Thursday, 26 May 2022

Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (12:25): My question today is for Minister Pulford, representing the minister for transport. A taxidriver had two customers get in his car who were somewhat over-refreshed and had become tired and emotional. That led to altercations, and when they started to become difficult and threatened and abused him he pulled over and asked them to get out of the vehicle. He then had a bottle thrown at his head and got back into the vehicle and drove up and around the corner. He immediately notified the police and notified Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria. There was an allegation that in his departure he hit the female passenger with his car. However, after an investigation by Victoria Police there was no finding made against him. Despite VicPol’s finding, the CPVV have taken disciplinary action and put a warning on his record, which can be used to cancel his accreditation in the future. Minister, why is the CPVV taking disciplinary action against the driver over an allegation where VicPol made no finding?

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:26): I thank Mr Barton for his question, which I will forward to Minister Carroll for a response. As Minister Stitt often states in this place, every Victorian workplace needs to be a safe workplace. Everyone is entitled to go about their work or their business without fear of the kinds of awful incidents that you have described. So I would extend our sympathies and our care and concern to the person involved in this incident, and in accordance with our standing orders we will provide a response on that matter.

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (12:27): Thank you, Minister. This is a very experienced driver with a perfect track record over many decades. This driver has been the victim of assault and now his record has been tarnished by disciplinary action, which is completely baseless, from the CPVV. He is entitled to be considered innocent unless proven guilty, so I ask, Minister, as this is only fair: can you remove this unnecessary warning from the driver’s record in line with the outcome of the Victoria Police investigation?

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:28): Thank you, Mr Barton, for the supplementary question. We will provide a written response in accordance with the standing orders.