Mount Beauty Taxi Industry at stake
Thursday, 24th February 2022
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy spoke in Parliament this week calling for the Minister for Public Transport to provide more support to regional Taxi services particularly in the Mount Beauty region.
In Parliament Mr McCurdy said, “I was recently contacted by the Taxi service operator from Mount Beauty who fears residents will be left without public transport if current taxi services are cut back or restricted.”
He continued, “Currently the Mount Beauty Taxi service assists members of the community getting to and from their doctors, podiatry, physio appointments and so on.
“If these services are restricted to one stop or a sole pick-up point, it will severely impact passenger access, as 90 per cent of the passengers are unable to walk beyond their front fence due to immobility.”
Mr McCurdy added, “This problem is heightened by the fact that our regional Taxi drivers are not receiving a regular wage. Instead, our regional drivers are left trapped.
“On one hand they are trying to do their best to do ensure their local communities have services available, whilst on the other trying to ensure they receive a regular wage to support their own livelihood.”
He concluded, “I request that the Minister for Public Transport works with the Mount Beauty community to establish the best way to keep the Taxi service running before the service and jobs are lost forever.”
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