In February 2021, Rod successfully moved a motion to begin an Inquiry into the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) after the MPTP was extended to Uber.
The committee held a number of hearings, all of which were incredibly damning for both Uber and Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV).
Rod began the Inquiry into the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program because he believed that both the taxi industry and those people with disabilities deserved to understand the reasons behind this decision.
What we learned, was that the CPVV did not care about the impacts of this decision, have failed in their responsibility to record and manage data, and have shown a disdain for accountability throughout the entire committee process.
The final report was tabled in Parliament on the 5th of April 2022. The report outlines a number of recommendations that include introducing minimum safety standards to the MPTP and also instructs the CPVV to urgently conduct an audit on how many wheelchair accessible vehicles there are in Victoria.
If you want to read more of the recommendations in the full report, you can find it here: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/eic-lc/inquiries/article/4643
The Government is required to respond within six months of the report being tabled. Once the response is received, it will be available for download here: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/eic-lc/inquiries/article/4645
Background
This inquiry was brought forward by Rod to ensure that there are sufficient protections in place for our most vulnerable citizens.
With the announcement of the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) being extended to ride share, this inquiry became more important than ever.
For years, the MPTP has been carried out successfully by the taxi industry. It is Rods belief that the decision to allow ride share, as they currently operate, to service work through the MPTP puts the rights, welfare, and security of our most vulnerable citizens in question.
Taxis are required to have fixed, tamper-proof cameras and fixed in-vehicle GPS tracking devices that are designed to protect passengers and drivers. Ride share has no such requirements.
With the MPTP program extended, there must be a thorough investigation of up-to-date safety standards that can protect vulnerable passengers.
Ultimately, this inquiry is about safety and protecting our most vulnerable from abuse and exploitation.
The Report for this Inquiry was tabled on 5 April 2022.
See what Rod had to say about the report here
Speech on Report from the Inquiry into the MPT Program
No Description
