As a driver in the Taxi industry. I find it hard to understand the reason for a request to be exempt from supplying a satisfactory service to clients who are in wheelchairs due to some medical or inherited cause.

The MSLs (Minimum Service Levels) were discussed and agreed to between the two Taxi Councils (Queensland and Western Australia) when the Taxi Service Contract was draw up for those states.

These are not service levels that cannot be reached as most taxi companies can get very close to the service level required.

The DOT (Department of Transport) in its Licence agreement with the operators of these types of vehicles state that the Operator and the Driver must give preference to M50 (Wheelchair) clients.

The company can set in place a equitable system for its M50 units to work by. So that all the units do a equal amount of the work.However it is the drivers and operators that don't want to comply with the requirements. For several reasons.

They have in there meters a tarrif that is higher than the standard taxi fare and that is when they carry 6 or more clients.The use of this tarrif increases the fare by 50%. If they are carrying a M50 client who has six or more friends travelling with them. Only the standard fare may be applied.

So the drivers and operators would naturally opt for the more lucrative and financially rewarding six or more client fares than the M50 fare.

Here in the far north of Queensland. The company have noted that over several months we carried "X" number of M50 clients. Which equated to 60 clients per car per month or 2 clients per day. So each of our M50 units was required to carry 60 clients per month.A equal share of the work load. However it was noted that in November 2007, a total of 70% of these units did less than the required number of jobs.

The DOT. Has the power to remove the authority to operate and or own one of these licences if the operator and his/her drivers fail to maintain or comply with the requirements of their licence agreement and terms. Which is to give preference to M50 clients.

If the Queensland Taxi Council and the West Australian Taxi Council seek to be temporarily exempt from the requirements on behalf of their members.After having had these types of units in their fleets for several years. Due to their alleged inability to comply with or to ensure compliance with the requirements now. How are they going to be able to do that after the requested five year exemption period is over.

They need to bite the bullet and get on with the job of ensuring that the clients in the various taxi company areas get the standard of service that they should be entitled to,the same as any other transport user.

There are other reasons for not allowing this request. To many to put on paper at this time.