TAA recently held a General Meeting via Zoom last month, and we had the pleasure of having the Leader of the Transport Matters Party (TMP), Rod Barton MP, join and share with us and attendees what he and TMP have been up to in the last several months.

After Mr Barton’s rundown of achievements and changes within the CPV (Commercial Passenger Vehicle) industry in the last six months, there was time for some questions and answers.

Our latest meeting with Wedding Car Association (WCA), VicRoads, Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV) and Department of Transport (DoT), on Thursday 24th of June, was an insightful and productive one. We were able to retrieve more answers surrounding illegal operators, H-plates and club permit vehicles, and come up with viable suggestions for solutions to these issues.

Rob Brewer, WCA President, initiated the meeting with a statement expressing his exhaustion by the lack of action from regulators to stop illegals, which goes against the common goal of ensuring public safety.

Today Rod Barton MP successfully moved amendments that will deliver a modest fare increase of 2.5% to taxi drivers from July 1st of this year.

This will address the fact that these taxi drivers have had only 1 fare increase in the past 13 years. Previously the Essential Services Commission determined maximum taxi fares.

This amendment will change that; the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review will determine potential increases in maximum taxi fares.

Financial assistance is here for the 4th COVID-19 Lockdown in Victoria.

Rod Barton MP, has been instrumental in securing financial assistance for the Victorian Taxi and Hire Car industry and what a great win this is.

Taxi and Hire Car Drivers and Operators can get $5000 assistance from the Victorian Circuit Breaker Business Costs Assistance Program.

Who is eligible?

Businesses that have incurred direct costs due to the current COVID-19 restrictions and the business cannot predominantly work remotely. 

Transport Alliance Australia (TAA) is more than happy to take your comments, questions and suggestions to these meetings – just let us know what burning issues you have with your industry regulator.

What comments do you want made?
What questions do you want answered?
What suggestions do you wish to recommend?

Email TAA your questions, suggestions and comments.
Include your name, relevant Australian State/Territory, contact email and phone number to info@taa-national.com.au, and watch future editions of DRIVE NOW for updates.

Melbourne Airport has been in disarray as touters have continued to illegally harass passenger arrivals.

Illegal touts hang around the arrivals area, touting their services often without a registered commercial passenger vehicle license, and many to scam travellers with excessive fares. These touts have been known to be aggressive and predatory with many refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer.

The Victorian Government passed an amendment of the Transport Legislation Bill in 2019 making touting illegal again in Victoria, after an explosion of complaints. 

Fatigue is one of the most common problems among rideshare, taxi, hire car and limousine drivers. Drivers often experience long hours, vast distances of travel and unusual work hours that may result in tiredness, a lack of concentration and depleted energy.

A study by the Queensland government showed that being awake for 17 hours had a similar effect on performance as having a blood alcohol reading of 0.05 which is the equivalent of two standard drinks. Many deaths and serious injuries on our roads have been due to fatigue related vehicle accidents.

Transport Alliance Australia (TAA) is an alliance of individuals and entities with an interest in the Australian commercial passenger transport sector.

This includes drivers, owners, operators, networks, booking service providers, depots, fleets, associations, industry services and suppliers.

​TAA has its roots in the Victorian Hire Car and Taxi industry. As pressures were put on the industry by the illegal operations of Uber, and as the Victorian government tried and failed to adequately address these issues, the forerunner of TAA, the VHCA, was reinvigorated by Rod Barton and André Baruch.

Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV) has announced the changes to the state’s Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) to allow Uber’s casual rideshare drivers to transport aged, elderly and incapacitated people.

The $60 million MPTP provides a subsidy for vulnerable and disabled people who are unable to use public transport, paying half the cost of a taxi trip up to the value of $60.
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Until recently, the scheme relied on regulated, accredited taxis, including specialist vehicles for wheelchair and incapacitated passengers.