❓ Ms. Saffioti questions the Minister for Transport on the delay in taxi industry reform legislation and requests immediate support for plate owners. The Minister responds, outlining progress towards regulatory changes and a future announcement.
AnsweredQoN 248Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAXIS — INDUSTRY REFORM
248. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the minister's
media statement in December on reform of the taxi industry in which the
minister stated that he would work as quickly as possible to introduce and
finalise legislation to provide certainty to the industry. Given that it has
been nearly 20 months since the minister deregulated the industry by stealth, I
ask the following questions.
(1) When will the
minister bring legislation into Parliament to create a true level playing field
in the industry?
(2) Will the
minister consider immediate support to the taxi industry; in particular, some
form of compensation for plate owners who are suffering financial hardship?
248. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the minister's
media statement in December on reform of the taxi industry in which the
minister stated that he would work as quickly as possible to introduce and
finalise legislation to provide certainty to the industry. Given that it has
been nearly 20 months since the minister deregulated the industry by stealth, I
ask the following questions.
(1) When will the
minister bring legislation into Parliament to create a true level playing field
in the industry?
(2) Will the
minister consider immediate support to the taxi industry; in particular, some
form of compensation for plate owners who are suffering financial hardship?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
think the activity that has been underway within the taxi industry has been
well understood. We issued a green paper some time ago that explained the
intent of what we were trying to do. Western Australia was one of the last
jurisdictions to have Uber come into the taxi industry to cause the level of
disruption that occurred. However, we are one of the first states to put out a paper
that sort of explained a way forward.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Kwinana!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : We explained to people that the way forward will result in
regulatory changes and will require some legislative change. We have made it
very clear and very public for some time that we are working towards a date of
it being live for the regulatory changes on 1 July. We have not moved from
that. We are very close to the point at which we will be able to share with the
broader community what the changes will mean to the industry. From the work
that has been done by the department, I see that there will be great outcomes
for drivers. The greatest impact will be at the dispatch; that is where the
greatest change will be, where we are looking to open up competition. There are
a number of different players within the taxi industry and we have been working
through each segment within the industry to work out the best possible way
forward. We see a very bright future for the overall on-demand transport sector
as our population continues to grow in Western Australia. We need to work on
and establish a framework. This is a major reform for the industry—the
biggest reform we have seen in over 40 years. We are working through it
properly, with due diligence, and we will announce it when it is ready to
announce for the industry.
think the activity that has been underway within the taxi industry has been
well understood. We issued a green paper some time ago that explained the
intent of what we were trying to do. Western Australia was one of the last
jurisdictions to have Uber come into the taxi industry to cause the level of
disruption that occurred. However, we are one of the first states to put out a paper
that sort of explained a way forward.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Kwinana!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : We explained to people that the way forward will result in
regulatory changes and will require some legislative change. We have made it
very clear and very public for some time that we are working towards a date of
it being live for the regulatory changes on 1 July. We have not moved from
that. We are very close to the point at which we will be able to share with the
broader community what the changes will mean to the industry. From the work
that has been done by the department, I see that there will be great outcomes
for drivers. The greatest impact will be at the dispatch; that is where the
greatest change will be, where we are looking to open up competition. There are
a number of different players within the taxi industry and we have been working
through each segment within the industry to work out the best possible way
forward. We see a very bright future for the overall on-demand transport sector
as our population continues to grow in Western Australia. We need to work on
and establish a framework. This is a major reform for the industry—the
biggest reform we have seen in over 40 years. We are working through it
properly, with due diligence, and we will announce it when it is ready to
announce for the industry.
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