State government called on to support regional taxis

Busselton, Dunsborough and Margaret River taxi services are all struggling to continue to operate with the lack of drivers.

Ms Belotti is bounded by a wheelchair and relies on taxis to take her to medical appointments, shops and her craft sessions.

She fears that if the state government does not help the taxi businesses that her and others won't be able to leave their homes.

The Mail was contacted by Vasse MLA Libby Mettam as well as City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley, both concerned that the taxi services that are still running in the area won't be for much longer.

"Regional taxis provide a unique value to regional communities in the absence of more accessible public transport," Ms Mettam said.

"I have been contacted by residents who have been unable to visit family and friends or attend local appointments which is of some concern.

"This is a basic service that should be available to everyone and it is our senior members of the community, and those requiring wheelchair transportation that are particularly impacted.

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"It is vital that our pensioners remain connected and without access to a taxi service this could have a big impact on their lives."

Ms Mettam said the root of the problem for taxis was the state government's introduction of on demand transport reform.

"This reduction in taxi services is a result of the on-demand transport reforms which no longer requires or incentivises regional taxis to provide the gaps in this transport sectors in the regions," she said.

"I have written to the minister requesting that an urgent review is undertaken to examine any gaps in service delivery that are now appearing as a result of these reforms."

It has been a long battle for regional taxi businesses with them calling for more equitable assistance from the state government since 2019.

A petition was tabled in the legislative council in August 2020, asking for an inquiry into the government's handling of the reforms.

However the inquiry was rejected by the standing committee in November 2020.

Transport minister Rita Saffioti said the reforms has allowed regional taxi operators to have more flexibility to operate their services in a way that meets the needs of their customers.

"Currently there are 368 current rank and hail PTV authorisations in regional WA compared to 342 taxi licences at the end of June 2017 before the reforms were implemented."

Ms Saffioti said she was aware of some regional taxi operators collapsing since the reform was implemented but new operators have been authorised and new business models have emerged.

"For example, there are now more wheelchair accessible taxi vehicles registered with regional garaging addresses than prior to on-demand transport reform coming into effect in July 2019," she said.

"As has occurred in the past, when a regional taxi service has ceased to operate, the Department of Transport works with the local government and community stakeholders to identify the requirement options for addressing any unmet demand."