Luxury Cabs Surcharge Could Top $25

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday November 26, 2004

Joseph Kerr Transport Editor

The State Government should have imposed a maximum limit on a surcharge for luxury cabs, according to the head of an inquiry into NSW taxis.

The model endorsed by the Transport Services Minister, Michael Costa, in a series of announcements yesterday will leave luxury cabs able to charge as much as their passengers will pay, raising the prospect of passengers paying $25 to order a premium vehicle.

After the release of the official response to his two-month-old report on the state's taxi services, the inquiry's chief, Allan Cook, said booking fees for luxury cabs could end up higher because no limit was set to what the networks could charge.

"If you [as the consumer] know the maximum, [the taxi driver] will negotiate up to that," Mr Cook said. "If I don't know the maximum, then I'm exposed."

Mr Cook said if premium taxi companies knew they could get away with charging customers $25 extra for booking a luxury cab, they would. Premium cabs have cleaner taxis and more professional drivers.

In his report, Mr Cook had supported the types of premium fares adopted elsewhere in Australia, which are typically set at around $10.

Yesterday Mr Costa said he would support many of Mr Cook's recommendations, including allowing the development of luxury taxis, legalising mini-networks of cabs that exist outside the law, and scrapping the Government's "no destination" trial.

That trial, initiated by the minister, was designed to end the practice of taxi drivers ignoring short trips booked by phone.

However, Mr Cook heard evidence that the practice had only added to delays because some drivers simply avoided all phone jobs in favour of picking people up from ranks.

PULLING RANK

* People wanting luxury cabs could pay booking fees of up to $25.

* Luxury cab drivers will have five years' experience, no complainst against them and better vehicles.

* Mini-networks of taxis will be legal, allowing passengers to stick with drivers they know.

* Drivers should be better trained. It should be easier to get a taxi over the phone.

* Wheelchair taxi drivers willbe paid more for wheelchair jobs, potentially reducing waiting times.