❓ A parliamentary question on notice regarding a government-funded survey on taxi industry deregulation. The Minister's response defends the consultation process and addresses concerns about the survey's content and transparency.
AnsweredQoN 788Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the government-funded survey recently distributed to taxi industry stakeholders regarding possible deregulation of the industry. (1) Will the minister confirm that this survey cost taxpayers nearly $48 000? (2) Why does the survey not contain any information on proposed buyback prices, lease costs, the number of additional licences to be issued, or tax implications arising from deregulation? (3) Why is the Government refusing to make the results of this survey public? (4) Will the minister now concede that this lack of genuine consultation is in fact a concession that the decision to deregulate the taxi industry is a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
(1) Will the minister confirm that this survey cost taxpayers nearly $48 000? (2) Why does the survey not contain any information on proposed buyback prices, lease costs, the number of additional licences to be issued, or tax implications arising from deregulation? (3) Why is the Government refusing to make the results of this survey public? (4) Will the minister now concede that this lack of genuine consultation is in fact a concession that the decision to deregulate the taxi industry is a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
(2) Why does the survey not contain any information on proposed buyback prices, lease costs, the number of additional licences to be issued, or tax implications arising from deregulation? (3) Why is the Government refusing to make the results of this survey public? (4) Will the minister now concede that this lack of genuine consultation is in fact a concession that the decision to deregulate the taxi industry is a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
(3) Why is the Government refusing to make the results of this survey public? (4) Will the minister now concede that this lack of genuine consultation is in fact a concession that the decision to deregulate the taxi industry is a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
(4) Will the minister now concede that this lack of genuine consultation is in fact a concession that the decision to deregulate the taxi industry is a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
(1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
(1) Will the minister confirm that this survey cost taxpayers nearly $48 000? (2) Why does the survey not contain any information on proposed buyback prices, lease costs, the number of additional licences to be issued, or tax implications arising from deregulation? (3) Why is the Government refusing to make the results of this survey public? (4) Will the minister now concede that this lack of genuine consultation is in fact a concession that the decision to deregulate the taxi industry is a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
(2) Why does the survey not contain any information on proposed buyback prices, lease costs, the number of additional licences to be issued, or tax implications arising from deregulation? (3) Why is the Government refusing to make the results of this survey public? (4) Will the minister now concede that this lack of genuine consultation is in fact a concession that the decision to deregulate the taxi industry is a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
(3) Why is the Government refusing to make the results of this survey public? (4) Will the minister now concede that this lack of genuine consultation is in fact a concession that the decision to deregulate the taxi industry is a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
(4) Will the minister now concede that this lack of genuine consultation is in fact a concession that the decision to deregulate the taxi industry is a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
(1)-(4) This is the most extraordinary piece of nonsense. Over the past - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: You do not like my questions. Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: The member’s question implies a number of presumptions that are completely nonsensical. During the eight years of the former Government, it did not make one attempt to consult anyone other than two or three people who thought they controlled the taxi industry. The Government has consulted every single player in the taxi industry. We do not talk only to the directors of the Swan Taxi Co-op Ltd, the large investors or the people who run fleet management companies. Members opposite find it offensive that we talk to the rank and file taxi drivers. We talk to the men and women who do what is often a very difficult and dangerous job. We do not resile from that because the industry is more than just the investors; it includes the owner-drivers and the drivers. The former Government had not consulted with the industry for eight years. When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
When we formed Government, we conducted a forum that was attended by official industry representatives and a random selection of plate owners and drivers. That set the agenda for the survey. Having set the agenda for the survey, it has been distributed. Our position on buy back, which is not the same thing as deregulation, has been crystal clear since before the last election. We went to the election with a policy - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Is it a fait accompli? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: Does the member want to hear the answer? We went to the last election with the principle that buy back was in the interests of the industry, the drivers, the plate owners and the consumers. However, we made it very clear that we would not proceed with buy back unless there was strong industry support. Part of the survey, which arose out of the forum, was to test the appetite for the buy-back scheme. Those results will be released very shortly. The results show - as did our informal research when we were in opposition - that the industry is split 50-50 on the issue. The owners are split 30-70, but the industry as a whole is split about 50-50. Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: How many people in the industry have responded to the survey? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: I do not have those figures. If the member truly wanted me to provide those figures, I presume she would have provided the question on notice. Roughly 50 per cent of the industry is in favour of the buy-back scheme. We will not impose buy back on an unwilling industry. If the industry is smart and it understands where its best interests lie in the future, it will support it. However, if the industry does not support it, we will not do it. The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
The SPEAKER: I call the members for Warren-Blackwood and Kalgoorlie to order for the first time.
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