Media Release | Taxi Council Queensland

PUBLIC BEING DUPED BY ALLAN FELS – TAXI BOSS CITES 5-FOLD FARE RISE

The Australian public are being fooled into believing a deregulated taxi industry will lead to better services and lower prices, when the opposite is true, according to the Chief Executive of Taxi Council Queensland, Benjamin Wash.
Mr Wash said he was speaking out to stop the “blatant misinformation being peddled by Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry Chair Professor Allan Fels, which was creating uncertainly within the industry across Australia.

“In Queensland we enjoy a stable taxi industry backed by an understanding Government that protects customers through sensible regulation.

“Yet Professor Fels, in preparing his report, failed to visit any booking company in Queensland. If he was truly interested in solutions he would have found out why the system works well here”

Mr Wash also criticised Professor Fels’ support of taxi apps and hire cars that operate outside the regulated system.

“The taxi industry has no problems with any smartphone app or hire car company as long

TAXI COUNCIL ISSUES PUBLIC SAFETY WARNING FOR SMARTPHONE APPS

TAXI COUNCIL ISSUES PUBLIC SAFETY WARNING FOR SMARTPHONE APPS
9/26/2012

The Taxi Council of Queensland has warned that taxi customers are risking their personal safety by making bookings with smartphone apps that are not from an authorised taxi booking company.
TCQ chief executive officer Benjamin Wash said the public must be made aware of the risks before someone becomes a victim.

“An app that is not from a recognised taxi booking company offers customers no protection and opens them up to fraud, physical assault or worse,” he explained.

“Because these apps are outside the system, no one has a record of the booking and you can’t even guarantee that the car is a real taxi.”

Mr Wash said that due to the lack of safeguards anyone can register as a taxi and respond to a booking, something he has proved by registering himself on the app ‘goCatch’ as a driver, despite having no taxi license.

“It

TAXI COUNCIL STANDING BY THE DISABLED OVER SUBSIDY SCHEME

The peak body for the state’s taxi industry has welcomed the Government’s review of proposed budget cuts to the Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS), declaring the industry will continue to stand by their most vulnerable customers.
Chief executive officer of Taxi Council Queensland (TCQ) Benjamin Wash said he believes the Government misread the impact the cuts would make in people’s lives and across the community.

“I said from the outset that I didn’t believe the Government was intentionally being mean-spirited. It is reasonable that they are looking to cut their costs but this is an area where the detrimental effect outweighs the benefits,” he explained.

Mr Wash said TCQ led the charge against these cuts because they understand how important transportation is to those who use the TSS.

“Our customers who are physically, visually and intellectually disabled rely on our drivers to help them get to and from work, school and medical facilities and to

TAXI COUNCIL WARNS DISABLED AND AGED PASSENGERS OF BUDGET FINE PRINT

The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) is concerned that changes to the Taxi Subsidy Scheme in yesterday’s state budget will disadvantage the most needy and vulnerable in the community.
From July 1 next year, a new annual limit of $400 per person will be placed on travel under the scheme, meaning higher users will have to pay more or forgo travel.

Chief Executive Officer of TCQ Benjamin Wash said the changes were made without industry consultation and may have a major impact on the lives of the aged and people with disabilities.

He explained that based on an average fare under the scheme, eligible users will be limited to less than one taxi trip per week.

“Many mobility impaired customers work in regular jobs and need travel up to twice per day. In addition elderly customers tend to travel twice per week – or 100 plus trips per year – simply for normal grocery

TAXI COUNCIL MOVES TO STOP DRIVERS REFUSING SHORT FARES

TAXI COUNCIL MOVES TO STOP DRIVERS REFUSING SHORT FARES
10/9/2012

Queensland’s peak taxi industry body is asking taxi customers to report drivers who refuse a fare because the distance is too short.
In a memo sent to members across the State, Taxi Council Queensland (TCQ) tells drivers that “it is against Queensland law for any driver to refuse a fare based on the distance of the intended trip”.

The memo warns, “Any driver who does this risks losing their driver authorisation.”

TCQ chief executive officer Benjamin Wash said the memo was given after reports from the public.

“There are times when a driver can refuse a fare and the public should be aware of these, however distance or direction is not a lawful reason,” he explained.

The memo outlines reasons for legitimate fare refusal as “the driver believing his or her safety may be at risk, the customer being in an intoxicated state, the customer having

SHOCK AS STATE GOVERNMENT CUTS TAXI DISABILITY SUBSIDY

The Taxi Council of Queensland has expressed shock and disappointment that the LNP State Government has decided not to honour the commitment of the former Labor Government to implement a taxi disability subsidy.
The subsidy would have provided $6.50 for each trip taken by wheelchair-bound passengers to compensate drivers for loss of revenue due to the extra time taken to pick up customers.
The Council’s CEO, Benjamin Wash, said the industry had lobbied for this subsidy for over ten years and it was a bitter pill to have lost it before it had even started.

“I received a call from Transport Minister Scott Emerson last night to advise that the Government had decided not to honor the commitment,” he said.

Mr Wash said the scheme was long overdue and the commitment was well below that offered by all other state governments.

“Western Australia has just increased their subsidy to $20 and even $30 in some

QLD TOURISM FORUM MUST ADDRESS “REAL” CHALLENGES LIKE VIOLENT CRIME

The head of the Taxi Council of Queensland hopes that the upcoming ‘Destination Q Forum” in Cairns will not be a ‘talkfest’ but will proactively address issues like violent crime.
Pointing to ongoing publicity of violent incidents on the Gold Coast and in other areas across the state, Taxi Council CEO Benjamin Wash said Queensland’s image was worth protecting.

“You cannot separate law and order and tourism because tourists see the news too,” he said.
Mr Wash, who is attending the forum, said the taxi industry was a vital part of the tourism industry because visitors rely on taxis as a primary mode of transportation while in the state.

“When tourism is down people across so many industries are affected, so we all must ensure this forum achieves real results.”

He explained that taxi drivers, owners, operators and booking companies all benefit from increased tourism and want to play their part in giving visitors a

ALLEGED ASSAULT ON TAXI DRIVER AT ASPLEY SUNDAY MORNING

The following statement is to be attributed to Benjamin Wash, CEO of Taxi Council of Queensland.

“In response to the alleged attack on a taxi driver at Aspley early Sunday morning, I condemn all violence against our drivers. Those that attack drivers who are simply doing their job are cowardly and this sort of behaviour must be viewed as unacceptable by the community and our courts. The Taxi Council of Queensland will be following this case closely.”
“This alleged incident comes on the back of several incidents of violence against taxis, drivers and rank security officers over recent weekends and the publicised mob attack of a few weeks ago. It certainly appears that violence against drivers is increasing rather than decreasing and this is a very concerning trend.”

“Taxi drivers operate in a realm of trust each time a passenger gets into a vehicle. We urge the community not to betray that trust.