plate
operating conditions or
Taxi Dispatch Service
registration.
In mid-2019, further
regulations will broaden
the responsibilities of
booking services to
include other requirements
such as faresetting
and notifying the
Department of Transport
(DoT) of serious safety
occurrence.
Do you own
or lease a
vehicle?
Changes to the
licensing of vehicles
used for hire or
reward are due to
commence in July
2019. There are no
immediate legislative
changes relating to
vehicles for vehicle
owners, taxi-plate
lessees or country
taxi license holders.
In July 2019, the
licences associated
with charter vehicles,
country taxi-cars and
regular passenger
transport vehicles
will be transitioned
to Passenger Transport
Vehicle (PTV)
authorisations.
The conversion of
owned metropolitan
taxi plates to PTV
authorisations will
depend on how the
taxi plate owner
participates in the
buyback.
Government leased
taxi plates will be
transitioned to PTV
authorisations. DoT
does not regulate
private (owned) taxi
plate lease arrangements
- the renewal
or ceasing of private
leases is a matter
for the lessor and
lessee.
What is
a Safety
Management
System?
All on-demand booking
services will be required
to have a Safety
Management System
(SMS) regardless
of whether they are
authorised or not. An
SMS is a set of policies,
procedures and
plans that systematically
manages health
and safety at work.
The size and nature
of authorised booking
services can vary
from a sole operator
with one vehicle to a
corporation with many
thousands of vehicles,
and this will impact
what detail your SMS
contains.
It is important to
understand that the
safety responsibilities
contained in an SMS
build on the current
taxi and charter vehicle
licence operating
conditions, which
require you to consider
driver fatigue and vehicle
maintenance.
DoT has developed a
toolkit of resources to
assist booking services
in developing an SMS
- these resources are
available on the DoT
website.
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 33

Wireless
Charging
is just around the corner
by Steve Hanley
MAHLE, a top 20 global Tier 1 supplier to the automotive industry, has agreed to
license WiTricity’s patented magnetic resonance wireless charging technology.
Headquartered in Germany, the companies plan to develop additional innovative
solutions for global car makers as they work to bring new vehicle platforms for
e-mobility.
MAHLE currently supplies engine components and thermal air conditioning
systems to the automotive industry. In 2017, it generated worldwide sales of
more than $13 billion. It has 78,000 employees at 170 production locations in
more than 30 countries around the world.
34 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

Wireless charging allows the drivers to
charge their EV without plugging in a
charging cable.
Dr. Jörg Stratmann, CEO of
MAHLE, says “This addition to the
MAHLE portfolio provides us with
a crucial element for the longterm
acceptance and expansion
of e-mobility. We believe this
technology offers strong market
potential. Our solution will enable
fast, reliable and highly efficient
charging.”
Wireless charging is a small piece
of the charging puzzle now, but
is poised to grow exponentially in
the future. Along with not needing
drivers to actually plug in a charging
cable, it greatly simplifies the
mechanism for charging cars
autonomously.
For instance, once cars are able to
move themselves around a parking
lot without a human driver, it would
be super simple to have many
wireless enabled cars charge up
during the work day, then shuttle off
to another part of the lot to allow
another autonomous car to use
the wireless charging equipment.
It would also be ideal for keeping
the batteries of electric vehicles
charged up in long term parking
facilities at airports.
Once self-driving cars become
commonplace (moving about in a
geofenced area at speeds under 10
mph shouldn’t be that hard a job),
employers wouldn’t have to install
so many conventional chargers and
provide time during the work day for
employees to go out and move their
cars once they are fully charged
so other drivers can access the
charging equipment.
“We are excited to enter into a
relationship with MAHLE given its
rich history of technical leadership
in the automotive industry and
given its aggressive investment in
e-mobility,” says Alex Gruzen, CEO of
WiTricity. “Wireless charging is key
to accelerating EV sales, and we are
proud to work with MAHLE to bring
WiTricity technology to customers
around the world.”
WiTricity is working directly with
leading car makers and various
groups to drive global standards for
wireless charging systems. That’s a
smart move! Standards will play a
vital role in bringing the electric car
revolution to millions more drivers.
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DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 35

Concern for
FUTURE
of Darwin taxis
NORTHERN
TERRITORY
NEWS
by Mitchell Abram
A Darwin taxi driver says many of his colleagues
are now eligible for Centrelink payments because
the industry is struggling to compete in Darwin's
troubled economy.
Shane Nouwens has been driving taxis in Darwin
on and off for 19 years and said the welfare of his
fellow drivers was starting to cause him concern.
"They are averaging around $50 to $80 a shift …
we're talking about 12-hour shifts here," he said.
"They're earning well below minimum wage, in fact
half," Mr Nouwens said.
Mr Nouwens said the pressure from Uber was
continuing to grow.
"In the first couple of weeks it was a 25 per cent
reduction to drivers' incomes during peak times
— Thursday and Friday, and Friday and Saturday
nights," he said.
"We're now in the range of 30 per cent-plus
reductions to income on those peak periods.
Ridesharing has stripped away the last skerrick of
viability for this industry."
In a statement, ridesharing company Uber claimed
it had "complemented existing transport options"
since it launched in August last year,
"While we all know Darwin is a great place to live, it
isn't always easy to get around without driving," a
spokesperson said.
"What we have seen is Uber complementing
existing transport options in Darwin, offering locals
and tourists an affordable way to get from A to
B. It has also meant more transport options on
weekends and during major events, enabling locals
to get home safely at the end of the night, and
36 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

Many taxi drivers are earning less than
the minimum wage and are forced to
register for Centrelink payments.
making the roads safer for everyone."
In a post to a Darwin taxi community
page, Mr Nouwens urged drivers to
get help if they needed it.
"There is no shame in taking steps to
ensure the welfare of you and your
family," he said.
"If you are suffering significant
stress please don't hesitate to reach
out to us for a chat over a coffee
and direction to the relevant health
services."
Blair Davies CEO Australian Taxi
Industry Association blames the
Northern Territory government for
much of the economic damage done
to the taxi industry and said it should
be stepping up to make taxis more
competitive.
"Our competitors can discount their
prices when it's convenient for them,
and they can ratchet them up to
astronomical levels. Taxis can't do
that," he said.
Mr Nouwens said taxis faced a $700
fine for turning off their meters, even
if they wanted to offer a discount to
passengers.
He also asked the Government to
consider dropping a levy on taxi
fares that was introduced when Uber
launched in Darwin.
"That has been noticed by our
customers because it has increased
our flag fall to $5.40 during the day
and $6.50 at night," he said.
But Attorney-General Natasha
Fyles would not say whether
the Government would consider
the changes, or other forms of
compensation for drivers.
"We need to make sure that we
support the industry through
regulations, but at the same time
acknowledge the changes, that
Territorians are using those types of
services."
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DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 37

MAKING IT
SAFE
FOR WOMEN
by Stephanie Palmer-Derrien
Shebah has plans to expand
internationally, into “any country where
women feel scared after dark”.
Victorian women-only ride-sharing
startup Shebah is launching a
$3 million equity crowdfunding
campaign to boost its tech and
fuel overseas expansion, and to
share the startup’s success with its
community of supportive women.
Launched in 2017, Shebah saw
190% year-on-year growth in its
user base, turning over $1.8 million
in 2018.
Speaking to StartupSmart, founder
and chief George McEncroe
(pictured above) says the startup’s
drivers and passengers are “the
backbone of the company”,
especially those who came on
board early.
“I want to see our drivers and
our passengers who stood by us
enjoying the fruits of our labour,” she
says.
“It would be interesting and
fabulous to see [them] being able
to grow with us and enjoy being
shareholders too,” she adds.
“What a great thing for our women,
to be able to have that in our hands.”
However, McEncroe also says she
“experienced a fair bit of frustration
from standard investment groups”
that perhaps couldn’t see a need for
Shebah’s services.
While she has had conversations
with venture capitalists, they were
largely fruitless. This is a new idea,
and one that only serves women.
“I don’t want to sound like a whinger,
but you can’t help but wonder, if this
was affecting every bloke, would it
be a different scenario?”
It can be difficult for men to connect
to the startup on an emotional level,
she suggests. For example, police
advice for women is to sit in the
back seat when they get into a cab.
“When we pitch, we have to explain
what it’s like to sit in the back seat
all the time,” she says.
“A lot of men don’t want to consider
that their female counterparts
experience anything less than
equality,” she adds. “It can hit a
bit of a chord. It’s not a pleasant
acknowledgement that there’s a
need for this service.”
The funding will be used to help
launch Shebah into its next phase
of growth.
“We have two big, hungry beasts
that need to be fed all the time
— the tech and the marketing,”
McEncroe says.
On the tech side, Shebah is looking
into adding multiple options for
child passengers, allowing parents
to specify the age, height and size
of a child, and saving drivers and
passengers time talking about
these logistical points on the phone.
It is also hoping to implement a
way for users to request special
assistance requirements, “so we
can do a really good job of caring
for that person”, McEncroe says.
The plan is to “build great
technology and then scream about
it across the world”, she adds.
There are also plans to expand
internationally, into “any country
where women feel scared after
dark”.
Initially, Shebah will head to New
Zealand, where McEncroe hopes to
go live in the second half of 2019,
and in Malaysia, where there is
already significant demand.
38 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

WHAT WE
HEAR !
Recent data from the Queensland
Government, revealed the current average
taxi licence price in Mackay is $20,000,
compared to 2014 when the average price
was $379,200. A 94% drop in value is NOT
ACCEPTABLE.
So, now there are Uber cars purporting
to be a "taxi". Some Uber cars have been
spotted around Melbourne sporting an
Uber DOME! It actually makes sense that
it be mandatory that Unbooked CPVs (aka
taxis) MUST have a dome light and Booked
CPVs are NOT permitted domes!
Uber is slowing down, and it no longer
looks unstoppable. The ride-hail company
generated $14.2 billion in bookings in
the quarter ended December 31 — which
includes what customers spend on Uber
rides, Uber Eats orders, and other Uber
services. Uber lost $865 million in the latest
quarter, down from a loss of $1.07 billion in
the third quarter of 2018.
ACT Shadow Transport Minister Candice Burch
has asked Labor and the Greens to support fair
compensation or a buy-back scheme for the
ACT taxi plate owners. When the majority of
Canberrans invested in taxi plates, they were
worth around $250,000 to $450,000. Now they
worth less than $80,000.
BE
A PART
OF THE
STORY
Join the Conversation
DRIVE A2B loves hearing what you think about the magazine, your vehicle owner or driver,
your Booking Service Provider, or just Commercial Passenger Vehicles (CPVs), taxis, hire cars
or ride hailing vehicles 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 · March 2019
39

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40 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

NEW
WAY
TO
STOP
SPEEDINGby Stephen Corby
Road-safety groups across Europe
are pushing for technology that would
make it possible for cars to prevent
you from exceeding the speed limit,
and calling for its inclusion to be
mandatory in all new vehicles by
2022.
The technology is called Intelligent
Speed Assistance (ISA) and it uses
video cameras that can read speed
signs and/or GPS-linked speed-limit
data to advise drivers what the
current speed limit is at all times.
Many cars on sale in Australia can
already do this, using a system called
SLI (Speed Limit Information), but ISA
goes a step further by automatically
limiting the speed of your vehicle to
prevent you from going over the limit.
While ISA doesn’t apply the brakes to
slow you down, because that would
be unsafe, it simply limits the amount
of engine power you have, to stop you
from exceeding the limit.
The driver can override the system,
if they need to overtake for example,
but the European Transport Safety
Council believes it will be so annoying,
sorry, so effective that it has the
potential to reduce the total number
of road deaths in countries where it is
implemented, by 20 per cent.
Euro NCAP is already awarding
extra safety points for vehicles that
feature ISA, and it is already fitted as
standard to the new Ford Focus in
Europe.
Ford previously offered ISA on its
S-Max and Galaxy models in Europe
and the take-up was as high as 95 per
cent. Ford markets the technology as
a way of avoiding speeding fines.
A Ford Australia spokesman
explained that its ISA technology -
which is also available on Ranger
and Everest in other markets - cannot
currently function in Australia because
we don’t have the uniform roadsignage
required to make it possible.
Samantha Cockfield, Lead
Director Road Safety for Victoria’s
peak safety body, the Transport
Accident Commission (TAC), said
her organisation would support
“mandating safety technology that
can help people drive safely and
reduce the number of people killed
and injured on our roads”.
“Speed remains one of the biggest
factors in crashes on Victorian
roads and while it is not always
the cause of a crash, the speed
of a vehicle at impact will always
determine how badly people are
hurt as a result,” Ms Cockfield
added.
“Technology such as ISA, when
supported by appropriate setting
of speed limits, can help people
to slow down and drive at speeds
that are safer, which will go a long
way towards reducing deaths and
serious injuries on our roads.”
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 41

Driver Jobs
advertise
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Want a driver?
want work?
FREE for all
operators &
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Send details (word limit=70) of your
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A.C.T.
ACT CABS (CANBERRA TAXI SERVICE)
We are hiring and training taxi drivers in Canberra. Day and
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QUEENSLAND
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42 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

TAXI DRIVER CAREERS
If you're thinking of a full or part time career as a taxi
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DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019 43

NEWS FROM
around the
world
CANADA - Ontario
A proposed class-action lawsuit
against the ride-hailing company
Uber filed by one of its drivers will
go ahead after Ontario’s top court
reversed a lower court decision
that would have sent the matter to
arbitration overseas.
In a ruling released Wednesday,
the Court of Appeal for Ontario
says a clause in Uber’s services
agreement that requires all disputes
to go through arbitration in the
Netherlands amounts to illegally
outsourcing an employment
standard and therefore cannot
stand.
It further concludes that the clause
takes advantage of the significant
power and financial disparity
between Uber and its drivers, who
would bear up to US$14,500 in filing
fees just to begin the arbitration
process, no matter the amount at
stake in the dispute.
“I believe that it can be safely
concluded that Uber chose this
arbitration clause in order to favour
itself and thus take advantage of its
drivers, who are clearly vulnerable
to the market strength of Uber,” the
appeal court said. “It is a reasonable
inference that Uber did so knowingly
and intentionally.”
The appeal court ruling does not
deal with the claims made in the
lawsuit, which will be tested in civil
court. Nor does it rule on whether
the suit qualifies as a class action.
The man behind the suit, David
Heller, is a 35-year-old driver for
UberEats, a service that calls
on drivers to deliver food from
restaurants to Uber customers.
He argues that Uber drivers are
employees, which makes them
entitled to a minimum wage,
vacation pay and other protections
under Ontario’s Employment
Standards Act.
“This decision confirms that
employment laws actually matter in
Ontario, and that you cannot deprive
workers of their legal rights under
the Ontario Employment Standards
Act by sending them 6,000 km
overseas to enforce those rights at
exorbitant personal cost,” lawyer Lior
Samfiru, who represents Heller, said
in a statement.
“Legal rights are meaningless if
there is no mechanism to enforce
those rights. Uber’s contract with
its drivers seeks to make the
enforceability of rights virtually
impossible. The court sent a loud
and clear message that this is illegal
in Ontario.”
44 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

EUROPE - Taxi Forum
excerpt from TaxiIntelligence
During the IRU’s International Taxi Forum, Moscow’s
Dmitry Pronin showed that in their multifaceted and highly
regulated mobility approach, the taxi is clearly a force to be
reckoned with. Moscow’s cleaned-up taxi fleet is – thanks
to replacement subsidies – one of the youngest in the world
with an average vehicle age of under 3 years.
Yet, the future is not the same everywhere. Since July
this year Finland’s previously highly-regulated taxi trade is
dealing with a completely deregulated taxi market – a bit of
a challenge. Finland’s example may lead to similar measures
in Norway.
Jonna Pöllänen (MaaS Global/Whim) underlined that a
system like Mobility as a Service (MaaS) will link taxis to
the use of different forms of public transport, plus bike
and car rental systems in a form of a monthly app-based
subscription. For a fixed monthly fare users get a mix of
mobility – including taxis. The higher the fare, the more
taxis one gets. Such a system – called Whim – is already
operational in Helsinki and the West-Midlands (UK). Various
other operators are working on similar models.
“Politics is the word I’ve heard most at this Taxi Forum. And
it is scandalous indeed how Uber in 2011 managed to worm
its way into London because of its political connections in
the highest places. We call that a ‘chumocracy’, because it
has nothing to do with democracy or with proper regulation,”
LTDA General Secretary Steve McNamara described the
situation in London.
USA - New York City
Uber is suing New York City (NYC)
over a rule that caps the number
of ride-hailing drivers allowed on
the streets, saying that the city
government does not have enough
evidence to justify such a rule, and
that Mayor Bill de Blasio is treating
the business unfairly.
City officials have said the rule's
creation will help reduce road
congestion, and de Blasio's office
said Uber and other ride-hailing
companies have made traffic worse.
The lawsuit reflects the increasingly
combative relationship between NYC
and global technology companies:
Last month, Lyft sued the city’s
Transportation Commission over
the implementation of minimum
pay rules for drivers; and Amazon
walked away from plans to build
a sprawling new headquarters in
Queens to support 25,000 employees;
and Airbnb and other home-rental
companies are fighting the city in
court over its demand that they turn
over renter data.
ENGLAND - Plymouth
Disheartened Plymouth taxi drivers
say life in the trade is so dire right
now they'd probably be better off
claiming benefits.
Tensions are growing amongst city
cabbies as they brace themselves for
a big rise in the cost of working and
keeping their cars on the road.
But it's not good news either for
private hire vehicles; which could
force companies to hike passenger
fees to cover extra costs.
It seems that a one-year hackney
cab (taxi) licence is set to soar by
£114 to £324 (AU$593) and a driver's
badge could set workers back £165
(AU$301) rather than £112.
"I've been doing this for 28 years, and
what we're earning now is less than
minimum wage. About £5 (AU$9.10)
an hour, not much more than that.
"Yet the fares (which the council
regulates) won't go up. We've had a
50p increase in the last eight years.
We will just have to accept these
raises."
Those who operate a taxi are to be
hammered the most; with proposed
raises of about 96 per cent.
Ade Smith has been a driver since
2001 - and says it's never been as bad
as things are now.
"The increases are absolutely
ludicrous, horrendous...we're all up
against it".
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019
45

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46 DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019

If you are a victim of car theft, call Triple Zero (000). If you know something or witness something, make your
confidential report to Crime Stoppers today by calling 1800 333 000 or reporting
online at crimestoppersvic.com.au/report-a-crime.

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