Studies in many counties has shown deregulation does NOT work – in fact research has shown deregulation of the taxi industry in various countries have increased fare prices, reduced service and compromised safety. In Holland and Ireland re-regulation of their taxi industry has been discussed due to the chaos deregulation has caused. In addition, it seems that the livelihoods and superannuation of taxi plate owners, is not the governments priority, in fact they believe discussions on how it impacts these people (i.e compensation) is premature, although their actions over the last week have wiped out the livelihoods and superannuation of these people – votes are more important to them than that, HOWEVER West Australian are more educated than that!
Vakeel - 10 years ago
Before u deregulate plz shoot all drivers that will be better
This government is rubbish
Vakeel - 10 years ago
Before u deregulate plz shoot all drivers that will be better
This government is rubbish
Amrik - 10 years ago
Deregulation of taxi industry Is a genocide of taxi owner for UBER.
Chand - 10 years ago
Young people may like this because they love meeting different people and protection or customer service isn't an issue for them but please keep in mind the lederly people who spent their lives to build australian economy deserves st their old age to be treated nicely, they will suffer most, not every driver will like to pick up them, at least not just two streets down job from shops, medical centers and pharmacies. So they will have a point of protection, their safety issue will be raised and they expect a level of customer service as well. If industry is deregulated, there will be no check and balance like department or TDS companies call drivers in for every single complaint and try to keep the standards high. Anyway, deregulation of taxi industry hasn't set any good examples in past so please consider not doing it now. Thanks for giving a moment to read. Cheers!!!
Sandy - 10 years ago
I wish somebody deregulate this doggy government . They are more worse than the people who shot down that passenger plane as they killed 298 but this government wants to shot down thousands of innocent owners who invest 100s. & 1000s of dollars on the good faith of government . If they don't compensate the poor owners I bet
there will be lots of sucides going to happen. This transport minister is responsible for all this mess up . For
his little personal interest he is playing
with the future ofthousands of operators and owners . Some drivers have gave all there life in this industry
and with their hard work they bought some taxi plates . Now if transport minister don't want to compensate where would they go.? I can't believe that people who are YES for deregulation . What do they think ? Are they going to be charged less? Are they going to be safe? That's all scrap my friends. There will be an open invitation for criminals ans serial killers to pass any car from pit inspection and drive it as a taxi. Just wait and watch , the results will be shocking.
Who is going to pick old people from shops with a walker and for $6 to their Holmes . Mr transport minister just don't think about business class people as majority of taxi customers are old poor people and middle class. Some customers can't afford to put 50c in a phone booth to call taxi & Mr minister wants those people to buy smart ph first so that they can call uber cab. Only sick person can bring these sort of ideas. If a taxi driver does any mistake he either fined by DOT of in some cases they cancel his license. But now when there will be no security cameras in the taxis who will be blamed?
If you want to see the seriousness & result of deregulating taxi industry please see the history of Ireland taxi industry . Taxi drivers are either starving to death or they are committing suesides/crimes to survive.
So in the end Mr Transport minister just a simple question for you. Are you planning to repeat the history of Ireland in Australia ?
Please must answer
Sandy - 10 years ago
Before the Irish taxi industry was deregulated in 2000, the country, with a population of 4 million, had around 2,700 taxis. Licences were valued at up to €100,000 (then A$150,000). The price of 3 bed family home at the same time was approx €70,000.
Taxis were largely operated by owner-drivers. Most would have what they call ‘a cosy’, a regular co-driver.
When deregulation came, most cosies became owner-drivers themselves as they could get a licence from the Government for €6,500 (then A$10,000) and as there was no age limit on taxis they could buy and fit out a vehicle for less than €5,000. Simply irresistible. Ireland was booming.But, from 2002 things got progressively worse. Taxi numbers exploded and by 2008 hit a peak of more than 27,000 (source: government statistics), a tenfold increase since 2000. By then the regulator and police had lost complete control of the industry. In desperation, the Government, in 2009, introduced a moratorium on the issuing of new licences to halt the growth, which is still in force today.
Unfortunately the damage had already been done. The industry had become infiltrated by criminals; shonky fleet owners, corrupt taxi inspection stations and dodgy drivers.
At the same time as the taxi fleet reached its peak in 2008, Ireland was hit hard by the Global Financial Crisis and its economy collapsed. Today its unemployment rate is 14%.
The demand for taxis dropped dramatically and owner-drivers started to go broke in large numbers. By 2011 the fleet size had dropped to 20,000. Desperate owners are selling their €6,500 licences for less than €1,000 on the open market and allegedly 13,000 working drivers are on welfare as they can’t feed their families from driving. Between 2009 and 2010 31 Dublin taxi drivers, according to news reports, committed suicide.
As for better quality service and greater safety for passengers, things could not be worse. The Government has spent the past 10 years trying to re-regulate the industry to get it under control. That includes an attempt to reducing the number of cabs, hence the moratorium on new licences.
Ireland today has a population of 4.6 million (Melbourne 4.1 million) and 20,000 taxis (Melbourne 4,345). Dublin, Ireland’s largest city has 1.8 million people and twice as many cabs as Melbourne. Its streets are regularly grid locked by vacant cabs.
There is no age limit on taxis and just about any four door sedan in any condition will do as long as the owner has an inspection certificate. That, an investigative TV report revealed last year, is easily obtained with a €100 bribe.
The only taxi licences issued by the Government today are WAT licences. They cost just €125 and come with a €15,000 Government subsidy towards the purchase of the vehicle. In 2008, pre-GFC, there were 1600 WATs in Ireland. As of May 2012 that had dropped by 26% to 1178. Now, how can that be?
Very simple really. WATs that were bought 9, 10 years ago are now well beyond repair and their owners can’t afford to replace them, not even with the subsidy. The business is not there any more to service a new lease so they have handed back their licences to the Government.
Allan Fels has promised Victorians that fares will become cheaper after the introduction of open entry. Did they in Ireland? The answer is no!
The regulator still sets maximum metered rates, which it reviews every two years. The last increase was 8% in 2008. In 2010 most drivers didn’t want an increase, believing it would be bad for business because of the severe recession, so the regulator held off. Another review is due this year.
So after 12 years of deregulation, how much cheaper are fares in Ireland compared to Melbourne?
A 10km fare in Ireland is A$20.80, however, after 15km the tariff per kilometre increases and again after 30km. A 25km fare is more expensive in Ireland than in Melbourne where a 10km trip costs $22.00, but the tariff stays the same for longer journeys.
It is estimat
Garry - 10 years ago
It shouldn't be deregulated till the time owners who have invested their livelihood are compensated by the govt. with the price they have invested.
Definitely big time in favor of better customer service but not on the stake of owners. If govt. is really serious about customer service, why not start throwing bad eggs out of the taxi industry with no warnings who has given a bad name to taxi industry rather than who are driving for years and doing their level best for better customer service.
People who do bad things in this industry have got nothing to loose but owner operators where as owner operators this job more responsibly.
Ken Jacob - 10 years ago
If the government see the need to deregulate the industry, then they should do it with honesty and integratty, pay the owners and business a level off composition, keeping in mind that the government profited from sale of the plates in the first instance and still continue to do so.
It's only fair that all is given a fair go, all gov plate contract should be considered as avoid, and let each individual make their decision, and taxi plate lease rate , should be 're-nogosaited.
Ken Jacob - 10 years ago
If the government see the need to deregulate the industry, then they should do it with honesty and integratty, pay the owners and business a level off composition, keeping in mind that the government profited from sale of the plates in the first instance and still continue to do so.
It's only fair that all is given a fair go, all gov plate contract should be considered as avoid, and let each individual make their decision, and taxi plate lease rate , should be 're-nogosaited.
Ken Jacob - 10 years ago
If the government see the need to deregulate the industry, then they should do it with honesty and integratty, pay the owners and business a level off composition, keeping in mind that the government profited from sale of the plates in the first instance and still continue to do so.
It's only fair that all is given a fair go, all gov plate contract should be considered as avoid, and let each individual make their decision, and taxi plate lease rate , should be 're-nogosaited.
Ken Jacob - 10 years ago
If the government see the need to deregulate the industry, then they should do it with honesty and integratty, pay the owners and business a level off composition, keeping in mind that the government profited from sale of the plates in the first instance and still continue to do so.
It's only fair that all is given a fair go, all gov plate contract should be considered as avoid, and let each individual make their decision, and taxi plate lease rate , should be 're-nogosaited.
Studies in many counties has shown deregulation does NOT work – in fact research has shown deregulation of the taxi industry in various countries have increased fare prices, reduced service and compromised safety. In Holland and Ireland re-regulation of their taxi industry has been discussed due to the chaos deregulation has caused. In addition, it seems that the livelihoods and superannuation of taxi plate owners, is not the governments priority, in fact they believe discussions on how it impacts these people (i.e compensation) is premature, although their actions over the last week have wiped out the livelihoods and superannuation of these people – votes are more important to them than that, HOWEVER West Australian are more educated than that!
Before u deregulate plz shoot all drivers that will be better
This government is rubbish
Before u deregulate plz shoot all drivers that will be better
This government is rubbish
Deregulation of taxi industry Is a genocide of taxi owner for UBER.
Young people may like this because they love meeting different people and protection or customer service isn't an issue for them but please keep in mind the lederly people who spent their lives to build australian economy deserves st their old age to be treated nicely, they will suffer most, not every driver will like to pick up them, at least not just two streets down job from shops, medical centers and pharmacies. So they will have a point of protection, their safety issue will be raised and they expect a level of customer service as well. If industry is deregulated, there will be no check and balance like department or TDS companies call drivers in for every single complaint and try to keep the standards high. Anyway, deregulation of taxi industry hasn't set any good examples in past so please consider not doing it now. Thanks for giving a moment to read. Cheers!!!
I wish somebody deregulate this doggy government . They are more worse than the people who shot down that passenger plane as they killed 298 but this government wants to shot down thousands of innocent owners who invest 100s. & 1000s of dollars on the good faith of government . If they don't compensate the poor owners I bet
there will be lots of sucides going to happen. This transport minister is responsible for all this mess up . For
his little personal interest he is playing
with the future ofthousands of operators and owners . Some drivers have gave all there life in this industry
and with their hard work they bought some taxi plates . Now if transport minister don't want to compensate where would they go.? I can't believe that people who are YES for deregulation . What do they think ? Are they going to be charged less? Are they going to be safe? That's all scrap my friends. There will be an open invitation for criminals ans serial killers to pass any car from pit inspection and drive it as a taxi. Just wait and watch , the results will be shocking.
Who is going to pick old people from shops with a walker and for $6 to their Holmes . Mr transport minister just don't think about business class people as majority of taxi customers are old poor people and middle class. Some customers can't afford to put 50c in a phone booth to call taxi & Mr minister wants those people to buy smart ph first so that they can call uber cab. Only sick person can bring these sort of ideas. If a taxi driver does any mistake he either fined by DOT of in some cases they cancel his license. But now when there will be no security cameras in the taxis who will be blamed?
If you want to see the seriousness & result of deregulating taxi industry please see the history of Ireland taxi industry . Taxi drivers are either starving to death or they are committing suesides/crimes to survive.
So in the end Mr Transport minister just a simple question for you. Are you planning to repeat the history of Ireland in Australia ?
Please must answer
Before the Irish taxi industry was deregulated in 2000, the country, with a population of 4 million, had around 2,700 taxis. Licences were valued at up to €100,000 (then A$150,000). The price of 3 bed family home at the same time was approx €70,000.
Taxis were largely operated by owner-drivers. Most would have what they call ‘a cosy’, a regular co-driver.
When deregulation came, most cosies became owner-drivers themselves as they could get a licence from the Government for €6,500 (then A$10,000) and as there was no age limit on taxis they could buy and fit out a vehicle for less than €5,000. Simply irresistible. Ireland was booming.But, from 2002 things got progressively worse. Taxi numbers exploded and by 2008 hit a peak of more than 27,000 (source: government statistics), a tenfold increase since 2000. By then the regulator and police had lost complete control of the industry. In desperation, the Government, in 2009, introduced a moratorium on the issuing of new licences to halt the growth, which is still in force today.
Unfortunately the damage had already been done. The industry had become infiltrated by criminals; shonky fleet owners, corrupt taxi inspection stations and dodgy drivers.
At the same time as the taxi fleet reached its peak in 2008, Ireland was hit hard by the Global Financial Crisis and its economy collapsed. Today its unemployment rate is 14%.
The demand for taxis dropped dramatically and owner-drivers started to go broke in large numbers. By 2011 the fleet size had dropped to 20,000. Desperate owners are selling their €6,500 licences for less than €1,000 on the open market and allegedly 13,000 working drivers are on welfare as they can’t feed their families from driving. Between 2009 and 2010 31 Dublin taxi drivers, according to news reports, committed suicide.
As for better quality service and greater safety for passengers, things could not be worse. The Government has spent the past 10 years trying to re-regulate the industry to get it under control. That includes an attempt to reducing the number of cabs, hence the moratorium on new licences.
Ireland today has a population of 4.6 million (Melbourne 4.1 million) and 20,000 taxis (Melbourne 4,345). Dublin, Ireland’s largest city has 1.8 million people and twice as many cabs as Melbourne. Its streets are regularly grid locked by vacant cabs.
There is no age limit on taxis and just about any four door sedan in any condition will do as long as the owner has an inspection certificate. That, an investigative TV report revealed last year, is easily obtained with a €100 bribe.
The only taxi licences issued by the Government today are WAT licences. They cost just €125 and come with a €15,000 Government subsidy towards the purchase of the vehicle. In 2008, pre-GFC, there were 1600 WATs in Ireland. As of May 2012 that had dropped by 26% to 1178. Now, how can that be?
Very simple really. WATs that were bought 9, 10 years ago are now well beyond repair and their owners can’t afford to replace them, not even with the subsidy. The business is not there any more to service a new lease so they have handed back their licences to the Government.
Allan Fels has promised Victorians that fares will become cheaper after the introduction of open entry. Did they in Ireland? The answer is no!
The regulator still sets maximum metered rates, which it reviews every two years. The last increase was 8% in 2008. In 2010 most drivers didn’t want an increase, believing it would be bad for business because of the severe recession, so the regulator held off. Another review is due this year.
So after 12 years of deregulation, how much cheaper are fares in Ireland compared to Melbourne?
A 10km fare in Ireland is A$20.80, however, after 15km the tariff per kilometre increases and again after 30km. A 25km fare is more expensive in Ireland than in Melbourne where a 10km trip costs $22.00, but the tariff stays the same for longer journeys.
It is estimat
It shouldn't be deregulated till the time owners who have invested their livelihood are compensated by the govt. with the price they have invested.
Definitely big time in favor of better customer service but not on the stake of owners. If govt. is really serious about customer service, why not start throwing bad eggs out of the taxi industry with no warnings who has given a bad name to taxi industry rather than who are driving for years and doing their level best for better customer service.
People who do bad things in this industry have got nothing to loose but owner operators where as owner operators this job more responsibly.
If the government see the need to deregulate the industry, then they should do it with honesty and integratty, pay the owners and business a level off composition, keeping in mind that the government profited from sale of the plates in the first instance and still continue to do so.
It's only fair that all is given a fair go, all gov plate contract should be considered as avoid, and let each individual make their decision, and taxi plate lease rate , should be 're-nogosaited.
If the government see the need to deregulate the industry, then they should do it with honesty and integratty, pay the owners and business a level off composition, keeping in mind that the government profited from sale of the plates in the first instance and still continue to do so.
It's only fair that all is given a fair go, all gov plate contract should be considered as avoid, and let each individual make their decision, and taxi plate lease rate , should be 're-nogosaited.
If the government see the need to deregulate the industry, then they should do it with honesty and integratty, pay the owners and business a level off composition, keeping in mind that the government profited from sale of the plates in the first instance and still continue to do so.
It's only fair that all is given a fair go, all gov plate contract should be considered as avoid, and let each individual make their decision, and taxi plate lease rate , should be 're-nogosaited.
If the government see the need to deregulate the industry, then they should do it with honesty and integratty, pay the owners and business a level off composition, keeping in mind that the government profited from sale of the plates in the first instance and still continue to do so.
It's only fair that all is given a fair go, all gov plate contract should be considered as avoid, and let each individual make their decision, and taxi plate lease rate , should be 're-nogosaited.