There are two houses of Parliament; a) ‘Lower house’ currently dominated by Labor MPs  and b) ‘Upper house’  where currently Labor does NOT have majority and will need to liaise with opposition and minor parties for the best outcome for the ‘taxi reforms’ bill.

WHERE THE BILL IS AT?    and     WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?

It has recently passed the lower house and will be heading towards the upper house. The minor parties are intending to introduce following amendments:

No 1. Fair and equitable buy-back offer for the plate owners.

No 2. NO deregulation of the taxi industry (subject to No.1)

No 3. Adoption of the ‘Ernst & Young’ (one of the largest accounting firm in the world) model to fund the buyback which will NOT require any funds to be borrowed by the Government and indeed 10% tax on passenger can be eliminated.

WHAT NEXT

The opposition and other parties are now studying the Bill and we have the opportunity to re-present our case to them.

The upper house, has the power to send the Bill back to the lower house, with amendments. There is a real opportunity for these members to have the Bill amended. For instance;

1. For the Buyback figure to be a “static” value across the board.

2. To adopt and utilise the Levy Model, proposed by TOLD and supported more so, than the Government’s proposed 10% tax.

We will all be able to see the ‘real face’ of the Transport Minister and demonstrate if she and her Labor Government are really dedicated to help the Taxi industry and small business operators. This is the time to approach our local MPs in a unified presence, to put forward our situation. To remind them about the pre-election promises made to the taxi industry at the Italian Club meeting on September 7th 2016.

We now find ourselves two years later (one and a half years of Labor Government) and taxi industry at crossroads and divided by the very Government that is attempting to “save it”.

Do not be intimated by the Government’s stance on this Bill. Focus your energy on lobbying the politicians and refer them to the TOLD document for a fair and equitable changes to the Bill. This is not a rewrite of the Bill, but a common sense and a reform that allows transition for those, whose property the Government is trying to acquire.

“Man should never be afraid to fight for justice. Only weak people let fear to decide their future. Fear however is only temporary, but the regrets of quitting will stay with you forever” (JG2018)

TOLD directors