taxi fare adjustment

The NSW Taxi Council today welcomed the Ministry of Transport’s announcement of a taxi fare adjustment which reflects increased costs that drivers and owners have incurred over the previous 12 months.

CEO of the NSW Taxi Council, Howard Harrison, said a 4.2% fare rise in urban areas and a 4.1% rise in the country is welcome reimbursement for ongoing expenses and is in line with the application made by the Taxi Council to IPART.

The rise, which comes into effect from 5 July, means the average taxi fare in urban areas will rise by 87c and in country areas by 68c.  

While a modest adjustment in 2009, Mr Harrison signaled a significant rise in taxi fares in 2010 unless the Taxi Industry could gain some relief from the new award for Taxi Industry communication centres that will affect night time and early morning workers.

“The award proposes a dramatic increase in the shift allowance for night time and early morning workers, which would cause networks to increase the cost of the fees paid by member owners and operators.  Ultimately, this cost would then feed into the next fare adjustment,” said Mr Harrison.

“At the moment this increase which comes into effect on 1 January 2010 looks significant.  However, the NSW Taxi Council has written to the Federal Government seeking an exemption in line with that recently granted to cafes and restaurants.”