MOUNT Gambier City Council will support the local taxi industry to lobby the State Government for improved state-wide regulation and oversight of regional taxi services.
The legislation that permitted council to make its current taxi by-law was repealed by State Parliament in March 2016 and cannot be replaced.
When the by-law expires in January 2019, council will no longer regulate taxi fees or operating hours, undertake annual taxi/meter inspections or deal with service complaints associated with taxi operations.
Following a deputation this week made by Perri-Anne Rasmussen at council’s meeting, where Ms Rasmussen highlighted the potential for the city’s 24/7 taxi service to collapse under state regulation, council resolved to support the local and wider taxi industry to lobby the government to improve regulation for regional taxi services state wide.
Council resolved that, given the State Government had removed the legal basis for council’s taxi by-law and licensing scheme, both would cease after December 31, 2018.
Council administration will liaise with current licensed taxi operators and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure for the transition to an unlicensed regime – the same system that operates across the rest of the state.
Support for the industry to lobby the State Government might occur as part of the transition up to and beyond January 1, 2019, if sought and supported by the local taxi industry.
The motion was moved by Cr Frank Morello, seconded by Cr Josh Lynagh and was carried.
