Stakeholder Reference Group Meeting
Tuesday 14 July 2015
Item / Subject: / Comments/Action: / Actionby: / When (Date): /
1. / Welcome, introductions & apologies / Welcome and introduction of delegates David Singh (Victorian Taxi Families), Darryl Marks (Country Network Service Providers/Permit holders) and Peter Valentine (Regional Network Service Provider).
New SRG member Taxi Cab Owners & Drivers of Victoria Association were welcomed to the group, the group was represented by Nick Patsios.
Apology from Harry Katsiabanis (Metropolitan taxi fleet operator) was noted.
2. / Previous minutes & action items / Update on action items provided, no changes sought or advised in relation to previous minutes.
3. / General matters / Aaron de Rozario will commence as CEO of the Taxi Services Commission on 24 August 2015. Aaron was most recently with the Department of Transport in Western Australia, where he was General Manager, Passenger Services Business Unit.
The TSC will move to 1 Spring Street at the end of August. The Customer Service Centre will be located on the ground floor, with the entrance on Flinders Street.
4. / Industry statistics / Members were given an update on key industry statistics, including:
- Knowledge pass rates
- taxi licence values
- number of taxi and hire car licences taken up since 30 June 2014
- number of active drivers.
Member discussion centred around the knowledge test (including no. of attempts and delays in resitting), information available to new entrants (taxi licence owner/operators) and taxi/hire cars being able to operate as buses).
5. / Reform update / Members were given an update on the delivery of the reform program in 2014/2015. This included, but not limited to:
- Safe Taxi Rank Guidelines
- In car training guidelines
- Enforcement and compliance policy
- Consumer law for NSPs, and
- Knowledge assessments, handbooks and testing locations.
An overview of the 2015/2016 reform projects was provided, this includes:
- Fare device specifications and data warehouse
- Safety review
- MPTP review consultation
- Review of taxi regulations
- New and more flexible taxis
- Customer Charter and Code of Conduct
- Performance reporting
- Purpose Built Vehicles, and
- Driver Agreement review.
The TSC is conducting a review into safety, which may be presented/discussed at a future SRG meeting.
6. / Fare device specifications and data warehouse / The TSC released its final draft Fare Device Functional and Technical Specification (the Specification) in order to effect a number of Taxi Industry Inquiry recommendations on 6 July 2015. The specification is accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Statement and Implementation Phasing Guidance Note.
The focus of the Specification is to enhance customer service, provide live data streaming to the TSC and remove the sole reliance on EFTPOS for MPTP processing.
Implementation of the new devices with be phased with the first phase – the installation of audibility and automatic tolling scheduled to be enabled by January 2016.
It is proposed that phase two of the Specification (real-time streaming of data directly to the TSC), will be implemented in July 2016., it will enable real-time streaming of data directly to the TSC.
Consultation on the draft fare device specifications closes 5pm Monday, 3 August 2015.
Members initially raised matters relating to the use of apps/Bluetooth, GPS black spots, impact on EFTPOS machines, privacy and information that might be available to assist the taxi industry.
7. / Compliance Services update / Members were given an update on current TSC compliance activities including Taxi Quality Ratings, safety camera downloads, vehicle inspections/infringements and taxi/hire car operations (at Melbourne Airport and other locations). The TSC also regularly conduct partnered operations with Guide Dogs Victoria, Melbourne City Council, Victoria Police and the Sheriff’s Office.
Some members commented on the effectiveness of TSC’s compliance activities and suggested that the use of demerit points as a further deterrent to support this.
The TSC will continue to take appropriate action against those not complying with the regulations.
The Ministerial Taxi and Hire Car Forum will meet shortly to hear the findings of the subgroup looking into ridesharing.
8. / General Business / Liza McDonald announced her resignation from the TSC, with her last day being Thursday 23 July 2015. A decision on who will chair the SRG will be made in the near future.
Next meeting to be confirmed.
Attendees:
Taxi Services Commission
Liza McDonald, Director - Industry Reform Implementation (Chair)
Greg Kazuro, Manager - Stakeholder Projects
Alicia White, Director - Marketing, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
Leissa Van Saane - Industry Liaison Officer
Michelle Delaire - Acting Director Business Strategy and Planning (Reform Implementation Project Manager)
Robert Fois - Acting Director, Corporate Services (Manager Business and Information Services)
Matt Lennox - Senior Business Analyst
Lara Dooley - Industry Reform Implementation Officer
Stakeholder Reference Group
Nick Patsios - Taxi Cab Owners & Drivers of Victoria Association
Georgia Nicholls - Victorian Taxi Association
David Singh - Victorian Taxi and Hire Car Families
Sam Ozluk - (representing metropolitan hire car industry)
Robin Smith - (representing country taxi drivers)
Peter Valentine - (representing regional taxi booking services)
Greg Hardeman - (representing metropolitan taxi booking services)
Denis Nelthorpe - Federation of Community Legal Centres (Vic)
Daniel El-Fahkri - Platinum Taxis
Ned Moorfield - (goCatch)
Brian Gammon - Victoria United Taxi Industry
Graeme Byrns - (representing country taxi booking services /permit holders)
Darryl Marks - (representing country taxi booking services /permit holders)
Nirmal Sekhon - (representing urban taxi booking services)
Andrew Cron - City of Melbourne
Harry Katsiabanis - metropolitan taxi fleet permit holder (apology)
Bruce Mossig - Victorian Country Limousine Association (apology)
Matthew Carney - Melbourne Airport (apology)
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