Vta Annual Report
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2015/16 VTA ANNUAL REPORT Victorian Taxi Association Inc at 30 June 2016 President Past Presidents KF Gange SV Lunch: 1963-64 Vice President FA Lang: 1964-73, 1974-87, 1994-97 S Armstrong ML Traynor: 1973-74 Councillors AF Payton: 1987-89 N Andrianakis - Silver Top Taxi Service GF Bradd: 1989-94 S Armstrong – Ballarat Taxis P Franet: 1997-05 C Culph - Black Cabs Combined M D'Amico - West Suburban Taxis Executive Council K Dunn - Frankston Radio Cabs KF Gange J Eaton - Gippsland Region S Armstrong E Fitz - North East Region A Gilmartin A Gange - Silver Top Taxi Service G Hardeman KF Gange - Silver Top Taxi Service S Overell KM Gange - Silver Top Taxi Service N Sekhon T Guclu - North West Region P Valentine A Gilmartin - Silver Top Taxi Service G Hardeman – Black Cabs Combined Chief Executive Officer P Humphreys – Silver Top Taxi Service D Samuel K Mitchell - Taxi-cab Operators Collective ATIA Executive Member S Overell – Black Cabs Combined KM Gange T Saldias – Silver Top Taxi Service Association Secretary N Sekhon – 13CABS D Samuel Dandenong/Frankston Member of P Valentine - Geelong Taxi Network A ustralian Taxi Industry Association C Wells – Bendigo Taxis M Wright - Black Cabs Combined A Young – Western Region 2015/16 VTA ANNUAL REPORT Contents President's Report 2 CEO Report 4 Industry Engagement 6 VTA Projects 8 People 9 Government Engagement 10 Stakeholder Engagement 10 VicTaxi 12 Members 16 Minutes 2014/15 AGM 18 Notice AGM Agenda 19 Financial Report 21 Cufflink Holders 38 2015/16 VTA ANNUAL REPORT It is my pleasure to present the Annual Report and the Financial President’s Report for the year ended 30 June 2016. The Financial Report is in respect to the Victorian Taxi Association Inc (VTA) and its Controlled Entity. The Controlled Entity is Taxi Industry Training Report Victoria Pty Ltd, which is wholly owned by the VTA. Kevin F Grange It is obviously a very frustrating time for The main focus of the VTA in 2015-16 was President the industry in Victoria and everyone is contributing to discussions regarding the very keen to see a decision from future of the regulation that shapes our Government as to how to respond to the industry. During 2015-16 the Ministerial challenge of illegal operators. But we also Forum, established by the Minister on think it’s important that the Government coming to Government, met four times. takes the time to make the right decision The VTA were invited to participate in a and end the uncertainty that our industry smaller subcommittee looking specifically has been subjected to over the past five at how regulation should account for the years. We don’t want to be talking about emergence of ride hail services. The reforms again in six months’ time. subcommittee’s work was presented to the broader ministerial Forum towards the While still very challenging, 2015-16 did end of 2015. see some positive trends begin to emerge. We now have a more productive There were also a number of other relationship with Government. It was operational matters discussed throughout pleasing to note a significant shift in how the year. A key issue was the impact of Government worked with industry, with the Knowledge test on driver supply. The the Minister taking a far more collaborative VTA were concerned to see a sharp approach to managing the problems. contraction in the number of available taxi drivers, largely because they were unable We have also seen a reduction in the to pass the Knowledge test. This affected negative commentary about our industry’s both existing drivers (drivers who had performance and a greater focus on the driven for five years or less) and new regulatory inequalities that persist. On this drivers. The VTA strongly argued for note, it was pleasing to see customer urgent amendments to the test, and were satisfaction rating with our service successful in getting a number of these continued to improve during 2015. This is amendments implemented, but also a credit to taxi operators and taxi drivers argued for the complete removal of the who find themselves under tremendous test and a more industry based testing pressure. and monitoring regime. 2015-16 delivered a new Chief Executive The VTA expects the 2016-17 to be a Officer (CEO) of the Taxi Services busy year with more significant reform a Commission (TSC). Aaron de Rozario was real possibility. I would like to take this appointed to replace outgoing CEO opportunity to thank the VTA staff, Marnie Williams. Executive Councillor’s, Councillor’s and members for all their hard work and continued passion throughout this year. 2 The 2015-16 Financial Year The VTA focused primarily on working with CEO was a year dominated by government to establish a regulatory discussion and uncertainty solution to the emergence of greater competition in the CPV market. During the Report relating to the continuation of 2015-16 Financial Year, the VTA put a unregulated commercial significant policy proposal to the Victorian passenger vehicle services Minister for Public Transport outlining a way David Samuel (CPVs) in the form of a large, in which to regulate the CPV market which Chief Executive Officer organised and well-funded provided short term fairness for incumbent illegal service that competes industry participants who had invested in the taxi industry for many years and a directly for taxi patrons. regulatory framework that would help A number of cases were bought by the Taxi ensure a more sustainable regulatory Services Commission (TSC) against structure moving forward. operators of illegal ride hailing services in As at June 30 2016, the Government had the Magistrates’ Court. While the not announced its intention regarding the Magistrates’ Court ruled in favor of the TSC, regulation of ride hail services or officially the decision was ultimately overturned in responded to the VTA’s proposition. the County Court, resulting in legislative Throughout the year the VTA continued to amendment to close the loophole they engage in Government led committees relied upon for their defence. including the Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG), run by the TSC, and the Ministerial Forum, led by the Minister. 4 2015/16 VTA ANNUAL REPORT The VTA focused on a number of issues During 2015-16 the VTA delivered The VTA is grateful to our professional and reviews that arose during the 2015- a number of key initiatives, including partners, including Bastion S&GO, Logie 16 Financial Year. These included: but not limited to: Smith Lanyon, and our counterparts in • A Review of the Multi-Purpose Taxi • The 2015 VTA State conference other States and Territories. Program (MPTP). • The 2015 Annual Lunch Finally, I would like to thank my great team • An interim review of the implied • #YourTaxis of staff at the VTA for their hard work and conditions mandatory to all support over the last 12 months. I would • Engaging Bastion S&GO agreements between operators and also like to thank all members of the drivers. • Attended the Australian Taxi Industry Executive Council and Council for their Association’s Annual Conference, Gold • Continued work on a new taxi meter contribution and support. Coast specification for taxis in Victoria. • Hosted driver lunches • A review by the Essential Services Commission (ESC) of the impact of • Attended regional meetings Price Notification in Country and with VTA members. Regional zones. At a broader level the VTA: • A review of Victorian taxi fares • Continued to engage with all relevant by the ESC. political stakeholders and key decision • A review of vehicle age makers limit regulations. • Engaged with the Taxi Services • Implementation of a four million dollar Commission hardship fund for those licence holders • Invested significantly in community who were able to demonstrate engagement significant financial hardship stemming • Represented the industry in the media from the Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry. and in other public forums. 5 Industry Engagement Region Meetings Country Group Driver events The VTA travelled around the state this The Country Group, comprised of an We hosted two lunch events for drivers – year for regular region meetings, as well as elected member from each of the four VTA one in November catered by Mr Burger for some important meetings focused on Regions, along with a representative from and another in February with Happy the implementation of network rules Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat met on Camper Pizza. Both events were well following the preparation of model mornings prior to Council Meetings. The attended and good conversations were network rules for members. Members from Country Group used the opportunity to had between drivers and VTA staff. Many across the state joined VTA staff in discuss issues that impacted country taxi of them focused on updates on the Uber Wodonga, Warrnambool, Wangaratta, St businesses in particular and acted as a court case and understanding the Arnaud, Shepparton, Sale, Morwell, forum to hear about and contribute ideas Government’s process for making a Mildura, Echuca, Bendigo, Benalla, to the work the VTA was doing to decision on the future of industry Ballarat and Bairnsdale. represent the Victorian taxi industry. regulation. We also shared information about the ESC Fare Review and the work Operative Collective the VTA did with SGS Economics about The VTA Operative Collective also the contribution of the taxi industry in continued to meet on a regular basis and Victorian to the State and Federal we saw membership in this category grow economies, among other projects. strongly. This has proved a valuable forum for operators to have their voice heard and to understand what was happening in the industry and to exchange information. 6 2015/16 VTA ANNUAL REPORT State Conference Opposite Page: Annual Lunch (from left to right) In 2015, the VTA State Conference was held in Bendigo.