2UE is the most low rating radio station in Sydney. Lately 2UE hired Jim Ball to increase night time ratings! This Jim Ball is known as a Nazi of Sydney radio! He has been inciting against the Aboriginals, migrants, Muslim and Arabs for a long time based on false and fabricated reasons and grounds. This vicious person never provides any right of reply to his victims! That’s why we do not hear any opposing view points in 2UE, even a faint one! Generally speaking, manufacturing consent and opinion are new features of Sydney commercial radio stations like 2UE.
Jim Ball’s unprofessional and many criminal acts were caught out by the famous Media Watch of ABC in many times. Nonetheless, Jim Ball is continuing his hate campaign without any fear of persecution due to the toothless Australian Communication and Media Authority and unambiguous NSW anti-Discrimination Acts.
Last night I rang 2UE’s Mike Jeffreys to talk about refugees and taxis. The telephonist rang me back straight away and then kept me hanging for around two hours! It was very unusual for any programme, let alone for a quiet graveyard shift! I got suspicious and I made a few attempts to ring the station in question. First I used my phone and no one picked up the phone. However I used other phone to contact them and the 2UE staff answered me immediately. This gave rise of some kinds of conspiracy by the station. However, the telephonist continued his innocence and he said, “it is up to Mike Jeffreys to talk whoever he wants, … ” and eventually I was unable to be on air on that night.
Radio 2UE and Mike Jeffreys say, “we talk to everyone” yet they have a dirty censorship plan in operation without any declaration! Surely, this is a false advertisement and deceptive conduct. This censorship regime is also providing them an opportunity to manufacture consent and opinion contrary to the principle of reporting truthfully and accurately!
I used to talk to open air radio about taxis and many other issues. I would like to think that this kind of openness assisted us to clean up some sections of the taxi industry a bit and we got more room for improvement! However, silencing me to satisfy some people’s prejudice and bigotry are hurting the society rather than me personally.
Anyway, considering the above circumstances, I would like to call upon radio 2UE and Mike Jeffreys to be open and debate any issue openly rather than hide behind four walls and telephonists. Alternately, 2 UE and it’s shock jocks may make open declarations like, “we do not want to talk to Aboriginals, migrants, Muslims and Arabs as we despise you entirely. Therefore if you are one of these groups please do not ring us or listen to us”.
Taxi Reform Home link of the NSW Transport and Infrastructure is somewhat disturbing. In that document the T&I is asking for submissions regarding the very complex taxi plate issues before 11 March 2010.At outset, it appears the T&I is conspiring to cover up old crimes and attempting to provide some legitimacy to many illegitimate acts of the past and present, regarding a series of taxi plate scandals.
The above issues were not advertised properly and most taxi drivers, operators, owners and public in general know nothing about it. Obviously, the question I am asking is, “what are the reasons and grounds behind such secrecy?”
Why have the NSW T&I refused to compel the taxi networks to broadcast these types of messages?
Taxi Reform Home link, the NSW Transport and Infrastructure has ignored all other vital issues of the taxi industry including the Five Vital Components of the Taxi Industry. The NSW T&I is also blatantly using the taxi-payer’s funds and resources to protect the taxi plate value rather than protecting the public and state interests. Surely this is not the CHARTER of the NSW Transport & Infrastructure!
I therefore ask the Premier of NSW to initiate an immediate investigation about the conduct of the NSW T&I officials and their modus operandi.
Resolution of the so-called "Nexus Scheme" heading and information contains in that segment is very disturbing too.
In the past, the predecessors of the T&I had given hundreds of millions of dollars worth of public assets to people who could only be described as ‘criminals’. These people took those taxi plates under the guise of providing service to nexus area people, invalids and disabled people. In reality, they failed and refused to provide services to the intended people. They also double dipped the public, state and taxi drivers in general. The NSW T&I refused to take any action despite repeated requests to do so. Most of the time the T&I and those ‘protected species’ used racism and worker bashing to divert attention from these and other vital issues. TAXI COUNCIL (Limited) ON "CHERRYPICKING (front) and Deliberate Incitement are only two more examples in this regard.
The Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Report is another shameful episode. This questionable mob only spoke to one of the people who are responsible for this scandal. They also spoke to only other person who was beneficiary of this scandal. All of those people failed to (or refused to?) provide any documentation, evidence or any explanation regarding these scandals! Yet, Doloitte said, “ … While past poor administration and record keeping was noted, no evidence of corrupt conduct relating to the "Nexus Scheme" was found …”! One must wonder is it another example of promiscuity for virginity?
The NSW T&I officials also covered up about The Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Inquiry at that time to the authors of A Nexus Inquiry and Call for Nexus Inquiry!
One way to remove most of these corrupt and dangerous practices is handing over taxi plates to dedicated bailee taxi drivers through creative and service oriented modes with appropriate checks and balances. The seniority list register and many other incentive based scheme are only a few suggestions.
Unless the taxi industry is free of investors – the industry will remain captive, negative, anti-public, corrupt, vicious and counterproductive.
I also hope Price Waterhouse Coopers won’t compromise ethics, integrity, fairness and notion of justice for commercial interests.
The approach of the NSW Taxi Council Limited is blatant and sugar coated i.e. NO MORE taxi plates. This approach is to ensure investor control as in many ways 90% taxis are under the thumbs of the investors and taxi bases. All these years they have manipulated the lease price and thereby the taxi plate price contrary to the wishes and interests of the state and public in general. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission must investigate this aspect of collusion and anti-competitive policies and practices with proper assistance of the NSW Transport and Infrastructure.
Many of those taxis mentioned above are not on the road because of operator A, B and C!
Operator A: Ruthless person and believes in charging the harsh and unjust maximum pay-ins to bailee drivers. This one will send 50 taxis on the road at the rate of $80 (for example) to make $4000.00. This person also believes such a scenario will reduce maintenance cost and will increase profit thereby.
Operator B: Not a bad fellow. B will send 60 taxis at the rate of $60 (for example) to make $3600.00 and so forth. Considering the extra maintenance cost, despite providing more service, Operator B will be making less profit. It is dumb, anti-public and anti-service.
Operator C: These good folks drive themselves and do not want to engage bailee taxi drivers to reduce their workers' compensation premium and insurance cost. Again a lesser service oriented environment is not encouraging to utilise most taxi cabs!
The NSW TDA: The remaining three and a half (out of 12 elected) Committee Members of the NSW Taxi Drivers Association for many reasons fighting to say NO MORE taxi plates to protect their meagre income! They are not realising that a fairer arrangement at the NSW Industrial Relations Commission can provide them a minimum income according many Case Laws of this land. More taxi plates with pro-service conditions got very good potential to eliminate ruthless Operator A and enhance more income.
Most importantly, taxi plates got no intrinsic value and they are the property of the state and public. Therefore; they must be utilised for the benefit of the state and public in general. Please note plates provide nothing. Nothing of any use! $400,000 to provide nothing! $28,600PA for nothing!! Except higher operator costs!!! Higher pay-ins and higher taxi fares!?
2. Taxi Passengers must be given a safe and comfortable ride.
3. Taxi Drivers must be provided with a safe workplace and safer work practices.
4. Taxis plates are the property of the state and general public.
5. Taxis licenses must be used for the benefit of the people of New South Wales. Both the commuter and workers within the taxi industry must benefit not just a few privileged "stake-holders" as is the present situation.
However, the NSW Transport and Infrastructure's Conspiracy to Cove Up Crimes, Desperate Issues Papers and many more evidence clearly demonstrate the fact that the NSW T&I is openly and madly in love with taxi plates and interests of taxi investors contrary to the wishes and interests of the state, travelling public, taxi operators, bailee drivers and society in general!
Can any one explain how and from what authority the NSW T&I gained such a power like Rasputin?
Sydney's taxi tsar, Reg Kermode, will be forced by subpoena to give evidence before a parliamentary inquiry into the taxi industry.
The NSW parliamentary inquiry was set up following revelations, published in the Herald, that Cabcharge has been the chief beneficiary of a scheme which provided Sydney's powerful taxi networks with millions of dollars worth of taxi licences for free.
In February, during a three-day public hearing, Mr Kermode, Cabcharge's executive chairman, declined to appear, citing legal advice.
Last week, however, he was issued with a letter from the select committee running the inquiry, which demanded he take up a renewed invitation to appear as a witness or else he will receive an enforceable summons.
Three others have also been invited again to appear before the inquiry: Jim Glasson, the Transport Department's former director-general and now the chief executive of ComfortDelgro Cabcharge; Neville Wran, the former NSW premier; and Bruce Baird, the former transport minister in the Greiner government.
But of the four who received a second invitation to appear, it is only Mr Kermode who faces a summons should he decline.
Cabcharge is already fighting a high-profile case in the Federal Court which has been brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The commission alleges that Cabcharge has abused its market power and forced others out of the multibillion-dollar industry. Cabcharge denies all such allegations.
Christopher Brown, the head of the NSW Tourism and Transport Forum, has told the inquiry that Sydney's taxi services have suffered while ''we have seen the development of cartels, powerful interests and even collusive practices that have led to negative outcomes for both passengers and drivers''.
''I applaud the efforts of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which is prosecuting Cabcharge for alleged anti-competitive behaviour ,'' he said.
He said the industry needed a complete overhaul.
''I can guarantee that Cabcharge lurks at the centre - Cabcharge's fingerprints are there somewhere. It is at the epicentre of the taxi industry and where the problems exist because there is not enough competition.''
This week, the government announced the first of 100 new taxi licences have been issued, after it reneged on its original promise to release an unlimited number of new licences.
The government also released a discussion paper which revealed that while Western Australia's taxi fleet grew by 25 per cent between 2003 and 2007, Sydney's fleet has grown less than 1 per cent.
Further to my communications of Tuesday, February 23, 2010 I have to add the followings.
We have a de-regulated labor market.
We do not have a minimum income for the taxi workers.
We do not know why and who drafted and forwarded the Taxi Bill 2009 without any consultation whatsoever.
We also do not know why the NSW Transport & Infrastructuresuddenly invited us for consultation and they took our valuable oral and written submissions. Yet, they failed to reply with anything substantial to us.
Why did they rush in for that 2009 Taxi Bill before the NSW Upper House Inquiry re Taxi Industry even commenced?
Why did some one go on to appoint Price Waterhouse Coopers to justify their right or wrong decisions earlier or even in future regarding taxi plates?
Is it smelly?
We can not deny the fact that:
Taxi Industry is aserviceoriented industry.
Taxi Passengers must be given a safe and comfortable ride.
Taxi Drivers must be provided with a safe workplace and safer work practices.
Taxis plates are the property of the state and general public.
Taxis licenses must be used for the benefit of the people of New South Wales.Both the commuter and workers within the taxi industry must benefit not just a few privileged “stake-holders” as is the present situation.
We know more taxis will reduce bailee taxi drivers’ income. However at the NSW Industrial Commission they have a very bad habit of not including the labor component and bailee drivers’ income consideration at all. Even the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal does the same thing.
We also do not “know” why the NSW Transport Workers Union leadership are so keen to handover all of the money to the taxi owners? For example please examine:
5. Barrister Adam Hatcher’s Confession (?). The Ghost and Gas – No Conspiracies sheds some light on how they passed the burden of gas and wash to bailee drivers' shoulder illegally! One may ask why did the then TWU boss Steve Hutchins who is also President of the NSW Labor Party and a Senator from NSW took the “king’s shilling” and sold out taxi drivers with labor lawyer Adam Hatcher?
To day, the reaming three and half NSW TDA Committee Members should not and must not oppose release of further taxi plates in favor of counterproductive investors contrary to the wishes and interests of travailing public and bailee taxi driers.
Unless the taxi industry mandarins and the Government of NSW commits to a proper and meaningful undertaking that they will respect and abide by minimum income of bailee drivers at the NSW Industrial Relations Commission and NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, the taxi drivers in general do not oppose releasing any number of taxi plates.
Yet, for some strange reason, some of the remaining NSW TDA leadership is committed to stopping the further issuing of new taxi plates. Furthermore, they are not interested in addressing any of the many other burning issues affecting bailee taxi drivers!
May the president please inform the committee and a few open and secret meetings between Anne Turner and the taxi industry mandarins may be instrumental for this strange direction.
“ … My Letter to Brian Langton generated Secrecy of NSW Ministry of Transport! I have collected many more other pieces of evidence, such as those mentioned above! It appears that there is much organised chaos! The department is acting against the wishes and interests of the state, public and workers. However, the department appears to be serving the interests of the taxi mafia very well.
Recommendation1. Politicians and public servants must uphold the state and public interest first and their decisions and decision making process should be democratic and fact based.”
