Media Release
February 7, 2017
Taxi industry can influence election because Queenslanders believe in a fair go
The chief executive officer of Taxi Council Queensland (TCQ) believes that Queenslanders will support the taxi industry and punish politicians that have let down honest small business operators.
In an address to members gathered at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre last week, Mr Wash outlined the organisation’s political strategy in the lead up to the state election, declaring, “now is the time for the taxi industry to step forward and lead in what may well be characterised as the fight of our lives”.
“Arguably, in the nearly 70 years that TCQ has worked on behalf of members, never has there been an issue of such magnitude and consequence if allowed to continue unchecked and unchallenged,” he said.
Mr Wash said that the industry made a difference in the last federal election in the seat of Longman, where assistant minister Wyatt Roy was defeated.
“Mr Roy attributed his loss on election night to the campaigning by our industry, yet all we did was bring attention to his lack of support for small business.
“Don’t underestimate our influence,” he warned.
He said the industry’s fight was never against competition. “Queenslanders quite rightly want competition and we’ve said from the outset that we welcome competition.
“But Queenslanders also believe in a fair go, and the thought of honest, ordinary people who did the right thing, being thrown on the scrapheap so that a large foreign company that ignored and broke the law could make more profits, is abhorrent to fair-minded people.”
“It appears that elected representatives have forgotten that they are elected not to pursue their own personal agendas, or that of their party, but to represent their community.
“This election is the Queensland taxi industry’s opportunity to stand together and make our voices clearly heard that enough is enough!”
ENDS