Taxi Council welcomes transport review but says uber still must obey law

Queensland’s peak taxi body says a review of personalised transport services in Queensland will provide the industry with the opportunity to put forward their views in a logical and rational manner, however has called on the State Government to continue to enforce existing legislation against illegal taxis while the review is in process.

Taxi Council Queensland chief executive officer Benjamin Wash said the industry has “never worried about competition”, declaring that the Queensland taxi industry is the best in the world.

However he believes the review should not be rushed. “The terms of reference of this review are extremely broad and it is therefore in the interests of Queensland that we get this right.”

“The recent Fels Inquiry in Victoria took two years and we believe this review should take at least that. It is important that the independent taskforce learn all of the facts and receive all of the information,” he said.

Mr Wash also said the State Government must continue to uphold existing laws and prosecute uber drivers for breaking the law, and has urged Transport Minister Jackie Trad to honour her own words.

“The Transport Minister was quoted in today’s media as stating – ‘Where people act outside the law, they should face the force of the law,’ and we agree, which is why we call on her to ensure illegal taxis face the force of the law.

“Our question to the minister is that as uber is acting outside the law, why are they still allowed to operate?”

He also called on the independent taskforce not to accept any submission by uber until they abide by the law and stop operating illegal taxi services.

“It is unacceptable for a government to allow a company that is in clear breach of the law to participate in a review of legislation.

“uber have a right to lobby for a change like we all do, but until that change happens they must be forced to abide by existing laws.”

​​Published in THE AUSTRALIAN
SEPTEMBER 28, 2015
Shane Rodgers, Queensland Editor Brisbane

Taxi drivers attend an Uber protest in Brisbane.

The Queensland Taxi Council has warned that the battle between taxis and ride-sharing business Uber is only the beginning of a major war between traditional, highly regulated businesses and new disruptive players.

The warning came as Uber confirmed it was identifying and blocking state government transport compliance offers from booking share rides after 1500 drivers were hit with $1.7 million in fines in its first year of operation.

Taxi Council chief executive Benjamin Wash said Uber effectively was operating an illegal taxi service and flouting state regulations. He said this was largely unprecedented and was opening the way for a major policy battleground that would engulf many industries.

Uber competition was beginning to hit the market value of taxi licences in Queensland, with drivers carrying debt on licence purchases being asked to provide more security or make higher repayments on loans that were now considered riskier.

Mr Wash said blocking of state government officers from the Uber app was an escalation in Uber’s efforts to avoid legal compliance and scrutiny.

“They are moving out of the realm of civil disobedience to ­active avoidance,” he said.

“It’s something policymakers in Australia and overseas would struggle to understand. What legitimate big corporate business does that?”

Mr Wash said the broader business community had to brace for similar battles, with Uber already moving into the delivery of sandwiches made in private kitchens overseas, a potential challenge to traditional food regulations.

“I think the signal here is far more than taxis,” he said.

“We’re just the first place where this is being played out. There are huge implications for all other sectors and all other industries over time.”

The Queensland government, like most state administrations, has announced a review of the point-to-point transport system. Katter’s Australian Party MP Rob Katter has introduced a bill to parliament seeking to take demerit points from drivers doing ride-sharing through the Uber app.

Uber director of public policy Brad Kitschke said some transport compliance officers had been blocked from using Uber because they breached the guidelines.

“We have very stringent protocols on the platform,” he said.

“We require for safety pur­poses for everyone on the platform to be who they say they are. ”

Mr Kitschke said Uber could offer only a small proportion of the service ­offered by taxis and it would be poor public policy to expect it to comply with the same regulations.

Illegal taxis place lives in danger through alcohol limits and smartphone use

The peak body representing the Queensland taxi industry is warning of the dangers of illegal services that do not regulate drivers to have a zero alcohol reading.

Under state transport laws, Queensland taxi drivers must always show a alcohol zero limit, and risk suspension and other penalties if found to have breached the strict regulations.

Taxi Council Queensland chief executive officer Benjamin Wash says disregarding a zero alcohol limit poses serious safety concerns for customers who expect their drivers to be 100 per cent focused behind the wheel.

“Taxi drivers can not drink, full stop. A driver of an illegal taxi service can have a couple of drinks before getting on the road and picking up a passenger.”

He said it was impossible for illegal taxi services like uber to enforce their own blood alcohol limits because their drivers were not breaking the law by drinking and driving.

“Coupled with them having to use smartphones and digital devices, it is clear their concentration is less than what it should be,” Mr Wash said.

He pointed out that the recent introduction of heavier penalties for drivers caught using mobile devices is welcome but not a major concern for taxi drivers because they don’t need to use phones to receive bookings.

“Queensland taxis use a sophisticated but safe dispatch system. They are 100 per cent focused on what is in front of them and face minimal distractions.”

Queensland Police research shows 22 per cent of all motor vehicle crashes are a result of driver distraction through using digital devices.

“Our drivers are not required to communicate this way and it is simply naive to think that illegal taxi operators will self-regulate to not use their phone while driving when it offers them a pickup.”

Queensland’s Taxi Council has strongly endorsed a private members bill proposed yesterday by the Katter Australian Party that calls for greater penalties for illegal taxi services, saying it was time that the Government became serious about the law.

Taxi Council Queensland chief executive officer Benjamin Wash said uber has been defying the law for too long and laughing in the faces of regulators and governments.

“In every other part of society the law is upheld and offenders are prosecuted, yet because this big foreign monopoly has money to pay fines and doesn’t care about Queensland’s transport safety regulations it appears everyone is scared to act.”

Mr Wash said he couldn’t open a restaurant without abiding by food safety regulations nor could he open a medical practice without the necessary qualifications and licensing, so “how can we stand by and allow illegal taxis to operate without any safety regulations that protect Queenslanders and ensure a level playing field for genuine taxis which are abiding by the law.”

He said “enough is enough” and has called on both Labor and the LNP to pass the Katter bill with the greatest of urgency.

He also wants the media to play a more responsible role.

“The media are continually giving uber credibility even though they are operating illegally. This is unheard of and outrageous and would never happen with any other person or company that breaks the law.”

“uber are an illegal taxi service, and are spawning copycats across Queensland. Right now anyone, anywhere can start to drive their private cars and transport the public and the Government is letting it happen.

“This will become a nightmare.

“We’ve already seen assaults with no camera evidence by uber drivers across Australia, and without enforcement of regulations nothing will be able to stop any sexual predator or person with the wrong motives starting their own illegal taxi service.”

Taxi Council wants public input into driver awards

For the first time, Queensland’s taxi council has turned to the public to help them find the state’s best taxi drivers.

Each year drivers and operators from across Queensland are nominated by their peers for a variety of industry awards including Taxi Driver of the Year, but this year, Taxi Council Queensland (TCQ) wants to hear from customers about exceptional service they may have received while using a cab.

TCQ chief executive officer Benjamin Wash said that with more than 250,000 taxi fares every day across the state, there are “multitudes of examples of exceptional service no one hears about”.

“Customers obviously expect good service, and drivers consider this an essential part of their job and don’t seek recognition, but among these are stand-out examples of drivers going above and beyond normal expectations,” he said

The new “Customer Service” award is part of TCQ’s annual awards night on November 11 when the industry pays tribute and recognises excellence.

Mr Wash is also keen to hear from anyone who knows of someone in the taxi industry who has made a significant contribution over many years.

“In many regions, there are locals across our industry who have done things quietly and without fanfare, and we want to recognise them publicly.”

TCQ’s website – www.tcq.org.au – has nomination forms for its Customer Service Award. Nominations close on September 30, 2015