Wednesday, 31 August 2022

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Wheelchair-accessible commercial passenger vehicles

Mr BARTON, Ms PULFORD
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Wheelchair-accessible commercial passenger vehicles

 Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (12:08): My question is for Minister Pulford, representing the minister for transport. It has been brought to my attention that V/Line has allegedly put in an order for 15 wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Of course, if this allegation is true, it will have an adverse effect on those who are already supplying wheelchair-accessible services in rural and regional Victoria. Minister, can you confirm if V/Line has in fact put in an order for wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and if so, how many?

 Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (12:09): Thank you, Minister. With V/Line purchasing wheelchair-accessible vehicles, this means they would be going into competition with those who supply wheelchair services in rural and regional Victoria. I have no doubt that this decision is a direct consequence of the government opening up the multipurpose taxi program to Uber. Uber stated at the recent multipurpose taxi program inquiry they have no intention to provide wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Uber cherrypick the work that suits them and are partly subsidised by the government, leaving regional taxi services with smaller and smaller margins. For some, providing wheelchair-accessible vehicles to their local community has now become untenable. Minister, is the Department of Transport now attempting to address a market failure of its own making?

 Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:10): I thank Mr Barton for that supplementary question, and I will ask Minister Carroll to provide a written response for the member.

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