Dear Endre
Thank you for writing to me again regarding this matter.
I have previously written to the Minister for Transport outlining the concerns you have raised with me.
I will read through this further information you have provided and be back in touch in the New Year.
Have a Safe and Happy Christmas.
Kind regards
Anita
Anita Dow MP
Labor Member for Braddon
Shadow Minister for Local Government and Planning.
Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Small Business.
Shadow Minister for Transport and Advanced Manufacturing.
PO Box 495, Burnie TAS 7320
P: 6430 8440 | www.taslabor.com
From: endre kovacs <endrekovacs@yahoo.com.au>
Sent: Wednesday, 16 December 2020 7:21 PM
To: Anita Dow <anita.dow@parliament.tas.gov.au>
Subject: CORRECTIONS: Shadow Minister Anita Dow – Need for an enquiry for perpetual plate taxi licence owners
Dear Anita,
I have made some corrections. See revised draft below.
Regards
Endre
—– Forwarded message —–
From: endre kovacs <endrekovacs@yahoo.com.au>
Sent: Wednesday, 16 December 2020, 07:10:18 pm AEDT
Subject: Shadow Minister Anita Dow – Need for an enquiry for perpetual plate taxi licence owners
To : Labor Shadow Minister – Tasmania , ANITA DOW
Dear Anita,
My family and many other perpetual taxi licence plate owners are in financial and emotional distress due to the unjust policies implemented by Michael Ferguson, Liberal State Government.
Please see attached response (pdf) from Minister Ferguson.
- Why reduce the reserve price when this will have a negative impact on the price of perpetual plates which are in direct competition within the taxi market? They reached a value close to $160,000 and are now worth virtually nothing.
- No reference in Mr Ferguson’s letter is made to the cost of compulsory third party insurance rates for commercial ride share in contrast to those of taxis. Taxis are significantly higher.
- No reference is made on controlling the number of commercial rideshare vehicles (Uber) on the road which is currently unrestricted.
- Andrew Wilkie (see attached) flags the flooding of the market which has been partially addressed in the 4 year freeze but does not address the current problem of plate owners, many who are senior citizens wishing to sell their perpetual taxi licence plate to fund their retirement.
The taxi industry in its current state is not in an equal level playing field.
Current government policy is destroying the property value of perpetual taxi plate licences which are being manipulated by the Liberal State Government in power.
My questions to the Transport Minister Michael Ferguson:
- Why are taxi plate owners who bought perpetual taxi licences in good faith used to fund their retirement are not being offered financial compensation or an optional buyback of taxi plates in response to flooding the commercial rideshare taxi market? Yes this is the same pool.
- 2nd question. Why has this proposed $1 levy as stated in the email sent to Minister Ferguson from Mr Kovacs 11 Nov 2020 (see attached) to fund the optional buy back of perpetual taxi licence plates (at the owners purchase price inclusive of CPI) not being addressed in your response to Mr Kovacs?. This $1 levy has been successfully implemented by the NSW State Liberal Government. So why not here?
- This outright rejection to this proposition (as stated by Mr Kovacs) of an optional taxi buyback without a thorough review by the this house is simply unacceptable considering that this Government orchestrated this financial devastation on all Tasmanian perpetual plate taxi licence owners. As a Liberal Party why are you not applying you own sets of values??
- I propose a full enquiry be undertaken to address this key matter.
<end>
Your support is truly appreciated. I look forward to meeting up in person in the new year. I represent a number of plate owners belonging to the taxi plate owners group.
Kindest Regards
Endre Kovacs
m: 0413 701 333
|
Tax
—– Forwarded message —–
From: “Ferguson, Minister” <Minister.Ferguson@dpac.tas.gov.au>
To: “‘endrekovacs@yahoo.com.au'” <endrekovacs@yahoo.com.au>
Cc:
Sent: Tue, 15 Dec 2020 at 11:42 am
Subject: Response to Mr Kovacs regarding perpetual taxi licence
Dear Mr Kovacs
On behalf of the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Hon Michael Ferguson MP, please find attached a response to your correspondence.
Kind regards
Departmental Liaison Officer
Office of the Hon Michael Ferguson MP
Minister for Finance
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Minister for State Growth
Minister for Science and Technology
Leader of the House
Liberal Member for Bass
Level 5, Salamanca Building, Parliament Square
4 Salamanca Place HOBART TAS 7000
________________________________
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