DRIVE NOW March/April 2022

VICTORIA news
Neither did the CPVI Bill consider
the ongoing viability of the
industry, or basic regulations
necessary to provide a safe, fair,
competitive and efficient service
to all of its consumers regardless
of which type of service they use.
Most notable was the absence
of any compensation in the Bill
for the compulsory acquisition
of perpetual taxi and hire car
licences which were treated as
assets to this point.
As well as this, the CPVI Bill
failed to anticipate the many
negative consequences for
active industry participants who
continue to be impacted by its
shortcomings. This is in addition
to the poor protections for
consumers against extortion as
a result of fare deregulation and
implications for safety due to soft
requirements in the rideshare
sector.
Among many other
responsibilities associated with
representing my electorate of the
Eastern Metropolitan region, my
team and I work relentlessly on
behalf of the industry to address
these issues.
It would be well
known by now that
my hard work and
that of key players
involved in forming
the Transport
Matters Party began
long before the
election.
We were instrumental in
developing the legal case against
Uber, which has led to the
establishment of the class action
being run by Maurice Blackburn.
The claim against Uber is for lost
income and loss in licence values
for participants in the taxi and
hire car industry incurred as a
result of Uber’s alleged illegal
conduct.
The competence and tenacity
of team TMP was evident not
just in leading this cause but
also in securing over $20 million
from Harbour Litigation Funding
which has enabled the action to
proceed at no cost to registrants.
From these beginnings and
because of the foresight of the
executive team, the class action
now has over 8,000 registrants
and has expanded to include
claims for industry participants
in New South Wales, Queensland
and Western Australia and
Victoria. It is purported that
this will be one of the largest
class actions this country has
ever seen. The part I played
in initiating this fills me with
immense pride.
Establishing TMP was not an easy
task by far but thanks to all our
supporting members and the skill
shown by the executive team to
secure favourable preference
voting arrangements, the battle
against all odds was won, and a
seat was secured in the Eastern
Metropolitan region at the 2018
Victorian state election.
This was achieved in the face of
circulating rumours and threats
from the opposition of the
day who tried to sabotage our
campaign.
Nevertheless, we won
in spite of the damage
that was tried.
For a long time, we were led to
believe that we had a friend in
the opposition who seemingly
showed support for the industry
and the injustice that had
occurred when the reforms were
implemented. Outwardly, this
has always been the message
that has been conveyed, but true
advocacy goes beyond holding
a microphone on the steps of
parliament and a few supportive
social posts.
Words are just wind, and the
industry was being blown away.
We soon learned that there was
little activity behind the scenes.
On the other hand,
my focus and that of
TMP has not waivered
since entering
parliament.
Hansard will show that I have
raised industry concerns in
every parliamentary sitting week
since I was elected in 2018. I
have used every opportunity
to advance our cause and to
remind the government of why I
was elected and what it is that I
hope to achieve on behalf of my
stakeholders.
www.drivenow-magazine.com.au
March/April 2022
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