Page 3163 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 September 1993
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and hirers of these vehicles, are not protected by third-party injury insurance because the vehicles are not, and are not able to be, registered and insured as public vehicles. Their insurance is valid only for private use and not when the vehicle is used for hire or reward.
To address the existing anomalies as well as to legitimise operations which have developed to meet public demands, a new category of licensed public vehicle is proposed, to be known collectively as special purpose public vehicles. Special purpose public vehicle licences, which are not transferable, will detail conditions relating to the operation of each vehicle on the licence itself. A licence for each vehicle will be issued on request, subject to the necessary requirements being met. This allows the marketplace rather than the Government to dictate supply and demand for special purpose vehicle licences.
There are two types of licences, namely, restricted taxi licences and restricted hire vehicle licences. The only vehicles presently proposed to operate on a restricted taxi licence are multicabs. The licence will specify that the vehicles' first priority is to service the transport needs of the disabled. After that need has been fulfilled the vehicles may operate as normal taxis. Restricted hire vehicle licences are required to service ongoing part-time operations and specialised needs, such as weddings. This part-time demand cannot be met by the existing hire fleet and, because of the limited amount of work involved, would not justify investment by operators in further full-time hire car licences. Generally, the demand for these vehicles is confined to weekend operations. If additional licences are required to meet demands for events other than weddings, the industry and the Transport Workers Union will be consulted, as they have been to date.
Restricted hire vehicle licences will be issued for periods of 24 hours, seven days, one month or 12 months. Insurances will be available to match these periods. Although there will be no limit on the number of these licences allowable in any one year, the fee structure will be designed to encourage a frequent operator to take out an annual licence. It is important that these part-time hire vehicles be licensed, to ensure that adequate and appropriate insurance exists for users of these services. This is particularly relevant with some of the vintage vehicles or specialised vehicles that people might like to have for a wedding - a 1950s Ford, for example, if someone is keen on that, or an antique Roller or the like is quite attractive as an alternative to a - - -
Mr Moore: An old Humber.
MR CONNOLLY: Or an old Humber. They are very attractive vehicles.
Mr Lamont: But they would not be taking out an annual licence for an old Humber. It takes 51 weeks to get it fixed - - -
MR CONNOLLY: There is the risk of it breaking down on the way. While dealing with public vehicle procedures I am taking this opportunity to amend the Motor Traffic Act 1936 to increase the required amount of third-party property insurance for taxis and private hire cars from $2,000 to $5m. The current figure of $2,000 is clearly inadequate and has not been increased for over 25 years.
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