news item
Taxi Industry Inquiry
13 May, 2011
The inquiry charged with recommending reforms for Victoria's taxi and hire car industry has released its first paper titled 'Setting the Scene', Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder announced today.
The background paper kick starts the 12 month comprehensive review led by the Taxi Industry Inquiry and headed up by Professor Allan Fels AO that was announced by Premier Ted Baillieu on 28 March 2011.
Mr Mulder said the Inquiry had a very important task in investigating the service, industry structure and regulatory problems that currently face the taxi and hire car industry.
The background paper, amongst other things:
- introduces an economic and market perspective on the provision of taxi services;
- provides high level results and themes from customer satisfaction survey data;
- looks at general complaints data;
- asks if the needs of people with mobility challenges are being met;
- considers how taxis fit as a form of public transport in line with other transport modes such as buses;
- questions the effectiveness of the current taxi industry structure and Government regulatory measures;
- points to the role of improved working conditions, remuneration, and training of drivers in raising the standard of customer service; and
- highlights the use of hire car services for pre-booked trips.
Professor Allan Fels said it was important to start the inquiry by asking questions and finding out what the public, stakeholders and the industry see as the big issues.
Mr Mulder said he was looking forward to hearing about the Inquiry's findings as it progresses.
Copies of 'Setting the Scene' are available from the Taxi Industry Inquiry's website at www.taxiindustryinquiry.vic.gov.au or by calling 9655 2000. Submissions close Friday, 24 June 2011.
