Kellie Sloane
Leader of the Opposition
NSW Liberal Leader
Gurmesh Singh
NSW Nationals Leader
Shadow Minister for Regional NSW
Natalie Ward
Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
An elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will ease pressure on taxi operators and protect essential transport services by addressing the compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance imbalance.
Under the proposal, taxis will be brought into the same CTP insurance classification as other rideshare vehicles, establishing a fairer system for operators providing comparable passenger transport services.
Currently, metropolitan taxi operators face CTP insurance premiums of up to $6,000 annually, and $5,200 for regional operators. Rideshare operators pay base premiums of between just $500 and $700.
The NSW taxi industry faces mounting financial pressures, with more than 600 taxis leaving NSW roads over the past two years. The recent closure of Southern Highlands Taxis also highlights the real threat other regional services face.
A NSW Parliamentary Committee recommended bringing taxis and rideshare under a single CTP classification within six months of its April 2026 report. However, the Minns Labor Government has not taken any action.
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said the NSW Liberals and Nationals would back taxi operators and protect essential transport services under our plan for a Stronger NSW.
"The current arrangements are benefitting one operating model over the other, putting small businesses under enormous pressure and forcing them off the road," Ms Sloane said.
"As part of our plan for a Stronger NSW, a NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will deliver a fairer system that backs operators, small businesses, protects local jobs and keeps essential transport services on the road."
NSW Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh said regional NSW is hit hardest when taxi operators are forced to close.
"Taxis are a critical local transport option for so many people, particularly in regional NSW where there are often few, if any, alternatives to having a car," Mr Singh said.
"When the local taxi service disappears, it's not just a business owner and their family who are hit hard by the closure, it's also older residents struggling to get to medical appointments, people with disability losing their independence and families losing an essential service."
Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Natalie Ward said there was no justification for the Minns Labor Government to be ignoring yet another Parliamentary Committee recommendation.
"Whether you're driving a taxi or a rideshare vehicle, you're providing the same service," Ms Ward said.
"Once again, recommendations have been made to the Minns Labor Government and subsequently put in the bottom drawer to gather dust."
"The industry and peak bodies have been calling for action, a parliamentary committee has recommended a solution, and only the Liberals and Nationals will make the change."
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said she had long advocated for action to address the financial pressures facing the taxi industry.
"When I became aware of the difficulties facing Southern Highlands Taxis in the lead-up to its closure, I raised my concerns with my colleagues and highlighted the lack of action being taken by Chris Minns and Labor," Mrs Tuckerman said.
"The closure of Southern Highlands Taxis is a direct consequence of Labor's failure to act, and the NSW Liberals and Nationals are ready to fix it before further operators are forced off the road and more communities lose vital transport services."
