❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about remuneration for multipurpose taxi (MPT) drivers when transporting wheelchair passengers, specifically questioning the allowance of a 15-minute charge and proposing a $10 wheelchair lifting fee. The Minister responds by comparing the WA system to Victoria's and highlighting ongoing efforts to improve conditions for MPT operators.
AnsweredQoN 715Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Last week in debate on the Taxi Amendment Bill, the minister stated that Western Australian multipurpose taxi drivers are allowed 15 minutes to pick up and unload passengers, which equates to extra remuneration of $8.50 received by the drivers. She then compared that with the Victorian $10 lifting fee, and suggested that WA drivers would be only $1.50 better off if that fee were introduced. (1) Is the minister suggesting that MPT drivers are permitted to automatically include an extra 15 minutes on all wheelchair pick-ups? (2) If not, will the minister reconsider introducing a $10 wheelchair lifting fee for multipurpose taxis? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) As I explained to the member, drivers in Victoria are prevented from turning on their meters until they have actually loaded the wheelchair onto the taxi, hopped into the vehicle and are ready to drive away. The moment the taxi reaches the destination, the driver is required to turn off the meter and hop out of the vehicle. Western Australia does not have that system. It has a system that allows the driver to turn on the meter and put the wheelchair into the taxi while the meter is running, and when the taxi reaches the destination, to unload the wheelchair while the meter is still running. There is a 15-minute detention provision; that is, a driver is allowed 15 minutes detention. I presume, from the claims that have been made by the drivers, that it takes them 15 minutes to get the wheelchair loaded and unloaded. If it does not take them 15 minutes, I do not know what they are complaining about. If it takes them 15 minutes, there is that detention provision. I also pointed out to the member at the time that under the Western Australian provision, the fee goes entirely to the operator of the vehicle, whereas in Victoria it is divided between the owner and the driver of the vehicle. However, I have also pointed out to the member that we are trying to get improved conditions, and we are looking at what we can do to improve the circumstances for the MPT operators, particularly as a result of the difficulty that they have because they are held captive to diesel rather than being able to operate on gas. I think I have answered that question very comprehensively.
(1) Is the minister suggesting that MPT drivers are permitted to automatically include an extra 15 minutes on all wheelchair pick-ups? (2) If not, will the minister reconsider introducing a $10 wheelchair lifting fee for multipurpose taxis? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) As I explained to the member, drivers in Victoria are prevented from turning on their meters until they have actually loaded the wheelchair onto the taxi, hopped into the vehicle and are ready to drive away. The moment the taxi reaches the destination, the driver is required to turn off the meter and hop out of the vehicle. Western Australia does not have that system. It has a system that allows the driver to turn on the meter and put the wheelchair into the taxi while the meter is running, and when the taxi reaches the destination, to unload the wheelchair while the meter is still running. There is a 15-minute detention provision; that is, a driver is allowed 15 minutes detention. I presume, from the claims that have been made by the drivers, that it takes them 15 minutes to get the wheelchair loaded and unloaded. If it does not take them 15 minutes, I do not know what they are complaining about. If it takes them 15 minutes, there is that detention provision. I also pointed out to the member at the time that under the Western Australian provision, the fee goes entirely to the operator of the vehicle, whereas in Victoria it is divided between the owner and the driver of the vehicle. However, I have also pointed out to the member that we are trying to get improved conditions, and we are looking at what we can do to improve the circumstances for the MPT operators, particularly as a result of the difficulty that they have because they are held captive to diesel rather than being able to operate on gas. I think I have answered that question very comprehensively.
(2) If not, will the minister reconsider introducing a $10 wheelchair lifting fee for multipurpose taxis? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) As I explained to the member, drivers in Victoria are prevented from turning on their meters until they have actually loaded the wheelchair onto the taxi, hopped into the vehicle and are ready to drive away. The moment the taxi reaches the destination, the driver is required to turn off the meter and hop out of the vehicle. Western Australia does not have that system. It has a system that allows the driver to turn on the meter and put the wheelchair into the taxi while the meter is running, and when the taxi reaches the destination, to unload the wheelchair while the meter is still running. There is a 15-minute detention provision; that is, a driver is allowed 15 minutes detention. I presume, from the claims that have been made by the drivers, that it takes them 15 minutes to get the wheelchair loaded and unloaded. If it does not take them 15 minutes, I do not know what they are complaining about. If it takes them 15 minutes, there is that detention provision. I also pointed out to the member at the time that under the Western Australian provision, the fee goes entirely to the operator of the vehicle, whereas in Victoria it is divided between the owner and the driver of the vehicle. However, I have also pointed out to the member that we are trying to get improved conditions, and we are looking at what we can do to improve the circumstances for the MPT operators, particularly as a result of the difficulty that they have because they are held captive to diesel rather than being able to operate on gas. I think I have answered that question very comprehensively.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) As I explained to the member, drivers in Victoria are prevented from turning on their meters until they have actually loaded the wheelchair onto the taxi, hopped into the vehicle and are ready to drive away. The moment the taxi reaches the destination, the driver is required to turn off the meter and hop out of the vehicle. Western Australia does not have that system. It has a system that allows the driver to turn on the meter and put the wheelchair into the taxi while the meter is running, and when the taxi reaches the destination, to unload the wheelchair while the meter is still running. There is a 15-minute detention provision; that is, a driver is allowed 15 minutes detention. I presume, from the claims that have been made by the drivers, that it takes them 15 minutes to get the wheelchair loaded and unloaded. If it does not take them 15 minutes, I do not know what they are complaining about. If it takes them 15 minutes, there is that detention provision. I also pointed out to the member at the time that under the Western Australian provision, the fee goes entirely to the operator of the vehicle, whereas in Victoria it is divided between the owner and the driver of the vehicle. However, I have also pointed out to the member that we are trying to get improved conditions, and we are looking at what we can do to improve the circumstances for the MPT operators, particularly as a result of the difficulty that they have because they are held captive to diesel rather than being able to operate on gas. I think I have answered that question very comprehensively.
(1)-(2) As I explained to the member, drivers in Victoria are prevented from turning on their meters until they have actually loaded the wheelchair onto the taxi, hopped into the vehicle and are ready to drive away. The moment the taxi reaches the destination, the driver is required to turn off the meter and hop out of the vehicle. Western Australia does not have that system. It has a system that allows the driver to turn on the meter and put the wheelchair into the taxi while the meter is running, and when the taxi reaches the destination, to unload the wheelchair while the meter is still running. There is a 15-minute detention provision; that is, a driver is allowed 15 minutes detention. I presume, from the claims that have been made by the drivers, that it takes them 15 minutes to get the wheelchair loaded and unloaded. If it does not take them 15 minutes, I do not know what they are complaining about. If it takes them 15 minutes, there is that detention provision. I also pointed out to the member at the time that under the Western Australian provision, the fee goes entirely to the operator of the vehicle, whereas in Victoria it is divided between the owner and the driver of the vehicle. However, I have also pointed out to the member that we are trying to get improved conditions, and we are looking at what we can do to improve the circumstances for the MPT operators, particularly as a result of the difficulty that they have because they are held captive to diesel rather than being able to operate on gas. I think I have answered that question very comprehensively.
(1) Is the minister suggesting that MPT drivers are permitted to automatically include an extra 15 minutes on all wheelchair pick-ups? (2) If not, will the minister reconsider introducing a $10 wheelchair lifting fee for multipurpose taxis? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) As I explained to the member, drivers in Victoria are prevented from turning on their meters until they have actually loaded the wheelchair onto the taxi, hopped into the vehicle and are ready to drive away. The moment the taxi reaches the destination, the driver is required to turn off the meter and hop out of the vehicle. Western Australia does not have that system. It has a system that allows the driver to turn on the meter and put the wheelchair into the taxi while the meter is running, and when the taxi reaches the destination, to unload the wheelchair while the meter is still running. There is a 15-minute detention provision; that is, a driver is allowed 15 minutes detention. I presume, from the claims that have been made by the drivers, that it takes them 15 minutes to get the wheelchair loaded and unloaded. If it does not take them 15 minutes, I do not know what they are complaining about. If it takes them 15 minutes, there is that detention provision. I also pointed out to the member at the time that under the Western Australian provision, the fee goes entirely to the operator of the vehicle, whereas in Victoria it is divided between the owner and the driver of the vehicle. However, I have also pointed out to the member that we are trying to get improved conditions, and we are looking at what we can do to improve the circumstances for the MPT operators, particularly as a result of the difficulty that they have because they are held captive to diesel rather than being able to operate on gas. I think I have answered that question very comprehensively.
(2) If not, will the minister reconsider introducing a $10 wheelchair lifting fee for multipurpose taxis? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) As I explained to the member, drivers in Victoria are prevented from turning on their meters until they have actually loaded the wheelchair onto the taxi, hopped into the vehicle and are ready to drive away. The moment the taxi reaches the destination, the driver is required to turn off the meter and hop out of the vehicle. Western Australia does not have that system. It has a system that allows the driver to turn on the meter and put the wheelchair into the taxi while the meter is running, and when the taxi reaches the destination, to unload the wheelchair while the meter is still running. There is a 15-minute detention provision; that is, a driver is allowed 15 minutes detention. I presume, from the claims that have been made by the drivers, that it takes them 15 minutes to get the wheelchair loaded and unloaded. If it does not take them 15 minutes, I do not know what they are complaining about. If it takes them 15 minutes, there is that detention provision. I also pointed out to the member at the time that under the Western Australian provision, the fee goes entirely to the operator of the vehicle, whereas in Victoria it is divided between the owner and the driver of the vehicle. However, I have also pointed out to the member that we are trying to get improved conditions, and we are looking at what we can do to improve the circumstances for the MPT operators, particularly as a result of the difficulty that they have because they are held captive to diesel rather than being able to operate on gas. I think I have answered that question very comprehensively.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(2) As I explained to the member, drivers in Victoria are prevented from turning on their meters until they have actually loaded the wheelchair onto the taxi, hopped into the vehicle and are ready to drive away. The moment the taxi reaches the destination, the driver is required to turn off the meter and hop out of the vehicle. Western Australia does not have that system. It has a system that allows the driver to turn on the meter and put the wheelchair into the taxi while the meter is running, and when the taxi reaches the destination, to unload the wheelchair while the meter is still running. There is a 15-minute detention provision; that is, a driver is allowed 15 minutes detention. I presume, from the claims that have been made by the drivers, that it takes them 15 minutes to get the wheelchair loaded and unloaded. If it does not take them 15 minutes, I do not know what they are complaining about. If it takes them 15 minutes, there is that detention provision. I also pointed out to the member at the time that under the Western Australian provision, the fee goes entirely to the operator of the vehicle, whereas in Victoria it is divided between the owner and the driver of the vehicle. However, I have also pointed out to the member that we are trying to get improved conditions, and we are looking at what we can do to improve the circumstances for the MPT operators, particularly as a result of the difficulty that they have because they are held captive to diesel rather than being able to operate on gas. I think I have answered that question very comprehensively.
(1)-(2) As I explained to the member, drivers in Victoria are prevented from turning on their meters until they have actually loaded the wheelchair onto the taxi, hopped into the vehicle and are ready to drive away. The moment the taxi reaches the destination, the driver is required to turn off the meter and hop out of the vehicle. Western Australia does not have that system. It has a system that allows the driver to turn on the meter and put the wheelchair into the taxi while the meter is running, and when the taxi reaches the destination, to unload the wheelchair while the meter is still running. There is a 15-minute detention provision; that is, a driver is allowed 15 minutes detention. I presume, from the claims that have been made by the drivers, that it takes them 15 minutes to get the wheelchair loaded and unloaded. If it does not take them 15 minutes, I do not know what they are complaining about. If it takes them 15 minutes, there is that detention provision. I also pointed out to the member at the time that under the Western Australian provision, the fee goes entirely to the operator of the vehicle, whereas in Victoria it is divided between the owner and the driver of the vehicle. However, I have also pointed out to the member that we are trying to get improved conditions, and we are looking at what we can do to improve the circumstances for the MPT operators, particularly as a result of the difficulty that they have because they are held captive to diesel rather than being able to operate on gas. I think I have answered that question very comprehensively.
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