Suggestion – Statewide Cleaning and Sanitisation Stations

Department of Transport (DoT) conducted a presentation on Wednesday 23 September for industry stakeholders, and we have questions. So many questions, that we have emailed them to DoT for answers, answers which we are yet to receive.

$3.5m Cleaning and Sanitisation grants for regional and metro BSPs -- 

-> How is giving money to BSPs to be used in the future, supporting the CPV industry during the COVID-19 crisis?

DoT was asked during the presentation, “Shouldn’t the Cleaning and Sanitisation Grant go to those who are on the road and providing an ESSENTIAL service? To those who are actually working?”
  
The reply was – “The grants are based on the size of the BSP, on the number of vehicles... Same absolute grant for all. It’s not about giving money for costs already incurred, it’s about granting funds to sustain the industry ongoing. It can be spent in the future – it doesn’t have to be spent now... it's about sustaining the industry overall."

But this assistance package is titled “COVID-19 CPV INDUSTRY SUPPORT PACKAGE”!  

And we have even offered a suggestion on how to implement a fairer cleaning and sanitisation solution for the Victorian CPV industry.

Suggestion – Statewide Cleaning and Sanitisation Stations

A suggestion on a fairer way to go, a less time consuming approach, with less “paperwork” for all involved, a more level and sensible idea, is to set up Cleaning & Sanitisation stations around Victoria that every Taxi, Rideshare Vehicle, Hire Car and Special Purpose Vehicle that is on the road would be able to utilise.

The money could be given to BSPs to set this up and make this available to all in the industry to partake in. Or alternatively, the money could be used to lease areas, with the DoT or CPVV setting up Cleaning Stations which could be on BSP property and so DoT or CPVV would pay the BSP accordingly for the property lease.

In NSW, DoT has set up 9 Sanitisation Stations – where every taxi, rideshare vehicle, hire car and special purpose vehicle that is on the road, is welcome to visit and get their vehicle cleaned and sanitised for FREE at any time.  Drivers who make an effort to get out there and work – are entitled to this service.
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Thereby those who are not working don’t get this cleaning – therefore the big businesses don’t get money for nothing.