The Labor ACT Government  currently in 2026 maintains that it will not replicate the relief packages or license buyback schemes seen in neighbouring jurisdictions like New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia. 

Unlike the ACT’s governments approach, nearly every other Australian state and territory has implemented or finalised a taxi license buyback or transition scheme. These programs are designed to assist traditional perpetural taxi licence owners and owner operators whose plates lost substantial value following the introduction and legalisation of rideshare networks like Uber. The primary jurisdictions in Australia that have established taxi license buybacks or large-scale financial transition schemes include:

New South Wales (NSW)The Scheme: NSW finalised a comprehensive $905 million transition and compensation package.The Details: Under the Point to Point Transport Amendment Bill, the state effectively canceled existing perpetual taxi licenses to fully deregulate the industry. Eligible metropolitan owners received $150,000 per ordinary perpetual license (capped at six plates). Regional operators were allocated between $40,000 and $195,000 per plate with no cap.Funding Source: This package is funded via an ongoing passenger service trip levy (which was increased to $1.20).

Victoria The Scheme: Victoria was one of the earliest states to completely deregulate and establish a major $500 million assistance and buyback package. Funding Source: Funded by a per-trip commercial passenger vehicle service levy ($1.05 per trip).

Western Australia (WA)The Scheme: WA implemented the Perth Taxi Plate Buyback Scheme, a package totaling roughly $129 million.  Finalised through the Department of Transport WA, the voluntary buyback offered plate holders baseline payouts depending on the plate type. Conventional metropolitan plates received a minimum of $100,000 per plate, while restricted or peak-period plates received lower tiered payouts. Funding Source: Funded by a 10% on-demand passenger transport booking levy, which wrapped up ahead of schedule once the buyback targets were met.

The Scheme: Following a landmark point-to-point review, South Australia finalised a major metropolitan taxi license buyback scheme.The Details: The government agreed to buy back roughly 1,000 devalued plates. Eligible operators who owned standard metropolitan plates before the arrival of rideshare are paid $200,000 for their first license and $10,000 for each subsequent license (up to six). Wheelchair-accessible “Access Taxi” plates receive a base of $100,000.Funding Source: Financed by doubling SA’s point-to-point passenger transport levy from $1 to $2.

Northern Territory (NT)The Scheme: Long before the era of modern rideshare apps, the NT managed a historical $25 million buyback scheme when it fully deregulated entry to its taxi and minibus industry.

Financial Bottom Line for Taxi Owners and Operators

The ACT taxi industry is longer sustainable in 2026, driven by a compounding crisis of asset devaluation, intense competition from rideshare networks, and surging operating costs.  Taxi Licence Owners in ACT continue to seek a buyback from ACT Government. Andrew Barr Letter makes it clear that the measures in place are not working.

What we in the taxi industry are asking for

On behalf of ACT perpetual taxi licence holders, the ACTTPOA formally requests that the ACT Government:

• design and fund a taxi licence buyback and/or industry transition assistance scheme for ACT perpetual taxi licence holders, consistent with the schemes already delivered in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia;
• meet with the ACTTPOA as a matter of urgency to discuss the scale of the crisis facing the industry and the design of an appropriate scheme; and
• commit to a public timeframe for announcing a scheme, given the continuing exit of operators from the industry and the ongoing erosion of licence value while the ACT Government considers its position.

The ACTTPOA remains willing to work constructively with you and your officials to reach a fair and lasting outcome for perpetual taxi licence holders and operators. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss this matter further.