Page 10 - drive a2b nov 2019 web_Neat

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NSW Taxi Christine Tyrrell and André Baruch
Michelle Kay who worked
Council State tirelessly to put the entire President, CPVAA
Conference conference together.
A
Blair Davies (CEO of the
The keynote speaker, Mr ATIA) presented statistics
I was delighted to be invited to
attend the NSW Taxi Council’s Steve Cox, Managing Director that showed that despite
annual State conference of Dymocks spoke about the doom and gloom the
“Together Towards Tomorrow” how Dymocks re-invented taxi industry isn’t suffering
SSOCIA
that was held in Sydney late themselves in the face of (broadly speaking) that badly
October 2019. It was great aggressive challengers, both – only being down a couple of
being there, meeting the from big box retailers and from percent in real terms.
people involved and hearing on-line sellers and e-books. I speak with enough taxi
firsthand of the problems While there are a lot of drivers and I think Mr Davies
that the taxi industry in NSW similarities between what might be looking at the wrong
TION NEW
were and are facing. More Dymocks went through and place for his statistics. In
S
importantly, it was great to what the broader taxi industry Victoria every driver complains
see that the Taxi Industry is went through, there are also of a drop off of work by
determined to move forward significant differences. Steve approximately 25 – 30% -
to continue to ensure the rightly made the point about the based on their own personal
viability of the industry for all need to leverage off technology; observations on year-to-year
participants. but as a service industry comparisons from what
composed of many different they’ve done previously. I
I would like to give a special
shout out to the following (and competing) parts this have taken a few taxis in
for their superb organisation becomes a particular challenge. recent times, and my personal
of this conference – Martin It is not about the industry experience is that the quality
Rogers (CEO, NSW Taxi building a better “uber-type” of vehicles and the quality of
Council); Nick Abrahim (Deputy app for the public; it is about drivers is definitely improving
CEO, NSW Taxi Council); Lee engineering a mindset in the – every trip I have taken in the
Furlong (Chairman NSW Taxi public that will bring them back last month has been a very
Council) and of course to taxi usage. good experience.
10 DRIVE A2B magazine · November 2019