TRANSPORT SUBSIDY SCHEME

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Disabilities a question about the South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: SACOSS recently released a cost of living report, which has found that rising taxi prices are having a disproportionate impact on those people in South Australia with disabilities. Obviously, they have fewer transport options and hence spend more on taxis—when those taxis do eventually come. Yet the South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme has not gone up since December 2006.

The specific figures on taxi fare increases in that time are not in my possession, but I note with concern that the urban transport fares CPI category, into which taxi fares would fall, has gone up 19.77 per cent in that same period. Yet on ABC radio, on Wednesday 23 May, minister Fox said that she and Ian Hunter (the minister) thought the scheme was working well. My questions are:

1. Can the minister provide the council with figures for how much taxi fares have increased since the last SATSS cap increase, that is, since 2006?

2. Is the minister aware of any instances of people with disabilities struggling financially and not being able to afford a basic trip?

3. Does the minister think it is of concern that there has been no increase to SATSS since 2006?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:47): I thank the honourable member for her most important questions. The South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme was established in 1987, I am advised, and provides transport assistance for people with a mobility disability who are limited in using public transport independently.

While this is an incredibly important service, the scheme is not intended to meet all of people's transport needs. It provides members of the scheme a maximum of one book of 80 personalised vouchers every six months for subsidised taxi travel. I understand that the vouchers are not limited by time, but the scheme does require members to reorder their new book every six months.

I am advised that there are two categories of membership: one for those who are ambulant and one for those in wheelchairs. Ambulant members receive a 50 per cent subsidy and wheelchair members receive a 75 per cent subsidy. I understand that a maximum amount of subsidy for each voucher is $40. There are currently 62,216 members of the SATS scheme. However, only about 28,724 have used their voucher in the past nine months. I am advised that there is a slight growth in membership each year, but this is partially offset by existing members who pass away.

There are now 988 general taxi licences and a further 100 wheelchair-accessible taxi licences. The total amount paid by this government in subsidies for 2010-12 was $12.36 million. The Treasurer has said before, and I am sure will be saying again, that he is always looking at ways where he can increase concessions to those who need it, but we need to do it when the budget will allow.