- NSW community encouraged to have their say on taxi, rideshare and other point to point transport services
People are invited to have their say on taxis, hire cars, ridesharing providers and other similar passenger services as part of a thorough review of point to point transport in NSW.
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The Point to Point Transport Taskforce, set up by the NSW government, released a discussion paper to start a wider conversation on the future of these transport services.
Point to point transport include taxis, hire cars, tourist services, ridesharing services, community transport and courtesy buses.
The taskforce’s discussion paper outlines the way point to point transport service providers currently operate and calls for views on what works well and what could be improved. The independent taskforce is working with customers, the taxi industry, hire car companies and other stakeholders to look at sustainability and competition in the point to point transport market, the impact of emerging technologies, customer safety and the burden of current taxi regulations.
The taskforce has already conducted face to face consultations with hundreds of people representing more than 140 organisations held across NSW since mid-July 2015.
The discussion paper reflects many of the issues raised so far during the consultations.
“Point to point transport services in NSW are evolving rapidly due to population changes, new technologies and growing customer demands,” said taskforce head, Professor Gary Sturgess. “However, the feedback from the consultations so far has been that the existing regulatory framework is not able to adequately deal with all of the recent changes.
“The taskforce is reviewing what can be done to create a level playing field for the industry so it can respond better to change and ensure customers’ needs are met.
“People can read the discussion paper and provide feedback now on how they think services can be improved – this feedback will help shape the taskforce’s recommendations to government.”
The taskforce encourages people to provide feedback around the following key questions relating to point to point transport services in NSW:
- What, if anything, needs to change to improve: the safety of drivers and passengers; customer service and consumer protection; the needs of people with a disability and the transport disadvantaged?
- How can costs and red tape for point to point transport providers be reduced?
- What would create a more level playing field for point to point transport providers?
The taskforce is exploring what regulation is required to ensure customer and driver safety and consumer protection for different kinds of point to point transport services in NSW.
It is also looking at what unnecessary red tape or costs of compliance can be removed to allow fair competition and lower the burden of regulation. Community and industry feedback will help the taskforce form its recommendations which will be presented to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance by the end of October. For more information on the taskforce, the discussion paper and how to provide feedback, visit: www.pointtopointtransport.nsw.gov.au
Public submissions should be made no later than September 25, 2015.
