Page 5823 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 7 December 2011

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MR SPEAKER: Ms Bresnan, a supplementary.

MS BRESNAN: Does the government have minimum requirements that a successful proposal for a wheelchair accessible taxi central booking system must meet? Can you confirm that none of those requirements are being reduced in the second tender?

MR CORBELL: The requirements are, as I understand it, those that were previously tendered for. The issues that arose were really about lack of adequate knowledge on the part of potential tenderers that persuaded them or led them to making the decision not to tender. Now that additional information has been provided to them, we believe that we will see a number of tenders.

To the best of my knowledge, there has been no change to the overall requirements of the tender, but I will seek some further advice on that matter and confirm with the member if there are any differences.

MS HUNTER: A supplementary.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.

MS HUNTER: Minister, does the government stand by the promise made by the former Chief Minister that if the new booking system did not deliver significant improvements in wheelchair accessible taxi services the government would consider alternative models, such as salaried drivers?

MR CORBELL: The government will consider any options that deliver better taxi services for people with a disability in the ACT. At this point in time we are going through a tender process. It is the most sensible course of action, and it is prudent to await the outcome of that process before making further comments or decision about any other possible courses of action.

MS LE COUTEUR: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Le Couteur.

MS LE COUTEUR: Given that the government said it would more vigorously pursue wheelchair accessible taxi drivers who do not meet their licence requirements, can you advise how many drivers have been reprimanded and what has happened to their licences?

MR CORBELL: The government does take action against taxi operators who have a wheelchair accessible licence and who do not operate consistent with the terms of their licence. I do not have the specific details in front of me of individual circumstances, but I am aware that regulatory action has been taken against operators who are not fulfilling the obligations of their licence.


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