Tasmania’s most vulnerable with disabilities left stranded in taxi shortage

Most of us have no problem getting from point A to B, but what happens when you have just one which constantly fails you? That’s something some of Tasmania’s most vulnerable have had to grapple with.

Vulnerable Tasmanians have been left feeling helpless and let down as the mode of transportation they rely on every day continuously fails them, stopping them from carrying out day to day activities.

David Vickery, who was Kingborough’s citizen of the year in 2021, is one Tasmanian in a wheelchair who has been left stranded because of a shortage of maxi taxis.

“It was about a fortnight ago, I’d booked an appointment to see my doctor on a Tuesday morning, I rang up to book maxi taxis at 11 o clock and 2 o clock,” Mr Vickery said.

“My wife and I were waiting here, nothing happened, she rang up and said ‘where’s the taxi’?

“They said they haven’t got any available, they were all in the northern suburbs.”

Mr Vickery it wasn’t the first time a maxi taxi hadn’t turned up.

David Vickery who's been affected by the shortage of maxi taxi. Picture: Chris Kidd

“I felt quite helpless, I thought ‘what am I going to do’?” he said.

“Other people can hop into a car but people like me … the issue becomes how am I going to get down there and can I get back?

“It does affect your mental health because you’re never quite sure, am I going to be able to get home or are they going to turn up?”

Mr Vickery is part of the Kingborough Council’s disability inclusion committee which is hoping to address the problem.

Kingborough mayor Paula Wriedt has written to disabilities minster Jo Palmer and transport minister Michael Ferguson about the problem, calling for action.

She said until public transport was fully accessible, the taxis would need to be available.

“We have a number of members reliant on maxi taxis, they have relayed some horrendous stories where their taxis have not turned up,” Ms Wriedt said.

Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt. Picture Chris Kidd

“One member reported the indignity of having to call a regular taxi and being lifted from their wheelchair by family and having to leave the wheelchair behind.”

It’s a cause close to Ms Wriedt heart, after watching a loved one with the same struggle.

“When my dad was alive he was wheelchair bound for the last year of his life, we had similar issues back then and we’d hoped that would change” Ms Wriedt said.

“It was very challenging then to get wheelchair taxis, particularly for short trips, it started to be a real barrier for him to leave the house.

Ms Wriedt said taxi companies had indicated a shortage of accessible vehicles as well as drivers.

She said there were a number of incentives the government could implement to get more maxi taxis on the road.

“It could be reduced registration fees, they could do fuel subsidies,” Ms Wriedt said.

Advocate Rich Witbreuk said the shortage was felt in rural areas in particular.

“It’s definitely a statewide issue in terms of shortages, it’s also national issue,” Mr Witbreuk said.

“It’s an absolute shame, a disgrace.”

Mr Witbreuk said instead of having to book in advance, the taxis should be readily available.

“Transport’s supposed to be an enabler for people with a disability to socialise, be gainfully employed.

“If you don’t have a choice, it can actually isolate people.”

Transport minister Michael Ferguson said the pandemic resulted in a decline in demand and many drivers leaving the job.

“To get more drivers behind the wheel and more taxis back on our roads, the Tasmanian Liberal Government has embarked on a recruitment support program to assist the industry,” Mr Ferguson said.

“We’ve made it cheaper and simpler for people to become a taxi driver by reducing the costs of getting authorised, and streamlining the authorisation process, saving wait time.

“Payments of up to $600 per new driver are now available to help taxi operators and networks recruit new drivers by covering the cost of driver training and authorisation.”

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