Page 4554 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 31 October 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Taxis—licences
MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Regulatory Services. Minister, in your statement of 18 September you said that holders of perpetual taxi plate licences continue to maintain their incomes from leasing those licences. Until recently, plate owners had been able to lease their plates for up to $20,000 per annum. How can plate owners continue to maintain their income if the ACT government reduces the market rate by leasing plates at $5,000 a year?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Mr Wall for the question. Certainly, as we continue with our ongoing evaluation and ongoing reforms in on-demand transport, we are looking at the impacts on the market. We have done that very carefully. What we will continue to do, as we continue to roll out the reforms, is ensure that there is appropriate support. We have provided the information quite publicly to people and we are very convinced that the reforms that we are doing have a clear focus on ensuring good consumer access to transport. We will continue with that.
MR WALL: Minister, what will be the financial impact on people who bought taxi plates to fund their retirement, as a result of the government’s decision to reduce the market rate for leasing a plate to $5,000 a year?
MR RAMSAY: In relation to the perpetual taxi licences, one of the things, again, that we have been doing is noting the impact and linking quite closely with the Taxi Plate Owners Association in relation to this. As part of that, we have been looking at the appropriate support for people who have had long-term investments, as they have, with these particular investments. The focus for this government is on ensuring that people who are seeking to have transport around Canberra are supported with that, with all of the options. As part of that—
Mr Wall interjecting—
MR RAMSAY: As part of that, what we have been doing is linking with the Taxi Plate Owners Association and have made it very clear to them that if there is—
Mr Wall interjecting—
Mr Gentleman: Point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Wall, you asked the question. Allow the minister to answer.
MR RAMSAY: That we are providing the appropriate forms of counselling and financial advice in the area. We will continue to do that, provide that appropriate support. We do know that there has been—
Mr Wall interjecting—
MR RAMSAY: We do know—
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video