A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the effectiveness of psychological tests for taxi driver applicants prior to their abolishment. The Minister's response indicates a low failure rate based solely on the psychological component and clarifies the decision-making process.

AnsweredQoN 1070Legislative Council
Asked
24 November 2011
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

TAXI INDUSTRY — PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS
(1) What assessment did the Department of Transport undertake into the effectiveness of psychological tests for taxidriver applicants prior to the government abolishing the tests? (2) Will the minister table a copy of all assessments undertaken; and, if not, why not? (3) Did the Taxi Industry Board consider the effectiveness of these tests prior to them being abolished; and, if not, why not? (4) Have any individuals who previously failed the psychological tests subsequently been approved as taxidrivers since the tests were abolished? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Transport reviewed the results in the period April 2004 to December 2008, which indicated that less than one per cent of applicants failed purely on the results of the psychological profiling component of the aptitude test. (2) The Department of Transport conducted a statistical analysis only as per the information above. (3) No; the decision was made by the Department of Transport. (4) The Department of Transport is not aware of any situations in which this has occurred.
(2) Will the minister table a copy of all assessments undertaken; and, if not, why not? (3) Did the Taxi Industry Board consider the effectiveness of these tests prior to them being abolished; and, if not, why not? (4) Have any individuals who previously failed the psychological tests subsequently been approved as taxidrivers since the tests were abolished? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Transport reviewed the results in the period April 2004 to December 2008, which indicated that less than one per cent of applicants failed purely on the results of the psychological profiling component of the aptitude test. (2) The Department of Transport conducted a statistical analysis only as per the information above. (3) No; the decision was made by the Department of Transport. (4) The Department of Transport is not aware of any situations in which this has occurred.
(3) Did the Taxi Industry Board consider the effectiveness of these tests prior to them being abolished; and, if not, why not? (4) Have any individuals who previously failed the psychological tests subsequently been approved as taxidrivers since the tests were abolished? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Transport reviewed the results in the period April 2004 to December 2008, which indicated that less than one per cent of applicants failed purely on the results of the psychological profiling component of the aptitude test. (2) The Department of Transport conducted a statistical analysis only as per the information above. (3) No; the decision was made by the Department of Transport. (4) The Department of Transport is not aware of any situations in which this has occurred.
(4) Have any individuals who previously failed the psychological tests subsequently been approved as taxidrivers since the tests were abolished? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Transport reviewed the results in the period April 2004 to December 2008, which indicated that less than one per cent of applicants failed purely on the results of the psychological profiling component of the aptitude test. (2) The Department of Transport conducted a statistical analysis only as per the information above. (3) No; the decision was made by the Department of Transport. (4) The Department of Transport is not aware of any situations in which this has occurred.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Transport reviewed the results in the period April 2004 to December 2008, which indicated that less than one per cent of applicants failed purely on the results of the psychological profiling component of the aptitude test. (2) The Department of Transport conducted a statistical analysis only as per the information above. (3) No; the decision was made by the Department of Transport. (4) The Department of Transport is not aware of any situations in which this has occurred.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Transport reviewed the results in the period April 2004 to December 2008, which indicated that less than one per cent of applicants failed purely on the results of the psychological profiling component of the aptitude test. (2) The Department of Transport conducted a statistical analysis only as per the information above. (3) No; the decision was made by the Department of Transport. (4) The Department of Transport is not aware of any situations in which this has occurred.
(1) The Department of Transport reviewed the results in the period April 2004 to December 2008, which indicated that less than one per cent of applicants failed purely on the results of the psychological profiling component of the aptitude test. (2) The Department of Transport conducted a statistical analysis only as per the information above. (3) No; the decision was made by the Department of Transport. (4) The Department of Transport is not aware of any situations in which this has occurred.
(2) The Department of Transport conducted a statistical analysis only as per the information above. (3) No; the decision was made by the Department of Transport. (4) The Department of Transport is not aware of any situations in which this has occurred.
(3) No; the decision was made by the Department of Transport. (4) The Department of Transport is not aware of any situations in which this has occurred.
(4) The Department of Transport is not aware of any situations in which this has occurred.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more