Three years after the taxi industry rejected the idea, the state government is again considering the prospect of buying back the state's privately owned plates - a move that is likely to cost more than $200 million.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan raised the prospect of comprehensive reform within the Perth taxi industry this week by suggesting a taxi plate buyback could be considered by the government next year.
Ms MacTiernan told WA Business News she believes the existing arrangement of individually owned taxi plates is not economically reasonable and would consider introducing a plate buyback.
"If it were going to happen, I would imagine it would be a privately funded buyback," Ms MacTiernan said.
"It would probably be difficult to get government to agree to (funding). We would be adding to government debt levels, when there are far more urgent issues," she said.
Macquarie Bank was understood to have been a possible funder of a plates buy back when the issue was last considered by government three years ago.
Industry sources have suggested an average of this year's price - which has hit as much as $240,000 during the year - may be seen as acceptable to plate owners.
Joanna Ammon, chief executive of the Taxi Council of WA, said she could not comment on behalf of the council's members regarding a proposed buyback, although she noted that the industry had rejected a buyback proposal in 2003.
"We'd have to wait to see what the Minister is proposing in terms of prices and conditions," Ms Ammon said.
Ms MacTiernan believes the most significant issue currently facing the taxi industry is a shortage of taxi drivers.
"The problem in getting drivers is the same problem every industry is facing," she said.
Ms MacTiernan said the government had commenced an advertising campaign to attract new drivers to the industry and was offering a discount to people applying for a taxi driver's licence.
The government is also offering a lease-free period for new taxi plates.
Further comment on the issues facing the Perth taxi industry can be found in this week's issue of WA Business News.
