Title : 'Totally betrayed': Taxi drivers call Uber compensation scheme a 'slap in the face'
link : 'Totally betrayed': Taxi drivers call Uber compensation scheme a 'slap in the face'
'Totally betrayed': Taxi drivers call Uber compensation scheme a 'slap in the face'
After driving taxis for 40 years, Pat Hart had hoped to use a WA Government offer of a taxi plate buyback to get out of the industry she'd devoted the best part of her life to and set herself up for retirement.
But those plans have been destroyed, Ms Hart says, by a "totally unfair" package put forward by the Government as part of its long-awaited industry funded scheme.
"[I feel] a little bit cheated, which is an understatement," Ms Hart said.
"Some of my friends are well into their 70s and they feel totally betrayed."
Ms Hart had been expecting an offer of around $200,000 to hand her taxi license plate back, but that seems unlikely now Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has announced details of the industry reform — which includes a 10 per cent levy on all on-demand transport operators.
Under the scheme, plate owners could be compensated as much as $250,000, but the amount is less for those who purchased theirs long ago.
Ms Hart is now just expecting to be offered around $80,000.
"It's a lifetime's work and to be offered that price is a slap in the face, because that's what I paid for my plates in 1988," she said.
"They haven't given us a fair deal."
Uber halved business
Ms Hart estimated her business more than halved after Uber entered the Perth market just over three years ago, costing her around $30,000 a year in revenue.
During that time she had to use retirement savings to pay household bills, a story which is all too familiar for the group that represents around 1,000 taxi plate owners.
"It has broken families, it has left a lot destitute," Athan Tsirigotis, Taxi Operators' Legal Defence Group spokesman, said.
Mr Tsirigotis described his plates as his superannuation, getting emotional as he reflected on upheaval in the industry in recent years.
"It sounds silly but I have got an emotional attachment to the industry and I just feel, 'don't cut my legs off, because I am worth something'," he said.
"To me it is beyond a job, it is part of my fabric."
Mr Tsirigotis said there would be mixed views within the industry of the Government's buyback plans, which offer owners a far greater amount than the $20,000-per-plate compensation made available last year by the Barnett government.
"It is very polarising — for some it gets them out of trouble and for others it is not enough of a recompense," he said.
But Premier Mark McGowan said the reforms put forward found the right balance.
"These people have not been fairly dealt with and the response provided before was haphazard and inadequate," Mr McGowan said.
"But we want to fix the situation once and for all."
Higher fares warning
While some taxi plate owners are disappointed with the announcement, frustration from punters also looms as a strong possibility.
Ms Saffioti urged operators — such as Uber, other ride-share companies and taxi dispatch services — not to pass the full cost of the 10 per cent levy to consumers.
But she acknowledged cost increases loomed for the public, given operators will now have to hand over 10 per cent of fare revenue.
Uber was on the front foot quickly and said consumers would ultimately end up footing the bill.
"What we're talking about here is a new tax on transport and it is the highest of its kind in Australia," an Uber spokesman said.
The reaction to looming fare estimates for taxis and Ubers drew concern from some punters on the street.
"I don't think we should be paying any more for taxi or Uber fares, I think it's ridiculous," Brad Hatfield, 55, said.
"I don't think we should be the ones bearing the brunt of it, it's not our fault."
Others warned they would not be prepared to pay any more for a taxi.
"Not for taxis but for Uber I'd pay a little bit more," Tim Dixon, 25, said.
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