Dr LIM - 2002-08-13
Are you aware of the serious breach that has occurred in your regulations governing the transfer of commercial vehicle licences between regions, particularly those relating to minibus operations? On information available, it appears that approval has been given for the transfer to Alice Springs of a minibus licence. This is in direct contravention of regulations that state, and I quote - just in case you have forgotten - from an MVR information bulletin:
Transfer of taxi, private hire car and minibus CVLs between areas (regions) is not permitted. The maximum number
of CVLs issued in each region is also capped.
Can you please explain, minister, who is responsible for this breach which has caused detriment to the taxi industry in Alice Springs and to the Darwin minibus operator concerned?
ANSWER
I thank the member for Greatorex for his question, Madam Speaker. Yes, I am aware of it, but it is not a breach of regulations. As you probably know the regulations allow the minister, under exceptional circumstances, to issue permission to move one minibus licence or a taxi licence to another area. The only reason that particular operator came from Darwin to Alice Springs was because he proposed to purchase a minibus in Alice Springs and to operate in Alice Springs. Unfortunately, the deal fell through. That person has now been instructed to return to Darwin and that minibus will not operate in Alice Springs.
However, I might mention that the whole mess we found with the taxi industry was not created by us, it was created by you. You freed the number of taxis and as a result, the salaries and wages of the taxi drivers have gone through the ceiling [inaudible]. You allowed minibuses to operate without taxi meters and it does not happen anywhere else in Australia. You freed the industry and you ruined it. Now we have to go back and have a look at it, and heaven knows how we will fix it. So, do not come and complain to us about the taxi industry. You created the problem.
Transfer of taxi, private hire car and minibus CVLs between areas (regions) is not permitted. The maximum number
of CVLs issued in each region is also capped.
Can you please explain, minister, who is responsible for this breach which has caused detriment to the taxi industry in Alice Springs and to the Darwin minibus operator concerned?
ANSWER
I thank the member for Greatorex for his question, Madam Speaker. Yes, I am aware of it, but it is not a breach of regulations. As you probably know the regulations allow the minister, under exceptional circumstances, to issue permission to move one minibus licence or a taxi licence to another area. The only reason that particular operator came from Darwin to Alice Springs was because he proposed to purchase a minibus in Alice Springs and to operate in Alice Springs. Unfortunately, the deal fell through. That person has now been instructed to return to Darwin and that minibus will not operate in Alice Springs.
However, I might mention that the whole mess we found with the taxi industry was not created by us, it was created by you. You freed the number of taxis and as a result, the salaries and wages of the taxi drivers have gone through the ceiling [inaudible]. You allowed minibuses to operate without taxi meters and it does not happen anywhere else in Australia. You freed the industry and you ruined it. Now we have to go back and have a look at it, and heaven knows how we will fix it. So, do not come and complain to us about the taxi industry. You created the problem.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016