Overview
As the buy-back of taxi plates approaches, many owners are starting to realise how much they have been ripped off by our VERY OWN Government. The lost asset is only a small part of the total which includes millions in superannuation (what was meant to be the pension for a majority of owners).
Liberals declared NO compensation at all, and only the formation and pressure from TOLD forced them to forward $20,000 transitional payment, plus hardship fund for some. TOLD has also supported the creation of Small Business Party (formerly Micro Business Party) in order to support the Labour party in the State election 2016 .It was all based on the promise by the shadow Minister (Rita Saffioti) of a fair and reasonable buy-back scheme.
The buy-back offer that Labour came up with (the $100,000 per plate for the vast majority of owners) can only be described as a DISGRACE. In real terms the $100,000 for Rita Saffioti or Mark McGowan represents FIVE MONTHS of their wages. YES, that is, how much politicians value 20, 30, in some cases 40 years of your hard work. This is the reward for your plans of a self-funded pension……DISGRACEFUL.
Peter Martin (TOLD Director)
General News
NOTE: registration closes on March 22nd 2019.Assistance can be provided by calling 1800 291 047
NOTE: you will NOT receive SMS alert about the TOLD(April) Newsletter but we’re aiming to have one published before the Easter Holiday. We will have more information about the legal action taken in the other states of Australia. As we have stated before; we will leave no stone unturned until we receive fair and proper compensation for the years of hard work we put into this country.
TOLD directors
Dear Minister
We are writing to alert you about concerns raised by our members. We sincerely believe that, if action is not taken in this very initial stage of reforms – the safety of the traveling public will be in danger.
Two on-demand transport vehicles are currently operating as a part of ‘Taxi’ fleet, however the signage on the roof says ‘Shofer’, hence those taxis fully comply with the requirement by having the taxi plates attached. The reason the attention of our members is drawn is because of the lack of the TAXI word displayed on the roof of those vehicles.
This situation can create unnecessary confusion to the traveling public, let alone additional implications, eg;
1.International (even interstate) visitors unfamiliar with signs other than Taxi.
2.Hundreds of shopping centres “TAXI ONLY’ parking signs to be replaced to ‘anything goes’
3.Dangers of the taxi/hail market allowing to hail any car with illuminated roof sign (‘Shofer’, ‘Ranger’, ‘Wilson’ or even ‘John’s Plumbing’ or ‘Domino’s Pizza’)
In the light of the very recent Claremont Killer prosecution, we believe that you as the Transport Minister have the obligation and “duty of care” to address this emerging problem before it is too late. TOLD, as the biggest industry representative (we were not consulted on this subject), demand immediate action to be taken. We believe that Taxi number plates, Taxi roof-sign, Taxi car-door identification number and photographic drivers’ identification inside the vehicle should be compulsory for every vehicle operating through the Perth taxi ranks.
TOLD
Peter Rosengrave (spokesperson)
Satinder Samra (Director)
Peter Martin( Director)
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT Q&A:
1. What was the process for overwriting the Minister’s promise of 4 year moratorium on the number of taxi plates?
In March 2018 the Minister for Transport announced a refinement of the previously proposed on-demand transport reform package. The Minister indicated that there would be no temporary cap on the number of taxi vehicle authorisations issued going forward.
The cap on taxi vehicle numbers is being removed to allow fair competition within the on-demand transport sector.
2. What will be the action taken by DOT against multinational (overseas registered) platforms to stop them operating outside the WA’s current law?
Any on-demand passenger transport service operating in Western Australia is required to be authorised as an On-demand Booking Service (ODBS) from 1 April 2019 onwards. Compliance Officers will be performing audits to ensure businesses are meeting their obligations. If non-conformances are identified operators may receive an improvement notice. If non-compliance continues harsh penalties will be enforced including fines and legal action.
3. Why is this buy-back called ‘voluntary’ if the drivers who decide not to accept the Government offer will have their right to operate their taxi terminated?
The taxi plate buyback scheme is voluntary. It will be up to each individual plate holder to decide whether they wish to participate and receive the buyback for their plate(s). Plate holders will need to complete the buyback application form stating whether they wish to participate in the buyback and whether they wish to stay in the industry or exit.
From mid-2019 the current arrangements for owned and leased Perth taxi plates will cease. All taxi plate holders who wish to stay in the industry (regardless of their participation in the buyback) will be offered a Passenger Transport Vehicle (PTV) authorisation for rank or hail taxi work. Plate holders may also choose to exit the industry following the buyback. They will need to surrender their plates to the Department of Transport.
4. We understand that taxi plate owners will be able to hold on to their current plates providing that the new ‘Authorisation’ is obtained. What happens to the plates that are returned? Is DOT going to reutilise them or take them of the road permanently?
If plate holders choose to exit the industry they will need to return their plates to the Department of Transport. Returned plates will be destroyed.
5. Drivers who are entering into a private agreement with passengers (private bookings) will need to register own TDS or sign ‘Association Agreement’ with their main job provider in order to collect ‘levy’. What will happen if the main service provider will refuse to sign such agreement and collect the ‘levy’ on the driver’s behalf?
If the driver’s main service provider does not wish to enter an association arrangement with the driver for their private work, then that driver will need to become booking service in their own right and take on the responsibilities of being a booking service. Ie
– Keep all required records. – Comply with safety duties and safety standards; and – Meet the obligations of the Levy.
The driver may also seek to enter into an association arrangement with any other authorised booking service provider, if their main service provider does not wish to.
6. If the major TDS obtains its own ‘Authorisation for a particular vehicle, and the driver will decide to obtain its own. Is the fee going to be charged twice?
Each Passenger Transport Vehicle (PTV) authorisation needs to be linked to a vehicle. The person who is granted the PTV authorisation will be either the vehicle’s registered owner or someone to whom the vehicle owner has given their consent. A fee cannot be charged twice as a PTV authorisation cannot be granted to a vehicle which already has another authorisation linked to it.
If the question relates to counting vehicles for the purposes of determining a fleet band for ODBS authorisation, it depends on whether the major TDS has an association arrangement with the driver for their private work. If they do, then the driver does not need to be a booking service and the driver’s vehicle is included in the TDS’ booking service fleet band. If the driver has their own ODBS authorisation then they must count their vehicle for the ODBS fleet band, and if they still receive dispatch work from the TDS then the TDS will need to count that vehicle also.
7a. Please describe how the ride-sharing vehicles are to be marked. Who will be accountable to implement this regulation and who will police it?
All on-demand vehicles will need to be identifiable from mid-2019. In additional to existing requirements for rank or hail taxis to be identifiable as a taxi, charter vehicles will need to display identifiable signage when operating.
It will be the responsibility of the ODBS to ensure that the safety standards, which include signage, for passenger transport drivers and vehicles are being met. Department of Transport (DoT) Officers will attend and perform regular audits to ensure individuals and businesses are meeting their authorisation obligations. Penalties are in place for services which do not meet their responsibilities.
7b. Has Uber applied for the official TDS licence? Will it be possible for Uber to operate without having the official authorisation (such as TDS)?
All ODBS have until 1 April 2019 to apply for authorisation. Heavy penalties apply for booking services that operate without authorisation after this date.
8. Recently taxi industry has experienced an increased number of ‘runners’. If the taxi meter will register a job and the customer ‘does a runner’ (has not paid) who will be accountable for the 10% levy payment?
It is the responsibility of the authorised ODBS to keep certain records which may be requested by the Department of Transport at any time. These include records related to individual on-demand jobs, as well as records of the names and details of the drivers and vehicles.
DoT will monitor compliance with Levy requirements through data analysis, intelligence and specialist financial auditing. If discrepancies in Levy returns and payments are noted, an ODBS records will be examined. Booking services would need to show sufficient due diligence around efforts to recover any outstanding fares in the case of fare evasions.
9. As informed, DOT has been asked to evaluate /commend on ‘levy collection formula’ by the Ministers office. Was the Department presented with the TOLD preferred option (prepared by ‘Ernst and Young’ accountants’) at that time?
The status of the Ernst and Young paper has no bearing on the legislated buyback scheme. The Transport (Road Passenger Services) Act 2018 (the Act) establishes the criteria, definitions, formulae and amounts that are to be used to calculate payments and Levy for the Taxi Plate Buyback Scheme.
DoT was presented with the proposal as part of its management of Ministerial correspondence.
10. How much was left in the “Taxi Development Fund” and why was it directed to so call ‘Consolidated Account’? Is the taxi industry able to use it if need occurs?
The Taxi Industry Development Account can only be used for specific purposes under the Taxi Act 1994 and this will be repealed in mid-2019. It is a requirement of the Financial Management Act 2006 that all special purpose accounts are returned to Consolidated Account once the need for the account is removed.
Despite existing law, the WA Government rolled out the red carpet for the ‘ride-sharing’ multinationals and LITERALLY gave them what they wanted:
1. Usage of ordinary state plates – they got it.
2. Removal of 90% of the regulations – they got it.
2. No cameras – they got it.
3. No limit on vehicle age –they got it.
4. Taxi lease rates removed –they got it.
5. No drivers ID – they got it.
6. No limits on taxi plate’s ownership – they got it.
7. Unlimited number of ride-share vehicles- they got it.
8. No driver training – they got it.
9. No meter or regulated fares- they got it.
10. Unrestricted money transfers to ‘tax havens’ – they got it.
11. Minimal number of compliance inspectors – they got it.
12. Open entry to the taxi ranks at minimal cost (camera and roof sign) – they got it.
13. Abilities to underinsure their vehicles -they got it.
14. Removal of 4 years taxi plates moratorium – they got it.
15. Ride-share pick up zone near ‘Optus’ stadium —– watch this space….
Is this corrupted behaviour? You judge…
