Page 443 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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The Centre for International Economics concluded that, two years after the commencement of the 2015-16 reforms, more people are using on-demand transport services than was projected. Specifically, a higher proportion than expected of travellers are using rideshare services who would not otherwise have used taxis—that is, there is an additional cohort of people who are using on-demand transport.
The government acknowledges that CTP insurance costs for taxi operators in the ACT are higher than those faced by their New South Wales counterparts. Insurers set ACT premiums based on the average claim cost, average claim frequency and the insurer’s own costs to administer the policies. Insurers must seek approval from the ACT regulator for the amounts that they wish to charge for premiums. Since the introduction of new insurers to the ACT market between 2013 and 2017, average premiums for passenger class vehicles have reduced by 5.8 per cent. Given Miss Burch’s concern in the area, I look forward to her and the Canberra Liberals supporting the government’s CTP reforms as they hit the chamber later this year.
The ACT government considers taxi plates as a community asset that delivers essential services to the community, not an exclusive investment product. I understand that some taxi plate owners may experience a decrease in the value of their taxi plates and leasing income, a potential risk that some taxi licence owners have taken in relying on plates as an investment platform and on future income from leasing their licences. It is a similar risk that would be faced in other forms of industry-focused investment. Moreover, it is a risk that must take account of the fact that the investment involves rights that are based in statute and that are particularly susceptible to changes based on the statutory scheme.
Let me turn to Miss C Burch’s claim in relation to the working with vulnerable people check. The time for processing a registration in January was around 4.6 business days. Individuals who have a criminal history can face a more in-depth background check and therefore face a longer wait time to receive a decision on registration. Access Canberra works with employers in the taxi industry to prioritise applications for individuals where there is a direct employment impact of being registered. The employer provides a list of names, and where the person has already applied the processing is expedited.
It is also important to correct Miss Burch on her perception that people already have equivalent criminal history checks. That is not true. Private citizens and businesses are not able to receive the level of criminal history check that the government can receive. We receive a higher level of information as a government than is available to individuals. And I am particularly concerned about Miss Burch’s calls to weaken the working with vulnerable people system. This government will always put the safety of children and vulnerable Canberrans first.
Miss Burch also refers in her motion to vehicle ages. The age of rideshare vehicles is not currently regulated. However, the government did ask the community and industry to provide their views in late 2018 on the age of taxis, hire cars and rideshare vehicles, and we are considering their input in the first quarter of 2019. We have actively consulted on this, as a rudimentary fact check would have revealed if Miss Burch had bothered.
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