Media Release | Taxi Council Queensland

TCQ President’s Message

31/07/2020

Over the last four (4) months Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ), together with the Australian Taxi Industry Association (ATIA) have successfully lobbied for the inclusion of the taxi industry in a number of financial assistance packages being paid by the Federal and State Governments, associated with the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initially, this effort involved ensuring that sole traders, as well as partnerships and trusts, were eligible for the Federal Government’s JobKeeper assistance package. The ATIA, through our CEO Blair Davies joined with a number of other like-minded peak bodies to lobby the Federal Government to ensure small business owners were eligible for the financial assistance. With the Federal Government ultimately accepting the principle being advocated, the ATIA then worked with the ATO to determine how and when taxi drivers, operators and licence owners could qualify for the JobKeeper package. Pleasingly, much of the Australian taxi industry has

TCQ backs COSBOA and the Federal Government on ‘Go Local First’ Campaign

Media release
10 July 2020

The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) has congratulated the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) and the Federal Government on launching the Go Local First campaign, encouraging the Australian community to support their local small businesses.

The Australian taxi industry comprises over 70,000 small businesses, providing essential transportation services to their local communities. The taxi industry is represented on COSBOA by its national peak body, the Australian Taxi Industry Association (ATIA). TCQ is a member of the ATIA.

“Like many other industries comprised of small businesses, the taxi industry has been doing it very tough during the COVID-19 pandemic. As small businesses, our members just don’t have the endless reserves of money behind them to wait out the pandemic. We definitely need communities across Queensland to take on board the message behind the Go Local First campaign, and to use their local taxi service when needing to travel

TCQ congratulates Government on its $23 million unite and recover package for the Queensland taxi and limousine industry

Media release
16 June 2020

The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) has welcomed the Palaszczuk Government’s announce- ment of a $23 million package to help Queensland taxi operators and licence owners recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

TCQ reached out to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Hon Mark Bailey, about the desperate plight of industry members as demand for taxi services plummeted by 70 and 80 per- cent due to restrictions on business and leisure travel aimed at containing possible transmission of coronavirus within the community. Pleasingly, Premier Palaszczuk and Minister Bailey heard TCQ’s message loud and clear that everyone in the industry had been affected, suffering severe economic loss.

TCQ CEO Blair Davies said it was great to see the State Government and the taxi industry working together now on re-booting the Queensland economy as the COVID-19 threat appears to have been contained. Taxis have a vital role

TCQ farewells long time member, John Wilson, may he rest in peace

07 February 2020

A mix of sorrow and appreciation fills the hearts at the Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) today as we farewell John Wilson, who passed away, Wednesday, 5 February 2020.

A long-time member of TCQ, John had a contagious passion for the industry.

Spending the majority of his working life with Yellow Cabs, then 13CABS, John had a wide-ranging career in which he made significant contributions as Yellows’ fleet vehicle sales and licensing manager, Driver Superintendent, Chairman of the Yellow Owners Committee, and rank supervision manager.

John also made important contributions for the broader industry through his roles with TCQ as a Councillor, Metropolitan Committee member, and co-ordinator for the Late-Night Secure Ranks Program in Brisbane.

Blair Davies, CEO of TCQ, said TCQ has lost one of its stalwarts, with John being known as a man who consistently put the industry’s interest first.

“John carried out all his roles without fuss or fluster. He

Grab a cab this festive season

Media release
12 December, 2019

As 2019 draws to a close, the festivities are just heating up and between Christmas barbeques, work events and New Year celebrations, the Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) is reminding everyone to grab a cab for safe, accessible and surcharge-free holiday travel.

Merrymakers can enjoy a safe journey to and from events without worrying about excessive surcharges of booked hire services, with taxis remaining a convenient and affordable travel option during the holiday season.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies says taxis are a safe and reliable option for getting to and from parties and events these holidays.

“With holiday celebrations underway, taxis are a great option for those who want to enjoy a drink or two and get to their celebrations quickly and safely, or even avoid congested carparks when doing last minute Christmas shopping,” Mr Davies said.

“Instead of spending your day stuck waiting to exit a shopping centre or circling

Uber’s London Licence Loss, a Lesson for Government

Media release
06 December 2019

Transport for London (TfL) has stripped Uber of its operating licence for the second time in just over two years, after the Government regulator once again deemed the company to not be ‘fit and proper’. This has led the Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) to question how Queensland’s Department of Transport bureaucrats can hold a completely contradictory view about Uber, granting the company unconditional Booking Entity Authorisation (BEA) until 2023.

For the past two years, Uber’s London operations have been subject to special probationary conditions imposed by TfL. Rigorous scrutiny of Uber’s compliance with those conditions has recently revealed a litany of failures relating to safety and security. In September 2017, after TfL declined to renew its licence for London, Uber appealed the decision. The appeal led to Uber getting its licence renewed but not without the imposition of strict probationary conditions and only for two years. When

Queensland’s taxi industry celebrates its top achievers

Media release

28 November 2019

Queensland’s taxi industry celebrated the achievements of its drivers, operators and staff members at the annual Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) Industry Awards this week. The ceremony, held at the Rydges Hotel in Brisbane’s South Bank, saw winners named in eight hotly contested categories, including new awards for Women in Taxis, Young Achiever and Staff Excellence.

The TCQ Industry Awards recognise those drivers, operators and staff members who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement of the industry through exceptional levels of customer care, service, and professionalism.

Having been nominated by their peers, winners on the night were judged by an esteemed panel made up of Natasha Montesalvo, Queensland Tourism Industry Council, and John Mayo, Spinal Life Australia. Each of the shortlisted finalists received a certificate marking their contribution to the industry, with the winners also taking home a beautiful engraved trophy.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies, thanked all of the

Taxi industry prepares to celebrate its top achievers

Media release
22 November 2019

Queensland’s taxi industry will gather next week to celebrate the drivers, operators and staff members who have excelled during 2019. The annual Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) awards will take place at Brisbane’s Rydges Hotel at South Bank on the evening of Tuesday 26 November.

Nominations are in and the shortlists for each of the hotly contested eight categories have been drawn up. The winners of the highly regarded awards will be decided by a judging panel made up of Natasha Montesalvo, Queensland Tourism Industry Council, and John Mayo, Spinal Life Australia. The standard of entries is higher than ever before proving to be an exciting year for the industry.

Each finalist receives a certificate acknowledging their contribution to the industry, with the winner of each category also taking home an engraved trophy.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies, thanked all those who submitted nominations this year and wished all the finalists

Nominations open to recognise industry’s finest

Media Release
25 October, 2019

Nominations are still open for The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ)’s 2019 Industry Awards which recognise and celebrate those who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement of the industry.

The 2019 awards see exciting new categories to acknowledge and appreciate the diversity in people, backgrounds and personalities of the industry.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies, says the awards pay tribute to the dedication and achievements of some of the taxi industry’s finest across the Sunshine State.

“For over 100 years, taxis in Queensland have been committed to providing excellent transportation services to our community and this could not be achieved without the incredible professionalism and quality of service of our industry members,” Mr Davies said.

“We continue to see and hear of the commitment and passion from the nominations and it’s the breadth of backgrounds that ensures we are able to deliver the exceptional service that helps our taxi service rank

Time for Government to stop ducking responsibility

Media release
8 October, 2019

As the State Government manoeuvres in the Supreme Court for dismissal of a legal action by hundreds of taxi license owners, the Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) is asking who should take responsibility for the capital losses experienced by the ordinary Queenslanders who own taxi licences.

Taxi licences in Queensland have fallen by 80 per cent since the Government abandoned the industry in 2016 and introduced laws that favoured booked-hire platforms such as Uber, allowing them to operate with significant cost advantages in Queensland. As a case in point, TCQ points to the State’s regulated premiums for Compulsory Third Party insurance (CTP), where taxis have to pay $3,961.60 per annum and booked-hire vehicles only pay $690.60 per annum.

The Queensland Government sold taxi licences to ‘mum and dad’ investors and small business owners via public tenders, over many years, and often for hundreds of thousands of dollars. TCQ believes