Enough is enough: taxi drivers rally for change after recent violence on Hobart streets

The president of the Hobart Taxi Drivers Association fears someone will be killed before proper action is taken on ongoing violence against cabbies in the state’s capital.

The president of the Hobart Taxi Drivers Association fears someone will be killed before proper action is taken to address ongoing violence against cabbies in the Tasmanian capital.

As 250 drivers staged a 12-hour strike on Monday, which included a protest in Franklin Square, Li Joy said members of Hobart’s migrant community were still reeling from an attack on drivers and their vehicles last Wednesday night.

Image: Hobart Taxi Driver's Association

And just two nights later, a Pakistani taxi driver was the victim of an armed robbery at Claremont which involved the use of a knife.

Mr Li said while it was only a very small minority of Tasmanians who were perpetrating acts of abuse against drivers, a government-backed action plan was required to prevent further instances of violence.

“We are getting attacked for no reason, we are just working in the public transport industry like bus drivers,” Mr Li said.

“Cars are being smashed, and drivers are getting into trouble … we need something to be done.

“The government needs to take action against offenders, and we need reform to the law.

“Tasmania Police are doing their best, but their budget needs to be increased so we have more officers.”

Taxi drivers rally at Franklin Square. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Li acknowledged that racism was often a contributing factor in acts of violence perpetrated against drivers, but said the nature of the job meant his colleagues were vulnerable to assault whenever they carried passengers in their vehicle.

“We all know what happened in Sydney a few weeks back,” he said.

“After something goes wrong, we all mourn but after a few days people forget about everything.

“We are waiting for the next one to happen.”

Protest organiser Mala Crew, who has organised a petition to the Tasmanian House of Assembly on behalf of the Punjabi Society of Tasmania and the Guru Nanak Society of Tasmania calling for new laws to be introduced for racially motivated hate crimes, said providing more productive avenues for the city’s younger generations was another part of the solution.

“We have restless youth, who don’t have any facilities,” Ms Crew said.

Multicultural Council of Tasmania (MCOT) chair Aimen Jafri speaks during the Taxi drivers rally at Franklin Square. Picture: Chris Kidd

“They have shut down the pool in Glenorchy, Tolosa Park is shut, we don’t have a credible public transport system, so the kids have nowhere to go.

“They hang around, restless and bored, so we just have to engage them.

“It’s about education and about making youth feel worthwhile.”

Minister for Small Business, Madeleine Ogilvie, who attended the protest on Monday, said that she was appalled by recent attacks on taxi drivers, and said the Government would consider compensation for those drivers who had lost income during the strike.

Madeleine Ogilvie MP during the Taxi drivers rally at Franklin Square. Picture: Chris Kidd

“We stand as one against racism in Tasmania,” Ms Ogilvie said.

“When you have a community such as this group of wonderful, hardworking Tasmanians who keep our transport industry running who have come here to be heard, it is incumbent on us to stand up and listen.

“It is really important that these people are safe, and have good working lives.

“The feeling of being safe at work is very important.”

Police Minister Felix Ellis said the government looked forward to receiving Ms Crew’s petition, and said that he was committed to addressing youth crime across the state.

He said the Liberal Party had taken a suite of policies to the last election to stamp out youth offending, including plans to punish “post and boast” social media content.

Taxi drivers rally at Franklin Square. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Ellis said he had met with taxi industry representatives about the recent outbreak of violence on Monday, and indicated a police investigation was underway into specific instances.

The Minister said that a successful response to the issue would involve a “full-court press” involving police, community services, parents, and volunteers.

“We recognise that whenever there is a crime committed against people in our community, it’s enormously distressing,” he said.

“These are wonderful people that are providing an important service for our community, and they don’t deserve to be subject to this kind of behaviour.

“There’s no place for it … and we will be working with communities, and are increasing investment in police to record highs and that’s all about getting control of this spike in crime we are seeing in Tasmania.”