Spy Row Escalates War Of The Taxi Plates

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday February 23, 2006

Lisa Murray

WHAT started out as a slanging match between Cabcharge and the taxi industry's newest player, Macquarie Bank, has turned ugly.

Redfern police confirmed yesterday they were investigating whether a Cabcharge employee broke the law when he walked into a workshop in Alexandria to take photos of one of the cabs that will be used in Macquarie's new taxi service for the disabled.

The investigation follows a report that Cabcharge's boss, Reg Kermode, remarked earlier this month that it would "fight Macquarie on the beaches" over its new rival service, Lime Taxis.

Brian Dale, a spokesman for Cabcharge, said the company was concerned Macquarie would benefit from paying lower licence fees. Disabled taxi licences cost $1000 compared with up to $300,000 for a regular licence, while the drivers are free to compete for fares.

Inspector Brad Monk from Redfern police station said an employee of Taxis Combined Services, which is owned by Cabcharge, walked into the premises of Sydney Motor Trimmers and took photos of one of Macquarie's new silver and lime Mercedes-Benz taxis.

He noted that the workshop was a business, which is accessible to customers.

Mr Dale said the issue was "a matter for the police".

"No TCS employee was ever authorised to undertake such action," he said."This is about business. We've come a long way from anyone in this industry doing anything untoward."

Macquarie says it is setting up Lime primarily to improve what it believes are substandard services for disabled passengers. The bank also argues that the licences are cheaper because wheelchair-accessible taxis are more expensive to buy and attract specific regulations.

The Herald was told the person who took photos of the Macquarie taxi was associated with Cabcharge. Initial inquiries were responded to by a woman, who identified herself as Cabcharge's solicitor. But when the Herald tried to ring the solicitor back, a message said the call could not be connected.