General Meeting with Rod Barton, MP

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.

We also received an update on industry happenings in Victoria and Queensland.

The work of Barton and TMP has been crucial in the shift towards fairer treatment towards taxis and hire cars in Victoria – below are accomplishments Barton spoke on.

Touting

Barton was successful in getting legislation updated so as to make touting illegal in Victoria. Although the regulator, Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV), failed to enforce this law for the first 12 months, after a great deal of advocacy and dealing with not only the Minister’s office but Melbourne Airport and the federal police, it is being taken more seriously.

Advisory Panel

Barton was invited to the Advisory Panel late last year to answer to Transport Minister Carroll on COVID-19 impact on the CPV industry. The meetings didn’t go perfectly, but they managed to get the CPV industry the largest support package in the country, double the size of NSW’s. The main thing is they were able to keep emergency services running during the pandemic – wheelchair services.

Barton was also instrumental in moving the review of the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP), which is a huge concern of the Victorian CPV industry to a parliamentary inquiry instead of focusing on it in the Panel.

Inquiries

Barton and his team have secured other parliamentary inquiries. One is the inquiry into Homelessness – which consists of 51 recommendations. Barton is hopeful the government will accept many of the recommendations and therefore be able to transform many people’s lives. 

Another is the inquiry into the Free CBD Tram Zone. This inquiry had a mixed result, as the government initially didn’t listen when it was suggested to introduce some free periods or discounted fares, but in the end decided to bring these incentives in.

​Barton managed to secure amendments for the Road Toll inquiry and now he and his team are working in the Regional Bus inquiry.

Read more via DRIVE NOW's August 2021 Edition here.

SAY THANKS TO TMP

There is no doubt that we owe thanks to Rod Barton, Transport Matters Party Leader, for all his efforts in standing up for our industry. You can show your thanks and support by becoming members of TMP for only $22.

www.transportmatters.org.au