Media Release

Media release
April 12, 2019

The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) and Griffith University’s School of Applied Psychology are looking for 100 Queensland taxi drivers who are prepared to wear a Fitbit watch to track their sleep and fatigue patterns. Participants will be asked to upload their data from a personal monitoring device supplied as part of the study, to collect data for one month on driver tiredness levels.

The project is a cooperative effort between TCQ and Griffith University, which has funding support from the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) It aims to explore how taxi drivers currently manage fatigue and what can be done by drivers, operators and taxi booking companies to help better manage fatigue.  Ultimately the goal is to improve safety for everyone using a Queensland taxi service and so it is a project that will potentially benefit taxi drivers and passengers alike.

Drivers participating in the study just need

Media release
April 05, 2019 

The State Government has plans to end the Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS) on 30 June 2019, and so pushing Queenslanders with disabilities onto the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for their transport needs. However, the Taxi Council Queensland (TCQ) is concerned this shift will leave many current TSS users worse off come July 1, with some users receiving less funding than required to sustain their essential travel. TCQ is encouraging taxi customers and industry members to sign an online petition which will be presented in Parliament.

“The Taxi Subsidy Scheme was set up specifically to help Queenslanders with disability who cannot access other forms of public transport. It’s a scheme which has worked extremely well over many years, getting people with a disability engaged in their community, to and from work or study, down to the shops or medical appointments,” TCQ, CEO Mr Blair Davies said. “Accessible taxis

Media release
March 29, 2019 

The Queensland Government’s reforms to the Personalised Transport sector may have removed the requirement for bailment agreements between accredited taxi operators and authorised taxi drivers to be in writing, however, the Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) continues to advise members not to fall into the trap of relying on verbal bailment agreements. TCQ recommends to all members that they make sure their bailment agreements are in writing, and kept up to date, because it provides far better protections for everyone concerned.

“Just like any other legal contract, bailment agreements defining the business relationship between taxi operators and drivers are better in writing because if something goes amiss and leads to a dispute, they provide clarity and direction for finding a quick and fair resolution,” said TCQ’s CEO, Mr Blair Davies.

“A written agreement, voluntarily entered into and signed by both parties, not only helps the resolution of disputes, it

Media release
March 21, 2019 

ABC’s Four Corners investigation into global giant, Uber, revealed the alarming extent of its predatory behaviour in Australia. The report exposed a host of underhanded tactics Uber employed to damage its competitors and to ‘outfox and outplay’ law enforcement agencies. It has the Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) now calling on the Queensland Government to take immediate action to review whether Uber is really the fit and proper company that they thought it was when they approved its Booking Entity Authorisation in late 2017.

“Uber has been outed for trying to use sophisticated technology and underhanded tactics to force its taxi and booked-hire competitors out of business, to eviscerate the competition so it could end up dominating the passenger transport market in Australia. If they achieve that level of market control, consumers can say good-bye to cheap subsidised fares because it’ll then be time to pay the piper,”

Media release
March 01, 2019 

The Australian Taxi Industry Association (ATIA) has been a long-standing supporter of the Australian Tax Office’s (ATO) efforts to ensure all businesses operating in Australian markets pay their fair share of tax, and especially actions aimed at plugging loopholes that sophisticated global companies may employ to avoid tax.

A current legal campaign in the UK aimed at forcing Uber to pay back taxes owed has received a serious setback after a court denied their bid to have costs in the lawsuit capped at a reasonable level. The decision will probably see the legal action abandoned notwithstanding the significant public benefit that would have been achieved if successful. It was estimated that Uber could be ordered to pay up to GBP $1.3billion (AU$1.8 billion) in Value Added Tax. (VAT is the UK equivalent of GST in Australia.)

The ATIA’s CEO, Blair Davies says chasing such companies for back taxes is

Media release
February 22, 2019 

The establishment of a Personalised Transport Ombudsman (PT Ombudsman) has the Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) questioning the lack of power the independent officer will have, saying the role presents as a “toothless tiger” with limited scope to benefit the sector.

The PT Ombudsman will impartially hear and act on complaints from drivers, passengers and operators of personalised transport services, however TCQ CEO, Blair Davies, says for the new office to make a difference the Ombudsman needs to be given broader powers than just being able compel people to attend a meeting.

“The proposed office presents as a toothless tiger, so limited in scope it risks being of no real usefulness for stakeholders in the personalised transport industry,” Mr Davies said. “We need to see some teeth given to the tiger to address the mounting issues in the personalised transport industry.

“We continue to hear reports every day of rogue

Media release
February 08, 2019 

Last on the road and the first back on, taxis have rallied together to support the residents of Townsville in their effort to recover from the devastating floods. The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) is proud of the industry’s incredible service it is providing to the community before, during and now as the water recedes.

TCQ CEO Blair Davies has praised Townsville taxis for their unending effort in ensuring locals could travel safely.

“In regional areas across Queensland, there are lots of people who rely on taxis as an essential part of their daily lives. Our number one priority has always been passenger safety and our cabbies can be relied on to pitch in and help out during times of crisis, ensuring everyone gets to where they need to be,” he said.

“Taxis were the last transport service to stop in the lead up to the flood closures and the

Media release
January 24, 2019 

The Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) is reminding party goers to grab a cab over the Australia Day long weekend to stay safe and keep Australian dollars in Australia rather than heading overseas.

TCQ CEO Blair Davies is reminding consumers to think about where their money goes this Australia Day because when they travel by taxi, all of the fare stays in Australia. This is unlike the big booked-hire platforms where the fare goes directly overseas, often to low tax countries, and only a portion returns.

“Grabbing a cab on Australia Day is good for the economy because it keeps our dollars circulating in the local economy. It is good for the community’s hip pocket,” he said

Mr Davies also warned that prices for booked-hire services are all but guaranteed to sky rocket this public holiday and so consumers should prepare themselves for the inevitable bill shock that comes with

Media release
January 16, 2019

Recent media reports of booked-hire drivers complaining they are forced to break the law and use their mobile phones while driving to make a living has riled the taxi industry, believing drivers are simply wanting to wash their hands of responsibility.

The Taxi of Council Queensland (TCQ) says drivers who are clearly breaking the law should be held accountable when the decision to use mobile phones is in their hands.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies said it is illegal for any driver to use mobile devices by hand while the vehicle is in motion or stationary with the engine on, yet 75 per cent of Queensland drivers admit to doing so.[1]

”It’s about time as a community that we stop making excuses for smartphone addiction and misbehaviour.  They are fantastic technology but they need to be serving us, not us serving them,” said Mr Davies.

“It is never okay to put yourself

Media release
January 11, 2019 

While there are still many people enjoying a break and taking the opportunity to catch up with family and friends, the Taxi Council of Queensland (TCQ) wants to share a timely reminder that there is never a need to drink and drive because your nearest taxi won’t be far away.

Especially for those heading into CBD areas for a night out on the town, Queensland has secure taxi ranks available across the State to provide safe places to quick and easily catch a cab when other modes of public transport have stopped running or may only be running inconveniently.

TCQ CEO, Blair Davies says the secure taxi ranks are a smart choice for late-night punters and large crowds looking for trustable transport to get them home safe and sound.

“After an enjoyable night out, the last thing you want to be doing is standing by the side of the road