Media Release: Government taxi plan backed as Ipswich ripoffs revealed

State Government plans to crack down on rogue taxi operators have been welcomed by Queensland Consumer Watch.

They come in the wake of allegations by an Ipswich taxi driver whistle blower that one of his colleagues charged a woman an extra fee - because she was overweight.

Other allegations revealed in today's Queensland Times include:

• An illegal $10 surcharge on public holidays.

• Passengers being forced to pay for the air-conditioning to be turned on or to use the taxi's GPS system.

Consumer Watch spokesman said another reported incident involved a taxi driver who refused to leave his cab to open a gate for a blind passenger.

"These incidents are appalling and the drivers involved should be booted out of the industry.

"The government should crack down hard on these rogue operators.

"Taxi users should report any incidents to the Transport Department," Paul Tully said.



PAUL TULLY: paul@tully.org.au

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