❓ Mrs. Harvey questions the lack of compensation for regional taxi operators impacted by on-demand transport reforms, unlike metropolitan plate owners. The Minister responds that the buyback relates to privately-owned plates and regional operators previously rejected a levy.
AnsweredQoN 377Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAXIDRIVERS —
ASSISTANCE
377. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Minister for Transport:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that the minister's on-demand transport reforms have allowed
competition in regional areas that did not previously occur and have caused the
demise of these businesses in regional towns, why are these taxi operators not
eligible for fair and just compensation like the metropolitan taxi plate
owners?
ASSISTANCE
377. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Minister for Transport:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that the minister's on-demand transport reforms have allowed
competition in regional areas that did not previously occur and have caused the
demise of these businesses in regional towns, why are these taxi operators not
eligible for fair and just compensation like the metropolitan taxi plate
owners?
AnswerView source ↗
The buyback related to the private
ownership of plates in the metropolitan area. The legislation that governs the
plates and the operation of the taxi industry in the metropolitan area is
different from that in regional Western Australia. There are many businesses
that operate within the taxi industry that we are not compensating, or
undertaking a buyback from. It is related to the buyback of privately-owned
plates.
We have had discussions over many
years. In relation to the levy, the regional operators did not want the
introduction of a levy. That was very clear. That was put to us. The buyback
relates to privately-owned plates. We have created a new assistance package.
That is because the businesses can continue.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : They are
saying they can't.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Scarborough! I am telling you that you are not allowed to interject. I call you
to order for the second time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : When the
member for Dawesville was inviting Uber —
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Tourism! I call you to order.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : — and
doing a training course for Uber drivers in the electorate, member for
Scarborough —
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : There was a photo
of you doing that, member for Dawesville, addressing Uber drivers in Dawesville
and saying how good it was. That happened before this legislation came in. What
is the member's view on that—that their own colleague was
inviting Uber into regional operations?
Mr J.N. Carey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Perth!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : On competition, I am not sure where
the member for Scarborough was during the time of the last government, but she
basically allowed it all to happen. The floodgates have opened.
Several members interjected.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The member did
nothing. Now we are trying to create an environment to allow existing operators to compete in this new world.
ownership of plates in the metropolitan area. The legislation that governs the
plates and the operation of the taxi industry in the metropolitan area is
different from that in regional Western Australia. There are many businesses
that operate within the taxi industry that we are not compensating, or
undertaking a buyback from. It is related to the buyback of privately-owned
plates.
We have had discussions over many
years. In relation to the levy, the regional operators did not want the
introduction of a levy. That was very clear. That was put to us. The buyback
relates to privately-owned plates. We have created a new assistance package.
That is because the businesses can continue.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : They are
saying they can't.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Scarborough! I am telling you that you are not allowed to interject. I call you
to order for the second time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : When the
member for Dawesville was inviting Uber —
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Tourism! I call you to order.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : — and
doing a training course for Uber drivers in the electorate, member for
Scarborough —
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : There was a photo
of you doing that, member for Dawesville, addressing Uber drivers in Dawesville
and saying how good it was. That happened before this legislation came in. What
is the member's view on that—that their own colleague was
inviting Uber into regional operations?
Mr J.N. Carey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Perth!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : On competition, I am not sure where
the member for Scarborough was during the time of the last government, but she
basically allowed it all to happen. The floodgates have opened.
Several members interjected.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The member did
nothing. Now we are trying to create an environment to allow existing operators to compete in this new world.
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