A dispute between taxi drivers from New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland has attracted the attention of government officials as the State of Origin decider approaches. The NSW government has urged Queensland authorities to address a perceived inequality that allows Queensland taxis to pick up return fares in NSW, while NSW drivers face restrictions when trying to do the same across the border.
A spokesperson for the NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads highlighted that this situation creates a financial disadvantage for NSW taxi drivers. Although NSW cabs can take passengers into Queensland, they are not permitted to collect return fares, leaving NSW residents in need of reliable transport services after medical appointments in Queensland without options. This has led to extended wait times for those trying to return home in trusted NSW vehicles.
NSW Minister for Transport John Graham has reached out to his Queensland counterpart, Brent Mickelberg, requesting the resolution of this issue, emphasising that the rivalry between the states should not negatively impact taxi services. He noted that both states compete in various sectors, including tourism and sports, and therefore deserve a level playing field concerning transportation regulations.
Nick Abrahim, CEO of the NSW Taxi Council, welcomed the prospect of increased cross-border operational flexibility for NSW drivers, advocating for measures that would allow all passengers to return in NSW taxis regardless of their trip’s origin.
In 2007, legislation granted Queensland taxis the capability to handle cross-border fares, leaving NSW drivers with limitations except for specific licensed cab ranks in Queensland. A Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesperson confirmed this discrepancy, asserting that different regulations govern the two states. While NSW drivers can move from NSW to Queensland using either state’s taxis, the arrangement for Queensland taxis to operate in NSW remains under NSW government jurisdiction.
Furthermore, the Queensland authorities indicated that they were unaware of any previous requests by NSW to reconsider these cross-border arrangements. It remains a subject for the Queensland government to deliberate, as there have been no reported complaints from passengers regarding the current taxi operation systems.
As the two states prepare for the impending State of Origin clash, the focus remains on ensuring fair regulations for taxi drivers to benefit both industries and their customers.