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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


TAXI AMENDMENT BILL 2003

                      Western Australia


          Taxi Amendment Bill 2003

                         CONTENTS

1.    Short title                                    1
2.    Commencement                                   2
3.    The Act amended                                2
4.    Section 3 amended                              2
5.    Section 16 amended                             2
6.    Section 17 amended                             5
7.    Section 18 amended                             5
8.    Section 19 amended                             6
9.    Section 19A inserted                           7
10.   Section 21 amended                             7
11.   Section 23 amended                             7
12.   Section 23A inserted                           9
13.   Section 24 amended                            10
14.   Section 25 amended                            10
15.   Section 30 amended                            11
16.   Section 37 amended                            11
17.   Section 41 amended                            11
18.   Various references to "plate owner" amended   12




                           224--1                    page i
                           Western Australia



                      LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY



                Taxi Amendment Bill 2003


                               A Bill for


An Act to amend the Taxi Act 1994.



The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:


1.      Short title
        This Act may be cited as the Taxi Amendment Act 2003.




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     Taxi Amendment Bill 2003



     s. 2




     2.         Commencement
                This Act comes into operation on the day on which it receives
                the Royal Assent.

     3.         The Act amended
5               The amendments in this Act are to the Taxi Act 1994*.
                [* Reprinted as at 11 October 2002.]

     4.         Section 3 amended
          (1)   Section 3(1) is amended as follows:
                  (a) by inserting after the definition of "Director General"
10                     the following definition --
                "
                          "lease", in relation to taxi plates, means to acquire the
                              right to use the plates for a period specified by the
                              Director General;
15                                                                                 ";
                    (b)    by deleting the definition of "plate owner" and inserting
                           the following definition instead --
                "
                          "plate holder" means the owner or lessee of taxi
20                            plates;
                                                                                      ".
          (2)   Section 3(3)(a) is amended after "relation to a tender" by
                inserting --
                " or application        ".

25   5.         Section 16 amended
                Section 16 is amended as follows:
                  (a) before "Taxi" by inserting the subsection designation
                       "(1)";


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                                                  Taxi Amendment Bill 2003



                                                                            s. 5



          (b)    at the end of the section by inserting the following
                 subsections --
     "
         (2)    Taxi plates shall also be offered for lease, with the
5               invitation to apply to lease taxi plates specifying --
                  (a) the criteria to be met by the successful
                         applicant;
                  (b) the period for which the plates are offered for
                         lease;
10                (c) the periodic payments that are payable to lease
                         the plates; and
                  (d) the conditions to be imposed on the operation
                         of a taxi using the plates which are being
                         offered for lease.
15       (3)    Without limiting subsection (2)(a), taxi plates may be
                leased by an individual only if the Director General is
                satisfied that the individual --
                  (a) will be the owner and principal driver of the
                         vehicle operated as a taxi using the plates;
20                (b) is not the owner, and has no interest in the
                         ownership, of taxi plates; and
                  (c) is not the lessee of taxi plates.
         (4)    Without limiting subsection (2)(a), taxi plates may be
                leased by the members of a partnership only if the
25              Director General is satisfied that --
                  (a) a member of the partnership will be the owner
                        and principal driver of the vehicle operated as a
                        taxi using the plates (the "owner-driver");
                  (b) each member of the partnership is an
30                      individual;
                  (c) each member of the partnership (other than the
                        owner-driver) is related to the owner-driver;
                        and

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     Taxi Amendment Bill 2003



     s. 5



                     (d)    no member of the partnership --
                              (i) is the owner, or has an interest in the
                                  ownership, of taxi plates; or
                             (ii) is the lessee of taxi plates.
5             (5)   Without limiting subsection (2)(a), taxi plates may be
                    leased by a corporation only if the Director General is
                    satisfied that --
                      (a) a director or other person concerned in the
                             management of the corporation, or a
10                           shareholder of the corporation, will be the
                             owner and principal driver of the vehicle
                             operated as a taxi using the plates (the
                             "owner-driver");
                      (b) each shareholder of the corporation is an
15                           individual;
                      (c) each director or other person concerned in the
                             management of the corporation, and each
                             shareholder of the corporation, is related to the
                             owner-driver;
20                    (d) the corporation --
                                (i) is not the owner, and has no interest in
                                     the ownership, of taxi plates; and
                               (ii) is not the lessee of taxi plates;
                             and
25                    (e) no director or other person concerned in the
                             management of the corporation, or shareholder
                             of the corporation --
                                (i) is the owner, or has an interest in the
                                     ownership, of taxi plates; or
30                             (ii) is the lessee of taxi plates.
              (6)   If the number of applicants who meet the criteria
                    specified under subsection (2)(a) and are eligible under


     page 4
                                                         Taxi Amendment Bill 2003



                                                                                s. 6



                      subsection (3), (4) or (5) exceeds the number of taxi
                      plates that the Director General determines to be available
                      for lease, the successful applicants are to be selected by
                      ballot.
5               (7)   In subsections (4) and (5) --
                      "related", in relation to an owner-driver, means --
                           (a) the spouse or de facto partner of the
                                owner-driver;
                           (b) a parent or child of the owner-driver; or
10                         (c) a brother or sister of the owner-driver.
                                                                                    ".

     6.         Section 17 amended
          (1)   Section 17(1) is amended as follows:
                  (a) after "tender" in each place where it occurs by
15                     inserting --
                       " or application ";
                 (b) in paragraph (c) before "disclose" by inserting --
                       " in the case of a tender, ".
          (2)   Section 17(2) and (3) are each amended after "tender" by
20              inserting "or application".

     7.         Section 18 amended
          (1)   Section 18(1) is amended as follows:
                  (a) after "tender" in each place where it occurs (except in
                       paragraphs (a)(ii) and (b)) by inserting --
25                     " or application ";
                 (b) after "tenderer" in each place where it occurs by
                       inserting --
                       " or applicant ";



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     Taxi Amendment Bill 2003



     s. 8



                        (c)        in paragraph (a)(ii) after "tender" by inserting --
                                   " or joint application ";
                        (d)        in paragraph (a)(ii) after "tenderers" by inserting --
                                   " or applicants ";
5                       (e)        in paragraph (a) by deleting "of taxi plates;" and
                                   inserting instead --
                                   " or lessee of taxi plates, as the case requires; ";
                        (f)        in paragraph (b) after "tender" by inserting --
                                   " or apply ";
10                      (g)        after paragraph (b) by deleting "and" and inserting --
                              "
                                  (ba)   that, in the case of an application for taxi plates,
                                         the applicant is eligible under section 16(3), (4)
                                         or (5), as the case requires; and
15                                                                                              ";
                        (h)        before "issue the tenderer" by inserting --
                                   " , subject to section 16(6), ".
          (2)       Section 18(2)(a) is amended after "tendered" by inserting --
                    " or the first periodic payment for the lease            ".

20   8.             Section 19 amended
          (1)       Section 19(1) is amended by deleting "plate owners" and
                    inserting instead --
                    "     plate holders       ".
          (2)       Section 19(2) is repealed and the following subsection is
25                  inserted instead --
                "
                    (2)       If a payment in respect of an annual fee is not made
                              within 30 days of the due date for that payment, or
                              such other date as the Director General may allow, the
30                            right of the plate holder, or each plate holder, to those

     page 6
                                                         Taxi Amendment Bill 2003



                                                                                   s. 9



                       plates is forfeited to the Director General, and those
                       plates may then be offered for sale or lease, as the case
                       requires, in accordance with section 16.
                                                                                    ".

5    9.          Section 19A inserted
                 After section 19 the following section is inserted --
     "
             19A.      Periodic payments for leased taxi plates
                 (1)   The periodic payments for taxi plates that are leased
10                     are payable by plate holders at the times and in the
                       manner determined by the Director General.
                 (2)   If a periodic payment is not made on or before the due
                       date for that payment, or such other date as the Director
                       General may allow, the right of the plate holder, or
15                     each plate holder, to those plates is forfeited to the
                       Director General, and those plates may then be offered
                       for lease in accordance with section 16.
                                                                                    ".

     10.         Section 21 amended
20               Section 21(1) is amended after "owned" by inserting --
                 " or leased    ".

     11.         Section 23 amended
           (1)   Section 23(1) is amended after "an owner" by inserting --
                 " or lessee    ".




                                                                               page 7
     Taxi Amendment Bill 2003



     s. 11



        (2)       Section 23(2), (3) and (4) are repealed and the following
                  subsections are inserted instead --
              "
                  (2)   Where a plate holder fails to satisfy the Director
5                       General in accordance with subsection (1), the Director
                        General may serve notice on the person --
                         (a) in the case of an owner of taxi plates --
                               requiring him or her to divest himself or herself
                               of any interest in the ownership of taxi plates
10                             within 45 days after the day of service of the
                               notice (the "divestment period"); or
                         (b) in the case of a lessee of taxi plates -- advising
                               him or her of the effect of the relevant
                               provisions of subsections (3) and (4).
15                (3)   Where a person fails to divest himself or herself of his
                        or her interest in the ownership of taxi plates within the
                        divestment period or a person is served with a notice
                        under subsection (2)(b) in relation to the leasing of taxi
                        plates --
20                        (a) his or her right to the plates is forfeited to the
                                Director General --
                                   (i) if he or she has appealed under
                                         subsection (4) -- on the making of a
                                         decision that confirms the Director
25                                       General's decision or that otherwise
                                         results in the forfeiture of that right; or
                                  (ii) otherwise on the expiry of --
                                             (I) in the case of an owner of taxi
                                                   plates -- the divestment
30                                                 period; or
                                            (II) in the case of a lessee of taxi
                                                   plates -- the period specified in
                                                   subsection (4);
                                and

     page 8
                                                      Taxi Amendment Bill 2003



                                                                              s. 12



                    (b)    if he or she was the sole plate holder, the plates
                           may then be offered for sale or lease, as the
                           case requires, in accordance with section 16.
             (4)   Where the Director General serves notice on a person
5                  under subsection (2), the person may within 14 days of
                   service of that notice appeal to a Local Court against
                   the Director General's decision that he or she is no
                   longer fit to be an owner or lessee, as the case requires,
                   of taxi plates.
10                                                                              ".

     12.     Section 23A inserted
             After section 23 the following section is inserted --
     "
           23A.    Forfeiture of leased taxi plates
15           (1)   If this section applies to a lessee of taxi plates the
                   lessee forfeits to the Director General the right to the
                   plates, which may then be offered for lease in
                   accordance with section 16.
             (2)   This section applies to --
20                  (a) an individual who leases taxi plates if --
                             (i) the individual becomes the owner, or
                                   acquires an interest in the ownership, of
                                   taxi plates; or
                            (ii) the individual ceases to be the owner
25                                 and principal driver of the vehicle
                                   operated as a taxi using the plates;
                    (b) the members of a partnership who lease taxi
                           plates if --
                             (i) a member of the partnership becomes
30                                 the owner, or acquires an interest in the
                                   ownership, of taxi plates; or



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     Taxi Amendment Bill 2003



     s. 13



                                  (ii)   no member of the partnership is the
                                         owner and principal driver of the
                                         vehicle operated as a taxi using the
                                         plates;
5                                and
                           (c)   a corporation that leases taxi plates if --
                                   (i) the corporation, or a director or other
                                        person concerned in the management of
                                        the corporation, or a shareholder of the
10                                      corporation, becomes the owner, or
                                        acquires an interest in the ownership, of
                                        taxi plates; or
                                  (ii) no director or other person concerned in
                                        the management of the corporation, or
15                                      shareholder of the corporation, is the
                                        owner and principal driver of the
                                        vehicle operated as a taxi using the
                                        plates.
                                                                                    ".

20   13.         Section 24 amended
                 After section 24(4) the following subsection is inserted --
             "
                 (5)   Taxi plates that are leased are not transferable.
                                                                                    ".

25   14.         Section 25 amended
                 Section 25(1) is amended by deleting paragraphs (a) and (b) and
                 "or" between them and inserting instead --
                       "
                           (a)   if a lessee of taxi plates does not make another
30                               successful application under section 16(2)
                                 before the expiry of the period for which the
                                 plates were leased -- the expiry of that period;


     page 10
                                                                 Taxi Amendment Bill 2003



                                                                                          s. 15



                               (b)   the forfeiture of the right to those plates under
                                     section 19(2), 19A(2) or 23A; or
                               (c)   if, as a result of forfeiture under subsection (3)
                                     of section 23, those plates may be offered for
5                                    sale or lease in accordance with section 16 --
                                     the forfeiture of the right to those plates under
                                     that subsection.
                                                                                            ".

     15.         Section 30 amended
10               Section 30(5) is amended by deleting "7 days" and inserting
                 instead --
                 "    14 days        ".

     16.         Section 37 amended
                 Section 37(1) is amended as follows:
15                 (a) by deleting paragraph (d) and inserting the following
                        paragraph instead --
                           "
                               (d)   a tenderer or applicant;
                                                                                            ";
20                   (b)       after "owner" by inserting --
                               " or lessee ";
                     (c)       after "service," by inserting --
                               " as the case requires, ".

     17.         Section 41 amended
25         (1)   Section 41(2)(c) is amended after "sale" by inserting --
                 " or lease          ".
           (2)   Section 41(5) is amended as follows:
                   (a) after paragraph (d) by deleting "and";


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     Taxi Amendment Bill 2003



     s. 18



                   (b)   after paragraph (e) by deleting the full stop and
                         inserting --
                         "
                                ; and
5                        (f)    all expenditure, other than expenditure referred
                                to in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e),
                                lawfully incurred for the purposes of, or in
                                meeting the costs and expenses of the
                                administration of, this Act.
10                                                                                 ".

     18.       Various references to "plate owner" amended
               The provisions listed in the Table to this section are amended by
               deleting "plate owner" in each place where it occurs and
               inserting instead --
15             "    plate holder     ".
                                             Table
                   s. 3(1), definition of "operate",
                   paragraph (b)                       s. 23(1)
                   s. 19(3)                            s. 25(1)
                   s. 20(2)(a)                         s. 32(3)
                   s. 20(2)(b)                         s. 32(4)(a)
                   s. 20(3)                            s. 32(6)
                   s. 20(4) (in 2 places)              s. 33(b)
                   s. 21(1)                            s. 43(1)
                   s. 22(1)                            s. 47(2)(a)
                   s. 22(2)                            s. 47(2)(b)




 


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