Taxi Industry

In reply to the Hon. F. PANGALLO (1 August 2018).

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment): The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government has advised:

1. The taxi sector is already represented on the Point to Point Advisory Committee by three centralised booking services. The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) has also been meeting regularly with the Taxi Council. The advisory committee is not a decision-making committee, it is one of a number of mechanisms employed by DPTI to consult with industry.

2. The government has not yet made a decision about whether vehicle age limits for passenger transport vehicles should be changed. DPTI is currently considering feedback provided by industry, including that of the Taxi Council. DPTI sought feedback after participants from across the industry asked that South Australia's restrictions on vehicle age be reviewed, particularly given many other Australian jurisdictions no longer have vehicle age limits on taxi, chauffeur or ride-share vehicles and instead rely on regular inspections.

3. The government will consult on any proposed changes to the Passenger Transport Act 1994 and the Passenger Transport Regulations 2009.

4. DPTI has not yet consulted with the federal government's Department of Home Affairs. DPTI has been seeking views from the industry in the first instance and is currently considering industry feedback. Ceasing to conduct a visa check and instead relying on a self-declaration from the driver was identified as a potential option to help speed up processing times for taxi, chauffeur and rides-hare driver accreditations. Responsibility for engaging legal workers in the point to point industry sits with the employer (including contractor and bailment arrangements). The government is currently considering the issues raised by the Taxi Council and the views of other industry stakeholders.