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.