On Monday, the NSW Government increased the assistance package to taxi licence holders, from $645 million to $905 million. This package is almost three-fold what Victorian taxi licence holders received.
Rod Barton MP is calling on the Andrews Labor Government to repair the damage done by the commercial passenger vehicle reforms of 2017.
The consequences of the reforms have been far-reaching. Today, the industry is in mayhem, with illegal touting plaguing public events, widespread non-compliance, and a severe shortage of drivers.
Make no mistake, people are suffering.
Barton points to Labor's official slogan for its election campaign, 'Doing what Matters' as reason enough for the Government to provide fair and proper compensation to the industry. What matters is addressing the mess of your own making.
Taxi licence holders experienced financial devastation when the Government took away their licences and paid them only a fraction of their value. They lost their homes, their superannuation, and their incomes. Many are still paying legacy debts for an asset they no longer own.
NSW has set the standard that Victoria and other states should rise to meet.
Currently, the Andrews Government continues to collect the CPV levy on every trip. This levy was introduced to pay for the first compensation package for licence holders, however, when this is paid off shortly the money will be going straight to the Treasury's pockets. Barton says this is not good enough.
In the coming term, this levy will generate hundreds of millions of dollars and this money should go to who the fund was intended for, ex-taxi licence holders.
In the absence of any meaningful policies for the industry from the major parties, Barton calls on Labor and Liberals to commit to fair and proper compensation for taxi and hire-car licence holders.
The industry awaits with bated breath.
Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Metropolitan and the Leader of the Transport Matters Party Rod Barton MP:
"The Liberal Government in NSW accepts fairness wasn't delivered and they are addressing that 7 years later. The Andrews Government must step up."
"What has happened to the taxi industry are the consequences of the gig economy left to run rampant. Taxi families are working people who have had their lives torn apart by a multi-national taxi company from Silicon Valley. The Government has to do what matters and protect Victorian families."
