Stakeholders in Victoria’s taxi industry will gather on January 22nd in Dandenong to thrash out a united front on how to create a better service for customers.
The forum will take place just days before the extra period of public consultation finishes on the controversial recommendations contained within the Allan Fels Taxi Industry Inquiry report.
Organised by Taxi Industry Stakeholders Victoria Inc, the forum is timed to give one last opportunity to those wishing to influence the Baillieu government’s thinking on the future of the industry.
Harry Katsiabanis, director of Taxilink – one of Melbourne’s largest taxi fleet agencies – is the architect of the forum.
Mr Katsiabanis said that the forum’s purpose was not to contest the Fels Inquiry’s recommendations, but to hear from stakeholders what should be done to improve the industry.
“It’s bringing everyone together to establish the issues and to report back with a strategic plan,” Mr Katsiabanis told Neos Kosmos.
“We’re asking industry bodies that have made submissions to the Fels Inquiry – including disability groups, public transport users, Tourism Victoria, and other taxi stakeholders including government bodies.
“Anyone who has made a submission and wants to attend is welcome.”
Taxilink’s director said that the intention was to gather information on where taxi customer satisfaction levels needed to improve.
Following the forum a jointly-authored report is to be compiled and submitted to the Victorian Government before January 30th – the deadline for final submissions in response to the Fels Report
Asked what such a late submission could achieve, Mr Katsiabanis said: “The information we’ve had from Allan Fels is second-hand, third-hand information. We want to hear from the horse’s mouth what the issues are.
“Last week the Victorian Taxi Directorate presented satisfaction ratings that have improved significantly, so we want to know what is going on.
“The VTD is providing new information, showing a 68 per cent satisfaction rate. Let’s see what’s going on and where we need to improve.”
Mr Katsiabanis denied that the forum was being organised by an industry reluctant to accept reforms proposed in the Fels Report.
“This is not a gathering of propaganda. This is a conference that will gather information on where the public see the need for improvement,” said Katsiabanis.
“The industry is looking for reform and it was the industry that prompted the minister to undertake the Fels Inquiry. Let’s understand what is really the truth of the industry. The industry wants reform to be able to deliver a world class taxi service.
“We want to hear it from the customer, and the people engaged in our services, not Allan Fels.”
The day-long event will take place at the Chisholm Institute campus in Dandenong. Neos Kosmos understands that the Victorian Taxi Directorate will attend as an observer.
For more info on the forum go to www.taxivictoria.com.au or email eva@taxivictoria.com.au