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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-04-13 Daily Xml
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Taxi Industry

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:29): Today, I rise to take another opportunity to advocate on behalf of the 4,000-plus workers who are directly employed in the taxi industry, and the 20,000 workers who are indirectly employed by the taxi industry, who will no doubt have concerns on the recent announcement by both the Liberal Party and the government.

As we know, the Liberals recently announced their policy to legalise ridesharing services in South Australia. In my opinion, its policy only reinforces that the Liberal Party has complete disdain and contempt for the taxi industry and its peak representative body, the Taxi Council of South Australia. It would seem from their policy that the Liberals only consulted with new players from the big end of town, such as Uber, and completely ignored the Taxi Council, plate leaseholders, plate owners as well as the taxidrivers. The Liberals are more than willing to throw the taxi industry under the bus and not provide any form of compensation like the Weatherill government and the New South Wales Liberal state government have offered.

What minister Mullighan has announced goes further than what the New South Wales government has offered its taxi industry. Our reforms will see a $30,000 payment per taxi licence to plate owners, $50 a week compensation for leaseholders for a maximum of 11 months to adjust to the reform and a complete freeze on the release of new taxi plates for five years. The government will ensure that the taxi industry will continue to have exclusive access to the airport, taxi ranks and cash fares. What did the Liberals compensate the taxi industry with in their reform? Nothing, a big fat zero!

The Liberals talk about removing regulation and red tape to help small business, yet their policy only supports Uber. It does nothing to reduce the cost of red tape imposed on the taxi industry. How could it when the Liberals did not even have the decency to talk to anyone from the taxi industry? Minister Mullighan has committed to significantly reduce red tape and fees to drive innovation, promote efficiencies and free up the industry to better focus on customer service.

I believe that if the Liberals get into government at the next election they will remove the standards for ridesharing services that minister Mullighan announced yesterday—standards that aim to protect the community, standards including stringent driver accreditation and roadworthiness. We on this side of the council do not support a policy that will allow Uber and other ridesharing providers to operate here without any form of regulation or restrictions.

I would like to finish by acknowledging minister Mullighan's commitment to lift the conditions and wages for taxidrivers. This is an issue that is important to me, and I am very pleased that the minister has considered my representations favourably. I would also like to thank the minister for his open-minded attitude and his commitment to ongoing consultation with all stakeholders. I continue to stand in solidarity with the Taxi Council of South Australia and those employed in the taxi industry and the operators to make sure their livelihood is viable.

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