MOUNT Gambier City Council will be unable to replace its taxi regulation by-law in 2019 and will hand over responsibility for regulation of the city’s taxi services to the State Government.
The legislation that permitted council to make taxi by-laws was revoked in 2016 – removing council’s power to regulate the city’s taxis after the current by-law expires in January 2019.
When the current by-law lapses, council will no longer regulate taxi fees or operating hours, undertake annual taxi/meter inspections or deal with service complaints associated with taxi operations.
“We are currently the only council in South Australia that regulates taxis under by-laws,” council chief executive Mark McShane said.
“The legislation that allowed us to regulate taxi services has been revoked – it is beyond our control.
“From January 2019, the State Government will be responsible for ensuring all passenger transport drivers, vehicles and services operating in Mount Gambier do so in accordance with the Passenger Transport Act and regulations.
“Council will liaise with current licensed taxi operators and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure for the transition to the scheme – which is the same scheme that operates across the rest of the state.”
Mr McShane said taxi operations would not change as a direct result of the by-law expiry – instead the industry would become “market driven”.
“Accreditation of taxi services will be assessed by DPTI to ensure appropriate standards of customer service and stringent safety requirements are in place,” he said.
“Taxis operating within the city will still compete for customers like any other service industry and will make their own business decisions with regard to the service they provide.
“If there is demand for 24-hour taxi services, I see no reason operating hours would change – demand does not change overnight.”
However, Lake City Taxis owner Knud Rasmussen said it was unlikely taxi services would continue to operate 24/7 once the current regulations ceased.
“If the industry becomes deregulated – and effectively that’s what is happening – it is very likely most taxi services will discontinue the 24-hour service,” Mr Rasmussen said.
“Right now when we have drivers out after 8pm on a Monday we are working for peanuts – it is not viable.
“We are out there all night because we have to be and there are people in the community who rely on our service, but if we are not required to have taxis on the roads at all hours, why should we?”
While conceding the removal of the by-law would allow taxi companies more freedom to run their business on their own terms, Mr Rasmussen said he was concerned about the “flow on” impact.
“We do not service thousands of people every night, but on any given weeknight we have between 10 to 15 people who really need us,” he said.
“We certainly do not operate 24/7 for the money and my concern is that if the status quo changes, the community will suffer.”
