Labor's plan to support the taxi industry

An elected Malinauskas Labor Government will reduce the cost of being a taxi owner or operator, to provide a level-playing field with rideshare drivers and bolster the ailing industry.

Under Labor, each eligible taxi license owner or operator will be entitled to receive a $3092.41 rebate for Compulsory Third Party (CTP) premiums paid between 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 and 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023 (maximum of two payments per taxi license).

This will result in a reduction in CTP premiums for taxis to the same level as those paid by rideshare operators for two financial years.

This will allow time for the independent regulator to investigate the point-to-point transport sector and the appropriate CTP framework as in other models across the nation.

Labor will introduce greater protections for taxi and rideshare drivers and their riders, and ensure safety, cleanliness, sustainability of the industry while improving value of licences.

It will also ensure strengthened compliance, by providing five new dedicated inspectors to monitor and enforce the Passenger Transport Act, including penalties for breaches.

Quotes attributable to SA Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas

The past two years have been tough on business owners right across the State, and taxi drivers have borne the brunt of travel and hospitality restrictions, and more people working from home.

Unlike rideshare vehicles, the costs associated with running a taxi can be thousands of dollars a year more, that is why we want to even the playing-field – to provide long-term sustainability for the industry.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Tom Koutsantonis

We understand the challenges being faced by taxi owners and operators, and as a first step we will immediately conduct a review of the Passenger Transport Act.

The taxi industry is an important part of the State’s public transport infrastructure, and for some South Australians – quite often those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable – their primary way to travel.