Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett has called on the Member for Bundaberg to stand up and fight for the community’s struggling taxi owners in the lead up to Christmas.
Mr Bennett said critical legislation introducing industry assistance packages must be passed in state parliament this week, prior to the Christmas break.
The calls follow the Palaszczuk Labor government’s decision to legalise ride-sharing services such as Uber.
“It’s absolutely essential for our local taxi industry that the member for Bundaberg honours promises to our community and acts this week to assist our cabbies in state parliament,” Mr Bennett said.
“Taxi licence owners and operators are under enormous strain and the Palaszczuk government must act quickly to provide industry assistance.
“The longer the local Labor member delays the opportunity to debate the legislation this year further delays the hardship compensation to be made available.”
Mr Bennett said although the amount of compensation proposed wasn’t nearly good enough, it was clear that struggling mum and dad taxi owners needed access to hardship payments immediately.
“We are hearing from the industry that some owners will be lucky to be still up and running after Christmas,” he said.
“The Member for Bundaberg’s actions to vote in favour of ride-sharing services has essentially wiped out the futures of our local small business taxi owners.”
“Sadly, it’s nothing new for our out-of-touch local Labor member when you consider the unnecessary attacks on our local fishing and farming families.”
Mr Bennett said he would continue to fight for a fair level playing field within the industry.
“The LNP has been fighting for an increase in compensation, the installation of safety provisions, security cameras and many other initiatives that make the industry somewhat fairer,” he said.
“It is disappointing that Bundaberg’s local Labor Member has failed to respond to the concerns of the community to provide certainty for the many small business operators that are clearly affected by the regressive policies under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.”
30 November 2016