The reforms were passed by the NSW government on June 22 as part of the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Bill 2016 to create a level playing field for taxis, hire cars and community transport.

However, NSW Taxi Council CEO Roy Wakelin-King said there was more work to do before changes can be introduced when he met with taxi drivers and owners from across the region in Orange yesterday.

He said the increase in subsidy from $30 to $60 for passengers in wheelchairs will increase income for drivers who do wheelchair work giving them more incentive to collect customers in wheelchairs.

While a more controversial change that is yet to be finalised is the compensation, which will come from $1 from each customer fare.

Due to heavy losses faced in the industry he said the compensation will total about $250 million in two phases.

There will be $20,000 given per licence plate for up to two licence plates per owner.

“The second is hardship, the government has allocated $140 million for hardship but the criteria is yet to be established,” Mr Wakelin-King said.

The changes also give networks more responsibility instead of the government setting rules for branding, marketing, regulating fees and setting uniforms and standards.

“These are complicated issues so what we are trying to do is help our members prepare for this future,” he said.

Taxi Cabs of Orange chairman Michael Phillips said there are 28 taxi businesses and 100 drivers in Orange who rely on taxis for their income. 

Mr Phillips said the hardship payments would be especially vital for those who bought taxis as part of their superannuation with the view to sell them in retirement.

He said in the current environment they would make a loss if they tried to sell.