Minister Relying on Greens to do the Work
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today revealed that they are surveying the Sorell municipality to determine demand for a taxi service, in order to bring pressure to bear on Infrastructure Minister Graeme Sturges to take the steps necessary to allow for a viable taxi service around Sorell.
Greens Member for Lyons, Tim Morris MP, said Sorell is currently without a taxi service because of the Bartlett Government’s insistence that Sorell, Dodges Ferry, Midway Point and Lewisham remain within the Hobart taxi district which means that a taxi licence costs operators more than $60,000 when licences for other regional Tasmanian towns cost less than $11,000.
Mr Morris also said that he believes strong demand already exists for a taxi service around Sorell, but he will be surveying the area regardless and using the results to push the Bartlett Government to establish a Sorell taxi district that will allow taxis to operate in the area after paying a fair licence fee.
“I am now surveying the Sorell municipality and while I will be taking the results directly to Minister Sturges, it is actually the Minister’s decision to deny Sorell its own taxi district that is keeping taxi’s out of the area right now,” said Mr Morris.
“Any taxi operator who has to pay more than $60,000 for their licence needs to stay near the Hobart CBD, bus malls and major shopping districts in order to get an adequate return on the investment they have made.”
“Minister Sturges is not currently interested in finding out about demand in Sorell for a taxi service, but he has undertaken to look at establishing a taxi district for Sorell if the Greens can prove that the demand exists.” [1]
“I actually believe that there is already strong demand in the Sorell municipality for a taxi service, and that the only reason why there is no service right now is the Bartlett Government’s decision to place Sorell in the same taxi district as Hobart, meaning that a taxi licence costs about $50,000 more than it should.”
“The Greens are calling on all people living in and around Sorell to return our survey form, or to visit the following local businesses where survey forms and return boxes are available: the Sorell Family Medical Centre, Gordon Highlander Hotel, Sorell On-Line Access Centre, Sorell Council Chambers, Chemist Warehouse Sorell, Lewisham Tavern, Dodges Ferry Chemist, Dodges Ferry Medical Centre, and the Dodges Ferry Café & Bar,” said Mr Morris.
Reference:
[1] “The only other issue was the demand for a taxi service in Sorell. My offer still stands. If you [Greens MP Tim Morris] undertake the research and you can make a case, then I am prepared to have a look at establishing a defined area for Sorell.”
[Infrastructure Minister Graeme Sturges, responding to Greens MP Tim Morris in Parliament, Parliamentary Hansard, 28 October 2009,
http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/
HansardHouse/isysquery/
85686dc3-f51f-4d0d-826e-a4cf3b922ef7/2/doc/ ]
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Tim Morris MP Greens Member for Lyons
