Support needed from NSW Gov’t

The NSW Taxi Council (NSW TC) together with the Country Taxi Operators Association (CTOA) are calling on the NSW Government to make further adjustments to a number of recommendations to the NSW Government Independent Review led by Sue Baker-Finch.
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The CEO of the NSW Taxi Council, Martin Rogers, said “We don’t accept that all of the recommendations of the Independent Review by Sue Baker- Finch should be adopted.”

“Our focus is on ensuring fair and just compensation for all Taxi Licence Owners, seeing passengers across all of NSW have access to a viable and affordable Taxi Service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and a system that supports drivers being able to make a reasonable earning.”
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If we don’t get these further reforms right it will be detrimental, resulting in services being cut, lower driver earnings, making it difficult to earn a living income, and taxpayer funds being required to underwrite these services, in particular, in Regional NSW.

Not to mention adding to the already increasing congestion being experienced in major cities.
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Moving to a provider neutral approach to subsidies and incentives should mean a provider needs to offer the complete fleet mix of vehicles, including sedans and wheelchair accessible vehicles. Not cherry picking the ones that are most profitable at the expense of the most vulnerable in our society. It would be discriminatory not to.

​NSW TC and CTOA appreciate the recognition by the NSW Government that more assistance is required and they have accepted the Minister’s invitation to work together to get the detail correct and get these reforms right.

More news from our June 2021 Issue here.