Passenger Transport (Point to Point Transport Services) Amendment Bill 2025

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:18): 

I rise to speak on the Passenger Transport (Point to Point Transport Services) Amendment Bill 2025. The bill makes a number of amendments to the Passenger Transport Act in order to reform the point to point passenger transport industry, which comprises taxis, chauffeurs and rideshare vehicles. As many honourable members have already highlighted, the industry has changed significantly since the introduction of rideshare operators such as Uber in 2017, which had an undeniable impact on taxidrivers. It is clear that reforms are needed, and the bill draws on the recommendations from the Passenger Transport Act Review released in August last year.

One of the biggest changes proposed in the bill is the removal of the limit on the number of taxis that can operate and the removal of perpetual licences for taxis. Instead, there will be an uncapped annual taxi licence regime. The bill provides for the buyback of taxi licences to compensate those who have already invested in the taxi industry. I understand it is anticipated for this buyback scheme to run over the course of approximately eight years, with a set amount to be paid to each taxi plate owner in every year of the buyback period.

The minister has stated that each eligible licence holder will receive $200,000 for the first metropolitan taxi licence held and $10,000 for each subsequent licence, up to a total of six licences. It is proposed that access taxi licence holders will receive $100,000 for their first access taxi plate and $10,000 for each subsequent licence. This scheme will be funded by the point to point transport service transaction levy, which was introduced after rideshare entered the market in 2017. The $1 levy was introduced to help fund support packages for the taxi industry and also to support other industry initiatives, such as the lifting fee for people who use a wheelchair or a large mobility device in access taxis.

The bill would enable the levy amount to be set by regulation, and it will be doubled to $2 per trip. The bill will also introduce three distinct accreditation types of booking service providers, general passenger transport service providers and passenger transport drivers. There is a new framework for vehicle authorisation in the bill, with vehicles being required to meet prescribed standards, including identification and safety requirements. Provisions are also made for the cancellation of a person's accreditation if they commit a prescribed offence, breach the new general safety duty or no longer meet the accreditation requirements.

I now turn to the feedback I have received from industry stakeholders and raise some of the concerns that have been put to me about several key changes proposed by this bill. Firstly, the abolition of the Passenger Transport Standards Committee has been highlighted to me and to other honourable members as a key concern. In its place there is a significant expansion of ministerial discretion under this legislation and a removal of any mechanism for independent industry consultation.

While the minister has stated that there will be an internal review mechanism and provision for appeals to be made to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, it is concerning that the government is so keen to eliminate any independent oversight or review of regulatory decisions and standard setting. From the briefing my office received from the government, I understand that the minister and the department believe that the current standards committee is ineffective and largely focused on trivial matters that create an administrative burden for the department. While this may be the case, these concerns could be addressed through reform and modernisation, rather than abolition.

Further concerns regarding ministerial overreach in accreditation licencing have been raised, with stakeholders being concerned that nearly all accreditation decisions are under the direct control of the minister, with very few or no checks on this power. Other more specific concerns have been raised in regard to the introduction of surge pricing controls and vehicle camera requirements.

I understand from the government briefing that there is intended to be a significant lead time for the introduction of cameras in rideshare vehicles so that the government can work through the practicalities surrounding ownership of data and how it will be stored and accessed. I appreciate that cameras are an important safety measure for both drivers and passengers, but it is important that we get the implementation right, particularly in regard to rideshare vehicles that may also be used for private purposes.

There are a number of amendments that have been filed by honourable members addressing some of these concerns. I would like to indicate that I will be supporting the Hon. Robert Simms' amendment, which clearly outlines the purposes for which the levy may be applied. This will strengthen the transparency and accountability of how money is spent. I am happy to support this sensible amendment.

The opposition has indicated that they will be moving amendments requiring the establishment of an industry council for passenger transport regulation that must undertake a review of all legislative instruments under the act. I believe this is an important measure to maintain a level of independent oversight and industry consultation in the interests of enhancing transparency, accountability and integrity. For that, I indicate my support for the opposition's amendment.

Should the opposition amendment not pass this place, I will be supporting the Hon. Connie Bonaros' amendment, particularly given her amendment requires the minister to consult with industry and passenger representatives before making any designated regulations. I think that is very sensible. With those remarks, I commend the bill.