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small business Community facilities | November 25, 2015

Labor forgets regional Victoria yet again

Emma Kealy, The Nationals Member for Lowan, is not surprised the Andrews Labor Government has once again forgotten regional Victoria when holding public information sessions and workshops.

The Government is reviewing The Multi Purpose Taxi Program which assists with the travel needs of Victorians with limited mobility by offering subsidised taxi fares.

“Labor has said it wants to help users, carers, disability advocacy groups, taxi and hire businesses to have their say by holding workshops across Victoria, yet the only public workshop offered for Western Victoria was in Ballarat,” Ms Kealy said.

“People with a physical disability may already have limited travel abilities and it’s unrealistic for people from Western Victoria to be expected to travel 3 hours or more for a public workshop,” she said.

Further information about the review of The Multi Purpose Taxi Program is available at economicdevelopment.vic.gov.au/mptp-review. Submissions close Friday, 4 December 2015.

A $4 million Taxi Relief Hardship Fund has also been established.

“I’m aware of taxi businesses across regional Victoria who may be eligible to apply, however these already struggling businesses would have to leave their local areas and travel to Melbourne to attend an information session about the application process,” Ms Kealy said.

“These are just more examples of the city-centric State Labor Government.

“Daniel Andrews must not forget regional Victoria and ensure the same opportunities are offered to our metropolitan counterparts.”

An application form and further information about the Taxi Reform Hardship Fund is available at economicdevelopment.vic.gov.au/taxi-reform-hardship-fund. Applications close on Friday, 12 February 2016.