RW: I've heard about a Parliamentary Stay Safe Committee Inquiry into the Taxi Industry. What's happening?

Cabbie: The Carr Govt. recently advised of a Parliamentary Stay Safe Inquiry into the Taxi industry, particularly in regard to the Department of Industrial Relations and Department of Transport lack of enthusiasm regarding policing various breaches of Government regulations and laws by the taxi bosses. No doubt this inquiry will also look into the relations between the Taxi Council and the TWU.

RW: What do you know about Cabcharge?

Cabbie: Its based on the slave labour of cabbies and is a major source of corruption in the industry.

In 1984 when Cabcharge was introduced, Reg Kermode who owns the major slice of the pie inferred before the Trade Practices Commission (TPC) that we are employees and are paid for the issuing of Cabcharge dockets, like shop assistants who handle visa cards, etc. In fact, we issue the dockets on our own time, although it only takes a few minutes on each occasion. Also one of the rationales, Kermode presented for Cabcharge was his inference that cabbies can't make basic mathematical calculations. We are also obliged to supply confidential personal details on the dockets, necessary for the policing of the system. It seems inherent to Cabcharge are the breaching of Privacy Act and other civil liberties legislation.

Cabcharge is making a fortune -$300 million per annum. Kermode who is the major owner is creaming most of the largesse. Whilst, we cabbies receive nothing of this luscious pie!

Could this magnificent bounty extracted from the serfs of the taxi base estates be the explanation for the filling of numerous corpulent brown paper envelopes which find their way into the grasping hands of ALP politicians and Government officials in exchange for "cooperation" regarding taxi industry "irregularities"? Cabcharge has been put on the stockmarket. Will its shareholders find out one day that its major owner joins Mr Skase on an extended vacation in Majorca, Spain?

RW: What's happening with the "Paddington Ghetto" - Taxi Combined Services Paddington base?

Cabbie: Its been sold for $25 million. Reg Kermode who owns most of TCS is set to cream a quarter of the loot. Whilst TSC shareholders will lose out heavily. Is this sale a step by Kermode to roll up his operations in the industry, in the wake of a looming Parliamentary Stay Safe Committee Inquiry?

RW: What's happening with the taxi industry contract negotiations?

Cabbie: The bosses are planning to reduce holidays and want a more ambiguous phrasing of legal safeguards for taxi drivers, so owners can't be prosecuted for breaches of industrial relations legislation.

RW: What's happening with the TWU lately?

Cabbie: Initially a few grass roots TWU members tried to work with the TWU bosses, to improve the situation of cabbies. They gave them the benefit of the doubt. They attended TWU quarterly meetings held at the Trades Hall and commenced asking the TWU bosses various questions which the TWU bosses were unable to answer regarding the industrial situation of cabbies and the TWU's inactivity. As a result of growing discomfort with this questioning, the TWU bosses decided to suspend quarterly meetings at the end of 1997.