Emergency funding will become available from early 2025 and will be succeeded by a longer-term program of sector-led reforms. The Minns Labor Government will be seeking legislative changes to support the ongoing reform and to introduce a sustainable funding source.
The $15 million emergency package is in response to the Key Findings Report on Availability of Wheelchair Accessible Transport Services, which found that that the decreasing number of wheelchair accessible taxis has often left people with disability stranded.
People with disability have reported having to miss key appointments, social functions, and being unable to participate in their communities because they couldn’t access transportation.
In October 2019 there were 941 Wheelchair Accessible Taxis, today there are only 625 registered in NSW – a one-third decline in five years.
There are multiple factors causing this decline, including the reported decreasing commercial attractiveness of operating or driving a Wheelchair Accessible Taxi, ageing vehicles, difficulty purchasing or modifying a vehicle to comply with safety standards and a shortage of drivers.
But the consequences for people with a disability are clear.
The Minns Labor Government will address the market failure that escalated under the previous government with a short-term funding injection while finalising long term reform to bolster transport accessibility for our disability community right across NSW.
The emergency package includes:
- $12 million to the Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Driver Incentive Scheme (WATDIS) to increase the standard day rate from $15 to $25 per passenger journey, loaded pick-up rates for evenings and a $50 rate for public holidays.
- Interest Free loans of up to $125,000 per vehicle.
- Up to $2 million to establish a new grant program that will assist with the costs associated with modifying and operating a WAT.
- $750,000 to develop and implement new training resources for drivers aimed at enhancing disability awareness and safety. People with disability will be consulted and involved in both the development and delivery of the new training modules.
The Government will work with the disability community to develop the next phase of wheelchair taxi assistance. This work will assess key elements of the emergency program and will provide direction on a longer-term suite of assistance measures, including:
- Reviewing and upgrading the centralised booking service to meet the needs of passengers across NSW
- Improving the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS)
- Using technology to better monitor driver compliance and enabling rapid feedback from service users
- Undertake trials of new service models for wheelchair accessible services
- Ensuring that data collection is optimised to inform program operations
The two elements of this program – the emergency funding and the long-term funding arrangements - will ensure sustainable services for this important community.
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:
“It is unacceptable that people with disability are being denied the right to participate in their communities - to get to a job interview, a medical appointment or a friend’s place - simply because they can’t get around.
“This emergency package funds immediate change while the government begins long term reform.
“This issue has been ignored and underfunded for too long under the former government. We cannot allow this crisis to repeat itself.”
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:
“It’s been getting harder and harder for wheelchair accessible taxis to operate across our state. Over the last five years, the number of wheelchair accessible taxis has dropped by 33 per cent.
“This situation cannot go on. So many people with a disability rely on wheelchair accessible taxis to get them where they need to go. For some people there is no alternative mode of transport. That’s why this emergency funding package is so important.
“We want to give drivers and operators a better incentive to stay in the industry, we want to make it easier to modify and operate an accessible taxi and give drivers better training. This will help keep wheelchair accessible taxis on our roads and make sure the people who need them get a better service too.”
Minister for Disability inclusion Kate Washington said:
“This is about equality and inclusion for people with a disability. Everyone in NSW should be able to access transport services – including taxi services. This package gives certainty to people with a disability while the government works to deliver a longer solution.
“We heard loud and clear from people with disability, about the impact on their lives, of a lack of access to taxis, especially in regional NSW. This emergency funding package is designed to help connect people with disability to their communities so they can get to work, go shopping or catch up with friends.”
Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:
“For people with a disability in the regions, no wheelchair accessible taxis can mean no travel at all.
“I want to thank everyone from across regional NSW who were a part of the roundtables we held across the state. The Minns Labor Government has developed this funding package to support wheelchair accessible taxis in response to your involvement and your feedback.
“This package, along with our roll out of the new more accessible Mariyung fleet of trains and investments in station upgrades through the Safe Accessible Transport (SAT) program, reinforce our commitment to ensuring people with a disability have better access to public transport.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Disability inclusion Liesl Tesch said:
“It is fantastic to see real action from the Minns Labor Government to ensure that taxi services remain accessible for all people across NSW. This is funding that will ensure people with a disability are able to access transport services to get from place to place.”
