Michael Ferguson,Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is taking further action to support our vital taxi industry and get more taxis on the road.
Operators are currently struggling to keep up with demand due to driver shortages.
To get more drivers behind the wheel and more taxis back on our roads, we’re making it cheaper and simpler for people to become a taxi driver by reducing the costs of becoming authorised and streamlining the authorisation process.
Representatives of the industry have worked in partnership with Government on this arising from our pro-industry reforms which we are implementing.
Payments of up to $600 per new driver are now available to help taxi operators and networks recruit new drivers by covering the cost of driver training and authorisation.
Since COVID-19 struck, many drivers left the industry as there wasn’t enough work to keep them gainfully employed.
Now passenger numbers have returned, there aren’t enough drivers to keep all of the taxis on the road with about 15 per cent estimated to be sitting unused or underused.
On top of the $600 payment for up to 100 new taxi drivers, we’re also extending the time for new drivers to submit their National Police Certificate and medical clearances from 15 February 2022 to 1 May 2022.
We’re also streamlining the taxi training course so that it becomes cheaper and quicker to become a taxi driver which will start mid-2022.
While the streamlined process will make it quicker and easier to become a taxi driver, we haven’t cut back on the safety and competency requirements for drivers.
Drivers will still need criminal history, traffic offences and medical history checks and will still have to complete mandatory training on safety, anti-discrimination, securing and loading wheelchairs, use of smartcards and communicating with people with special needs.
Taxi operators and networks can find the recruitment grant program guidelines and information on how to apply at stategrowth.tas.gov.au/grants_and_funding_opportunities
