TAXI INDUSTRY SLAMS NEW FEE FOR PASSENGER DROP OFF AT NORTH QUEENSLAND AIRPORTS

The state’s peak taxi body has revealed that Mackay Airport wants to charge taxi customers a new drop off fee, and that Cairns Airport will likely be next.
Taxi Council Queensland (TCQ) has joined with local taxi operators to oppose the move by North Queensland Airports to charge taxis between $2 and $3.50 every time they drop off a customer.

Taxis already pay a fee when they pick up from both airports.

TCQ chief executive officer Benjamin Wash says the latest move is a “blatant grab for revenue which will be paid for by locals and tourists”.

“Unlike picking up passengers, where the airport provides some form of infrastructure, there is no extra cost to the airport for a taxi to drop off a passenger.

“Taxi operators are upset that they are being asked to do the airport’s dirty work and believe that – like all third-party tolls and charges – it will make our fares appear higher.

“If the airport wants to slug customers, they should find another way of doing it, rather than hiding behind taxis. It’s their tax and they can answer for it,” he declared.

Mr Wash believes the airports have a longer term plan to also charge private cars a drop off fee.

“The CEO of North Queensland Airports comes from an airport in Scotland where all vehicles pay, so this may be their plan.

While the fee has only been officially announced for Mackay, North Queensland Airports Group – which operates both Mackay and Cairns airports – has indicated it will roll out the fee in Cairns.

He said the fee could also force taxi companies to make changes to its computer systems and incur other costs, potentially putting upward pressure on taxi fares.

“Everyone loses except the airport. I don’t see this as fair to the people of North Queensland.”

TAXI INDUSTRY SLAMS NEW FEE FOR PASSENGER DROP OFF AT NORTH QUEENSLAND AIRPORTS

The state’s peak taxi body has revealed that Mackay Airport wants to charge taxi customers a new drop off fee, and that Cairns Airport will likely be next.
Taxi Council Queensland (TCQ) has joined with local taxi operators to oppose the move by North Queensland Airports to charge taxis between $2 and $3.50 every time they drop off a customer.

Taxis already pay a fee when they pick up from both airports.

TCQ chief executive officer Benjamin Wash says the latest move is a “blatant grab for revenue which will be paid for by locals and tourists”.

“Unlike picking up passengers, where the airport provides some form of infrastructure, there is no extra cost to the airport for a taxi to drop off a passenger.

“Taxi operators are upset that they are being asked to do the airport’s dirty work and believe that – like all third-party tolls and charges – it will make our fares appear higher.

“If the airport wants to slug customers, they should find another way of doing it, rather than hiding behind taxis. It’s their tax and they can answer for it,” he declared.

Mr Wash believes the airports have a longer term plan to also charge private cars a drop off fee.

“The CEO of North Queensland Airports comes from an airport in Scotland where all vehicles pay, so this may be their plan.

While the fee has only been officially announced for Mackay, North Queensland Airports Group – which operates both Mackay and Cairns airports – has indicated it will roll out the fee in Cairns.

He said the fee could also force taxi companies to make changes to its computer systems and incur other costs, potentially putting upward pressure on taxi fares.

“Everyone loses except the airport. I don’t see this as fair to the people of North Queensland.”

INDIAN CABBIES NEW MAJORITY

INDIAN CABBIES NEW MAJORITY
11/25/2013

Indian Cabbies New Majority
Sunday Mail, 24 Nov 2013

TAXI COUNCIL QUEENSLAND CALLS ON WOMEN TO REPORT INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS FROM TAXI DRIVERS

As part of the aim to be known as the world’s best taxi service, Queensland’s Taxi Council has issued a warning to drivers that it will not tolerate any inappropriate behaviour towards female customers.

4BC Interview with Benjamin Wash
00:0000:00
Taxi Council Queensland (TCQ) chief executive officer Benjamin Wash said that while Queensland taxis lead the world in many areas and enjoy a high customer satisfaction rating, he is setting the standards high.

“Ninety nine per cent of our drivers are excellent and do the right thing always, but when you want to be the best, you must demand the best,” he explained.

Mr Wash said he was aware that some female customers did not feel safe travelling in taxis, despite taxi travel being the safest form of door to door transport.

“We don’t want to ignore this perception. We want to bring this into the open and deal with it.

“Any behaviour that makes a customer feel insecure is distressing to me personally and to everyone across our industry.”

TCQ has issued a memo to all booking companies outlining unacceptable behaviour which includes:

– Inappropriate language, including vulgarity or sexually suggestive words or language.
– Questions of a private nature, including any personal details about customers or their plans.
– Any request for personal details or to communicate with a customer after the taxi journey.
– Suggestions outside of what would be typically expected from a taxi driver – i.e directions, places to visit, information about the location etc.
– Discussions of topics that may offend, raise concern or cause fear.
– Language that could be received as racist, sexist or degrading to women.

The memo states that inappropriate behaviour is found across all industries and is not widespread in the taxi industry, noting that the last Queensland Government mystery shopper survey gave Queensland taxis almost a 90 per cent satisfaction rating.

However Mr Wash said one incident was one too many.

“Just like we asked customers to report other issues in the past, we are now asking them to please immediately advise the taxi company of any instance where they feel unsafe or uncomfortable in a taxi.”

“If it is still unresolved, please advise TCQ. If we don’t know, we can’t act.”

FRANCES O’BRIEN
12/15/2016 11:59:13
Dear Sir/Madam,
Below is my abusive incident with a Yellow Cab Taxi Driver.
His name is: Sung Tek Kim
phone: -0435726972
address- 16 Killarney Crescent Capalaba 4157

I have asked Yellow Cabs and the Taxi driver to replace my destroyed suitcase. I have been trying since 21st Nov, 2016.
I have called the Taxi driver and he will not tell me his Taxi Driver License number or email. When he called me on my mobile phone he hangs up before I have time to answer the phone.
Can you help in any way. Although there has been no bad language this case is still extremely abusive towards a woman.
I have tried to get some justice through Yellow Cabs and

-Original Message—–
From: dragonfly555@live.com [mailto:dragonfly555@live.com]
Sent: 21 November 2016 16:22
Enquiry: Complaints
Name: Frances O’Brien
Email: dragonfly555@live.com
Phone: 0438409334
City: PO Box 3217, Umina Beach, 2257 NSW
Enquiry: The driver Kim (Asian Man) arrived at Stradbroke Island, he opened the hatch back so I could get my bags out and I also paid him $8.60 for the trip. He helped get the luggage out of the back and then got in the car. While I was taking some of my other bags onto the pavement he got in his car and reversed over my Eminent black hard luggage case. The case was dragged under the car. I ran over to the car and started to yell out “STOP”. At first he didn’t notice, but as I got closer to his driver side window he finally saw me and stopped. He got out of the car and I said to him ‘you have reversed over my luggage.’ We went to the back of his car and my suitcase was jammed under the car. When it finally came out the wheel had me broken and some of the suitcase has been cracked and scratched. I said to the taxi driver you have broken my suitcase. He said what do you want me to do. I said pay for a new one. He said Yellow Cabs can do that. The taxi driver went to get in the car and and I asked him for his name and he said Kim. I said I would like a card with your details on it. He got in the car and left. There was no reason for the taxi driver to reverse in the first place. I question the taxi drivers, driving skills. I have a witness who took a photo of the taxi cab for me and I have another witness who saw everything that went on.
My case is destroyed. I am on holidays. I have had to put belongings in striped plastic bags. The bags are heavy to lift. I have a disability and am quite a sick person, I really needed the bag I had destroyed by your taxi driver.
I would be happy if you bought me another bag. You can buy Eminent bags online. My suitcase is a Hard Luggage Black Case on wheels. It is 595 X 371.
I would also like my money back for the taxi ride.
You can contact me on my mobile or by email. If you would like a copy of the photos please email me for them.
Regards
Frances O’Brien
Trip Details, Date/Time/Location (Optional): Taxi cab number: 373.
Registration number: T51631.
Caught a yellow cab taxi from taxi rank at Cleveland shopping centre.
Arrived at Water Taxi to Stradbroke Island at 11:45am on 20/11/16. Driver was called Kim. Was an Old Asian Man.

TAXIS READY FOR QLD HEALTH’S NON-URGENT PATIENT TRAVEL

Queensland’s Taxi Council will support any recommendation from the Keelty Review that allows private companies to bid for the non-urgent travel needs of hospital patients.
CEO of Taxi Council Queensland Benjamin Wash said taxis were already a significant provider of transportation to the disabled community and were well suited to take on the role, which could be a big boost to the industry’s “thousands of small business operators”.

Mr Wash said it was bizarre that unions would claim it was “wrong for private operators to make money out of sick and injured people” when you consider the high cost of health services to the taxpayer and the fact that even doctors charge a fee.

“All we are saying is that if Queensland Health chooses to put non-urgent transport to tender, the taxi industry is well placed to respond,” he explained.

Mr Wash said many Queenslanders may not be aware that the state’s wheelchair accessible taxi fleet led the world.

“We have one of the highest percentage of wheelchair accessible taxis of any taxi fleet on the globe.”

He said drivers currently provide a vital service to the sick, disabled and elderly and usually went beyond the call of duty to provide an exceptionally high service standard.

However he said using taxis for patient transport also made economic sense.

“I don’t know the cost of operating an ambulance but I think I can be safe in saying that a taxi would save significant money, as all you are paying for is the travel time.”

Mr Wash said that every taxi driver and operator is a small business owner, and any Government outsourcing move would act as a stimulus to the small business sector.

“Taxis are under-utilised. As well as patient transport, there is potential for governments to save money by using taxis for low usage bus routes or other transport needs.”

NORTH QLD TAXI OPERATOR NAMED QUEENSLAND’S BEST

North Queensland can claim the best taxi operator in the state following the naming of Les Gist as Queensland’s “Taxi Operator of the Year”.
The award was presented to Mr Gist at Taxi Council Queensland’s annual conference on the Sunshine Coast. He operates taxis in Townsville, Ayr, Tully and Innisfail and was chosen by an independent judging panel from nominees representing every region of Queensland.

Mr Gist, who was born and raised in Ayr, is a veteran taxi operator with 39 years of experience. He worked as an ambulance officer before buying his first taxi in 1974. By the time he semi-retired in 2009, Mr Gist had built up a fleet of 24 taxis and three charter buses, employing four office staff and engaging 60 drivers.

Mr Gist is valued for considering the needs of his community. In 1987, he introduced the first wheelchair-accessible taxi – a converted XF Falcon – to Townsville, to enable disabled people greater freedom. He later introduced the first wheelchair-accessible taxis to Ayr (2001) and Innisfail (2004). In 2012, Mr Gist painted one of his Ayr taxis bright pink, added Breast Cancer Foundation signs for six months, and used it as a mobile billboard. The signs have now been removed, but Mr Gist decided to keep the taxi pink, as a silent reminder of breast cancer.

Taxi Council Queensland CEO Benjamin Wash said the award was a credit to Mr Gist’s service to “both the industry and humanity”.

“He is a well-deserving recipient of the Taxi Operator of the Year Award.”

Les Gist is available for interview on 0417 781 810.

BRISBANE TO GET THE BEST TAXI SERVICE IN THE WORLD!

‘We want to be the best taxi service in the world’.
It’s a bold, bold vision. Cabbies from all over the state are on the Sunshine Coast to discuss just how that might happen. It’s the start of a three-day annual conference for the Taxi Council Queensland – CEO Benjamin Wash:

Gold Coast sisters Sasha Moore and Zara Trengrove aim to recruit more female drivers to the taxi industry
Courier- Mail

QLD GOVERNMENT TAXI REVIEW – AUDIO RECORDINGS AND AUTOMATED TAXIMETERS

The following statement is attributed to Benjamin Wash, CEO, Taxi Council Queensland:
Taxi Council Queensland has consistently supported the introduction of greater security measures in taxis, including the ability of cameras to record audio. However we equally believe this is an opportunity to
review the overall operation of the security system – in particular the capital and repair costs of cameras, the speed of download and creating easier access to the footage for training, insurance and public-benefit purposes.

We also support automated metering for the benefit of both drivers and customers, though we point out that with around 250,000 taxi fares each day, instances of rorting are extremely rare. The State Government’s own mystery shopper research confirms this. That said, we recognise that every industry has people who will do the wrong thing from time to time. Taxi Council Queensland has zero tolerance for any unethical behaviour and this is a positive step.

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