[Greens-Media] Call for inquiry into Cabcharge donations to Labor and taxi monopoly

[Susie Gemmell]

MEDIA RELEASE
11 February 2008


Call for inquiry into Cabcharge donations to Labor and taxi monopoly
 
Greens NSW MP Lee Rhiannon has called for an inquiry to establish if
there was any link between Cabcharge participation in Labor Party
fundraisers and the continuing monopoly control this company has over
the taxi industry. 
 
“The Greens political donations project, Democracy4sale, has revealed
that Cabcharge representatives engaged in a flurry of lobbying at Labor
Party fundraising events prior to the 2007 state election,” Ms
Rhiannon said. 
 
“Cabcharge representatives attended a number of fund raisers where
they would have had direct contact with Premier Morris Iemma and his
Ministers. 
 
“We don’t know if these Cabcharge activities coincided with a NSW
government decision that ultimately benefited Cabcharge. But we do know
that Cabcharge gave at least $32,000 at these events and gifts in kind
to the Premier, as well as another $5,000 in direct donations.
 
“The NSW Election Funding Authority data for the 2007 election
reveals that Cabcharge donated $73,600 to the NSW Labor Party.
 
“Cabcharge has benefited from a NSW government decision that limited
the number of new taxi licences issued in 2007. 
 
“The ABC’s Stateline this week reported that in the lead up to the
2007 state election Macquarie Bank’s Lime Taxis were assured by the
NSW Ministry of Transport that in its first year of operation it would
have 90 taxi licences.

”After the election Lime Taxis only received half that number of
licences, a decision seen as favourable to Cabcharge’s monopoly
control of the taxi industry. Macquarie Bank has since pulled out of the
taxi business, and their decision has been linked to the cut back in the
number of taxi licences they were able to buy. 

”The cutback in the number of taxi licences granted to Lime is seen
as a reason that Macquarie Bank pulled out of the taxi business, leaving
Cabcharge’s monopoly in place. 
 
“There needs to be a public inquiry into the links between the
Cabcharge lobbying at Labor fundraisers and the change of policy on taxi
licences. 
 
“If the government refuses to set up an independent inquiry I will
take this matter to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into political
donations due to sit in March,” Ms Rhiannon said. 
 
For more information:       Lee Rhiannon 0427 861 568 

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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon-Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0431 458 102
Email susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au