❓ Question regarding taxi standards and availability in an electorate with many pubs and restaurants. The Minister outlines government plans including increased taxi plates, improved security, and a demerit point system for drivers.
AnsweredQoN 250Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAXIS — STANDARDS AND AVAILABILITY
I represent an electorate that has many pubs and restaurants, which results in there being a considerable demand for taxis. I read with interest the minister’s recent statements about taxi reform. Can the minister please outline the steps the government is taking to improve driver standards and taxi availability? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
I represent an electorate that has many pubs and restaurants, which results in there being a considerable demand for taxis. I read with interest the minister’s recent statements about taxi reform. Can the minister please outline the steps the government is taking to improve driver standards and taxi availability? Mr T.R. BUSWELL
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker — Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers’ window, this one. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Sorry? Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers—you dictating to people about personal conduct! Hilarious! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: Mr Speaker — Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers’ window, this one. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Sorry? Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers—you dictating to people about personal conduct! Hilarious! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr Speaker — Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers’ window, this one. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Sorry? Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers—you dictating to people about personal conduct! Hilarious! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers’ window, this one. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Sorry? Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers—you dictating to people about personal conduct! Hilarious! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Sorry? Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers—you dictating to people about personal conduct! Hilarious! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers—you dictating to people about personal conduct! Hilarious! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied: Mr Speaker — Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers’ window, this one. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Sorry? Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers—you dictating to people about personal conduct! Hilarious! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr Speaker — Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers’ window, this one. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Sorry? Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers—you dictating to people about personal conduct! Hilarious! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers’ window, this one. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Sorry? Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers—you dictating to people about personal conduct! Hilarious! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Sorry? Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers—you dictating to people about personal conduct! Hilarious! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It’s more fun than Myers—you dictating to people about personal conduct! Hilarious! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Is that right? The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I did not hear you ask the question. Minister, I expect you to answer the question, not talk with the member for Girrawheen. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : This government will deliver a real plan to improve taxi services; what we got from the opposition was a plan to run out and paint them gold! I said at the time that it was a ridiculous idea. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Several members interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Did the member think it was a brilliant idea? Did the Leader of the Opposition think it was a brilliant idea to spend $10 million painting all the taxis gold? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What was that, member for Willagee? Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr P.C. Tinley : It was an industry recommendation! Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I did not see the member for Willagee in this place last night when his own party referred his dealings in Port Hedland to a parliamentary committee! I did not see the member in this place voting for that! Point of Order Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : I do not know what the minister is referring to, but he is misrepresenting what occurred last night. The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
The SPEAKER : I am not getting a point of order. Minister, continue. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I get back to the taxi action plan. When we announced it, we discussed a couple of its elements. We talked about the $8 million the government will be investing in better cameras so that people and drivers can be safe in and around taxis, and we talked about investing $2 million to improve the Northbridge rank, so that people waiting for cabs in Northbridge, adjacent to the member for Mount Lawley’s electorate, can wait safely. Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Earlier this week, the government announced a significant increase in the Perth taxi fleet. Why? It did so because last year there was considerable growth in demand for taxis in Perth. It may interest members to know that taxi demand in the off-peak period grew last year by 12 per cent, and in the peak period by six per cent. That meant that there were 80 000 incidents last year when people rang a taxi dispatch service and did not get picked up. In the government’s view, that is not a good enough outcome, so it decided to act. The best way to address those issues was by increasing supply. What will happen immediately is that 30 plates will be brought onto the market and will go into circulation. The government will then commence the process of changing the regulations that govern the size of the pool of government lease plates. That will take three or four months and will free up a pool of around 300 additional plates that will be available to be released onto the market at periodic intervals to reduce that jobs-not-covered figure. Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr P.B. Watson : Are there any handicap taxis? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Not yet, but I am still working on that. Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Those additional plates will address one of the key elements of the government’s taxi action plan for security and availability. The other issue is quality of service. Today the government introduced plans to introduce a demerit point system for taxidrivers. Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Where is your affordable housing strategy? Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I will get the member for Girrawheen a cab to the affordable housing strategy launch. How does that sound to the member? It will not be gold! The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
The demerit point system is designed to weed out the bad apples in the Perth taxi industry—because there are some! There are repeat offenders who are providing bad service. The government will now work with industry to identify the scale that will apply to different offences, noting that serious offences will continue to be — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : What is the member for Midland talking about scales for? What on earth is the member bumping on about scales for? Come on! I will get back to the point. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Why is the member for Midland fixated with scales? I was not talking about scales in some other form. I am talking about scales of severity for offences committed by drivers. The government will work with the industry to identify offences and relative scales. If people continually offend, they will earn demerit points and ultimately lose their licences. I think it is a good regime. On top of that, a probationary system will be introduced for new drivers. The government is doing two things: firstly, improving standards at point of entry; and, secondly, improving standards during the entire career of those taxidrivers. That is a good outcome, because that is what the people of Perth are asking for, and what the taxidrivers are asking for. Taxidrivers are sick and tired of those few bad apples spoiling their industry. Both of these initiatives from the government will go a long way to keeping the public happy and to helping the taxi industry grow in a viable and sustainable way.
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