Streamlined application for driver accreditation
Rod asked the government to step in and ensure an efficient and streamlined application process for driver accreditation by the CPPV is implemented in the interest of fairness.
Asking for justice: repair the suffering, pain and loss caused by the 2017 reforms.
Asking for Justice…Rod moved for the government to acknowledge that taxi licences were valuable items of property and to repair the damage of past reforms.
Taxi Drivers – Fair Pay?
This week, Rod asked the Premier about the treatment of Essential Transport Workers.
Thursday 12th November 2020
Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (12:42): My constituency question is for the Premier. Taxi fares in Victoria have not increased since 2014, and there have been a number of reviews. Taxidrivers are essential transport workers, as has been demonstrated during this pandemic. They receive no holiday pay, no sick pay, no superannuation and no maternity leave, and many have been known to work for less than $10 an hour—well below the minimum wage. The Essential Services Commission sets these fares, and it is interesting to note the executives at the Essential Services Commission in the same period have received a pay increase of 24.5 per cent. The information I seek is: what is the justification for this unfair treatment of these essential transport workers?
Question – Proposition 22
Is the government going to let Uber get away with undermining our state’s conception of an employee and the essential rights that come with it?
Premier – Sole Traders
Despite the government rolling out an additional round of support, including the welcomed Business Support Fund specifically for non-employing sole traders, a large chunk of non-employing sole traders will miss out.
Fair tolls for Victorians
In June, we asked the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, why ute drivers who register for toll accounts in New South Wales pay passenger rates on toll roads throughout the country, including Victoria, while ute drivers using toll accounts in Victoria pay the same rates as a commercial vehicle.
Stand up for Sole traders, Premier!
There have been thousands of sole traders who have not turned a dollar since, March, yet whose overheads have not diminished and all the while trying to keep a roof over their head and food on the table for their families.
Sole Trader Support
Today we wrote to the Premier seeking an answer for Sole traders.
Dear Premier Andrews,
COVID-19 has up-ended everything about how we live, work and interact and has us considering our hopes and plans for the future in a different way.
Justice Bill – good for people, good for “good” businesses says Barton
Class Action would have been simpler and of more benefit to participants if contingency fee legislation introduced in Victoria’s State Parliament this week had been in place three years ago.
Fair tolls for private utes
I asked the Minister for Roads why ute drivers who register for toll accounts in New South Wales pay passenger rates on toll roads throughout the country, including Victoria, while ute drivers using toll accounts in Victoria pay the same rates as a commercial vehicle.