Bathurst Taxis call for a licence buyback scheme to be considered in reforms

On Wednesday, the state government announced a comprehensive package of reforms for the point to point transport industry in response to an independent review into taxis, hire vehicles and ride share providers.

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The reforms include removing the limit of available taxi licences to allow drivers to operate more freely and changing restrictions on operating areas to give drivers more flexibility to conduct business.

But Bathurst Taxis secretary-manager Dean Shadbolt said the removal of the limit could further lessen the value of licences.

"Most taxi licences on Bathurst roads cost roughly $180,000, and we fear the increase in plates could further devalue those owned by drivers who've held them for years," Mr Shadbolt said.

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"We haven't had a price increase since 2014, and our operating expenses [i.e. petrol] aren't going down any time soon."

The reforms also include setting up an appropriate industry assistance scheme to balance the effects of changes made to taxi licencing.

However, the independent review is separate to a December report from a NSW upper house parliamentary committee recommending the development and implementation of a taxi licence buyback scheme.

"The buyback would benefit operators who have lost value in their plates because of the introduction of ride share," Mr Shadbolt said.

While the taxi industry in Sydney has faced significant competition from ride share industries such as Uber, Bathurst has, so far, escaped significant challenge, despite initial concerns.

Mr Shadbolt said local taxis are currently experiencing a favourable turnover in business, up from 2019.

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"Business is going reasonably strong, which is likely due to an increase in population and lessened COVID restrictions," he said.

"The government's Regional Seniors Travel Card has helped as well, as we've attracted customers who may not have been regular taxi users before."

Bathurst MP Paul Toole said the state government will continue working closely with the industry through the transition to ensure the continued delivery of point to point transport services in regional areas.

"We know how important taxis are in regional communities - not just getting people from A to B but providing critical services that allow less mobile residents to access healthcare, shopping or visit family and friends," Mr Toole said.

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