2016-11-29
Greens spokesperson for Transport Lynn MacLaren MLC has today urged the Government to scrap a levy it plans to impose upon all point to point journeys in a bid to generate revenue to compensate taxi drivers.
Ms MacLaren said she did not believe taxi and ride-sharing customers should foot the bill.
“The Greens WA support new opportunities and innovation in transport,” Ms MacLaren said.
“Ride-sharing provides additional transport options for people to get around.
“We recognise that ride-sharing services such as Uber have clearly been embraced as a popular option for many Western Australians.
“That 30,000 people have signed a petition from Uber, which was presented to the Premier earlier this month, and 10,000 have included comments, indicates strong public opposition to the proposed levy on point-to-point fares.”
Ms MacLaren said her Greens counterparts in the ACT as part of a Labor-Green Government had led the way in being the first jurisdiction in Australia to legalise ride-sharing.
She said she believed the Government had a responsibility to keep pace with developments and to develop legislation and regulations that ensured drivers’ rights are protected, including fair pay and conditions; consumer safety is ensured; vehicle safety checks are undertaken and that options for people with disabilities were expanded upon.
“I do not, however, believe that imposing a levy upon taxi and ride-sharing users is an appropriate way to generate revenue to compensate the taxi industry for the transition, which has been brought about by updates in market-innovation and technology,” Ms MacLaren said.
*This media release was revised to clarify that the levy would be applied to all point-to-point journeys.
Related portfolios: Transport