GAINING a fairer insurance platform was among the leading changes discussed by Central West taxi drivers when they met with NSW Taxi Council CEO Roy Wakelin-King in Orange on Friday.
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Mr Wakelin-King visited Orange with NSW Taxi Council president John Bowe who assured stakeholders the industry has a great future and said during his more than 50 year career there have been many ups and downs in the industry with this one of them.
The visit was part of a tour of regional cities Mr Wakelin-King is undertaking to discuss taxi industry reforms put forward by the NSW government last year.
Speaking to taxi owners and drivers from Orange, Bathurst, Lithgow, Mudgee and Parkes, Mr Wakelin-King addressed concerns about how operators will remain viable.
He said the key areas of reform include the structural adjustment package for taxi owners, industrial relations, equity on CTP insurance and the enforcement of the law under the reforms.
Mr Wakelin-King said taxi drivers reportedly pay about $7000 on compulsory third party (CTP) insurance and comprehensive insurance combined while Uber drivers get away with paying less than $2000 in costs.
There are also plans to strictly enforce the exclusivity of rank and hail work for taxis, which equates to 30 per cent of pick-ups in Orange with the remaining 70 per cent coming from bookings that have a four minute pick up rate.
“As rank and hail services in country areas is a small proportion of taxi work in rural and regional communities, it is vitally important that these reforms do not undermine the ongoing viability of country taxi operators,” Mr Wakelin-King said.
Taxi Cabs of Orange chairman Michael Phillips said although Orange does not have services such as Uber that have affected the industry in the city, drivers here are still affected by changes.
“It delivered a few body blows, many of us are older members of the community who are looking to retire and that’s clearly on hold,” he said.
