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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-25 Daily Xml
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TAXI INDUSTRY

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.L. Brokenshire:

1. That a select committee of the Legislative Council be appointed to inquire into and report upon practices and opportunities for reform in the taxi industry in South Australia (including vehicles holding themselves out to be taxis, such as country taxis) and, in particular—

(a) the commercial and advisory structure of the industry and potential for conflicts of interest thereto;

(b) allegations of fraud and corruption in the industry;

(c) commercial practices on the transfer and leasing of plates, including alleged incentive or collateral payments;

(d) the adequacy of training given to drivers and resultant quality of tourism service and other standards of service;

(e) causes and remedies for assaults upon drivers and assaults by drivers;

(f) problems arising from the existing system of taxi classification;

(g) the opportunities for introduction or expansion, and the estimated cost, of technology such as global positioning system (GPS) tracking of taxis, video-camera recording, electronic charging via Cabcharge, electronic disability identification tags and other possible technological reforms for the industry; and

(h) any other relevant matter.

2. That standing order 389 be so far suspended as to enable the chairperson of the committee to have a deliberative vote only.

3. That this council permits the select committee to authorise the disclosure or publication, as it sees fit, of any evidence or documents presented to the committee prior to such evidence being presented to the council.

4. That standing order 396 be suspended to enable strangers to be admitted when the select committee is examining witnesses unless the committee otherwise resolves, but they shall be excluded when the committee is deliberating.

(Continued from 18 February 2009. Page 1306.)

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (20:36): I thank the Hon. Robert Brokenshire for his sudden interest in the taxi industry. However, on behalf of the government, I rise to reject this call for a select committee. When the honourable member decided to move that a select committee be set up, he painted a picture by ignoring or selectively choosing facts to support his politically motivated attacks on the industry.

To start with, the Hon. Mr Brokenshire spoke about the profile of the industry, particularly the ratio of taxis to booking companies. I am advised by the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure that his figures are incorrect and, in any event, a comparison with other jurisdictions is misleading and potentially meaningless. The Hon. Mr Brokenshire fails to mention that each central booking agency needs to meet accreditation standards.

The honourable member raised concerns about the number of complaints in the taxi industry. The government actively encourages passengers to lodge concerns they have in relation to taxis, but the facts are that complaints represent 0.02 per cent of the estimated eight million journeys provided per year.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: How many?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: 0.02 per cent. I think even the Hon. Mr Brokenshire and the supporters of this motion would acknowledge that 0.02 per cent is a very small number.

The Hon. Mr Brokenshire selectively uses a survey by the Tourism and Transport Forum and enthusiastically quotes national results. He has failed to mention the results for those specific-to-Adelaide taxis. When asked what was the least favoured city for catching a taxi, only 1 per cent of respondents named Adelaide.

Regarding the concerns about safety, the government takes driver and passenger safety seriously and has put in place a range of measures relating to both of these. Assaults involving taxi drivers are criminal actions and are referred to South Australia Police if they have not already been reported to them by the individuals concerned. The Passenger Transport Standards Committee can also address these matters.

Permanent on-duty tracking of vehicles through global positioning systems is now a requirement in the Passenger Transport (General) Regulations 1994. Permanent on-duty GPS tracking, when combined with identification of drivers through PIN systems, is useful where passengers involved in incidents cannot recall the identity of the taxi driver but can specify location and time of pick-up.

Regulations supporting the introduction of PINs and permanent on-duty GPS tracking were introduced by the government to coincide with the implementation of PINs by the industry on 1 November 2006. The regulations require that work can only be dispatched to drivers who are logged on using a PIN and drivers cannot divulge or misuse their PIN or pass booked work to other drivers.

Drivers can be successfully identified by South Australia Police through the use of GPS records and driver PINs. One CBS has installed dispatch systems in its fleet which fully meet the regulations for permanent on-duty GPS tracking of vehicles and other CBSs are evaluating other next generation dispatch systems.

In addition, a national project is being undertaken to develop improved specifications for security camera systems. The specifications will include greater retention and quality of images and recent requirements for Victoria. These cameras are currently being trialled. Other initiatives include drivers' ability to request a deposit for a fare up to the estimated value of a fare in advance, that is, prepayment. CBSs have now included information on this in their telephone hold messages and provided stickers for taxis.

Taxis can be fitted with security shields. The Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure and the Taxi Council supported a trial of shields in a taxi with a new security screen for taxis which costs under $400. The government approved an initiative with the Taxi Council of South Australia for improved signage in taxis and a customer charter which includes the responsibilities of customers, information regarding drivers requesting prepayment of fares, and refusal to accept a hiring.

The Hon. Mr Brokenshire mentions the Premier's Taxi Council in less than glowing terms. The facts are that, since it was established as a government initiative in 2002, the Premier's Taxi Council has provided for the first time a mechanism by which the industry can provide high-level advice directly to government on issues relating to it. A number of initiatives have resulted directly from advice from the Premier's Taxi Council, including the establishment of a one-stop shop for taxi services which combined services previously provided by different government agencies, including accreditation, licensing and registration, and collocated with the Taxi Council South Australia Incorporated. The Premier's Taxi Council has also been the forum where many of the safety initiatives previously discussed were initiated.

It is almost comical that the Hon. Mr Brokenshire says that he would like to have the president of the Taxi Council appear before a select committee to hear his thoughts. Perhaps he should ring him, because I understand that he has not contacted the president of the Taxi Council. In fact, the president of the Taxi Council said only last week at the Premier's Taxi Council that he did not support a review of the industry; he would prefer to just get on with the job. That is what this government does: we get on with the job.

Regarding driver training, last year the government approved new driver training for taxi drivers that was developed by the taxi industry and key interest groups through the Taxi Training Taskforce, convened by the Taxi Council of South Australia. The new training program was implemented in March 2008. As part of the new training, the English language requirements were increased from level 2 to level 3 of the International Second Language Proficiency Rating.

Other areas of driver training, including tourism, disability and customer service, have been enhanced. The new training program requires a high level of achievement, and drivers who do not meet these standards do not pass. Taxi drivers cannot gain full accreditation until they have passed the training.

Another specific issue that has been raised is the notion of a person needing to drive for 12 months on a full Australian licence before becoming a taxi driver. This issue was discussed in detail at the Premier's Taxi Council last week, and there is now agreement that this should be managed through the accreditation process, something being considered by the government.

Country taxis were also mentioned and, specifically, that the new regulations have been foisted upon the operators of country taxis. The facts are that this has been the subject of lengthy consultation over some years and intensive consultation over the past six months with representation from the Country Taxi Association.

The government is firmly of the view that all the issues raised are already being addressed by the government or by industry. This government has established a proper consultative mechanism. The Premier's Taxi Council not only includes representatives from the CBSs and the Taxi Council of South Australia but also drivers, operators, country taxis and Access taxis. Driver representation was also recently increased from one representative to three. Through the council and other consultative mechanisms, the government continues to actively address issues to improve the quality of taxi services in metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.

Again, here we have a call for a select committee when the industry and the government are getting on with the job. For the reasons stated, the government does not support the call for a select committee at this time.

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON (20:45): I indicate that Liberal members will be supporting the motion, and at this juncture I want to move an amendment to the motion, as follows:

Paragraph 2—

Insert the words 'That the committee consist of six members and that the quorum of members necessary to be present at all meetings of the committee be fixed at four members and' before 'That standing order 389'

The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that as many members of the council as possible have an opportunity to participate in this important select committee.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: It is lamentable that the government, through the person of the Hon. Bernard Finnigan—

The Hon. B.V. Finnigan interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Finnigan will come to order.

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: I will be suggesting to the JPSC that the Samboy chicken chips not be stocked in future! It is appalling, really, that the government, through the person of the Hon. Mr Finnigan, should present such drivel to the council in opposition to this motion. It is entirely appropriate that an investigation be conducted into this industry. The turmoil that has been created by, for example, the change to the regulations under the Passenger Transport Act, which regulations I have moved the disallowance of and sought and obtained leave to conclude my remarks on the last Wednesday of sitting, indicates just one area that ought be thoroughly investigated. I look forward to the deliberations of this important committee.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I move:

That the debate be adjourned.

The PRESIDENT: Adjourned debate—the Hon. Mr Brokenshire?

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: Mr President, I actually stood up at the same time as the Hon. Mr Hunter.

The PRESIDENT: Order! It has been moved, seconded and voted on.

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: It has not been voted on.

The PRESIDENT: Yes, it has.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: No, sir; I actually stood, sir.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hunter moved that the debate be adjourned, to the next Wednesday of sitting. I put it and the ayes had it.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: On a point of clarification, Mr President, I respect you, obviously, but it was my intention and I did stand up to call a vote on this because I think it is really important that we keep moving. I would ask for your generosity in acknowledging the fact that I did stand up at exactly the same time as the Hon. Mr Hunter to put my select committee motion to a vote.

The PRESIDENT: I disagree that you stood up at the exact same time as the Hon. Mr Hunter because I gave him the call. However, you had the opportunity to say something when you stood up that you did not want the debate adjourned.

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: On a point of order, Mr President, assume that the honourable member did move the debate be adjourned. The tradition is that you ask the mover of the motion to indicate the time to which the debate should be adjourned. Perhaps the Hon. Mr Brokenshire was thinking of saying, 'To later this evening.'

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Brokenshire said what he was going to say; and the Hon. Mr Lawson will stop using his skills as a QC to put words in other people's mouths. The Hon. Mr Lawson does not have a point of order and he will resume his seat.

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: Mr President—

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Lawson has another point of order?

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON: Mr President, I ask you to rule. Is it not the case that the time to which the debate will be adjourned is a matter for the mover to mention, not for any other member of the council to dictate?

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter did not move that the debate be adjourned on motion: he moved that it be adjourned. I called on the Hon. Mr Brokenshire to say when the debate would be next heard. The Hon. Mr Brokenshire has argued that he stood up at the same time as the Hon. Mr Hunter, but he did not; he was slightly slower. I gave the call to the Hon. Mr Hunter. I put the question that the debate be adjourned and said that the ayes had it. I then asked the Hon. Mr Brokenshire when he would like the debate to be adjourned to.

There might be others in the council (or others who are not in the council) who might like to speak to the debate, and that is why the question was put. The Hon. Mr Brokenshire will have to wait until the next Wednesday of sitting to put his motion to a vote unless there are other speakers, and then he will have to wait until the other speakers have spoken to put it to a vote. It always amuses me how members here think they can determine when their business is voted upon but government business takes so long to be voted upon. The Hon. Mr Brokenshire, the debate is to be adjourned until?

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: Mr President, I acknowledge that I have to accept your guidance.

The PRESIDENT: Hear, hear!

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: I am a little surprised about this matter but, if I have to, then it has to be the next Wednesday of sitting.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: I thought I was taking guidance from the President. I will put it on motion.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Stephens will withdraw those remarks.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: I withdraw those remarks, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: Otherwise, he will not be here for rest of the night.

Debate adjourned.

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