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?
Taxi & Hire Car Industry
The taxi and hire car industry had been knocked down before this pandemic even started. Rod Barton is concerned that COVID-19 will be the nail in the coffin for many of them struggling to survive.
The government’s lack of support for non-employing sole traders has let many fall through the cracks, crippling the taxi and hire car industry.
The future of the industry and livelihoods of these workers depend on a comprehensive and effective recovery plan to move forward. There is so much at stake.
Already it is a struggle for many to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table for their families. Rod Barton believes it is absolutely critical that there is a strategy to relaunch the taxi and hire car industry.
Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria is responsible for outlining the rules and parameters that dictate this industry. This responsibility extends to ensuring the industries survival and creating an action plan to move forward.
This is why Rod Barton asked the Minister for Transport, “what is the CPVV’s plan to relaunch the taxi and hire car industry as we come out of restrictions?”
If the regulator fulfils its role in the economic recovery of this industry, Rod Barton is optimistic that we can give hope to those in this industry who have been doing it tough.
Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Metropolitan and the Leader of the Transport Matters Party Rod Barton MP:
‘I believe that the regulator has a statutory responsibility to ensure that the taxi and hire car industry has an economic recovery plan as we come out of this pandemic.’
Question – Re-launching the Taxi & Hire Car Industry
Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria is responsible for outlining the rules and perimeters that dictate this industry, one would thought that as the regulator, they would have statutory responsibilities to ensure the taxi and hire car industry has a plan to move forward.
Financial Support for Taxis and Commercial Passenger Vehicles
The Government asked me, a non-government member to be part of a CPV Advisory Panel to advise Minister on measures to assist the CPV industry through this difficult time. The Panel made a number of recommendations, costing $22 million and it has been accepted.
Victoria taxi package missing
Victoria’s taxi industry is on the verge of collapse says Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton, and he is pushing for the state government to step in to keep drivers on the roads.
Network moves to keep essential taxis on the road
A move by Silver Top Taxi to lower network fees to support taxi drivers will keep this essential service on the road according to Transport Matters Party leader and Eastern Metro MP Rod Barton.
Barton proposes easy fix for MCG drop offs
A new transport management solution is needed to cope with an influx of commercial passenger vehicles (CPV) on event days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground according to Transport Matters Party leader Rod Barton.
ATO to review Victorian fairness fund payments
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will undertake a review of the Victorian Fairness Fund payments to the taxi and hire car industry following a query from Eastern Metro MP Rod Barton.
Missed opportunity for fairer tolls
Toll operators got another bonus payout today when the legislative council voted down an amendment to give families a discount on West Gate Tunnel tolls.