Commercial Passenger Vehicles (CPVs) remain an essential service and can continue to operate in Victoria during this time, including during curfew hours.

Authorised Worker Permit

CPV drivers providing services in metropolitan Melbourne must carry an Authorised Worker Permit when working and when travelling to and from work.
If you are a sole trader, you can issue a work permit and sign the permit as both the employer and employee.

ENGLAND – The number of licensed taxi vehicles across England has dropped by a staggering 9,500 in the first twelve months since the Coronavirus pandemic first broke according to latest data released.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has released annual statistics covering the taxi and private hire industry across England.

Within the stats it shows a sharp decrease in the number of licensed cabs in the 12 months starting from 31 March 2020.

​In March 2020 the number of licensed taxis stood at 67,800, but has now dropped by 14% to just 58,300 vehicles in the 12 month period.

A further $4800 Grant for Eligible CPV Entities impacted by COVID-19 Lockdowns = $9800

​It saddens me deeply to write again regarding the devastation our industry is experiencing because of this pandemic.

These past two lockdowns in Victoria have differed from previous restrictions and that is because this time, the commercial passenger vehicle sector has been financially supported.

We are very pleased that after initial discussions with Treasurer Tim Pallas, Minister Ben Carroll and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier MP Steve Dimopoulos, we could ensure the Victorian taxi and hire car industry was eligible for the Business Support Package. We desperately needed it.

AN EXTRA LAYER OF PROTECTION EVERY TIME, EVERY TRIP WITH LONDON TAXIS IN SYDNEY

The NSW Government is being urged to provide an additional layer of defence against the risk of COVID-19 at Sydney Airport with London Taxis, tailor made to provide enhanced protection to drivers and passengers.

The NSW Taxi Council had proposed to the NSW Government last year to utilise these purpose-built Taxis for transporting vulnerable and high-risk passengers. Unfortunately, the NSW Government did not progress with the proposal to use London Taxis at the time.

NORTHERN IRELAND – In Coleraine, County Londonderry, Royal Cabs owner William McDonald said his firm had lost a third of its drivers over the last 14 months.

“We have nine people working for us at the moment. The other men found other work and have left the company,” he said.

“The last few years there has been a shortage of taxi drivers and the pandemic hasn’t made it easier.”

“Now places are starting to open we certainly need more drivers and more cars on the road. The night work is picking up a little but the drivers aren’t there.”
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“The last few years there has been a shortage of taxi drivers and the pandemic hasn’t made it easier.”

Australia’s driverless vehicle industry says it’s emerging from the COVID-19 crisis with growing business confidence to create more jobs and invest more money.

An economic uplift survey conducted by the Australia and New Zealand Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI) has found that 84% of businesses surveyed within the industry expected to hire more workers, or keep the same levels of employment post COVID-19.
This was despite 87% of industry respondents saying they had been adversely affected by COVID-19 during 2020.

But all businesses said they had fully or somewhat recovered from COVID-19’s impact. In fact, 50% intend to invest more money in the driverless vehicle industry over the next 12 months. 

The week of 12 April 2021 saw me travelling through western Victoria, and catching up with the taxi industry in several towns including Bendigo, Hamilton and Portland. Hearing about the taxi industry in regional Victoria is one thing, but seeing it in person is another – and the journey was emotional but enlightening and necessary.

In Bendigo, I visited Bendigo Taxis to witness its dispatch operations and meet the directors, and find out how the taxi industry was surviving in Bendigo.

The Victorian Government has identified commercial passenger vehicles as high-risk environments for the spread of COVID-19. The government's free QR Code service has a version specific for commercial passenger vehicles, and can be downloaded from – https://busreg.covid19.dhhs.vic. gov.au/vehicles/s/login/SelfRegister or scan the QR code shown to the left.

Owners of commercial passenger vehicles (CPVs) must now provide a digital record-keeping system, such as a QR code, which records:
• passenger’s first name
​• phone number
• date and time the passenger used the service
• registration number of the vehicle.
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​In addition, owners are required by Department of Health to keep records of payroll and trip data.

COVID-19 has impacted all spheres of society, severely affecting all industries globally and the transportation industry is no exception. Strict lockdowns, restricted travel has led the taxi, hire car and rideshare industry to suffer significant loss in business. With the increased concern around health and safety, drivers across the rideshare, healthcare and taxi industry were hesitant to drive patients and passengers, resulting in reduced capacity and impacting the services. Similarly, passengers also needed to feel safe while travelling in Uber, Ola or any other cab services.

I have been reporting on this industry for over 30 years and it never ceases to amaze me how every State (and Territory) in Australia does things slightly, and sometimes majorly, different from the others.

Just this year alone, the Victorian government has seen fit to grant Uber the right to transport our most vulnerable citizens – those who are MPTP (TSS) cardholders. Victoria is the only Australian State to do this. Moreover, it is the only place in the world where this has been done!

In New South Wales, the NSW Taxi Council has started up a Disability Reference Group where industry stakeholders will come together, discuss and network with the NSW taxi industry and disability sector. This will help foster a more collaborative and consultative relationship with all stakeholders.