Today in Parliament, Rod asked Minister Pulford, representing the Minister for Transport, Ben Carroll what the CPVV’s plan is to relaunch the taxi and hire car industry as we come out of these restrictions?

See speech below

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (12:01): My question is to Minister Pulford, representing the minister for transport. The taxi and hire car industry was already knocked down prior to this pandemic. However, COVID-19 has been a nail in the coffin for many of them struggling to survive. The government’s lack of economic support for non-employing sole traders has further crippled this industry. Livelihoods depend on an effective recovery plan moving forward. Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria is responsible for outlining the rules and parameters that dictate this industry. One would have thought that as a regulator they would have a statutory responsibility to ensure that the taxi and hire car industry has a plan to move forward. So I ask the minister: what is the CPVV’s plan to relaunch the taxi and hire car industry as we come out of these restrictions?

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business) (12:02): I thank Mr Barton for his question, which is directed to Minister Carroll and which I will seek a written response for him on. But just if I could briefly reflect on the part of the question that I guess in some ways goes to the reopening of a whole lot of economic activity that is occurring from midnight last night, so really starting today, I would again acknowledge and thank you for your advocacy in this sector and wish them well in what is hopefully a rapid resumption of activity as people start taking up those opportunities to move around a bit more freely from today.

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (12:03): Thank you, Minister. If the CPVV do have a plan, is there any chance they can share it with the 110 000 taxi and hire car drivers in Victoria?

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business) (12:03): I thank Mr Barton for his further question about the role the regulator might be playing in economic recovery, and I will seek a response from Mr Carroll to that end.