Media Release
25 January 2018
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Queensland taxi companies are gearing up for a busy Australia Day long weekend. While most people are enjoying a well-earned day off, the public holiday will see thousands of cabbies out on the road making sure their fellow Queenslanders get to and from family festivities, parties with friends, and even the odd protest rally safely and affordably.

The State Government is encouraging Queenslander’s to have a ‘Plan B’ in place as they celebrate our national day under its Join the Drive campaign to keep roads safe.

Taxi Council of Queensland CEO, Blair Davies, said the smartest plan for Australia Day is to leave the car at home and just grab a cab.

“We’ll have over 3,000 cabs at the ready to transport passengers all weekend, whether it’s to a backyard bar-b-que, celebrations in a park, or a night on the town,” he said.

“Queensland cabbies are professionals and collectively they are on the road all day, every day, serving their communities. Customers can trust their cabbie to have the skills and experience necessary to navigate through holiday traffic and road closures to pick them up and then get them to their destinations.

“Our aim this long weekend is to ensure every passenger experiences a reliable, affordable and hassle-free service.”

While ride-booking companies will be looking to implement money gouging methods such as surge pricing whenever demand picks up, Queenslanders can have confidence that taxi fares won’t be subject to spikes and exploitation.

“Our locally owned and operated taxi companies do not implement surge pricing because as Australians we don’t like rip offs either; we believe in a fair go for all,” Mr Davies said.

“This weekend we’re encouraging everyone to stay safe by grabbing a cab. In doing so you will be helping Australian businesses that own and operate your local taxi services to stay on the road and serve your community. This Australia day, it just makes sense, let’s make Australian businesses our first choice.”
ENDS

Media Release
24 January 2018

ROCKY CABS LEGEND JAN BUTTERWORTH RECEIVES TCQ AWARD

Rockhampton Yellow Cabs owner Jan Butterworth believes everyone should be able to get around Rockhampton with ease, regardless of whether they have a disability.

The industry veteran of 37-years was recently awarded the Significant Achievement Award in the Taxi Council of Queensland Industry Awards for her integral role in implementing the first wheelchair accessible vehicles in the fleet.

Approaching her work with dedication and drive, Jan has always been passionate about providing the best possible service for her community and says going above and beyond for customers is exactly how a job should be done.

“That’s just how things work in regional areas – we see the same customers often weekly or even daily so you really build a rapport with them on a personal level,” Ms Butterworth said.

“It deeply saddens me knowing that before we offered our disability services, many Rockhampton residents were unable to travel far from their homes while recovering from illness or injury.

“It’s so important that we foster a community that promotes accessibility and creates equal opportunities for all.”

As the first in Queensland to implement the swivel seat, Rockhampton Yellow Cabs had never serviced a person in a wheelchair, but progressively they have seen hundreds of customers take to the service.

During her time as the cab company’s manager, Jan also introduced driver training in Rockhampton prior to it becoming mandatory in Queensland, and educated non-English speaking drivers on how to communicate with customers in English to ensure Rocky Cabs’ service offering was nothing short of exceptional.

Taxi Council of Queensland CEO, Blair Davies, commended Jan for her much deserved win, thanking her for her above-and-beyond contribution to the taxi service industry.

“It’s fantastic to see a person of such influence recognised for their consistent efforts at our industry awards,” Mr Davies said.

“Jan is a true leader and should be incredibly proud of her involvement in this field that has aided hundreds of new customers access the Yellow Cabs service in Rockhampton.

“It’s examples of fantastic customer service like this that will carry the Queensland Taxi Industry into the future as leaders in transport service,” he said.
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MEDIA RELEASE
19 January 2018​

Taxi Council Queensland (TCQ) has expressed concern following the recent revelation that ridesharing drivers are increasingly declining passengers who possess lower ratings in their system, or who they simply don’t like the look of.

It has been suggested that ethnicity may be linked to low ratings with one particular ridesharing company, resulting in these minority groups rarely being able to secure a driver. Although this is against the company’s policies, it is extremely difficult to prove.

Even passengers who make advanced appointments have no higher chance of securing a ride with ridesharing companies if the drivers in the area at the time decide they don’t want to pick them up based on their rating. Taxi Council Queensland CEO Blair Davies said it is extremely worrying that drivers of these companies are given the power to refuse customers based on their race or on past mistakes which have affected their rating.

“The taxi industry is committed to offering a reliable service for all, regardless of who you are. We do not discriminate based on looks, or because you were having a bad day the last time you used the service,” he said.

“If you book a taxi in advance to arrive at a particular time, we will do everything in our power to pick you up on time so you can arrive at your destination.
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“Of course, if a passenger is a risk to our drivers’ safety they are at liberty to refuse their service, however they are specifically trained handle these types of situations effectively.
“Essentially, taxis are dedicated to giving everyone a fair go.”
ENDS

Media Release
​19 January 2018

From this week onward, it is an offence for drivers from ridesharing companies to operate without a booked hire service license as enforced by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. This call for change followed concerns expressed by Queenslander’s on the safety of sharing rides with drivers who were not issued with a governmental authorised taxi license.

The continuous tug-of-war over state guidelines and regulations have significantly impacted ridesharing businesses, causing ever-increasing price hikes and surging which has a direct impact on consumers.

Last December, Uber announced an increase to their fares and an additional ‘waiting fee’ for Queensland customers, with the aim of putting more money in the pockets of their drivers.

In contrast, taxi companies such as Yellow Cabs and Black and White Cabs have and will continue to provide consistency and stability in fare pricing so customers always know approximately how much it will cost to get to their destination.

Taxi Council Queensland CEO Blair Davies said the reliability and convenience of taxis outstand the service of any other operator.

“Taxis have been serving Queenslanders for many years. We are trusted and depended on to get our customers to their destination safely and affordably,” said Davies.

“There are no price hikes or surges when choosing to travel with our cabs, as we are committed to ensuring our valued customers enjoy a seamless and hassle-free journey without any nasty surprises.”

Online fare estimators and options such as pre-paid and fixed fares are available to taxi customers, allowing them to budget their money and plan ahead of time.
ENDS