State government accused of ‘hidden tax’ after Adelaide Airport rideshare fee set to rise

Adelaide Airport rideshare fees are set to rise from $3 to $4.50 – in what the opposition has labelled a new “hidden tax”.

The state government will receive part of a fee increase set to hit taxi and ride-share pick-ups at Adelaide Airport, in what the opposition has labelled a “hidden tax”.

As of February 3 next year, the fee will rise from $3 to $4.50.

Of that, Adelaide Airport’s share will increase by $1 and the remaining 50 cents will go to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) to “fund previously-announced industry reform initiatives administered by the state government”.

Opposition infrastructure and transport spokesman Ben Hood. Picture: Facebook

Opposition cost-of-living spokeswoman Heidi Girolamo.

Opposition infrastructure and transport spokesman Ben Hood said the government’s portion was “another sneaky ‘tax by any other name’”.

“The proposed $1 increase to the point-to-point levy outlined in the Passenger Transport Act Review made no mention of the government lifting another 50 cents from the airport service fee when it was announced in August,” he said.

“Now, anyone getting a taxi or rideshare from the airport will have to suffer a ‘double dip’ from Labor after they committed to leading a government with no new taxes.”

Opposition cost-of-living spokeswoman Heidi Girolamo added that everyday South Australians are already under immense pressure.

Taxis lined up in the rank at the Adelaide Airport. Picture: Michael Marschall/File

“What South Australians need is a government that keeps its promises,” she said.

“If you promise no new taxes, the least you can do is honour that commitment.”

A DIT spokesman said “this is the first increase to the fee in more than seven years”.

“The $0.50 portion of the fee will help fund the South Australian Government’s Taxi Industry Reform Package to enable transition to new models for metropolitan and accessible transport services,” he said.

“These changes, as recommended in the State Government’s Passenger Transport Review Report, will transition the taxi industry into a modern, fit for purpose regulatory structure, with a new service delivery model for accessible transport.

 “The remaining $4.00 will go to the Adelaide Airport to fund improvements to driver facilities and support staffing to assist customers at the pick-up areas.”