Wheelchair users left high and dry in taxi bureaucratic bungle

A bureaucratic taxi bungle is leaving wheelchair users marooned, unable to call on a critical transport option

A delay in processing accreditation payments is leaving wheelchair users without taxis.

WHEELCHAIR users are being stranded without access to taxis while drivers are being forced off the road because of delays in processing accreditation payments.

Regional taxi operators say a lack of drivers is putting vulnerable members of the community at risk, while the Victorian Ombudsman has been asked to launch a formal investigation.

Traralgon Taxis manager Kenneth Krieger said he had lodged a formal complaint with the Ombudsman, seeking urgent intervention in the matter.

Drivers have told the Herald Sun they have been suspended by Safe Transport Victoria for not paying their annual accreditation fees.

Taxi drivers say delays in processing accreditation payments is forcing them off the road.

But they insist a lag in processing payments is to blame — claiming it has taken up to 12 weeks for payments to be recognised.

“The issue has caused us to have no transport available for our wheelchair customers for several periods of time over the last two to three weeks due to no driver availability,” Mr Krieger said.

“Some of our drivers have lost their licences without notice and as a result it has caused much anguish and disappointment in the town.”

Mr Krieger said accreditation renewal notifications were inaccessible by many older drivers who had no access to email.

“A lot of taxi drivers are seniors and don’t have emails they readily check,” he said.

“Several don’t have computers and only set up an email address (with help) some years ago as it was “compulsory” at the time to process licence matters.

The taxi accreditation bungle is particularly serious for wheelchair customers.

“These emails accounts have become dormant and are not checked therefore drivers have had no warnings of the dees due.”

All commercial passenger vehicle drivers must hold current accreditation which includes background checks and medical assessments.

Once accredited, drivers maintain their accreditation through the payment of an annual $34 fee.

Drivers who do not pay the annual accreditation fee by the due date lose accreditation and must reapply.

Transport Matters leader Rod Barton said issues with driver accreditation had been present since the industry was deregulated.

A government spokesman said there were more than 4,600 wheelchair assisted vehicle endorsed drivers across the state.

The number of wheelchair assisted vehicle numbers had grown from 637 in 2017 to 947 in 2022.

Originally published as Wheelchair users left high and dry in taxi bureaucratic bungle