A WA parliamentary question regarding the release of new taxi plates, focusing on consultation, feedback, financial implications for current owners, and market demand monitoring. The Minister's response outlines the rationale behind the decision and ongoing monitoring processes.

AnsweredQoN 1084Legislative Council
Asked
13 August 2003
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the minister’s press release of 9 July 2003 in which she outlined the release of 50 new plates for lease across a number of taxi categories - conventional taxis, 32 plates; multipurpose taxis four plates; and peak-period taxis, 12. What considerations were given to increasing each of the various categories of plates and in particular - (a) with whom did the minister consult; (b) what feedback has the minister received and from whom; (c) what financial implications will this have for current owners; and (d) what monitoring will the minister be conducting to ensure that the supply stays within the market demand? Hon KEN TRAVERS

AnswerView source ↗

The Government is of the view that increases in taxi plate numbers should reflect changes in the level of demand for taxis as well as the performance of the industry in ensuring that taxi customers are able to access a taxi. The release of additional plates reflects this approach. There has not been a release of a conventional taxi plate for 14 years. Multipurpose taxis, and peak-period taxis in particular, are often the subject of complaints from the public about their availability and service levels to the public. (a) There was broad consultation with the industry and specific taxi consumer groups as part of the recent taxi industry review; (b) the feedback received is too voluminous to list here. However, I refer the honourable member to the public reports available on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure web site; (c) the interests of taxi owners are safeguarded by having a strong, viable taxi industry, where taxi customers receive good service. Central to this is the ability to get a taxi when one is requested, and that high standards of service are offered so that repeat custom is built up. The decision to release additional taxis clearly, therefore, meets the needs of owners; (d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.
What considerations were given to increasing each of the various categories of plates and in particular - (a) with whom did the minister consult; (b) what feedback has the minister received and from whom; (c) what financial implications will this have for current owners; and (d) what monitoring will the minister be conducting to ensure that the supply stays within the market demand? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: The Government is of the view that increases in taxi plate numbers should reflect changes in the level of demand for taxis as well as the performance of the industry in ensuring that taxi customers are able to access a taxi. The release of additional plates reflects this approach. There has not been a release of a conventional taxi plate for 14 years. Multipurpose taxis, and peak-period taxis in particular, are often the subject of complaints from the public about their availability and service levels to the public. (a) There was broad consultation with the industry and specific taxi consumer groups as part of the recent taxi industry review; (b) the feedback received is too voluminous to list here. However, I refer the honourable member to the public reports available on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure web site; (c) the interests of taxi owners are safeguarded by having a strong, viable taxi industry, where taxi customers receive good service. Central to this is the ability to get a taxi when one is requested, and that high standards of service are offered so that repeat custom is built up. The decision to release additional taxis clearly, therefore, meets the needs of owners; (d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.
(a) with whom did the minister consult; (b) what feedback has the minister received and from whom; (c) what financial implications will this have for current owners; and (d) what monitoring will the minister be conducting to ensure that the supply stays within the market demand? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: The Government is of the view that increases in taxi plate numbers should reflect changes in the level of demand for taxis as well as the performance of the industry in ensuring that taxi customers are able to access a taxi. The release of additional plates reflects this approach. There has not been a release of a conventional taxi plate for 14 years. Multipurpose taxis, and peak-period taxis in particular, are often the subject of complaints from the public about their availability and service levels to the public. (a) There was broad consultation with the industry and specific taxi consumer groups as part of the recent taxi industry review; (b) the feedback received is too voluminous to list here. However, I refer the honourable member to the public reports available on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure web site; (c) the interests of taxi owners are safeguarded by having a strong, viable taxi industry, where taxi customers receive good service. Central to this is the ability to get a taxi when one is requested, and that high standards of service are offered so that repeat custom is built up. The decision to release additional taxis clearly, therefore, meets the needs of owners; (d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.
(b) what feedback has the minister received and from whom; (c) what financial implications will this have for current owners; and (d) what monitoring will the minister be conducting to ensure that the supply stays within the market demand? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: The Government is of the view that increases in taxi plate numbers should reflect changes in the level of demand for taxis as well as the performance of the industry in ensuring that taxi customers are able to access a taxi. The release of additional plates reflects this approach. There has not been a release of a conventional taxi plate for 14 years. Multipurpose taxis, and peak-period taxis in particular, are often the subject of complaints from the public about their availability and service levels to the public. (a) There was broad consultation with the industry and specific taxi consumer groups as part of the recent taxi industry review; (b) the feedback received is too voluminous to list here. However, I refer the honourable member to the public reports available on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure web site; (c) the interests of taxi owners are safeguarded by having a strong, viable taxi industry, where taxi customers receive good service. Central to this is the ability to get a taxi when one is requested, and that high standards of service are offered so that repeat custom is built up. The decision to release additional taxis clearly, therefore, meets the needs of owners; (d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.
(c) what financial implications will this have for current owners; and (d) what monitoring will the minister be conducting to ensure that the supply stays within the market demand? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: The Government is of the view that increases in taxi plate numbers should reflect changes in the level of demand for taxis as well as the performance of the industry in ensuring that taxi customers are able to access a taxi. The release of additional plates reflects this approach. There has not been a release of a conventional taxi plate for 14 years. Multipurpose taxis, and peak-period taxis in particular, are often the subject of complaints from the public about their availability and service levels to the public. (a) There was broad consultation with the industry and specific taxi consumer groups as part of the recent taxi industry review; (b) the feedback received is too voluminous to list here. However, I refer the honourable member to the public reports available on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure web site; (c) the interests of taxi owners are safeguarded by having a strong, viable taxi industry, where taxi customers receive good service. Central to this is the ability to get a taxi when one is requested, and that high standards of service are offered so that repeat custom is built up. The decision to release additional taxis clearly, therefore, meets the needs of owners; (d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.
(d) what monitoring will the minister be conducting to ensure that the supply stays within the market demand? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: The Government is of the view that increases in taxi plate numbers should reflect changes in the level of demand for taxis as well as the performance of the industry in ensuring that taxi customers are able to access a taxi. The release of additional plates reflects this approach. There has not been a release of a conventional taxi plate for 14 years. Multipurpose taxis, and peak-period taxis in particular, are often the subject of complaints from the public about their availability and service levels to the public. (a) There was broad consultation with the industry and specific taxi consumer groups as part of the recent taxi industry review; (b) the feedback received is too voluminous to list here. However, I refer the honourable member to the public reports available on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure web site; (c) the interests of taxi owners are safeguarded by having a strong, viable taxi industry, where taxi customers receive good service. Central to this is the ability to get a taxi when one is requested, and that high standards of service are offered so that repeat custom is built up. The decision to release additional taxis clearly, therefore, meets the needs of owners; (d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: The Government is of the view that increases in taxi plate numbers should reflect changes in the level of demand for taxis as well as the performance of the industry in ensuring that taxi customers are able to access a taxi. The release of additional plates reflects this approach. There has not been a release of a conventional taxi plate for 14 years. Multipurpose taxis, and peak-period taxis in particular, are often the subject of complaints from the public about their availability and service levels to the public. (a) There was broad consultation with the industry and specific taxi consumer groups as part of the recent taxi industry review; (b) the feedback received is too voluminous to list here. However, I refer the honourable member to the public reports available on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure web site; (c) the interests of taxi owners are safeguarded by having a strong, viable taxi industry, where taxi customers receive good service. Central to this is the ability to get a taxi when one is requested, and that high standards of service are offered so that repeat custom is built up. The decision to release additional taxis clearly, therefore, meets the needs of owners; (d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.
The Government is of the view that increases in taxi plate numbers should reflect changes in the level of demand for taxis as well as the performance of the industry in ensuring that taxi customers are able to access a taxi. The release of additional plates reflects this approach. There has not been a release of a conventional taxi plate for 14 years. Multipurpose taxis, and peak-period taxis in particular, are often the subject of complaints from the public about their availability and service levels to the public. (a) There was broad consultation with the industry and specific taxi consumer groups as part of the recent taxi industry review; (b) the feedback received is too voluminous to list here. However, I refer the honourable member to the public reports available on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure web site; (c) the interests of taxi owners are safeguarded by having a strong, viable taxi industry, where taxi customers receive good service. Central to this is the ability to get a taxi when one is requested, and that high standards of service are offered so that repeat custom is built up. The decision to release additional taxis clearly, therefore, meets the needs of owners; (d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.
(a) There was broad consultation with the industry and specific taxi consumer groups as part of the recent taxi industry review; (b) the feedback received is too voluminous to list here. However, I refer the honourable member to the public reports available on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure web site; (c) the interests of taxi owners are safeguarded by having a strong, viable taxi industry, where taxi customers receive good service. Central to this is the ability to get a taxi when one is requested, and that high standards of service are offered so that repeat custom is built up. The decision to release additional taxis clearly, therefore, meets the needs of owners; (d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.
(b) the feedback received is too voluminous to list here. However, I refer the honourable member to the public reports available on the Department for Planning and Infrastructure web site; (c) the interests of taxi owners are safeguarded by having a strong, viable taxi industry, where taxi customers receive good service. Central to this is the ability to get a taxi when one is requested, and that high standards of service are offered so that repeat custom is built up. The decision to release additional taxis clearly, therefore, meets the needs of owners; (d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.
(c) the interests of taxi owners are safeguarded by having a strong, viable taxi industry, where taxi customers receive good service. Central to this is the ability to get a taxi when one is requested, and that high standards of service are offered so that repeat custom is built up. The decision to release additional taxis clearly, therefore, meets the needs of owners; (d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.
(d) Ongoing, independent monitoring of the industry is done through the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on a quarterly basis.

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