Confront Your Local MP

As published a few days ago on this page, the Townsville members have arranged a meeting this week with their local member Hon Craig Wallace MP, also Minister for Mains Roads.

 

As he shares the one department Rachel Nolan in Queensland Transport and Main Roads, it can be assumed that he will inform her of the meeting.

 

The Townsville members will confront Mr Wallace in his office as their local MP to insist that he support the petitions when they hit parliament.  It will put him on notice that the drivers have issues and want action. 

 

The Townsville member organising the meeting had a great idea.  I would love to give proper credit but, at this stage, it is best policy to not publish names.  Pity because the driver deserves high praise. 

 

The suggestion made was that this tactic may have an effect on other MP's.  It will certainly stir things up if cabbies around the state suddenly start appearing in their local MPs' offices all pushing the same issue. 

 

I would like you to consider whether you can get a number of cabbies to form a group, make an appointment and see your MP to present the arguments in the petitions and demand support.

 

Never presume that they actually know about the issues.  If aware, it should add weight to our push for the reforms.  It will likely become the talk around George Street.

 

I helped prepare the written material for Craig Wallace's meeting and I would be happy to supply you with the same if you want to present it.  It is basically the same content on the web site under January Petitions and Fair and Just Treatment.

 

Let me know what you think?

 

Peter Wellington

                   

It is also appropriate here, in fact long overdue, to thank Peter Wellington MP, Member for NIcklin, for his invaluable assistance with his sponsorship of the petitions.  It took a few weeks after I was stalled by Julie Attwood MP and Fiona Simpson MP, who for reasons unstated were reluctant to immediately agree to supporting our petitions.  Neither actually refused but after waiting between two and three weeks, I approached Peter who immediately recognised the significance of our case and did not hesitate to support us.  I saw him on a Friday at 2pm and received confirmation that the E-Petitions would be on the web site by early on the Monday morning.  They were operating by 5pm that day. 

 

What more could you ask for?

 

The delay in attaining the support has probably cost us the impact with the E-Petitions but there is still a week for people to sign on-line.  However, even though we were banned at key places from attaining signatures we will have a strong number on the printed forms by the end of the week.

 

Again, need I say it?  Tell everyone to sign the E-Petitions.  It is open to all Queensland residents.

 

Lee

Passengers and Seatbelts

The article following this deals with Queensland Taxi Magazine's statement that a taxi driver has to make his/her passengers wear a seatbelt.   This is incorrect.

Taxi drivers are still exempt unless the passenger is under 16 years of age and not accompanied by an adult.  

Because of the importance of correcting this misconception, I have put this statement ahead of the full article.

Lee

Integrity of Queensland Taxi Magazine

It has been a while since we have had an issue of that highly praised authoritative journal, Queensland Taxi Magazine. 

 

Forgive me for not knowing when it is due but I find that I have other concerns.

 

However, it has been brought to my attention from time to time by drivers informing of the rot it proffers in each edition.  In the past year, I have witnessed an increase in readership as the magazine is passed around the ranks and commented upon by drivers.  The comments are sometimes angrily expressed but usually they carry a tone of mirth as in, "Who is he trying to kid?"

 

This is often the type reference made to the writings of CEO Blur Davies or the President Maxie McBride.

 

I have chosen to ignore the false claims and misrepresentations of the magazine.   My background in media has taught to never rubbish the opposition.  It only gives them more recognition than they  deserve. 

 

Besides, I did not believe that anyone in the industry would believe the nonsense sprouted by these two when the obvious contradiction of the truth was in front of everyone to see…    eg.  No increase in accidents…  no complaints from passengers…  everything is just a media beat-up and the CDAQ is just a bunch of disgruntled cabbies trying to cause trouble. 

 

Well you know the truth, so why waste time on it, even though it would be fun to tear the claims apart, there is too much else to do, so why bother?

 

But when it comes to misinformation that causes havoc among the people they are "claiming" represent, it is my duty to correct it.

 

On page 16 of Issue 5 is the two page article, "New and amended Queensland road rules".  Under "Seatbelts" is the statement, "the driver of the vehicle is now also responsible for ensuring that all passengers regardless of age are wearing a properly fastened and adjusted seatbelt."

 

This belief has caused problems such as a recent assault on a foreign student driver who insisted that his intoxicated passenger wear his seatbelt before the driver would depart with him and a police officer in Mackay threatening to book all taxi drivers who allowed their passengers to travel without a seatbelt.  Just two of the instances that came to my attention.

 

Here is the rule. 

 

Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Road Rules) Regulation 2009

Part 16 Rules for persons travelling in or on vehicles

#265 (3)  The driver of a motor vehicle (except a bus or taxi) that is moving, or that is stationary but not parked, must ensure ……. etc…

 

When the subject was first aired on the ABC with Kelly Higgins-Devine interviewing Rachel Nolan, I did not hear it but I was contacted by another member and immediately contacted the ABC.   I stated on air the law was unfair and unworkable if it applied to taxi drivers, particularly maxi drivers with many passengers out of sight in the back and the potential for inciting retaliation from drunken passengers.  I said I had not heard what the minister had said and the host replayed part of the interview.  From that I assessed that minister did not sound sure as to whether it applied to taxi drivers as she hesitated while answering.  I later found out that the law was not hers but a federal initiative. 

 

The next day, I contacted the minister's chief policy adviser, Daniel Cheverton with whom I had developed a good rapport, to seek further clarification.   Soon after, I received a call from two Queensland Transport key personnel who assured me that taxi drivers were exempt.

 

That afternoon I went again on Kelly Higgins-Devine's programme and also Michael Smith's 4BC Drive programme and clarified the facts.

 

Seeing that Blair Davies heard my late night interview on ABC, (Caleb Maybir's case) it was a pity that he missed either of these prime time programmes.

 

Months after, particularly during the Don Brown inquiry sessions, I was continually called upon to clarify the myth that taxi drivers are not exempt from this regulation.

 

It shows how easily things can get out of control. 

 

What would have happened if I had not clarified the position with Queensland Transport?

 

Obviously nothing if the Taxi Council of Queensland had been left to do it.

 

But then again, do they really have the responsibility of looking after the drivers?  It is not in their constitution so why should they?  It is just that some might think that claiming to be the Peak Industry Body might carry that responsibility.

 

This is a small issue compared to many facing the drivers at present but it is significant and demonstrates the need for us to have our own representative body.   I should not have to explain this and it should not be left up to a few to look after all the drivers' interests.

 

Drivers, it is your industry, your future and your responsibility to yourself to get involved. 

 

Eighteen months ago, we took over from the QTDA and evolved into the CDAQ.  They said it would not achieve anything and it would not last. 

 

With all that has transpired since, do we still need to answer that? 

 

Do I need to refute the ridiculous and puerile claims about the CDAQ by Maxie McBride? 

 

Surely you know what has been done, what needs to be done and what can be achieved.

 

If you have not done so, join the association.   Cabbies are mostly a bunch of gamblers, so put in $45 and take a punt.   The bookies have it as a long shot but the inside mail is that it is a good thing that's going to pay off.

 

In this case, there may be no magic finish line.  The job is getting done and we will likely get there sooner or later.  Your backing just makes it much sooner and more profitable.

Meeting with Hon Craig Wallace February 26

Townsville drivers,

Please make a note of this and make sure you are there. 

A meeting is being held in the electoral office of the Member for Thuringowa, Hon Craig Wallace MP (Minister for Mains Roads), next Friday afternoon, February 26.

The meeting has been arranged by a CDAQ member to present the case for the two current petitions. 

This is a chance for all Townsville taxi drivers to give a big show of support for the cases proposed in the two petitions.  It is not limited to CDAQ members only.

A big show here will put a lot of weight behind our moves and demonstrate that there is real concern in the ranks about the industry.

If you require more info about the meeting, email me or call me on 07 3357 4424. 

Craig Wallace will have received all the information about the petitions and the case we are making about the lack of fair and just treatment. 

Most of what he was sent is on the web site under http://www.cdaq.org.au/2010reform/janpetition.htm and http://www.cdaq.org.au/2010reform/fairjusttaxi.htm should you wish to familiarise yourself with it before the meeting.

Basically, this is about putting extra push behind the cases we are presenting in the two petitions.  The more determined cabbies who turn up to insist that something needs to be done, the more it will resonate in parliament when the time comes. 

So be there and tell others to come.  Here are the details.

Gather at 2pm for 

2.15pm meeting

Friday 26th February,
in the office of Hon. Craig Wallace MP
Member for Thuringowa
Unit 8B, 48 Thuringowa Drive,
KIRWAN

Lee 

No vote is a vote against the Petitions

I cannot understand how anyone who has been in this industry for a year or more would not identify why the petitions are necessary for us to bring reform to the industry.

 

Particularly Taxi Companies' Abuse of Power over Drivers.

 

Given the recent cases of drivers all over the state, Nathan Macauley (Townsville), Del Delaney (Gladstone), David McTaggart (Toowoomba), do we need to prove the need to remove this power?  There are others that I will not mention because of current negotiations.

 

We should not have to look at recent cases.  We all know how this power has been abused and we know how it is stifling open discussion about reform in the industry.  If we need any more proof of how downtrodden and fearful it has made so many drivers, we only have to consider the astonishing reaction of those who agree with the propositions but will not sign because they are afraid the company might find out. 

 

If this is you, you should realise that if you do not vote for the petitions you are, in effect, voting for everything to stay the same.

 

After putting the propositions out there, the amount of support we get either proves what we say or that we are inventing or blowing out of proportion the situation.  To have any effect we must get the biggest possible demonstration of malcontent in the industry.

 

There is no reason for anyone to believe that there will be retribution.  Drivers have no excuse to sit on the fence.  They either want it to change or stay the same.

 

Time for the fencesitters to get down and vote. The links to the E-Petitions are beside this column and on the CDAQ home page.

 

Lee

 

CDAQ Information Banned at Brisbane Airport

It has been circulated in other emails of mine about the Taxi Council of Queensland complaining to the Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) about CDAQ members promoting and gathering signatures for our two petitions in the Brisbane Domestic Airport taxi feeder.


Last Thursday night, 4th February, I called to the Domestic taxi feeder at Brisbane Airport to distribute a reminder about the Brisbane and Ipswich sessions of the Workplace Rights Inquiry by Don Brown.

Many drivers were keen to take the handout and quite a few did not know about it or had forgotten.

I was then confronted by a Taxi Council of Queensland supervisor, well known to me, who told me that I was not allowed to distribute material in the feeder without the permission of the BAC. He distinctly told me, in front of witnesses, that it was me personally and anyone from CDAQ that was not allowed to hand out any material.

I explained that I was only handing out material about the upcoming meetings of Don Brown’s inquiry.

At no time up to that point had I discussed CDAQ activity or represented myself as anything more than a person who was passing information about the inquiry sessions except to say that if they want to talk about anything about the taxi industry good or bad, turn up and they will be given a chance to speak freely.

The supervisor insisted I leave. I said that I have received no instruction from BAC that the normal practice of handing out material at the airport was now denied. He brought out a copy of an email which he read to me aloud but refused to allow me to read it.

I said that, until I have viewed a written notice from BAC, I do not believe that BAC would directly ban CDAQ from providing information to drivers and, even so, I was not representing the CDAQ, only passing on information about the Workplace Rights inquiry.

Then he called Taxi Council of Queensland's Lenny Martin who came with a security guard to the feeder and I was instructed to leave.

I left after making a loud proclamation to all. Could not help myself because you never let a chance go by.

I called the BAC person in charge the next day and was told that she was aware of the petitions we were gathering signatures for at the feeder and she thought that it was not proper because BAC had a good relationship with the taxi companies and the Taxi Council of Queensland.

She stated that I would be required to get her approval to distribute any material or gather signatures at the feeder. I did explain that the petitions have no relation to BAC but she was not agreeable.

This is not finished but not collecting signatures at the Brisbane airport seriously hampers our ability to get a significant number. The ranks around the city are often too difficult to get to most times. So here’s hoping you can all spread the word and get people to sign on-line.

Details are on at http://www.cdaq.org.au/

This does not mean that the issue is finished at Brisbane Airport. Far from it. Will keep you informed there. However, it does show how desperate the Taxi Council of Queensland and others are to silence criticism.

Why are they so worried? Well I am sure that most drivers know why and that question was asked by many when they were considering legal action to the tune of $50,000 to start with in an effort to shut down Don Brown’s inquiry.

Any comments?

Lee

Entry December 24, 2009 - Townsville Visit - Nathan Macauley

Original Entry – Thursday, 24th December, 2009 (Transfer from former Notepad)

Townsville visit – Nathan Macauley

Just arrived back from 4 days in Townsville.

I met and spoke with a number of members but mainly went there to chase up on the case of member, Nathan Macauley, who had his PIN pulled seven months ago over a mishap with a private booking.

Despite being cleared twice by Queensland Transport, the manager of Townsville Taxis, Scott Rebgetz refused to reinstate him.

Could not get a lot of interest from the local media but Courier Mail thought it was worth a run. The newspaper’s North Queensland correspondent took the story, sent a photographer and the article appeared on page 17 this morning.

I know questions have been asked from the minister’s office down to Queensland Transport’s local office. It is ridiculous that we have to go these lengths to get some fairness.

I was approached by Nathan when in Townsville following the Don Brown Inquiry. He told me that he had been asked to write a letter of apology to the manager who would present it to the next committee meeting. They wanted a fair bit of grovelling which was over the top and not what I was prepared to write.

However, I helped with what I considered to be a more reasonable version. Nathan was happy and when I telephoned Mr Rebgetz to discuss it, he confirmed that it was sufficient to his request and all that would be needed to satisfy him.

The committee met and it was apparently not discussed. After a number of attempts to resolve the matter, Rebgetz stopped returning my calls.

It has gone on for far too long. A decent Australian driver has been denied the ability to earn a living and feed his family because of one error of judgement that is made by hundreds of drivers everyday.

I know of far worse offences committed by other drivers who were not suspended. To continually deny his ability to work for seven months for such a minor matter is a travesty. It demonstrates a ruthless abuse of power and suggests to me that Nathan is being used as a means to intimidate other drivers.

It is further reason why this power should be taken away from taxi companies and controlled directly by the regulator, Queensland Transport.

This is the main focus of our petition currently being composed and coming your way in the next few weeks.

On a brighter note, it was not all business. Finished the stay at the Seaview Hotel. A great spot and, even better, great company. Shared pizza and a few dinks with several Townsville members. Names withheld but thanks everyone. Thoroughly enjoyable few hours and I look forward to seeing you again in a few weeks when I return with the petition.

Entry 30/12/09 - 2010, Year of Reform for Queensland Taxi Industry.

(Transferred from original entry dated 30th December, 2009)

Last week was not a good week for the Taxi Council of Queensland.

The news about an attempt to stop the Workplace Rights Ombudsman's investigations, exposed that they are very worried about the inquiry's outcome and recommendations. They were considering spending $50,000 and more on an unwinnable injunction attempt.

The Courier Mail story early in the week (Taxi operators in stall bid) totally discredits the Taxi Council of Queensland as a responsible industry representative. They have continually claimed that there is nothing wrong and that the drivers have been inventing stories and now we find they had information about it all along.

Last Friday's story (Taxi fakers nabbed and Cabbie accused of duplicate licences) was more proof of our continual claims and warnings of the practices of some foreign students taxi drivers.

Today, the Courier Mail had the news that the driver charged, Kulbir Singh, seems to have absconded.

These fake licenses are everywhere. Our drivers have seen them, police have been seen carting alledged offenders away and all the while the minister has claimed that no one has been charged, therefore nothing is wrong.

The previous week we had the sexual assault charge on a foreign student driver. One of many this year. Most of them hushed up. He is out on bail.

Minister for Transport, Rachel Nolan, must stand up for this. It's time she got the L plates off and started taking responsibility for her job.
Continuously there have been claims this year of overcharging, dangerous driving, incompetent performance of service and a massive increase in insurance costs to the industry due to "at fault" accidents.

Yet it has all been denied by the Taxi Council of Queensland claiming that CDAQ is just a bunch of disgruntled taxi drivers spreading lies with evil intent of denegrating the industry.

We had to chase the trail of Yellow Car 831 and provide the information to the Courier Mail so that they could photograph and report the near fatal accident of a foreign student driver who was driving for 23 hours straight.

Until then, the accident "did not happen."

All along, the Taxi Council of Queensland was clinging to a hotline that had not been properly promoted and a "Mystery Shopper Survey" as proof that our claims and those of thousands of members of the public were false.

We have just received details of that survey which suggest that it is nothing like it is claimed to be.

We will be thoroughly examining the facts and releasing our findings soon.

Enough is Enough.

2009 has been a horror year for the reputation of the taxi industry in Queensland and the taxi drivers vow that there will be changes next year.

Over the Christmas/ New year break CDAQ with other associates will be composing a submission for Don Brown's inquiry which will parallel a petition we intend to send to parliament demanding reforms. Real ones this time.
2010 will be the year of reform. For all involved we vow it will be "Reform or Removal".

Lee Sims
The Secretary
We Declare 2010 "The Year of Reform for Queensland Taxi Industry".
http://www.cdaq.org.au/