Qld cabbies vote unanimously for $2.3 million slush fund to support One Nation

QUEENSLAND cabbies have unanimously voted to fund a $2.3 million “slush fund” to support One Nation at the state election.

Senator Pauline Hanson and new leader of One Nation Queensland, Steve Dickson, talk to cabbies at a Taxi Council Queensland general meeting. Picture: Jono Searle.

QUEENSLAND cabbies have unanimously voted to fund a $2.3 million “slush fund” to support One Nation at the state election tipped for this year, a taxi operator proclaimed publicly on Wednesday.

But the Taxi Council of Queensland was quick to vehemently deny the claims, made after a general meeting of the TCQ yesterday, saying the body will not financially support any political party.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been a vocal opponent of ride sharing services such as Uber, and she and newly anointed Queensland party leader Steve Dickson addressed yesterday’s meeting, where they pledged their support for the taxi industry.

The Palaszczuk Government legalised ride sharing services in September last year, following a vitriolic war waged by the taxi industry against Uber while they were operating illegally in the state.

Taxi drivers at the general meeting in Brisbane on Tuesday. Picture: Jono Searle.

In an interview with ABC Brisbane on Wednesday morning, taxi and limo operator Peter Conohan said taxi licenses, which once cost about half a million dollars in Queensland, had been reduced to “toilet paper”.

He said the state’s 3,265 taxi operators, largely “mum and dad” licensees, had unanimously voted to contribute $720 per licence at Tuesday’s meeting, to bolster One Nation.

“We’ve all had enough,” Mr Conohan told the broadcaster.

“This is most probably our last chance.

“Pauline is a worker, she voices her opinion very verbally when everyone else has put their head in the sand.

“Labor and the LNP don’t want to know us.

“We will put a slush fund forward ... to support Pauline Hanson in her effort to leave a footprint with the Government and help the taxi industry.

“[It will also] support Steven Dickson ... who is a new man on the block with Pauline Hanson.”

But the TCQ were quick to refute the claim.

Reports this morning that TCQ is supporting One Nation are incorrect. No finances are going towards any political candidate or party #qldpol

— Taxi Council QLD (@TaxiQLD) January 25, 2017

In a statement, the body said members had financially contributed to its campaign for “fair legislation” but that those funds would not go towards supporting any political party.

“Reports this morning that Taxi Council Queensland (TCQ) is supporting One Nation are incorrect,” the TCQ said.

“No finances whatsoever are going towards any political candidate or party.

“Senator Pauline Hanson and Steve Dickson MP addressed a general meeting of TCQ yesterday and pledged to support the taxi industry and fight for fairness in upcoming legislation around personalised transport.

“We welcome that support, and we also welcome the support of any other MP from any party.”

The body went on to say that like all industry bodies, it relies on the financial support of its members.