Key points

• Australian Open spectators have reported some taxi drivers refusing short trips and haggling for fares. 
• Queues for taxis outside the tournament have been 100 people long at times with peak demand from around 5pm onwards.   
• A spokesman for taxi company 13cabs said the behaviour of some drivers was unacceptable and was causing issues for consumers.

A group of Melbourne taxi drivers have canvassed a boycott of the Australian Open after customers complained they were for short trips or had to haggle over prices rather than relying on the meter.

The Victorian government was on Sunday made aware that “a small number” of drivers privately discussed avoiding the tournament in a WhatsApp group, prompting a retort from Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll.

The taxi rank on Olympic Boulevard outside the Australian Open. Credit:Chris Hopkins

“Anyone attending the Australian Open, or any of our world-class major events, rightly expects to be able to get home safely – and that is our expectation,” Carroll said in a statement on Sunday.

“If a small number choose not to work, that is a matter for them.”

He encouraged Melburnians and visitors to use public transport, with free trams and shuttle services to and from the tennis.

Fans have waited outside the tournament in queues up to 100 people long, and struggled with drivers haggling for higher flat fares rather than using the meter.

One tennis fan last week told The Age and Sydney Morning Herald last week that when he tried to get from the Australian Open to Williamstown, two taxi drivers would only take set fees of $75 and $80.

“We managed to get a third cab who used a taxi meter as they should and our trip was $39,” he said. “Australian Open organisers should ensure this sort of ripping off is not allowed.”

Taxi drivers have been able to refuse and negotiate fares for trips hailed on the street or caught from taxi ranks since the Andrews government deregulated the industry in 2017 to make way for Uber and other ‘ride-share’ companies.

Rod Barton, a taxi operator who formed the Transport Matters Party and was elected to Victoria’s upper house in 2018 but lost his seat in last year’s election, said the practice should be illegal, as it still is in NSW and Queensland.

“When you come out of Rod Laver Arena after the tennis at 1 o’clock in the morning and there’s 30 cars there and all of them refuse to put their meter on and charge you $100 to go to South Yarra, that’s not a negotiated fare,” he said.

“They’re robbing you – they should be wearing balaclavas and carrying shotguns.”

Barton said that the government had failed to address the deep flaws in its 2017 reforms and had now “lost control” of the industry.

A spokesman for taxi company 13cabs last week said the behaviour of some drivers was unacceptable and was causing issues for consumers.

He said 13cabs staff were providing staff on ranks to help passengers, and extensive communications to drivers to tell them this behaviour was not acceptable.

“We also encourage passengers who experience this to let us know, so we can follow up and take disciplinary action,” he said.

“There is a need for the state government to improve their regulatory response to address this behaviour. They can’t keep pushing the problem onto the industry when they allowed hundreds and hundreds of unaccountable independent taxis on the road and removed regulations that outlawed things like fare refusal and negotiating the price of the trip on the rank.”

In the taxi rank outside the Australian Open this week taxi driver Sayed Hussain said he never refused short fares or haggled on fares.

“People ask me ‘How much from here?’ … I say ‘Here is the meter’.” he said. “The meter is here for a reason. If you are looking for a flat rate I don’t think you should be driving a taxi.”

A spokeswoman for the Australian Open also encouraged fans to attend on public transport.

“The taxi rank on Olympic Boulevard is a permanent rank, it’s managed year-round as part of Melbourne and Olympic Park, boosted during the Australian Open by additional traffic controllers and security,” she said. “We always do our best to ensure fans are collected safely and quickly, so they can get on their way. We don’t have any control over individual taxi drivers in terms of who they pick up.”

A spokeswoman for the government last week said it actively regulated the commercial passenger vehicle industry to ensure it met government and community expectations and needs.

“We consistently review regulatory frameworks and the industry regulator undertakes roadside inspections and enforcement operations to detect illegal operators,” the spokeswoman said.

“Passengers have greater choice than ever before when booking a commercial passenger service in Victoria.”

What are taxis legally allowed to do?

A taxi driver hailed off the street or a rank in Melbourne has full legal discretion on whether they want to use a meter for your fare, or take a “fixed fare”. Drivers are under no legal obligation to pick you up if you refuse a fixed fare. If you agree to a fixed fare, it must be agreed between you and the driver before your trip starts and can’t be changed during the trip without your agreement.

Information source: Safe Transport Victoria.

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