Taxi license buybacks on offer in SA to boost regional ridesharing
Taxi owners are set to receive up to $200,000 as part of a taxi licence buy-back scheme, under new reforms proposed by the state government. The recommendations also aim to improve safety and expand rideshare services into country areas. But there's a cost, with a plan for commuters to pay an extra dollar per cab ride.
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00:00After years of waiting, taxi drivers get some clarity about the future of their struggling
00:07industry.
00:08This document reforms all of it.
00:11We must comprehensively change the way we travel.
00:15Drivers impacted by Uber and other rideshare options will be offered some relief following
00:19the lengthy review of the passenger transport industry by the state government.
00:23It's great news to be honest because people have given up so much for that and especially
00:28they have put a lot of income for an investment to buy that taxi plate.
00:33A buyback of taxi licences is among the review's 29 recommendations.
00:38Values plummeted when rideshare operators arrived in the state about a decade ago.
00:43Eligible licence holders would be able to receive $200,000 for their first licence and
00:48$10,000 for each subsequent licence.
00:51Many of those who purchased these plates paid as much as $400,000 for them.
00:57Many of them have lost their homes as a result of the sudden devaluation.
01:02However, passengers will cover the cost of the scheme with an extra $1 fee per trip.
01:08Another burden on the price paid by the passenger that doesn't go into my pocket.
01:12Regional passengers are set to benefit with restrictions to be lifted on rideshare services
01:17outside of Adelaide, but an exact plan to fix ongoing issues with access cab availability
01:22has yet to be finalised.
01:24A $25 lifting fee introduced last year will continue to be paid to access cab drivers.
01:29If you speak to the disability sector, the number of people who can't go out for a family
01:35meal because they can't guarantee the cab ride home, that's the part that I'm trying
01:41to fix.
01:42The plan will now go out to consultation with no date set for implementation.