❓ Hon Ken Travers asks about taxi service reliability and the use of the Taxi Industry Development Fund. Hon Simon O'Brien responds with ongoing efforts, future plans, and some fund allocations.
AnsweredQoN 975Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
TAXI SERVICES — METROPOLITAN AREA
(1) What action has the government taken to ensure Perth taxi users have a reliable, safe and trustworthy taxi service in the metropolitan area? (2) Will the government spend any of the $13 million-plus of the taxi industry development fund to ensure increased compliance, better complaints management and improved training for drivers and, if not, why not? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
(1) What action has the government taken to ensure Perth taxi users have a reliable, safe and trustworthy taxi service in the metropolitan area? (2) Will the government spend any of the $13 million-plus of the taxi industry development fund to ensure increased compliance, better complaints management and improved training for drivers and, if not, why not? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
AnswerView source ↗
The government is doing great things with taxis. In part, it is to correct some of the deficiencies we inherited from the previous regime. It is all about striking the right balance between the service our taxi patrons require and reasonably expect, and having those sorts of encouragements in place to make sure we have an industry sector that is available and willing to provide those services. It is a delicate balance that can often be upset by a range of challenges and changes. I have recently been involved in dialogue with a number of key players in the industry about, for example, making sure we meet the challenges that will come up during the festive season in providing public transport, in particular, taxi services for people to get home from Northbridge. In fact, just the other day I met with a diverse group, including the Lord Mayor, people prominent in the taxi industry, departmental officers and others to work through a whole range of measures that we want to introduce. I called for some new ideas from the taxi industry themselves that I can contemplate to make sure we match the services taxi drivers are prepared to offer with the sort of services members of the public want to receive. I will be talking more about that in due course. Some specifics that we have already got underway include campaigns to ensure greater respect and non-violence towards taxi drivers. The very successful rank marshal trial at Milligan Street has been extended because it has been such a success. These are the sorts of things we will build and expand on. (1) We are looking at innovative ways of providing the sort of products that people are prepared to accept to get that right balance between large-scale people movement in a short period by taxi, and the lack of service we have seen in the past. (2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
(2) Will the government spend any of the $13 million-plus of the taxi industry development fund to ensure increased compliance, better complaints management and improved training for drivers and, if not, why not? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: The government is doing great things with taxis. In part, it is to correct some of the deficiencies we inherited from the previous regime. It is all about striking the right balance between the service our taxi patrons require and reasonably expect, and having those sorts of encouragements in place to make sure we have an industry sector that is available and willing to provide those services. It is a delicate balance that can often be upset by a range of challenges and changes. I have recently been involved in dialogue with a number of key players in the industry about, for example, making sure we meet the challenges that will come up during the festive season in providing public transport, in particular, taxi services for people to get home from Northbridge. In fact, just the other day I met with a diverse group, including the Lord Mayor, people prominent in the taxi industry, departmental officers and others to work through a whole range of measures that we want to introduce. I called for some new ideas from the taxi industry themselves that I can contemplate to make sure we match the services taxi drivers are prepared to offer with the sort of services members of the public want to receive. I will be talking more about that in due course. Some specifics that we have already got underway include campaigns to ensure greater respect and non-violence towards taxi drivers. The very successful rank marshal trial at Milligan Street has been extended because it has been such a success. These are the sorts of things we will build and expand on. (1) We are looking at innovative ways of providing the sort of products that people are prepared to accept to get that right balance between large-scale people movement in a short period by taxi, and the lack of service we have seen in the past. (2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: The government is doing great things with taxis. In part, it is to correct some of the deficiencies we inherited from the previous regime. It is all about striking the right balance between the service our taxi patrons require and reasonably expect, and having those sorts of encouragements in place to make sure we have an industry sector that is available and willing to provide those services. It is a delicate balance that can often be upset by a range of challenges and changes. I have recently been involved in dialogue with a number of key players in the industry about, for example, making sure we meet the challenges that will come up during the festive season in providing public transport, in particular, taxi services for people to get home from Northbridge. In fact, just the other day I met with a diverse group, including the Lord Mayor, people prominent in the taxi industry, departmental officers and others to work through a whole range of measures that we want to introduce. I called for some new ideas from the taxi industry themselves that I can contemplate to make sure we match the services taxi drivers are prepared to offer with the sort of services members of the public want to receive. I will be talking more about that in due course. Some specifics that we have already got underway include campaigns to ensure greater respect and non-violence towards taxi drivers. The very successful rank marshal trial at Milligan Street has been extended because it has been such a success. These are the sorts of things we will build and expand on. (1) We are looking at innovative ways of providing the sort of products that people are prepared to accept to get that right balance between large-scale people movement in a short period by taxi, and the lack of service we have seen in the past. (2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
The government is doing great things with taxis. In part, it is to correct some of the deficiencies we inherited from the previous regime. It is all about striking the right balance between the service our taxi patrons require and reasonably expect, and having those sorts of encouragements in place to make sure we have an industry sector that is available and willing to provide those services. It is a delicate balance that can often be upset by a range of challenges and changes. I have recently been involved in dialogue with a number of key players in the industry about, for example, making sure we meet the challenges that will come up during the festive season in providing public transport, in particular, taxi services for people to get home from Northbridge. In fact, just the other day I met with a diverse group, including the Lord Mayor, people prominent in the taxi industry, departmental officers and others to work through a whole range of measures that we want to introduce. I called for some new ideas from the taxi industry themselves that I can contemplate to make sure we match the services taxi drivers are prepared to offer with the sort of services members of the public want to receive. I will be talking more about that in due course. Some specifics that we have already got underway include campaigns to ensure greater respect and non-violence towards taxi drivers. The very successful rank marshal trial at Milligan Street has been extended because it has been such a success. These are the sorts of things we will build and expand on. (1) We are looking at innovative ways of providing the sort of products that people are prepared to accept to get that right balance between large-scale people movement in a short period by taxi, and the lack of service we have seen in the past. (2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
Some specifics that we have already got underway include campaigns to ensure greater respect and non-violence towards taxi drivers. The very successful rank marshal trial at Milligan Street has been extended because it has been such a success. These are the sorts of things we will build and expand on. (1) We are looking at innovative ways of providing the sort of products that people are prepared to accept to get that right balance between large-scale people movement in a short period by taxi, and the lack of service we have seen in the past. (2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
(1) We are looking at innovative ways of providing the sort of products that people are prepared to accept to get that right balance between large-scale people movement in a short period by taxi, and the lack of service we have seen in the past. (2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
(2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
(2) Will the government spend any of the $13 million-plus of the taxi industry development fund to ensure increased compliance, better complaints management and improved training for drivers and, if not, why not? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: The government is doing great things with taxis. In part, it is to correct some of the deficiencies we inherited from the previous regime. It is all about striking the right balance between the service our taxi patrons require and reasonably expect, and having those sorts of encouragements in place to make sure we have an industry sector that is available and willing to provide those services. It is a delicate balance that can often be upset by a range of challenges and changes. I have recently been involved in dialogue with a number of key players in the industry about, for example, making sure we meet the challenges that will come up during the festive season in providing public transport, in particular, taxi services for people to get home from Northbridge. In fact, just the other day I met with a diverse group, including the Lord Mayor, people prominent in the taxi industry, departmental officers and others to work through a whole range of measures that we want to introduce. I called for some new ideas from the taxi industry themselves that I can contemplate to make sure we match the services taxi drivers are prepared to offer with the sort of services members of the public want to receive. I will be talking more about that in due course. Some specifics that we have already got underway include campaigns to ensure greater respect and non-violence towards taxi drivers. The very successful rank marshal trial at Milligan Street has been extended because it has been such a success. These are the sorts of things we will build and expand on. (1) We are looking at innovative ways of providing the sort of products that people are prepared to accept to get that right balance between large-scale people movement in a short period by taxi, and the lack of service we have seen in the past. (2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: The government is doing great things with taxis. In part, it is to correct some of the deficiencies we inherited from the previous regime. It is all about striking the right balance between the service our taxi patrons require and reasonably expect, and having those sorts of encouragements in place to make sure we have an industry sector that is available and willing to provide those services. It is a delicate balance that can often be upset by a range of challenges and changes. I have recently been involved in dialogue with a number of key players in the industry about, for example, making sure we meet the challenges that will come up during the festive season in providing public transport, in particular, taxi services for people to get home from Northbridge. In fact, just the other day I met with a diverse group, including the Lord Mayor, people prominent in the taxi industry, departmental officers and others to work through a whole range of measures that we want to introduce. I called for some new ideas from the taxi industry themselves that I can contemplate to make sure we match the services taxi drivers are prepared to offer with the sort of services members of the public want to receive. I will be talking more about that in due course. Some specifics that we have already got underway include campaigns to ensure greater respect and non-violence towards taxi drivers. The very successful rank marshal trial at Milligan Street has been extended because it has been such a success. These are the sorts of things we will build and expand on. (1) We are looking at innovative ways of providing the sort of products that people are prepared to accept to get that right balance between large-scale people movement in a short period by taxi, and the lack of service we have seen in the past. (2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
The government is doing great things with taxis. In part, it is to correct some of the deficiencies we inherited from the previous regime. It is all about striking the right balance between the service our taxi patrons require and reasonably expect, and having those sorts of encouragements in place to make sure we have an industry sector that is available and willing to provide those services. It is a delicate balance that can often be upset by a range of challenges and changes. I have recently been involved in dialogue with a number of key players in the industry about, for example, making sure we meet the challenges that will come up during the festive season in providing public transport, in particular, taxi services for people to get home from Northbridge. In fact, just the other day I met with a diverse group, including the Lord Mayor, people prominent in the taxi industry, departmental officers and others to work through a whole range of measures that we want to introduce. I called for some new ideas from the taxi industry themselves that I can contemplate to make sure we match the services taxi drivers are prepared to offer with the sort of services members of the public want to receive. I will be talking more about that in due course. Some specifics that we have already got underway include campaigns to ensure greater respect and non-violence towards taxi drivers. The very successful rank marshal trial at Milligan Street has been extended because it has been such a success. These are the sorts of things we will build and expand on. (1) We are looking at innovative ways of providing the sort of products that people are prepared to accept to get that right balance between large-scale people movement in a short period by taxi, and the lack of service we have seen in the past. (2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
Some specifics that we have already got underway include campaigns to ensure greater respect and non-violence towards taxi drivers. The very successful rank marshal trial at Milligan Street has been extended because it has been such a success. These are the sorts of things we will build and expand on. (1) We are looking at innovative ways of providing the sort of products that people are prepared to accept to get that right balance between large-scale people movement in a short period by taxi, and the lack of service we have seen in the past. (2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
(1) We are looking at innovative ways of providing the sort of products that people are prepared to accept to get that right balance between large-scale people movement in a short period by taxi, and the lack of service we have seen in the past. (2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
(2) In relation to expenditure of the taxi industry development account funds, I have given a number of approvals for expenditure. Some of those are already in place. I have mentioned a couple, and a lot more are in the pipeline. They include expenditure for further compliance officers, which is above and beyond what we have already done, together with a range of other measures. The member will be pleased to know that some more announcements will be made about this very soon. I look forward to the totality of what we are doing working through the other approval systems that go beyond my approval as minister so that we can deliver the sort of outcomes the member and those he represents clearly want to receive.
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