December 2007

CHANGES GALORE

The VTA welcomed the release last month of the Victorian Taxi Directorate (VTD) Strategic Plan (2007 – 2010). The Plan provides a clear picture of what the VTD sees itself being and how it intends to go about its business.

Printed elsewhere in this Taxi Talk is an extract from the Plan – the VTD Vision. This provides an overview of the Plan. (The whole document can be viewed at www.taxi.vic.gov.au.)

To give further weight to the envisaged new world of taxi industry accountability, compliance and performance, the taxi industry accreditation Regulations and Business and Service Standards come into effect on 31 December. One is hopeful that heed has been taken of the public submissions made on the draft proposals, but we shall see when the actual Regulations and Standards come into being.

At the end of the day though, words on paper won’t mean very much unless they are supported by action. If the Government’s service improvement package is to achieve its objectives, the package will have to be well and continuously resourced.

In this regard, the VTD is in the process of changing and refreshing its structure. It is understood these changes are intended to strengthen focus on stakeholder relations, compliance services, industry accreditation, policy development, investigations, and audit functions.

The VTA believes that the VTD Strategic Plan, taxi industry accreditation, and a restructuring of the VTD should provide a solid launching pad for the VTD to move forward.

The road to the Government achieving its objectives could well be littered with taxi industry casualties. But, the good performers will survive and the industry should be better for it. As they say, no gain without pain.

On the subject of government and change, the election of the Rudd Labor Government last month shouldn’t impact on the Victorian taxi industry, at least in the short term. There will still be GST on taxi fares, the Trade Practices Act and the ACCC will remain in place, the Productivity Commission will continue on, the DDA and its standards will continue, excise on LPG will still probably happen, and we will all continue to pay taxes.

Longer term, there may be impacts on the taxi industry; such as fuel price, vehicle manufacturing and importing, community support funding, interest rates, economic activity, immigration and refugee policies, overseas student policy, and industry based training support. We shall see.

Given all this change (and probably more to come), there is no doubt 2008 will be an exciting and interesting year.

But, for the next few weeks, the focus will be on the festive season and what it brings – good fellowship, happier people, cricket, tennis and, above all, more taxi work.

VTA staff extends seasons greetings to all taxi industry folk, industry suppliers and friends, and government colleagues. We trust that all will have a safe, happy and profitable time.

Neil Sach
VTA CEO