Taxi drivers and their families protest on steps of State Parliament

UPDATE: TAXI drivers and their families are being urged to abandon a Bolte Bridge protest next week which will cause traffic chaos for morning commuters.

UPDATE: TAXI drivers and their families are being urged to abandon a Bolte Bridge protest next week which will cause traffic chaos for morning commuters.

Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan called for Monday’s rally to be called off warning ``blocking the Bolte Bridge will only hurt your passengers, frustrate the public and turn people away from your cause.’’

``And it will not make us increase our already significant support package for the industry.’’

Her comments come amid a series of events planned in response to the Andrews Government’s industry deregulation reforms by taxi licence holders.

Up to 300 people blockaded Bourke St at 11am on Saturday rallying against the proposed licence buyback offer by the Andrews Government saying it was inadequate.

A sign on a pram at the rally.

“For too long we have been misrepresented,” said a rally spokeswoman.

“For too long we have been ignored. We are here to demand a fair buy back of every taxi and hire car license.

“We should not have to pay the price for industry reform.”

It is the first rally, with another bigger protest planned on Monday which will blockade the Bolte Bridge and cause traffic carnage from 8am.

The group are angry that the government plans to deregulate the industry, effectively reducing licence fees to zero in a bid to boost competition and allow operators such as Uber to operate legally.

Taxi licence owners fight for fair deal in challenge to State Government’s compensation scheme

The Government have flagged incoming legislation but have not yet introduced the bill to the Victorian Parliament.

To compensate taxi licence holders, the government will give them $100,000 for their first asset, and $50,000 for up to three more licences.

This is up to $100,000 more than was first offered by the government.

Opposition spokesman David Hodgett has slammed the delays in reform.

“Daniel Andrews is saying one thing to taxi drivers and one thing to others,” he said.

“Here we are nearly at the end of summer and still no legislation.

“We support the regulation but at the moment these taxidrivers are frustrated and have uncertainty. “

The crowd at the protest.

The planned protest comes after hundreds of taxi drivers and their families gathered on the steps of Parliament House in response to the Andrews Government’s industry deregulation reforms.

Up to 300 people blockaded Bourke St at 11am rallying against the proposed licence buyback offer by the Andrews Government saying it was inadequate.

“For too long we have been misrepresented,” said rally spokeswoman Linda De Mellis.

“For too long we have been ignored. We are here to demand a fair buy back of every taxi and hire car license.

“We should not have to pay the price for industry reform.”

It is the first rally, with another bigger protest planned on Monday which will blockade the Bolte Bridge and cause traffic carnage from 8am.

The group are angry that the government plans to deregulate the industry, effectively reducing licence fees to zero in a bid to boost competition and allow operators such as Uber to operate legally.

Taxi licence owners want bigger slice of Victorian government’s estimated $1 billion levy

The Government has flagged incoming legislation but have not yet introduced the bill to the Victorian Parliament.

To compensate taxi licence holders, the government will give them $100,000 for their first asset, and $50,000 for up to three more licences.

This is up to $100,000 more than was first offered by the government.

Opposition spokesman David Hodgett has slammed the delays in reform.

“Daniel Andrews is saying one thing to taxi drivers and one thing to others,” he said.

“Here we are nearly at the end of summer and still no legislation.

“We support the regulation but at the moment these taxi drivers are frustrated and have uncertainty.”