Taxi Buy Backs in other States of Australia
Deregulation of the Taxi Industry around Australia
Northern Territory
Government deregulated entry to the taxi, minibus and hire car industry in the NT from 1 January 1999. This deregulation was accompanied by a buy-back of taxi plates, with the $25m cost of this scheme to be funded by the introduction of licence fees ($16,000 per annum for taxis in Darwin). You can download The Impact of Deregulation on the Northern Territory Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry (PDF 152KB)
Western Australia
On-demand Passenger Transport Levy was created to fund the Perth Taxi Plate Buyback Scheme. $129 million to buy back eligible taxi plates. “Through funds raised by the levy, we have recovered most the costs for financial support provided to plate owners through taxi plate buyback payments, as well as the $9 million COVID-19 relief package provided to industry in 2020”.
The Levy is 10 percent of the fare payable for the on-demand passenger transport provided as a result of the booking – the maximum levy payable on a booking will be $10. Minister’s office – 6552 5500
Victoria
The government now wants to buy back these licences, compensate taxi licence holders by paying $100,000 for their first licence and $50,000 for up to three others. $378 million will be allocated to providing assistance to current taxi licence holders to help them transition to the new framework, while a $75 million ‘Fairness Fund’ will help to provide targeted support to participants experiencing immediate financial hardship as a result of the new legislation – including $25 million to improve access to convenient, reliable transport for people with a disability.
According to the Victorian Government website, a $500 million assistance package has now been paid to those most impacted by industry transition.
A $1.05 per trip industry levy (the commercial passenger vehicle service levy) has applied to all commercial passenger vehicle trips since 1 July 2018.
New South Wales
On 17 November 2022 the NSW Parliament passed the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Amendment Bill 2022. The total package value of $905 million consists of $145 million already paid and a further $760 million in financial assistance.
So what happened to ACT Buy Back?
| Australian State | Impact and implementation | Total Buy Back Amount for Taxi Plates/Licences |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Territory (NT) | The Northern Territory (NT) Government deregulated entry to the taxi, in the NT from 1 January 1999. This deregulation was accompanied by a buy-back of taxi plates, with the $25m cost of this scheme to be funded by the introduction of licence fees ($16,000 per annum for taxis in Darwin). | $25 million |
| Western Australia (WA) | April 2019 the 10 per cent levy was introduced On-demand Passenger Transport Levy Levy was created to fund the Perth Taxi Plate Buyback Scheme. The Levy is 10 per cent of the fare payable for the on-demand passenger transport provided as a result of the booking - the maximum levy payable on a booking will be $10. | $129 million |
| Victoria (Vic) | A $500 million assistance package has now been paid to those most impacted by industry transition. The support package includes: 1. Transition assistance payments 2. Fairness Fund 3. Rebates to annual and peak service licence holders. A $1.05 per trip industry levy (the commercial passenger vehicle service levy) has applied to all commercial passenger vehicle trips since 1 July 2018. | $500 million |
| New South Wales | 17 Nov 2022 NSW Parliament passed the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Amendment Bill 2022. The total package value of $905 million consists of $145 million already paid and a further $760 million in financial assistance. | $905 million |