Penalties for the operation of illegal taxi services

Eligibility - Queensland residents
Principal Petitioner:
Benjamin Wash
CEO, Taxi Council of Queensland
PO Box 290
Total Signatures - 1,926
Sponsoring Member: Robert Katter MP
Posting Date: 16/9/2015
Tabled Date: 16/9/2015
Responded By: Hon Jackie Trad MP on 16/10/2015
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland citizens draw to the attention of the House the continued operations of illegal taxi services in Queensland and how this undermines not only taxis, but all State regulations. Should operations be allowed to continue then it is unreasonable to assume that there will be nothing to stop any other type of operation from commencing, having no regard for existing regulation, with that be childcare, gambling, sale of alcohol, medical services, sale of pharmaceuticals, financial and banking services or sale of food.

 

The following petition calls for a clear course of action to address this issue, while it is limited to the taxi industry, in order to address a much greater impending policy failure across the broader business community. Swift action will send a strong message that the Queensland Parliament will always but the interests of the Queensland public before commercial interests.

 

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the House move swiftly to effect the necessary legislative changes to the Transport Operations (Passenger) Act 1994 ("the Act") to have demerit points applied to all individuals carrying out illegal taxi work with impoundment of vehicles for repeat offenders.

 

Further, we request that amendments be made to the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 to make the Queensland Police Service responsible for the issuance of fines and demerit points to all persons undertaking illegal taxi work as defined by the Act.