Monday 17 February 2025
The head of Victoria’s taxi regulator must be removed following disturbing revelations of a widespread culture of fraud, abuse, and exploitation, enabled by the largest cab operators in the state.
Safe Transport Victoria, the regulator, has run out of chances and clearly is not living by its motto “Safe journeys, every time”.
It is clear there is need for a total overhaul at Safe Transport Victoria as the same issues keep re-surfacing despite changes made in 2023 to mandate the use of meters for unbooked trips after constant rorting.
At the time, then Minister for Public Transport, Ben Carroll declared: “These changes will improve taxi services for Victorians – giving passengers certainty they can get home safely, especially during busy major events.”
Clearly, he was wrong.
Reports of drivers extorting and abusing vulnerable passengers show it is far too easy for passengers to be ripped off, with one hospital being exploited more than 700 times.
Disgusting footage of a 13Cabs driver abusing disabled passengers, and failing to ensure their safety and wellbeing, as well as “treating them like cash cows” shows that these behaviours have been going on for too long.
Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs, Tim McCurdy, said that the bombshell revelations were beneath what Victorian consumers expect when they book a cab and change had to happen.
“Victorians deserve to be safe from abuse and exploitation when they book a cab – and that starts at the top with the regulator,” Mr McCurdy said.
“If Safe Transport Victoria can’t deliver on the heavily spruiked motto on its web page, it is time for change.
“Fraud is rife in the industry, and cab companies are complicit in allowing this to happen, failing vulnerable consumers.”
