The SCI Australia Policy Team would like to bring to your attention the details of the current NSW Taxi Industry Inquiry which is taking place through the NSW Upper House (Senate) and encourage you to make a written submission prior to January 22, 2010 if you have any issues with the wheelchair accessible taxi service or taxi issues in general.

The submission needs to address the 'Terms of Reference' of which a number specifically relate to the wheelchair accessible taxi service. The 'Terms of Reference' also includes 'Any other related matter' which provides the opportunity to raise any issue that is impacting on you as an individual or in general.

Common issues relevant to the Terms of Reference include:

• the delay in taxi response times to bookings
• the lack of wheelchair accessible taxis in your area, town or region
• the cost of taxi fares in relation to the Taxi Transport

Subsidy Scheme (which has not increased since 1999) and is a particular issue for people living in rural or regional areas travelling vast distances

• the make and model of some wheelchair accessible taxis that may not provide appropriate room to accommodate a person using a wheelchair that might result in a booked taxi to arrive and be unable to transport the person using a wheelchair requiring the booking needing to be recalled and the passenger being delayed to get to their destination e.g. medical appointment, a function, movies, theatre, shopping etc
• some taxi drivers taking a long time to set up the vehicle and/or assisting the wheelchair user into the vehicle and applying the wheelchair restraints and seatbelt while the taxi meter is turned on accumulating a relatively large fare prior to the journey commencing.

Further information about the inquiry and contact details are available at the NSW Parliamentary website

For your convenience, the SCI Australia Policy Team has created a 'NSW WAT Inquiry' submission template which is available at the SCI Australia website

The NSW Taxi Industry Inquiry will provide a unique opportunity for people with disability to raise issues and provide feedback on wheelchair accessible taxi services that many people are totally reliant upon and often their only option for accessible transport.

If you would like to discuss or clarify any of issues please contact Sean Lomas on 02 9661 8855 (Toll-Free: 1800 819 775) or e-mail: policyteam@scia.org.au.