Page 2669 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 26 September 2007
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3. The average ACT taxi driver, working Monday to Friday from 4 am to 3 pm (excluding public holidays), is lucky to average more than $350 per day on the meter, over the course of a year. Half is paid to the taxi owner, then after GST is paid and award conditions considered, it equates to a permanent pay rate of less than $9.00 per hour.
4. Action bus drivers’ pay rate is approximately $26 per hour and the government subsidise Action by tens of millions of dollars per year because they cannot run at a profit.
5. The ACT government raises $800,000 per year by leasing out 40 taxi plates and puts very little back into the industry.
6. After the recent fare increase fare rates for ACT taxis (set by the government) are back to approximately what they were two years ago when the booking fee was scrapped.
7. Over the last two years running costs for ACT taxis have increased by up to 50 per cent and ACT housing rental prices have increased by up to 50 per cent.
8. The lack of drivers means many drivers are working double shifts of up to 18 hours per day and this is putting at risk the safety of the ACT public.
Your petitioners therefore request the Assembly to pass a motion to:
1. Increase the flag fall and fare rates for ACT taxis by 50 per cent.
2. Allocate all government monies raised by the leasing of taxi plates, to subsidise taxi fares for ACT residents who are disadvantaged or on low incomes.
Chickens—battery hens
By Dr Foskey, from 1387 residents:
To the Speaker and members of the ACT Legislative Assembly
In the ACT 250,000 hens live in battery cages. A battery hen lives in less space than this A4 piece of paper; she cannot spread her wings and the end of her beak is cut off. Please stop this animal abuse by effectively banning the production of battery eggs in the ACT.
The Clerk having announced that the terms of the petitions would be recorded in Hansard and a copy of each referred to the appropriate minister, the petitions were received.
Road safety and driver education
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (11.43): I move:
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