Taxi industry rejects NSW Government’s ‘final offer’ of $905 million assistance package

·

The NSW Government has presented a final assistance package to NSW taxi licence holders worth a total of $905 million.

The extra cash injection will see the passenger service levy (PSL) increase by 20 cents to $1.20 (ex GST) and be extended to 2030.

According to Transport for NSW data, the package is more than double the compensation offered by the Victorian Government and more than nine times the package offered by the Queensland Government.

NSW Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway made the announcement today and said the changes to the financial assistance package were as a result of continued discussions and feedback from representatives from the taxi industry.

This now takes the total assistance package, designed to help fully deregulate the industry, from $645 million to $905 million.

Mr Elliott said the final assistance package delivered fair and equitable financial assistance to all taxi licence holders across the state.

“I urge the taxi industry to support this generous package so that taxi licence owners receive the money they deserve as soon as possible,” Mr Elliott said.

The new package provides $150,000 for every Sydney metropolitan taxi licence holder with a cap of 6 plates. Each regional taxi plate will be paid between $40,000 and $195,000, with no cap on the number of plates.

Mr Faraway said the NSW Government had presented the most generous taxi assistance package in the country.

“This package is our final offer and should it be accepted by the NSW Taxi Council and its members then the funding will be in the bank accounts of taxi owners as soon as early next year,” Mr Faraway said.

‘The offer is still short’:

Following the assistance package announcement this morning, the NSW Taxi Council CEO Martin Rogers said the state government needed to do more.

“It’s not just us, it’s other MPs across a number of parties who have said to me, the offer presented last night is still short,” Mr Rogers told ABC News.

Mr Rogers wants taxi drivers to get $350,000 per car, which he said was the value of a taxi licence in 2015, when companies like Uber were permitted to legally operate.

“They got these from the government and they still have significant loans against them,” Mr Rogers said. “Getting $150,000 still leaves them with a debt but no asset or income.”

Should this final package not be accepted by the taxi industry, legislation will not be introduced.

A Government appointed review will then be launched to assess a compensation package, based on the existing passenger service levy.

READ MORE: ‘Wanted to leave a legacy for my kids’: NSW taxi licence owners repeat calls for fair compensation.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Dr Christos Theologos: ‘Dance keeps us bound to our roots, from Chios to Sydney’

As part of the Zeibekiko Festival Australia, respected folklorist Dr Christos Theologos will lead a series of lectures and workshops.

South Melbourne turns to supporters ahead of Australian Championship kick-off

The opening clash of the Australian Championship will be an event shaped by the voices of the fans themselves.

Low birth rates and ageing: The silent enemy of the Greek nation

From the late 1990s it had become clear to Greek demographers and social scientists that the number of births in Greece was falling.

Peta Trimis: The new star of Australian football with a Hellenic soul

At just 19 years old, Peta Trimis is already being hailed as one of the brightest young stars of Australian football.

A second chance at life: Angelo Alateras’ journey from mechanical heart to transplant hope

After years on life support, 80kgs lost, and 615 days of physio, Angelo finally received the gift of a new heart.

You May Also Like

Rare manuscript of Plato’s greatest works to be sold in online auction

A rare early Renaissance manuscript of two of Plato’s greatest dialogues, Phaedo and Gorgias, will be sold at an online auction for an estimated $200,000.

Greek youth raise funds for new ‘Five Loaves’ initiative in Melbourne

Go Youth Melbourne has raised funds for the newly-established 'Five Loaves' initiative at a trivia night on Saturday, July 2.

Former teacher Chris Frangos avoids jail after sending explicit texts to posing officer

Christopher Frangos, a former school teacher, has avoided a full jail sentence after pleading guilty to sending explicit media.