Commercial passenger vehicle industry
Nick McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:38): (812) My question is to the Minister for Disability. 60 Minutes on Sunday revealed footage and other proof of people with profound disabilities being physically abused, inappropriately manhandled and continually ripped off with overcharging by taxidrivers – one support service over 450 times. As disability minister, what action have you taken or will you take in relation to these horrendous revelations?
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:38): Thank you, Mr McGowan, for your question. I think we would all in this place agree that what was revealed in the 60 Minutes episode was particularly heinous. Certainly one of the great privileges of my role and the portfolios that I hold is the opportunity to be a voice for those who do not have one or whose voice is limited. Often that is children and it is certainly also people with disabilities. So I thank you for the question. I thank you for your previous interest in disability matters as well. I note that it was you who asked me a question in relation to the state disability plan in the adjournment debate at the end of last year, which we were also pleased to table shortly after.
But as I said, all in this place would agree that those matters which were revealed in the media were completely unacceptable. Preying on vulnerable Victorians is a disgrace. Preying on vulnerable Victorians who are seeking to access transport, in this case taxi services, is absolutely disgraceful. There are penalties for those who breach the rules, including fines where there has been overcharging. Of course price gouging has no place in our community when it comes to the regulations that drivers must use for their metered trips. That is something that, through Minister Williams and her portfolio, is being addressed. We certainly, from a disability minister’s perspective, know that there needs to be more done to protect those who are most vulnerable, and these reports are particularly concerning. I have asked for further advice on what more can be done in this space, because I think everyone in this place would agree that taking advantage of those who cannot speak for themselves and cannot defend themselves is a particularly heinous crime and should be addressed as such.
I would note our disability inclusion plan Inclusive Victoria. We are midway through that. We have tabled the midway report, as I have previously publicly said. Of the 175 original actions, some of which went to ensuring that we have accessible and inclusive transport in Victoria, 28 are complete; a further 139 are on track to be completed by the time that they were scheduled to be so, which is June 2026; also we have added additional actions because we know that we can and we should do more, and this is a very good example of that.
Nick McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:41): I thank the minister for her response. Shockingly, some of the most vulnerable locals in my electorate in Ringwood are among the hardest hit. Confidential files obtained by Nick McKenzie found that Maroondah Hospital was defrauded 774 times through the rampant fraud of taxpayer-funded Cabcharge customers, used by some of our community’s most vulnerable, including hospital patients, the unwell, locals with disabilities and, relevantly, local clients on the national disability insurance scheme. Has the minister been briefed in respect to the incidents at Maroondah Hospital, and what assurance can she provide my constituents that this abuse of our most vulnerable has stopped?
Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:42): I again thank Mr McGowan for his question and for his interest in these matters. As I said in my substantive response, these issues go across the responsibilities of the Minister for Transport Infrastructure as well as my role of being in a position to advocate for those who have disabilities. In relation to the specifics of the matter, as I said, preying on vulnerable Victorians who depend on taxi services is obviously disgraceful. Preying on those who in some way have no capacity to advocate for themselves or defend themselves is particularly heinous. I would note that drivers can, under the regulations, face significant penalties for breaching rules, including a fine of up to $11,855 for overcharging. As I said, price gouging has no place in Victoria, and we have introduced regulations – not through my portfolio, through others’ portfolios – so that drivers must use their meters for trips from ranks or when hailed on the streets. But we know that more needs to be done to protect those passengers, and of course I give a commitment that we will continue to work with the Minister for Transport Infrastructure on these matters from a disability perspective.