More taxi plates, a new fare structure and increased driver recruiting are the latest Government responses to the need to get more taxis on our roads.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said an additional 30 full-time plates would be offered to eligible applicants who did not secure one of 35 plates released in September.
Ms MacTiernan also announced an increase of 4.45 per cent in metropolitan and country taxi fares to take effect from December 2, based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics Private Motoring Index which measures changes in motoring costs.
"I have also approved a new $2 surcharge for metropolitan taxis during the ultra peak periods between midnight and 5am on Friday and Saturday nights and an increase in the taxi booking fee from $1 to $1.50," she said.
"These changes should encourage taxi operators to meet the needs of their clients and I would expect the industry to respond with better service levels in both these areas.
"In this time of high employment, the industry has to be able to offer competitive returns to operators and drivers.
"The release of 30 new plates will bring the total number of new conventional taxi plates made available for lease this year to 130.
"We are serious about improving taxi availability and we have released 202 full-time plates and 157 peak period plates since 2003.
"We are also finding a good response to our current advertising campaign to attract new peak period drivers and will extend the campaign by a month, until Christmas."
The Minister said that changes in the standard metropolitan taxi fares (6am - 6pm) would be:
- flagfall: from $3.20 to $3.30;
- distance rate: from $1.29 to $1.35 per kilometre; and
- detention rate: from $37.00 to $38.65 per hour (waiting, or moving at less than 20kph)
