DRIVE A2B May 2018
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<strong>DRIVE</strong><br />
Voice of the Victorian Point-to-Point Transport Industry<br />
MAY <strong>2018</strong><br />
NO 12<br />
INDUSTRY<br />
NEWS<br />
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1313-1315 NORTH ROAD, HUNTINGDALE
CONTENTS<br />
WHAT’S INSIDE<br />
6 Road Congestion<br />
Immediate actions are needed to tackle the ongoing<br />
problem of congestion on our roads.<br />
8 Industry reforms<br />
Rod Barton, CPVAA President, looks at the way the<br />
reforms of the taxi and hire car industry happened in<br />
Victoria.<br />
15 Industry statistics<br />
Number of taxi and hire car vehicles on the road in<br />
Victoria, with comparisons to previous months.<br />
18 Acceptance of electric vehicles<br />
It was hard back in the 1920s to accept change in the<br />
vehicle industry - so too it is today with the advent of<br />
more green vehicles on the road.<br />
32 Overseas news<br />
Snippets regarding the point-to-point industry around<br />
the world.<br />
Find us at ...<br />
Editor<br />
Mrs Toni Peters<br />
www.drivea2b.com.au<br />
<strong>DRIVE</strong><strong>A2B</strong><br />
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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 3
EDITORIAL<br />
IDENTIFY<br />
& SOLVE<br />
How do we make the Commercial Passenger Vehicle industry more<br />
viable for all participating entities? Is there one easy solution?<br />
INCREASE IN CPV<br />
ACCREDITATION<br />
The government has truly outdone<br />
themselves - since September last<br />
year they have issued 30,700 new<br />
Commercial Passenger Vehicle<br />
(CPV) licences to operators. So<br />
where have all the extra point-topoint<br />
jobs come from? Are more<br />
people using taxis and hire cars<br />
than they were this time last year?<br />
Don’t think so!<br />
There are just 30,700 more<br />
vehicles with permits to pickup<br />
and deliver passengers, than<br />
this time last year - but no more<br />
jobs. This means that the drivers<br />
are, on average, getting less jobs,<br />
less work, less money - this is not<br />
sustainable.<br />
And there is another point of<br />
order to note. Even though the<br />
number of accredited vehicles has<br />
increased by 30,700 the number<br />
of accredited CPV drivers has only<br />
increased by 13,655.<br />
How can this be? Does every<br />
accredited CPV driver drive 2.2<br />
vehicles? Doesn’t make sense.<br />
If the vehicles have increased<br />
by 30,700 then the number of<br />
accredited drivers should have<br />
increased by at least 70% of that<br />
- 21,500. Something just doesn’t<br />
add up here. Are there people out<br />
there driving around in Hire Cars<br />
(and remember that Uber etc. come<br />
under the Hire Car banner) without<br />
having an approved CPV driver<br />
accreditation? For the sake and<br />
safety of all people on the roads<br />
and CPV passengers, the drivers of<br />
CPVs MUST be accredited.<br />
Research shows many gig<br />
economy (eg Deliveroo and<br />
Airtasker) workers earn less than<br />
the minimum wage after costs are<br />
factored in. There is no holiday pay,<br />
no sick leave, no superannuation,<br />
no Work Cover and the work can<br />
be uncertain. Sound familiar? This<br />
is exactly how it is in the Victorian<br />
Commercial Passenger Vehicle<br />
industry. Everything is the same -<br />
little dollars, no leave pay, no super<br />
- and so it goes on.<br />
Our industry has been enduring<br />
these conditions for many years -<br />
and nothing has changed. <strong>May</strong>be<br />
with the advent of a State election<br />
this year, circumstances will get<br />
better. We can only hope!<br />
ATTACKS<br />
April <strong>2018</strong> saw at least 3 attacks<br />
on Melbourne cabbies.<br />
• A 41 year old driver was<br />
bashed after refusing to hand<br />
over money;<br />
• A 40 year old Doveton driver<br />
was held at gun point while<br />
being instructed to drive<br />
around Dandenong North and<br />
Noble Park to several ATMs<br />
to withdraw cash. When the<br />
4 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
driver jumped out of the car,<br />
the thief also stole his taxi.<br />
• A 56 year old driver was<br />
bashed on the head with<br />
a bottle, by his female<br />
passenger, when he arrived at<br />
Southland Shopping Centre<br />
and asked for the fare.<br />
Thank goodness these attacks<br />
happened in taxis which have<br />
security cameras, thus enabling<br />
the Police to do their job, catch and<br />
charge these offenders. Hate to<br />
think of what would be the result if<br />
a Hire Car driver was put in a similar<br />
situation and attacked. Of course<br />
I hope that this doesn’t happen -<br />
but it does make a lot of sense to<br />
have a security camera fitted in all<br />
Commercial Passenger Vehicles.<br />
GREENHOUSE<br />
GASES<br />
A National Center for Sustainable<br />
Transportation in USA last month<br />
released the findings of their<br />
research into “The Effects of<br />
Ride Hailing Services on Travel<br />
and Associated Greenhouse Gas<br />
Emissions”. Here is an excerpt of<br />
the summary:-<br />
However, the evidence available as<br />
of the fall of 2017 suggests that<br />
ride-hailing, as currently used in<br />
U.S. cities, is contributing to a net<br />
increase in vehicle miles per travel<br />
and associated emissions;<br />
As a result, policy makers may want<br />
to evaluate policies that support<br />
the use of ride-hailing services for<br />
first and last mile service to transit<br />
and for disadvantaged populations<br />
(low income, disabled, and without<br />
vehicles) to access basic services<br />
and opportunities, for example,<br />
through subsidized fares.<br />
Outside of dense city areas, policy<br />
makers may want to explore<br />
restrictions on ride-hailing services<br />
or distance-based pricing policies<br />
to minimize empty vehicle travel<br />
and support transit use. Inside<br />
dense city areas, curb-based pricing<br />
policies for pick-up and drop-off<br />
access may offset lost parking<br />
revenues and continued use of<br />
transit.<br />
Policies should also be considered<br />
that encourage ride-hailing drivers<br />
to use electric vehicles.<br />
What a great recommendation<br />
- ride hailing drivers should use<br />
electric vehicles! If we must have<br />
more vehicles on the road, at least<br />
they wouldn’t be contributing to<br />
the greenhouse gases.<br />
THINK FIRST<br />
There has been a lot of talk<br />
recently about a new rail link to<br />
Melbourne Airport.<br />
Peter Martin of The Age stated in<br />
a recent article “Often it’s better to<br />
do nothing, or little. Infrastructure<br />
Victoria says the Melbourne rail link<br />
would deliver passengers slower<br />
than could the existing SkyBus<br />
with priority signaling.”<br />
Productivity Commission chairman<br />
Peter Harris has a three-stage rule<br />
when it comes to infrastructure.<br />
1. Identify the problem, then<br />
2. identify the least-cost solution,<br />
then<br />
3. take a deep breath.<br />
Perhaps if this rationale had<br />
been applied to the Melbourne<br />
Airport rail link, the SkyBus service<br />
could have been investigated<br />
and updated first. Also widening<br />
of roads is not always the best<br />
solution. It creates such havoc<br />
during the construction, and then<br />
when they are finished more<br />
people use the roads, so we are<br />
right back where we started -<br />
congested. Perhaps instigating<br />
a congestion tax first might have<br />
been more prudent.<br />
It is strongly recommended by<br />
many, that the government needs<br />
to listen to Infrastructure Victoria<br />
before they go steam-rolling<br />
ahead and make commitments<br />
for new rail links.<br />
Mrs Toni Peters<br />
<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> Editor<br />
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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
5
IMMEDIATE<br />
ACTIONS<br />
NEEDED<br />
TO TACKLE<br />
CONGESTION<br />
In April <strong>2018</strong> Infrastructure Victoria published a report and<br />
recommendations detailing immediate actions necessary to<br />
tackle congestion on Melbourne’s roads.<br />
People moving around the city to get to work, appointments and<br />
activities supports the thriving economy and vibrant culture that<br />
Melbourne is known for, but also puts enormous pressure on the<br />
transport network. Easing this pressure must be a priority if Melbourne<br />
is to maintain its appeal and liveability.<br />
Melbourne’s roads increasingly struggle to cope with growing demand.<br />
Road congestion is forecast to get worse over the next 15 years and<br />
on some parts of the network, increases in travel times and declines in<br />
reliability will be significant.<br />
There are actions that can be taken in the next five years to improve the<br />
performance of Melbourne’s roads and Infrastructure Victoria has developed a<br />
package of recommendations which are practical, low cost, could be delivered<br />
quickly and build on existing measures that have proven effective.<br />
Together, the recommendations provide practical actions for government to give<br />
people more travel choice and reduce the impacts of increasing road travel times<br />
and declining reliability on people’s daily lives.<br />
6 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
Shifting demand<br />
Expand off-peak fares on the metropolitan public<br />
transport network by introducing a small difference<br />
between peak and off-peak fares as part of the regular<br />
planned fare rise in January 2019, and adjust this<br />
annually to balance peak and off-peak travel<br />
Maximise opportunities to encourage travel<br />
behaviour change during disruptions to the<br />
transport network by increasing bus services on<br />
Doncaster bus routes and maintain bus priority<br />
along the Eastern Freeway during North East Link<br />
construction disruptions<br />
Better use of existing infrastructure<br />
Overhaul existing bus services, expanding<br />
successful routes and replacing poor performing<br />
routes with low cost, customer-responsive<br />
services by introducing innovative public transport<br />
services such as on-demand bus and demand<br />
responsive ride sharing services to integrate them into<br />
the public transport mix<br />
Establish a transparent fare-setting regime by<br />
setting clear policy objectives to guide the setting of<br />
public transport fares, focussed on efficiency and<br />
equity.<br />
Better allocate road space to prioritise efficiency<br />
on identified movement corridors by identifying a<br />
priority list of road space allocation initiatives to be<br />
delivered over the next five years. Need to ensure the<br />
list is based on the Movement and Place Framework<br />
and focuses on congested movement corridors with<br />
competing uses, such as roads in the City of Yarra and<br />
City of Stonnington.<br />
Invest in new networks and services<br />
Increase investment to introduce additional bus<br />
services in areas of high demand by introducing a<br />
more direct and frequent shuttle bus service between<br />
Parkville and Victoria Park Station in Abbotsford.<br />
Also provide additional bus services to access the<br />
Monash and La Trobe National Employment and<br />
Innovation Clusters, beginning with:<br />
1. Wellington and Blackburn Roads in Monash<br />
2. Services between the Hurstbridge and Mernda rail<br />
corridors in La Trobe<br />
Prioritise active transport investments to high<br />
potential areas by prioritising investment, which<br />
could be partly funded from the proposed changes<br />
to the car parking levy in inner-Melbourne, Parkville,<br />
Monash and La Trobe National Employment<br />
Innovation Clusters.<br />
Improve road connectivity on parts of the<br />
network where private vehicle use works best by<br />
identifying and prioritising investment to improve road<br />
connectivity to dispersed employment centres, such<br />
as Dandenong South, Laverton and the Melbourne<br />
Airport area.<br />
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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 7
The Victorian Hire Car Association<br />
has been rebranded to the<br />
Commercial Passenger Vehicle<br />
Association of Australia<br />
CPVAA<br />
INDUSTRY<br />
REFORMS<br />
The uncontrolled release of tens of thousands of new Commercial<br />
Passenger Vehicle licences by the Andrews Labor Government in 6<br />
months, is commercially irresponsible, socially harmful and emotionally<br />
devastating for an industry already struggling to survive.<br />
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER<br />
Between August 2017 and March <strong>2018</strong> the Victorian taxi fleet increased<br />
from 5,636 to 9,305 vehicles, hire cars increased from 2,824 to a<br />
massive and damaging 29,843 vehicles according to Taxi Services<br />
Commission (TSC).<br />
35000<br />
30000<br />
25000<br />
20000<br />
15000<br />
10000<br />
5000<br />
0<br />
Number of Commercial Passenger Vehicles<br />
registered with TSC<br />
Taxis incl WATs<br />
Hire Cars<br />
30-Sep-17 31-Oct-17 31-Dec-17 31-Jan-18 28-Feb-18 31-Mar-18<br />
8 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
A devastating 463%<br />
increase in taxi and<br />
hire cars on the road<br />
exacerbating the congestion<br />
issues that Melbourne is already<br />
struggling to deal with.<br />
This number will most certainly<br />
increase as the TSC processes<br />
further applications.<br />
No industry can withstand this<br />
irresponsible dumping and oversupply<br />
into an already depressed<br />
market - this was ironically<br />
orchestrated by the TSC! This<br />
has led to loss of income,<br />
business failures, full time job<br />
losses, bankruptcy and extreme<br />
emotional stress for thousands<br />
of Victorians.<br />
This is on top of the precarious<br />
financial position Transport<br />
Minister Allan left the industry<br />
in when she unfairly revoked the<br />
taxi and hire car licences without<br />
fair compensation, leaving<br />
operators with legacy debt.<br />
It is morally wrong to encourage<br />
new players to keep entering the<br />
point-to-point transport market,<br />
purchasing vehicles and taking<br />
on debt (even with a $52.90<br />
licence) without a fair chance<br />
of being able to service those<br />
financial obligations.<br />
Reforms have been<br />
handled without care<br />
Minister Allan should<br />
acknowledge that these<br />
Commercial Passenger<br />
Vehicle Industry reforms have<br />
been handled appallingly by<br />
Government.<br />
A responsible fair and<br />
sympathetic Government would<br />
now freeze any new licences for<br />
12 months, so as to allow the<br />
industry to re-establish itself.<br />
This could go a long way to stop<br />
the emotional and financial pain<br />
of those who were established<br />
players, and also those who have<br />
recently attempted to enter the<br />
taxi and hire car industry.<br />
Minister Allan should also<br />
acknowledge the failure of the<br />
Fairness Fund to be FAIR!<br />
ROD BARTON<br />
President, CPVAA<br />
<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
9
CPVAA<br />
The fund failed to deliver the<br />
Government’s stated intention<br />
of immediate financial<br />
assistance for those who were<br />
put into severe financial duress,<br />
because of Minister Allan’s<br />
decisions. Only 20% of those<br />
who could apply to the Fairness<br />
Fund did so.<br />
This was because of the lack of<br />
confidence in the management<br />
of the fund and the complexity<br />
of the application.<br />
New management for the<br />
Fairness Fund should be<br />
appointed.<br />
This might restore<br />
the confidence of the<br />
industry.<br />
Also, an independent review<br />
should be done immediately,<br />
recommendations made and<br />
the Fairness Fund should<br />
be reopened to the industry<br />
urgently.<br />
The Victorian Ombudsman<br />
is currently investigating the<br />
roll-out of this unfair fund.<br />
We have asked the Victorian<br />
Ombudsman, Ms Glass, to<br />
widen the scope of the enquiry<br />
to all aspects of this Unfairness<br />
fund.<br />
The inconsistency of payments,<br />
what was the criteria? There<br />
was no transparency or even a<br />
right of appeal.<br />
We have also asked Ms Glass to<br />
investigate the role of the TSC<br />
in the Commercial Passenger<br />
Vehicle Industry reforms. The<br />
taxi and hire car industry have<br />
no confidence in the TSC, and<br />
nor should the public.<br />
The public expects law<br />
(legislation) to be enforced.<br />
The TSC chose not to enforce<br />
legislation against an American<br />
multi-national, but actively<br />
enforced legislation against the<br />
local industry.<br />
We have a right to<br />
be protected by law<br />
from those who<br />
break it.<br />
The TSC deliberately turned<br />
a blind eye and failed in<br />
its obligations to enforce<br />
legislation, failing the taxi<br />
and hire car industry, and the<br />
travelling public who use these<br />
services.<br />
The Taxi Services Commission<br />
needs to be transparent and<br />
explain its decisions. This is<br />
imperative to restore industry<br />
and public confidence in the<br />
regulator the Taxi Services<br />
Commission.<br />
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John Forcone 0419 894 886<br />
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This offer is for a limited time and is for CPVAA financial members only.<br />
If you are not a CPVAA member, you can join today! Visit www.cpvaa.com.au<br />
10 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
Update on the Class<br />
Action vs Uber<br />
Maurice Blackburn is investigating<br />
how Uber entered the Victorian<br />
market, and whether they breached<br />
any laws in doing so.<br />
From 2013 until mid-2017,<br />
commercial hire car operators<br />
were required to be accredited and<br />
licenced.<br />
It was widely understood that<br />
many Uber drivers were not<br />
appropriately accredited and<br />
licenced. If Uber knew that this was<br />
occurring and intended to injure the<br />
taxi and hire car industry, there may<br />
be a basis on which to commence<br />
legal action.<br />
Any legal action would seek to<br />
recover compensation from Uber<br />
for those financial losses suffered<br />
by participants taxi and hire car<br />
caused by Uber’s conduct.<br />
More parking at<br />
Melbourne Airport<br />
After much discussion between<br />
CPVAA and Melbourne Airport<br />
personnel last month, I am<br />
pleased to advise we now have<br />
24 additional VHA/B/C bays open<br />
for business on Level 1 of the AT<br />
Terminal T123 Car Park.<br />
These are located in Row D on<br />
the northern (T1 side) and are<br />
in addition to the 24 bays on the<br />
southern (T3) end of Level 1.<br />
Both sets of bays can be accessed<br />
either via the Terminal Drive or the<br />
Centre Road car park entries.<br />
Rod Barton<br />
PRESIDENT, CPVAA<br />
WANT A VOICE WITHIN THE VICTORIAN<br />
TAXI & HIRE CAR INDUSTRY?<br />
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COMMERCIAL PASSENGER<br />
CPVAA Executive members are part of the government Industry Implementation Group<br />
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We listen to all members and take your<br />
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WHY WAIT ANY LONGER?<br />
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for Drivers & Owners of Taxis & Hire Cars<br />
website: www.cpvaa.com.au<br />
email: info@vhca.com.au<br />
<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 11
Uber accidents<br />
INSURANCE<br />
Uber apparently has numerous<br />
levels of insurance which cover<br />
personal injury and property<br />
damage to other vehicles in the<br />
case of an accident.<br />
All Uber drivers must have a<br />
current compulsory third party<br />
insurance policy (covering<br />
personal injury) and third party<br />
property damage insurance.<br />
All Uber drivers in Australia are<br />
also protected against liability<br />
of at least $20 million under<br />
a contingent coverage policy<br />
which covers personal injury to<br />
third parties as well as property<br />
damage to road users outside the<br />
Uber vehicle.<br />
Therefore, if for some reason<br />
the Uber driver’s insurers will not<br />
Need<br />
LEGAL<br />
assistance?<br />
Serving the Taxi Industry<br />
for over 30 years<br />
pay out, this additional policy will<br />
ensure that any damage or injury<br />
is covered.<br />
If you have been in an accident with<br />
an Uber vehicle and your vehicle<br />
has been damaged, it’s important<br />
to take the appropriate steps so<br />
you can claim for any losses.<br />
• Ensure that everyone is safe<br />
and out of harm’s way. If you<br />
or someone else is injured<br />
call 000 immediately.<br />
• Seek medical attention for<br />
any injuries as soon as<br />
possible. It’s important for<br />
insurance purposes that<br />
you have medical records to<br />
back up any claims regarding<br />
injuries, should you need to<br />
make a claim.<br />
• Business<br />
• Commercial<br />
• Conveyancing<br />
• Estate Planning<br />
• Family<br />
• Litigation<br />
• Probate<br />
• Taxation<br />
• Superannuation<br />
• Obtain information from the<br />
Uber driver and other drivers<br />
involved. This should include<br />
full name, the name of their<br />
insurer, a photograph of their<br />
licence and a photograph of<br />
the car.<br />
• Collect contact details<br />
from passengers or other<br />
witnesses who can provide<br />
a statement of what<br />
occurred and take pictures<br />
of the scene of the accident,<br />
surrounds, location of street<br />
signs, skid marks on the road<br />
and any damage.<br />
• If an accident involves a<br />
fatality or an injury requiring<br />
an ambulance, a driver<br />
refuses to provide their<br />
details, or a car is not<br />
drivable you must report the<br />
accident to police.<br />
Contact your insurer. If you<br />
have comprehensive car<br />
insurance, your insurer will<br />
arrange for repairs to be done<br />
to your vehicle. If the Uber<br />
driver was at fault your insurer<br />
will claim compensation from<br />
them or their third party insurer<br />
on your behalf.<br />
AMS<br />
LAW<br />
Adams Maguire Sier<br />
176 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe<br />
Email: amsr@amslaw.com.au | Phone: 9497 2622<br />
If you only have third party<br />
insurance and the Uber driver<br />
was at fault, you can claim<br />
compensation for your property<br />
damage by contacting their<br />
insurer directly.<br />
12 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
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TAXI CLUB
Industry - soulless<br />
and betrayed<br />
INDUSTRY NEWS<br />
Any great city, such as<br />
Melbourne, which has so much<br />
to offer for the many people<br />
who visit and its locals, the<br />
taxi industry was an integral<br />
part of that wonder that once<br />
was. The hard working drivers<br />
were essentially ambassadors<br />
or representatives who<br />
showcased our city which had<br />
helped in giving such a great<br />
reputation. In so many cases,<br />
taxi drivers would make any<br />
passengers’ experience feel<br />
the essence of our wonderful<br />
city.<br />
The state Labor government<br />
has made the taxi industry<br />
along with its drivers feel<br />
betrayed, leaving them feel<br />
soulless and very upset.<br />
Taxis now come in all sorts of<br />
colours, and unfortunately any<br />
age. This is a telling indication<br />
of the disrespect that the<br />
Minister of Transport has of<br />
her portfolio. The uniformity<br />
in the taxi industry included<br />
vehicles with age restriction,<br />
one of the same livery and<br />
uniforms for the drivers.<br />
A viewpoint from the Victorian<br />
Taxi and Hire Car Families<br />
This is what made it visually<br />
recognisable for the general<br />
public and solidarity for the<br />
drivers. The Transport Minister<br />
has given the rideshare<br />
pirates a lopsided advantage<br />
against the taxi industry<br />
under the guise of “choice”<br />
for the general public, and not<br />
imposing the same costs on<br />
the latter.<br />
No industry has ever<br />
been treated with such<br />
contempt with so many<br />
factors against, that<br />
have driven it to such<br />
despair.<br />
The rideshare companies<br />
have no problems with drivers<br />
wearing T-shirts, shorts and<br />
thongs with no consequences<br />
whatsoever from authorities.<br />
What a disgraceful example<br />
to present yourself to your<br />
customer!<br />
This is now a product of the<br />
state Labor party that has sent<br />
the point to point industry in<br />
disarray. It has become evident<br />
for many taxi drivers that the<br />
new legislation has become<br />
soul destroying. The taxi<br />
drivers now have to deal with<br />
a plethora of rideshare drivers<br />
who have no commitment to<br />
make a living from this industry<br />
but are reducing the income of<br />
taxi drivers even during peak<br />
times. No “even playing field”<br />
there either.<br />
Watching these scenarios take<br />
place many times over, where<br />
people get into essentially a<br />
privately owned vehicle will set<br />
standards to very low levels.<br />
This will in a short time frame<br />
bring service levels to a very<br />
low standard as incomes<br />
diminish and the costs of<br />
maintaining a vehicle increase.<br />
This is the result of a deliberate<br />
act of industry vandalism<br />
by a Minister who does not<br />
have a proper acumen for the<br />
portfolio that she has been<br />
trusted to uphold.<br />
14 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
INDUSTRY<br />
STATISTICS<br />
The statistical figures<br />
on this page are as at<br />
31 March <strong>2018</strong><br />
5000<br />
Number of Conventional Taxis registered<br />
with TSC<br />
5760<br />
7271<br />
7706 8007<br />
8503<br />
TSC Accredited Victorian Commercial<br />
Passenger Vehicle <strong>DRIVE</strong>RS<br />
62076 62868 63115 65543<br />
69180<br />
72875<br />
75731<br />
CONVENTIONAL TAXIS<br />
30-Sep-17 31-Oct-17 31-Dec-17 31-Jan-18 28-Feb-18 31-Mar-18<br />
ACCREDITED CPV <strong>DRIVE</strong>RS<br />
Number of Wheelchair Accessible Taxis<br />
registered with TSC<br />
30-Sep-17 31-Oct-17 30-Nov-17 31-Dec-17<br />
31-Jan-18 28-Feb-18 31-Mar-18<br />
636<br />
671<br />
745 756 780 802<br />
COMPLIANCE OUTCOMES<br />
1,265 Vehicle inspections<br />
62 Rectification notices<br />
WATS<br />
12 Infringement notices<br />
30-Sep-17 31-Oct-17 31-Dec-17 31-Jan-18 28-Feb-18 31-Mar-18<br />
Number of Hire Cars registered with TSC<br />
390 Regulation 12 notice<br />
(vehicle inspection notice)<br />
8 Official Caution<br />
(written warning)<br />
23369<br />
27028<br />
29843<br />
6 Defect Notice<br />
2824 2967<br />
13396<br />
HIRE CARS (INCL UBER ETC.)<br />
These figures are updated<br />
and published on the<br />
Taxi Services Commission’s (TSC)<br />
website<br />
30-Sep-17 30-Oct-17 31-Dec-17 31-Jan-18 28-Feb-18 31-Mar-18<br />
<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
15
End luxury car tax<br />
by Scott Collie, CarAdvice.com<br />
TAXES<br />
Controversial senator David<br />
Leyonhjelm has called for the<br />
Federal Government to end<br />
“punishing layers of taxation”<br />
making new cars more<br />
expensive.<br />
The Liberal Democrats Senator<br />
argues the five per cent import<br />
tariffs on cars from nations<br />
without an Australian free-trade<br />
agreement, along with the 33<br />
per cent luxury car tax (LCT)<br />
on vehicles over $65,000, keep<br />
buyers out of new cars with the<br />
latest safety equipment.<br />
“Cars made in any country with<br />
which Australia does not have a<br />
free trade deal attract a five per<br />
cent import tariff, so more than<br />
$1,500 is imposed on entry-level<br />
Holden Commodores that are<br />
now made in Germany,” he said.<br />
“Then there’s the luxury car tax,<br />
which imposes a 33 per cent tax<br />
on the value of new cars over<br />
$65,000. This adds more than<br />
$6,000 to the price of a basic<br />
Landcruiser, and more than<br />
$120,000 to a top-of-the line<br />
BMW.”<br />
“Now add the GST, then state<br />
duties of around 3 per cent on<br />
top of that. This is quadruple<br />
taxation: a tax on a tax on a<br />
tax on a tax. It’s a good thing<br />
Australians love their cars so<br />
much because they are paying<br />
through the nose for them.”<br />
Although we currently pay import<br />
duties on cars from Europe –<br />
aka the Holden Commodore<br />
mentioned by Leyonhjelm –<br />
an EU/Australian free-trade<br />
agreement is in the works at the<br />
moment, and we’ve got deals with<br />
all our other major car suppliers.<br />
16 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
That includes Thailand, Korea,<br />
the USA and Japan, meaning the<br />
average Australian rarely pays<br />
import duty on their new cars.<br />
There’s also talk of the Luxury Car<br />
Tax ending, given it was introduced<br />
to protect the now-dead local car<br />
industry.<br />
David McCarthy, communications<br />
head for Mercedes-Benz Australia,<br />
has previously told CarAdvice he<br />
expects the tax to be gone by 2019<br />
or 2020.<br />
There’s even talk of it being culled<br />
when the imminent free-trade<br />
agreement is signed.<br />
Taxes aside, the Senator called out<br />
the average age of Australia’s fleet,<br />
highlighting the fact “old cars are<br />
less safe and emit more pollution”<br />
than their newer counterparts.<br />
“Crippling car taxes<br />
are not just making us<br />
poorer. They are costing<br />
lives on Australian<br />
roads.”<br />
According to the Australia Bureau<br />
of Statistics, the average age of<br />
the 18.8 million motor vehicles is<br />
10.1 years. Where small cars sold<br />
in <strong>2018</strong> are loaded with semiautonomous<br />
systems like autoemergency<br />
braking and blind-spot<br />
monitoring, the technology was<br />
the preserve of high-end vehicles<br />
in 2008.<br />
With that said, the same stats say<br />
more than 30 per cent of vehicles<br />
on the road are less than five years<br />
old.<br />
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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 17
Electric acceptance<br />
Travel<br />
Range<br />
by John Voelcker<br />
Electric cars have the great advantage that<br />
their batteries can be recharged anywhere<br />
there’s electricity.<br />
It may not be particularly fast, though<br />
modern plug-in vehicles get at least 100<br />
kilometres overnight, and often double or<br />
triple that.<br />
But a century ago, drivers of gasoline cars<br />
had just as much range anxiety as electriccar<br />
drivers—especially if they wanted to take<br />
long road trips.<br />
1909 Ford Model T Touring<br />
18 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
Automobiles have changed<br />
in many ways, many times of the past<br />
century, but getting from point A to point B in<br />
the quickest way possible is still a priority.<br />
Today’s global network of gasoline<br />
and diesel filling stations has<br />
developed over 100 years, but it<br />
didn’t exist at the turn of the 20th<br />
century.<br />
The energy density of gasoline<br />
allowed trips of more than 150<br />
kilometres impossible in the<br />
mass-market battery-electric<br />
vehicles of the day. Travelling that<br />
far in a steam car was possible,<br />
but required stocks of fuel to be<br />
stationed along the route.<br />
So where did drivers of the<br />
newfangled gasoline vehicles get<br />
their fuel?<br />
At first, they had to have it shipped<br />
to stops along their route—often<br />
pharmacies, which already sold<br />
kerosene, alcohol, and other<br />
combustible liquids. There were no<br />
gas pumps of the sort a modern<br />
driver would recognize.<br />
Instead, the driver filled the car with<br />
a hand pump, usually at the curb,<br />
that pumped gasoline into the car’s<br />
gas tank from a metal storage tank<br />
at whichever roadside business<br />
was willing to take delivery of the<br />
highly flammable liquid.<br />
Those hand pumps began to<br />
appear in 1907, just a few years<br />
after the turn of the century—at a<br />
time when the U.S. car market was<br />
split among electric cars, steam<br />
cars, and gasoline cars.<br />
Buyers viewed electric cars as<br />
the most refined (and the only<br />
ones suitable for women to drive),<br />
though they were limited by their<br />
Gasolines cars were<br />
the crudest, loudest, and<br />
smelliest, but the long range<br />
provided by the energy density<br />
of liquid hydrocarbons worked<br />
in their favour.<br />
range (less than 85 kilometres) and<br />
long recharging times.<br />
Steam cars were smooth and<br />
powerful, but it took 30 to 45<br />
minutes for the boiler to produce<br />
sufficient steam pressure to drive<br />
the car after the fuel was ignited.<br />
From 1900 through the 1920s,<br />
drivers simply carried multiple<br />
5-gallon (19 litres) cans of gasoline<br />
on their cars—often strapped to<br />
the running boards—to ensure<br />
they could cover the necessary<br />
distances.<br />
1914 Ford Model T<br />
at Le<strong>May</strong> America's Car<br />
Museum:<br />
• red can for gasoline<br />
• blue can for oil<br />
• white can for water.<br />
<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
19
Take a look at your own<br />
ICE (Internal Combustion<br />
Engine) vehicle<br />
Then Charles Kettering’s electric selfstarter,<br />
introduced by Cadillac in 1912,<br />
made gasoline cars practical for everyone.<br />
The battery-powered motors that turned<br />
over engines until they fired replaced hand<br />
cranks that could break the thumbs, wrists,<br />
or arms of the drivers using them if they<br />
kicked back. They could also break your<br />
nose, teeth and other facial parts.<br />
ask yourself if it’s<br />
about to become<br />
a relic in a world<br />
that’s changing<br />
more rapidly than<br />
we may see.<br />
But the motorists of 100 years ago still<br />
had to plan their trips carefully; the growth<br />
of a nationwide network of regularly<br />
spaced fuelling stations would take place<br />
from 1915 through 1930.<br />
The first modern gas station opened in<br />
Pennsylvania, USA in 1913, and what<br />
came to be called “service stations” had<br />
more than gas pumps: They sold oil, tyres,<br />
starter batteries, and offered repairs and<br />
service to locals and travellers.<br />
Over the years the service stations have<br />
expanded from two or three pumps to a<br />
dozen or more pumps. Meanwhile, they no<br />
longer make money selling fuel.<br />
Customer purchases of sugary sodas,<br />
salty snack foods, beer, cigarettes, and<br />
lottery tickets are today’s business model.<br />
That said, drivers no longer have to plan<br />
ahead to ship fuel to businesses along<br />
their routes.<br />
1912 Cadillac Touring Edition<br />
?<br />
Did you<br />
know?<br />
In 1900, horses were<br />
the de facto way for<br />
Americans to travel,<br />
whether riding them or<br />
in horse-drawn carts.<br />
By 1925 15 years<br />
of the Ford<br />
Model T, had<br />
revolutionised<br />
road transport.<br />
Researchers say that<br />
by 2040 plug-in electric<br />
vehicles could reach as<br />
much as 90 percent of all<br />
vehicle production.<br />
20 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
New drink<br />
and drug<br />
driving laws<br />
Tougher penalties are on their way when driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.<br />
From 30 April <strong>2018</strong> the laws changed for alcohol and/or drug related driving offences.<br />
If you get caught driving with BAC .05 or more you will:<br />
• Need to pay a fine<br />
• Lose your licence<br />
• Need to complete a compulsory drink driver<br />
behaviour change program (approx 12 hours); and<br />
• Need to get an alcohol interlock installed in any<br />
vehicle you drive (once re-licensed) for at least six<br />
months.<br />
This also applies to commercial drivers who commit<br />
their first drink driving offence with a BAC under .05.<br />
If you get caught with drugs in your system you’ll lose<br />
your licence for a minimum of six months (instead<br />
of three) and will also need to complete a drug driver<br />
program (approx. 12 hours) before getting your licence<br />
back.<br />
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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 21
INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
U TURNS WITH A<br />
TWIST<br />
Every day, 330,000 people use Hoddle<br />
Street. Vicroads are making your journey<br />
on Hoddle Street quicker, easier and<br />
safer by changing the way you turn right<br />
at major intersections. There are signs<br />
and markings on the road to help you<br />
travel through the intersection safely.<br />
The first intersection to change is at<br />
Johnston and Hoddle Streets.<br />
Right from Hoddle Street onto<br />
Johnston Street - at all times:<br />
1. travel through the intersection<br />
2. do a u-turn<br />
3. and turn left.<br />
VicRoads say<br />
if you have<br />
mastered the<br />
City’s Hook<br />
turns you will<br />
easily master<br />
Hoddle Street’s<br />
P turns.<br />
22 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
CLEARWAYS<br />
Hoddle Street & Punt Road between<br />
Eastern Freeway and the Yarra River<br />
NEW CLEARWAY RULES<br />
Eastern Fwy<br />
to Truro St<br />
Truro St to<br />
Johnston St<br />
Johnston St to<br />
Vere St<br />
Vere St to<br />
Victoria Pde<br />
Victoria Pde to<br />
Yarra River<br />
Northbound,<br />
western side<br />
Southbound,<br />
eastern side<br />
Northbound,<br />
western side<br />
Southbound,<br />
eastern side<br />
Northbound,<br />
western side<br />
Southbound,<br />
eastern side<br />
Northbound,<br />
western side<br />
Southbound,<br />
eastern side<br />
Northbound,<br />
western side<br />
Southbound,<br />
eastern side<br />
24/7 clearway<br />
24/7 clearway<br />
24/7 clearway<br />
Clearway & bus lane Mon<br />
to Fri, 6am to 10am<br />
Clearway & bus lane Mon<br />
to Fri, 3:30pm to 7:30pm<br />
Clearway & bus lane Mon<br />
to Fri, 6am to 10am<br />
No clearway at this time<br />
Clearway & bus lane Mon<br />
to Fri, 6am to 10am<br />
24/7 clearway<br />
24/7 clearway<br />
Embassy<br />
Cafe<br />
WE’re open<br />
WE NEVER CLOSE<br />
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VISIT US FOR THE BEST BURGERS IN TOWN<br />
<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
23
CBD TO<br />
MELBOURNE<br />
AIRPORT<br />
RAIL LINK<br />
Since the planning stages of<br />
Melbourne Airport’s construction<br />
in 1963, a CBD-Airport rail link<br />
has been a reoccurring potential<br />
project. It was during this<br />
period that the Commonwealth<br />
Government suggested the idea to<br />
connect the two hubs and create<br />
an aerotropolis.<br />
Since then, the concept of a<br />
Melbourne CBD to airport rail link<br />
has always been in the back of the<br />
government planners’ minds.<br />
2001<br />
A rail link via Southern Cross from<br />
Albion East to Melbourne Airport<br />
was put forward but never gained<br />
traction.<br />
2013<br />
Public Transport Australia created<br />
their Melbourne Airport Rail Link<br />
Study in support for the project.<br />
2014<br />
During the Victorian election<br />
campaigning, Denis Napthine<br />
pledged to build a Melbourne<br />
Airport rail link, then, when he lost<br />
the election, the idea was dumped.<br />
2016<br />
A $1.2 billion monorail from<br />
Melbourne’s CBD to the Airport<br />
was suggested within the Victorian<br />
Government, but Daniel Andrews<br />
publicly stated that the project was<br />
not high on their agenda.<br />
2017<br />
The Federal Government expressed<br />
support for the Melbourne Airport<br />
Rail Link which resulted in $30<br />
million being set aside in the next<br />
Federal Budget to go toward the<br />
Link.<br />
Data from Public Transport<br />
Australia’s 2013 report shows a<br />
need for such a project in response<br />
to the growing number of visitors,<br />
both national and international,<br />
to the region. When the report<br />
was released it estimated that<br />
Melbourne Airport had catered<br />
for 28 million air passenger trips<br />
that year. This number is, at least,<br />
expected to double by 2032.<br />
24 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
Road congestion on the<br />
Tullamarine Freeway and CityLink<br />
is also a major issue driving the<br />
need for the link.<br />
Planners have included public<br />
policies such as a target travel<br />
time of 30 minutes one way, a 10<br />
minute service frequency, costeffective<br />
express options during<br />
certain travel times, 24 hour<br />
seven days per week operations,<br />
catering for luggage within the<br />
carriage space, minimal disruption<br />
to pre-existing networks, and<br />
lastly, minimisation of transport<br />
transfers and optimum integration<br />
with other systems.<br />
RMIT University infrastructure and<br />
urban planning expert Professor<br />
Jago Dodson says a new rail link<br />
for Melbourne’s airport is welcome<br />
news, but needs to be part of a<br />
broader transport plan.<br />
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull<br />
has pledged $5 billion for<br />
a long-awaited rail line<br />
connecting the airport with<br />
the CBD. The project’s total<br />
price tag could rise to $15<br />
billion.<br />
Together, the Victorian<br />
and Federal Governments<br />
aim to have official plans<br />
and providers organised<br />
within 12 months. This<br />
will see the link be under<br />
construction long before<br />
the estimated completion<br />
of the Melbourne Metro<br />
Tunnel in 2026.<br />
is welcome news from the<br />
perspective of improving<br />
Melbourne’s rail network and its<br />
integration with a major activity<br />
node,” Professor Dodson says.<br />
“However, a big concern is that the<br />
Airport link is happening outside<br />
of any clear transport plan for<br />
metropolitan Melbourne, because<br />
the Victorian government has no<br />
transport plan.”<br />
“We have no clear formal<br />
assessment whether the $15<br />
billion to be spent on Airport rail<br />
is preferable in terms of costs<br />
and benefits to commencing<br />
the second metro link, or<br />
expanding suburban rail access<br />
to underserved growth areas,<br />
or other public transport<br />
improvement”, said Professor<br />
Dodson.<br />
There are also discussions<br />
surrounding the fact that the<br />
link should also extended to<br />
rural areas such as Geelong and<br />
Ballarat.<br />
“And the eventual route needs to<br />
include opportunities for urban<br />
redevelopment beyond rapid<br />
airport access. For example, an<br />
Upfield alignment could enable<br />
redevelopment of the former Ford<br />
factory site,” continued Professor<br />
Dodson.<br />
Dodson warns it would be foolish<br />
to steam ahead with a new rail<br />
link without considering the bigger<br />
picture for Melbourne’s already<br />
heaving public transport network.<br />
This includes limiting road use.<br />
“We need to expand the Melbourne<br />
metropolitan rail network far<br />
beyond the Airport line if we are<br />
to meet the needs of a city of<br />
8 million, but we also need to<br />
limit road competition with this<br />
network,” he says.<br />
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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 25
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Transport affects the quality of our lives, it shapes our cities<br />
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YOU HAVE A RIGHT, AND YOU DESERVE, TO BE HEARD.<br />
Rod Barton and André Baruch, the President and Vice President of the CPVAA, have<br />
started the process of forming a new political party – the Transport Matters Party<br />
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26 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
COFFEE, A SMILE AND A LAUGH<br />
SHARE A COFFEE WITH<br />
SAM AT MELROSE LOUNGE<br />
Melbourne Airport Taxi Holding Bay<br />
These booklets and more are available to download or order from<br />
www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/order-printed-information-resources<br />
A guide to what works for depression<br />
A guide to emotional health<br />
and wellbeing during pregnancy<br />
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Anxiety and depression<br />
An information booklet<br />
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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
27
Interstate<br />
News<br />
QUEENSLAND<br />
by Daryl Passmore<br />
TASMANIA<br />
Uber has set a date for its<br />
expansion into Northern<br />
Tasmania.<br />
The company announced the<br />
ride-sharing app will be available<br />
in Launceston from June 18.<br />
Tasmania State Manager<br />
Lucas Groeneveld said the<br />
response from the community<br />
to the initial news indicated the<br />
company made the right choice.<br />
“Judging by the interest we’ve<br />
received in terms of driverpartner<br />
sign-ups and attendance<br />
at our information sessions,<br />
locals in Northern Tasmania<br />
are very keen for ride sharing,”<br />
he said.<br />
“More than 30,000 people<br />
have opened the Uber app in<br />
Northern Tasmania in the past<br />
12 months, so we expect rider<br />
demand to be solid.”<br />
Roads in Brisbane’s CBD and<br />
inner-city are being choked by an<br />
explosion of Uber cars.<br />
Banned from using taxi ranks,<br />
hundreds of rideshare vehicles<br />
are circling streets and clogging<br />
loading zones as they wait for<br />
bookings from passengers.<br />
And the RACQ (Royal<br />
Automobile Club Queensland)<br />
says the situation will only get<br />
worse with other operators<br />
preparing to enter the local<br />
market.<br />
“Rideshare is not going<br />
anywhere. It will only<br />
increase,” Paul Turner, chief<br />
communications officer for the<br />
motoring organisation, said.<br />
“We have a lot of Ubers floating<br />
around the city wanting to pull<br />
up. They can’t use taxi ranks and<br />
they are not enough drop-off and<br />
pick-up points around the city.<br />
“They use loading zones so we<br />
see freight traffic waiting to<br />
pull in because there is an Uber<br />
there.”<br />
The RACQ says many people<br />
who previously used public<br />
transport have ditched buses<br />
for Ubers too, adding to traffic<br />
volumes in the middle of the city.<br />
“You still have private cars, you<br />
still have taxis, you still have<br />
buses and now you have Ubers,”<br />
Mr Turner said. “We’re seeing<br />
different traffic flows and we<br />
need to adjust.”<br />
Uber now has more than<br />
11,000 drivers in Brisbane,<br />
outnumbering taxis more than<br />
five to one.<br />
28 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
TAXIS HIRE CARS ON DEMAND HIRE OWNERS <strong>DRIVE</strong>RS SERVICES<br />
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NEW SOUTH WALES<br />
Transport for NSW (TfNSW)<br />
has made two determinations<br />
about the number of taxi<br />
licences to be issued in the year<br />
commencing on 1 July <strong>2018</strong>:<br />
• 90 taxi licences to be<br />
issued for Sydney (the<br />
Metropolitan Transport<br />
District) to replace licences<br />
that have expired or have<br />
not been renewed;<br />
• Zero taxi licences to be<br />
issued for areas of NSW<br />
outside the Metropolitan<br />
Transport District.<br />
The NSW Government has<br />
also stated that they will not<br />
increase Sydney taxi licence<br />
numbers until at least the<br />
2019/20 financial year.<br />
Australian veterans looking<br />
for work are being offered the<br />
opportunity to join the NSW<br />
Taxi industry, through the NSW<br />
Taxi council and RSL NSW.<br />
The joint initiative will see<br />
veterans being able to become<br />
a taxi driver with the NSW Taxi<br />
Council, with fees for driver<br />
training, criminal checks and<br />
ID cards being waived.<br />
NSW Taxi Council CEO Martin<br />
Rogers said, “There is a longstanding<br />
heritage between<br />
the NSW Taxi industry and our<br />
returned service personnel. It<br />
is a small gesture, however will<br />
give veterans a chance to work<br />
in a flexible and rewarding<br />
industry.”<br />
”Veterans have the values<br />
every employer should want<br />
- integrity, discipline and a<br />
willingness to get the job<br />
done.”<br />
“In partnership with RSL NSW,<br />
the NSW Taxi Council will also<br />
connect our veterans with Taxi<br />
service providers to assist<br />
them getting into a Taxi and<br />
begin working”.<br />
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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 29
Driver Jobs<br />
Want a driver?<br />
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30 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
What’s On in<br />
Melbourne<br />
Good Beer Week<br />
Sunday Funday<br />
11/5/<strong>2018</strong> - 20/5/<strong>2018</strong><br />
Federation Square<br />
Cnr Flinders @ Swanston Street, Melbourne<br />
The biggest not-for-profit beer festival in the southern<br />
hemisphere. Its central aim is to promote good beer and<br />
the community and culture that surround it.<br />
until 26/8/<strong>2018</strong><br />
MCG and Etihad Stadium<br />
Children under 15 get free general admission to the<br />
MCG and Etihad Stadium and can experience some<br />
of the most exciting AFL games when accompanied<br />
by an adult or guardian.<br />
Stomp<br />
1/5/<strong>2018</strong> - 6/5/<strong>2018</strong><br />
Comedy Theatre<br />
240 Exhibition Street,<br />
Melbourne<br />
Wordless, witty and fun,<br />
Stomp has become a global<br />
phenomenon. Its universal<br />
language of rhythm, theatre,<br />
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WINNERS<br />
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Congratulations to our winners<br />
of a double pass to the Rocky<br />
Horror show - A de Silva, G<br />
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MULTICULTURAL FESTIVALS<br />
Changwon K-Pop<br />
World Festival<br />
11 <strong>May</strong><br />
Federation Square<br />
Participants are invited<br />
to sing or dance for their<br />
chance to be flown to South<br />
Korea to participate in the<br />
<strong>2018</strong> Changwon K-Pop<br />
World Festival.<br />
Philippine<br />
Street Festival<br />
19 - 20 <strong>May</strong><br />
Queen Victoria<br />
Market Showcasing<br />
authentic Philippine<br />
food, as well as dishes<br />
influenced the Spanish<br />
Colonial era.<br />
Buddha’s Day<br />
and Multicultural<br />
Festival<br />
19 - 20 <strong>May</strong><br />
Federation Square<br />
including over 40 events, an Asian<br />
vegetarian food fair, spectacular<br />
cultural performances and a<br />
thrilling new dragon boat sprint<br />
race along the Yarra River.<br />
Italian Wine &<br />
Food Festival<br />
27 <strong>May</strong><br />
Royal Exhibition Building<br />
Feast on pizza, pasta and<br />
Italian snacks in the pop-up<br />
restaurants and see cooking<br />
demonstrations with chefs<br />
and providores on the main<br />
stage.<br />
<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 31
NEWS<br />
FROM<br />
around the<br />
World<br />
LONDON- ViaVan has launched<br />
ViaVan has launched a<br />
revolutionary ride-sharing service in<br />
London, where seamless journeys<br />
can be matched in real time across<br />
the city. ViaVan, the joint venture<br />
between Via and Mercedes-Benz<br />
Vans, has announced the launch<br />
of its new shared ride service in<br />
London.<br />
Through the app, passengers will<br />
be seamlessly matched in real<br />
time with other riders travelling in<br />
the same direction and will share<br />
the journey in a professionallychauffeured<br />
vehicle.<br />
Available across zones 1 and 2,<br />
the service will provide Londoners<br />
with an alternative to Uber, offering<br />
the lowest fares, with treatment<br />
of drivers and riders assured to be<br />
better and a corporate ethos that<br />
puts safety as the top priority. To<br />
mark the launch, all ViaVan rides to<br />
or from zone 1 will cost just £3 for<br />
a limited time.<br />
“Londoners deserve innovative<br />
transportation solutions that are<br />
safe, convenient and affordable,”<br />
said Chris Snyder, CEO of ViaVan.<br />
“Our mission is to power truly<br />
dynamic mass transit systems,<br />
which reduce congestion in our<br />
cities while offering drivers the<br />
opportunity to earn a decent<br />
living. We are delighted to launch<br />
in London and to finally give<br />
Londoners an alternative to<br />
expensive and inefficient private<br />
car services.”<br />
This is the second city launch for<br />
ViaVan, following its launch in<br />
Amsterdam.<br />
By grouping multiple passengers<br />
into one vehicle, ViaVan reduces<br />
congestion and emissions,<br />
providing an inexpensive,<br />
eco-friendly and convenient<br />
transportation service; aiming<br />
to ‘close the gap’, serving as an<br />
affordable extension of the public<br />
transit system.<br />
32 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
FRANCE -<br />
Uber loses<br />
EU court case<br />
France is entitled to bring<br />
criminal proceedings<br />
against local managers<br />
of ride-hailing app Uber<br />
for running an illegal taxi<br />
service, the EU top court<br />
ruled last month.<br />
Uber’s loss follows an earlier<br />
one last year where the<br />
Luxembourg-based Court<br />
of Justice of the European<br />
Union (ECJ) classified the<br />
company as a transport<br />
service rather than a digital<br />
one, which stripped it of<br />
protections against undue<br />
national regulation that<br />
digital services enjoy under<br />
EU law.<br />
The latest case concerned<br />
Uber’s use of unlicensed<br />
drivers as part of its<br />
UberPOP service in France,<br />
which has since been<br />
suspended there and in<br />
several other cities. Uber<br />
still uses its service with<br />
professional licensed drivers<br />
in France, which is not<br />
affected by the ruling.<br />
Uber has also been forced<br />
to quit countries such as<br />
Denmark and Hungary.<br />
MEXICO - Uber to go head-to-head<br />
with Didi again!<br />
by Johana Bhuiyan<br />
In August 2016, Uber sold its China<br />
assets to its primary competitor<br />
in the country, Didi Chuxing, and<br />
ended a costly subsidy battle that<br />
was on its way to slowly bleeding<br />
the company dry. That was the last<br />
time Uber and Didi faced off headto-head<br />
in a ground war.<br />
But Didi isn’t done with Uber. The<br />
Chinese ride-hail player has just<br />
launched its service in Mexico,<br />
which happens to be an Uber<br />
stronghold.<br />
While Didi has been fighting proxy<br />
battles against Uber around the<br />
world through its investments in<br />
multiple international competitors<br />
like Ola in India; Careem in the<br />
Middle East; Taxify in Europe and<br />
Africa; and via its acquisition of<br />
Brazil’s 99, this will be the first time<br />
Didi will be actively battling the<br />
U.S.-based ride-hail player outside<br />
of China.<br />
It’s a significant move for Didi,<br />
which has quietly sought world<br />
domination, and one that several<br />
sources internally say has given<br />
Uber a cause for concern. Didi is<br />
going after Uber in a market where<br />
it will hurt.<br />
Uber’s struggles with profitability in<br />
places like the U.S. and Southeast<br />
Asia are well documented, but the<br />
company has managed to become<br />
profitable in Mexico as Latin<br />
America has quickly rocketed to<br />
becoming the company’s fastestgrowing<br />
region.<br />
Didi, which has been recruiting<br />
drivers in Mexico since early April,<br />
had already taken the first steps<br />
to infringe on Uber’s stronghold<br />
in Latin America through its<br />
acquisition of 99 in Brazil.<br />
While local competitors across the<br />
region continued to battle Uber<br />
outside of Mexico, few were willing<br />
to take the risk of trying to undercut<br />
the well-resourced U.S. company in<br />
Mexico — including 99.<br />
Complicating matters is Didi’s<br />
investment in Taxify, which already<br />
operates in Mexico. But now Taxify,<br />
which has only raised $2.2 million<br />
to date, will be facing off against<br />
both Didi and Uber.<br />
For Uber — which has been<br />
whittling down its international<br />
footprint in an effort to cut<br />
losses — its decision to pull out of<br />
Southeast Asia and sell its assets<br />
to competitor Grab leaves room for<br />
the company to focus on important<br />
markets like Latin America as well<br />
as the Middle East and India. In that<br />
way, Uber and Didi’s international<br />
strategies look more similar than<br />
ever: they operate on the ground<br />
in some major markets while<br />
investing in local players in others.<br />
In a few short years, Mexico has<br />
become Uber’s third-largest country<br />
market — behind Brazil and the<br />
U.S. — with seven million riders and<br />
250,000 drivers.<br />
But fighting Didi off is no easy task.<br />
With a total of around $20 billion in<br />
funding as of December 2017 and<br />
the backing of Chinese sovereign<br />
wealth funds like China Investment<br />
Corporation, Didi is one of the few<br />
companies that can engage in<br />
and possibly win a subsidy battle<br />
against Uber.<br />
<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 33
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34 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
Police are seeking to identify these men<br />
If you see something, say something! Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report confidentially online.<br />
ASSAULT<br />
Collingwood<br />
DATE 12th February <strong>2018</strong><br />
TIME 5:20 PM<br />
REFERENCE NO. CSV2702<br />
At around 5:20pm, two men<br />
approached another man on<br />
Otter Street before allegedly<br />
demanding money from him.<br />
When the man refused, the<br />
two men allegedly punched the<br />
victim to the face and stole cash<br />
from him. The two men then<br />
ran into a nearby Wellington<br />
Street premises.<br />
The first man is perceived to<br />
be African in appearance, with<br />
a medium height and medium<br />
build, aged in his late teens to<br />
early 20s. He was wearing black<br />
pants, a blue hooded jumper and<br />
white runners at the time.<br />
The second man is perceived to<br />
be African in appearance, with<br />
a medium height and medium<br />
build, aged in his late teens<br />
to early 20s. He was wearing<br />
maroon tracksuit pants with a<br />
black and white bag attached,<br />
a grey hooded jumper and red<br />
runners at the time.<br />
THEFT<br />
Coolaroo<br />
DATE 17th February <strong>2018</strong><br />
TIME 4:30 AM<br />
REFERENCE NO. CSV2722<br />
ROBBERY<br />
St Kilda West<br />
DATE 18th March <strong>2018</strong><br />
TIME 9:40 PM<br />
REFERENCE NO. CSV2710<br />
At around 9:40pm, a man parked a white<br />
Toyota ute outside a hotel on Grosvenor<br />
Street before entering the premise. Once<br />
inside he demanded cash from a gaming<br />
area staff member before forcing his way<br />
through a staff only door and stealing<br />
money from the tills. The alleged offender<br />
then left the venue in the same vehicle he<br />
arrived in, heading south down Brighton<br />
Road.<br />
Police have released a facial composite<br />
image of a man whom they believe may<br />
be able to assist in their inquiries.<br />
The man is perceived to be Pacific<br />
Islander / Maori in appearance,<br />
approximately 30 to 35 years of age<br />
and 183cm tall with short black hair and<br />
appeared to have a tribal-style tattoo<br />
on the back of his right hand. He was<br />
wearing a dark coloured hoodie, which<br />
was pulled over his face during the<br />
offence, dark pants and white sneakers at<br />
the time.<br />
At around 4:30am, a man<br />
attended a Pascoe Vale Road<br />
service station.<br />
Whilst at the counter, the man<br />
asked the attendant to see a<br />
mobile phone from the display<br />
behind the counter. The man<br />
then left the store with the phone,<br />
without making any attempt to<br />
pay for it.<br />
The man is perceived to be<br />
Caucasian in appearance, aged<br />
in his early 20s, approximately<br />
180cm’s tall with a thin build.<br />
He was wearing black jeans, a<br />
black t-shirt and a black cap.<br />
<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 35
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