Condren vows to scrap councillor taxi privileges

Patrick Condren has vowed to scrap all taxi privileges for Brisbane councillors if he becomes lord mayor in March.

Adrian Schrinner with Deputy Mayor Krista Adams, who says the council has “very strict guidelines” for taxi use. Picture: Richard Walker/AAP

TAXI privileges for Brisbane councillors would be scrapped under a push from Labor lord mayoral candidate Patrick Condren to stop ratepayers being slugged for pricey fares.

Mr Condren announced today that a Labor administration would put a stop to Brisbane City Council’s ratepayer funded cab charges for Council chairs, accusing the LNP administration of abusing the privilege.

It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed earlier this year that ratepayers had forked out almost $14,000 since March 2016 on cab fares for LNP committee and council chairs to travel around the city.

Labor lord mayoral candidate Patrick Condren. Picture: John Gass/AAP

Labor had also previously alleged in the council chamber that Councillor Angela Owen had billed ratepayers at least $400 for three cab fares over two separate days in 2018-19 to travel to or from concerts at Boondall.

Mr Condren today said councillors would be banned from charging ratepayers for cab fares if he wins office in March.

“They can catch a cab, but why shouldn’t they pay for it themselves?” he said.

“While the LNP is perking, the Condren administration will be working. I certainly would not be slugging taxpayers to catch a cab to events given that there is a car available to me.”

He said councillors could use other ways to get around Brisbane, including CityCycle bikes, public transport or their council-funded vehicles.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner was forced to announce a crackdown on taxi privileges last month amid revelations his own side charged ratepayers thousands of dollars.

The biggest spender, former Chair of Council Cr Owen, charged ratepayers more than $5700 since 2016 for cab rides, while Deputy Mayor Krista Adams also racked up a taxi bill of $3241.95 over the same period.

Cr Adams today insisted the council had “very strict guidelines” for the use of ratepayer funded taxis.

She said Council chairs should have access to ratepayer funded cab charges because they work very long hours.

“They do many, many events across the city seven days a week,” she said.

“Cab charges are offered to those chairs, which is the role equivalent to a Minister in State Government, to make sure that they get to and from events — particularly late at night.”