tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74164701260335390742024-03-13T06:00:04.266-07:00Members of Parliament and media outletsAustro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-12716584459846831062010-08-21T03:20:00.000-07:002010-08-21T03:24:48.680-07:00Conspirators of 9/11 and Mad Hatter's Tea Party Re Rights of Women in Islam<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CUSER1%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CUSER1%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" 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<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%; color: rgb(0, 153, 51);font-size:14pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%; color: rgb(0, 153, 51);font-size:14pt;" ><a href="http://sydneytaxi.blogspot.com/2010/07/women-why-do-you-attack-islam.html">Women! Why Do You Attack Islam?</a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" ><a href="http://mosespbuhsuckingcock.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-was-status-of-indian-women.html">
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<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 23.25pt; text-indent: -23.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%; color: rgb(0, 153, 51);font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 23.25pt; text-indent: -23.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%; color: rgb(0, 153, 51);font-size:14pt;" >Foundations of Spiritual and Human Equity in Islam:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 23.25pt; text-indent: -23.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 23.25pt; text-indent: -23.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" >In the midst of the darkness that engulfed the world, the divine revelation echoed in the wide desert of Arabia in the seventh Century with a fresh, noble, and universal message to humanity, described below.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" >(1)</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" > According to the Holy Quran, men and women have the same human spiritual nature:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 30pt; margin-left: 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" ><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_23" spid="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="aqwas-ys" style="'width:9pt;height:16.5pt;visibility:visible;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\USER1~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg" title="aqwas-ys"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/USER1%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" alt="aqwas-ys" shapes="Picture_x0020_23" width="12" border="0" height="22" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" > O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women... </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" ><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_24" spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="aqwas-ym" style="'width:9pt;height:16.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\USER1~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg" title="aqwas-ym"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/USER1%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" alt="aqwas-ym" shapes="Picture_x0020_24" width="12" border="0" height="22" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" > </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" >(Quran, 4:1, see also 7:189, 42:11, 16:72, 32:9, and 15:29).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" >(2)</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" > God has invested </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:red;" >both genders </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" >with </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:red;" >inherent dignity</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" > and has made men and women, collectively, the trustees of God on earth (see the Quran 17:70 and 2:30).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" >(3)</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" > The Quran does not blame woman for the “fall of man,” nor does it view pregnancy and childbirth as punishments for “eating from the forbidden tree.” On the contrary, the Quran depicts Adam and Eve as </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:red;" >equally responsible for their sin in the Garden, never singling out Eve for blame</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" >. Both repented, and both were forgiven (see the Quran 2:36-37 and 7:19-27). In fact, in one verse (Quran 20:121) Adam specifically was blamed. The Quran also esteems pregnancy and childbirth as sufficient reasons for the love and respect due to mothers from their children (Quran 31:14 and 46:15).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" >(4)</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" > Men and women have the same religious and moral duties and responsibilities. Each human being shall face the consequences of his or her deeds:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 30pt; margin-left: 30pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" ><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_25" spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="aqwas-ys" style="'width:9pt;height:16.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\USER1~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg" title="aqwas-ys"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/USER1%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" alt="aqwas-ys" shapes="Picture_x0020_25" width="12" border="0" height="22" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" > And their Lord responded to them (saying): Never will I allow to be lost the work of (any) worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another... </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" ><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_26" spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="aqwas-ym" style="'width:9pt;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\USER1~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg" title="aqwas-ym"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/USER1%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" alt="aqwas-ym" shapes="Picture_x0020_26" width="12" border="0" height="22" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" > (Quran, 3:195, see also 74:38, 16:97, 4:124, 33:35, and 57:12).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" >(5)</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" > The Quran is quite clear about the issue of the claimed superiority or inferiority of any human, male or female. The sole basis for superiority of any person over another is piety and righteousness </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:red;" >not gender, color, or nationality</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:14pt;color:black;" > (see the Quran 49:13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><a href="http://911andmanyunansweredquestions.blogspot.com/2010/08/conspirators-of-911-and-mad-hatters-tea.html"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);">
<br /></span></a></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><a href="http://911andmanyunansweredquestions.blogspot.com/2010/08/conspirators-of-911-and-mad-hatters-tea.html"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);">
<br /></span></a></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><a href="http://911andmanyunansweredquestions.blogspot.com/2010/08/conspirators-of-911-and-mad-hatters-tea.html"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);">Conspirators of 9/11 and Mad Hatter's Tea Party </span></a> </span></b><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >For more: </span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/9-11-conspirators-and-mad-hatter-s-tea-party"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Conspirators of 9/11 and Mad Hatter's Tea Party</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >I am sick and tired of 9/11! Do you blame the Muslims for these anomalies? <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ar4JaOIeVCFW_KtJkbbZzz7ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100815072658AAjuwvy"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ar4JaOIeVCFW_KtJkbbZzz7ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100815072658AAjuwvy"><span style=";font-family:";" >What's happened to twin tower gold bars?</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ar4JaOIeVCFW_KtJkbbZzz7ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100815065409AAEIqm9"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ar4JaOIeVCFW_KtJkbbZzz7ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100815065409AAEIqm9"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >What was the result of 9/11
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ar4JaOIeVCFW_KtJkbbZzz7ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100815065409AAEIqm9"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ar4JaOIeVCFW_KtJkbbZzz7ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100815065409AAEIqm9"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Text messages received by to Jews? </span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&&sa=X&ei=4XpuTIDxD5KcuAPNublB&ved=0CBMQBSgA&q=Dancing+Israelis+Videotaping+9/11&spell=1&fp=777e3e137a7fafb4"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&&sa=X&ei=4XpuTIDxD5KcuAPNublB&ved=0CBMQBSgA&q=Dancing+Israelis+Videotaping+9/11&spell=1&fp=777e3e137a7fafb4"><span style=";font-family:";" >Dancing Israelis Videotaping 9/11</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread549100/pg1"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread549100/pg1"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >A Timeline: Israel connection to 9/11</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;color:red;" > </span></b><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread491042/pg1"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread491042/pg1"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Media Manipulation - Palestinians Dancing on 9/11 Videos</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18353.htm"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18353.htm"><span style=";font-family:";" >Who Are the Beneficiaries of 9/11?</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/535.php?nid=&id=&pnt=535&lb=btis&gclid=COGC4-KQyKMCFROnbwod4iXBug"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/535.php?nid=&id=&pnt=535&lb=btis&gclid=COGC4-KQyKMCFROnbwod4iXBug"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >International Poll: No Consensus On Who Was Behind 9/11</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puWqNJI8Mjo"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puWqNJI8Mjo"><span style=";font-family:";" >The Arabs and Muslims Gained Nothing from 9/11</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://vinnomothypocrites.blogspot.com/2010/08/mad-hatters-tea-party-and-evil-of.html"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://vinnomothypocrites.blogspot.com/2010/08/mad-hatters-tea-party-and-evil-of.html"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >A Mad Hatter's Tea Party and Evil of Sharia Law</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >For more: </span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/burqahandenemies/a-mad-hatter-s-tea-party-and-evil-of-sharia-law"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >A Mad Hatter's Tea Party and Evil of Sharia Law</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/do-you-like-to-burn-your-wife-alive-1"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/do-you-like-to-burn-your-wife-alive-1"><span style=";font-family:";" >Burn the Wife Alive</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > was discouraged by Islam. Islam also openly and strongly discouraged the barbaric process of burying baby daughter alive! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;color:red;" >
<br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;color:red;" >Judaism and Christianity got at least 18 provisions allowing stone to death.</span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Non Muslim </span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carracci,_Annibale_-_The_Stoning_of_St_Stephen_-_1603-04.jpg"><span style=";font-family:";" >St. Stephen</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > was stoned to death! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.defence.pk/forums/world-affairs/59491-couple-stoned-death-andhra-pradesh.html"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.defence.pk/forums/world-affairs/59491-couple-stoned-death-andhra-pradesh.html"><span style=";font-family:";" >The other reporting of Sunkara Srinivas, 32, belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), and 22-year-old Swapna Reddy, belonging to an upper caste, had eloped and married six months ago</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > was in HYDERABAD, India and both of them were NOT Muslims. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >The only other story I found is </span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoning_of_Du%27a_Khalil_Aswad"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Stoning of Du'a Khalil Aswad</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >. She is not a Muslim!! In fact she belongs to </span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazidi" title="Yazidi"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Yazidi</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > faith!!! </span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://politifi.com/news/Men-stoned-to-death-for-adultery-murder-in-Iran-1006004.html"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://politifi.com/news/Men-stoned-to-death-for-adultery-murder-in-Iran-1006004.html"><span style=";font-family:";" >Men stoned to death for adultery, murder in Iran</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > is one case only and I am conducting more investigation about it. </span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://peacesecurity.suite101.com/article.cfm/adulterer_stoned_to_death#ixzz0wVCZuJTn"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://peacesecurity.suite101.com/article.cfm/adulterer_stoned_to_death#ixzz0wVCZuJTn"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://peacesecurity.suite101.com/article.cfm/adulterer_stoned_to_death#ixzz0wVCZuJTn"><span style=";font-family:";" >Adulterer Stoned to Death: Extreme Islamic Punishment in Somalia</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > is another case in point one. Since 1980, thanks to US government, Somalia is lacking of a proper government and the <b><span style="color:red;">case is very questionable</span></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >The most disturbing reported cases of stone to death are:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >1. </span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&source=hp&q=Pakistani+man+stoned+to+death&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=Pakistani+man+stoned+to+death&gs_rfai=&fp=46e7c64d3eb6ebfb"><span style=";font-family:";" >Pakistani man stoned to death</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > and<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >2. </span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&q=Man+and+woman+stoned+to+death+in+Afghanistan&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=46e7c64d3eb6ebfb"><span style=";font-family:";" >Man and woman stoned to death in Afghanistan</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Amongst 1.5 billion Muslims not even a handful of Muslims faced stone to death! <b><span style="color:red;">Sudden three reporting in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran are seriously disturbing. </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >I hope they are not like </span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_%26_Knowlton"><span style=";font-family:";" >Hill & Knowlton</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > trained </span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse_Nayirah"><span style=";font-family:";" >Nurse Nayirah</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > and </span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddam_Hussein%27s_alleged_shredder"><span style=";font-family:";" >Saddam Hussein's alleged shredder</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > from <b><span style="color:red;">totally misguided American mercenaries</span></b> who are stupid enough to send their own children to die for the mistress called Israel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://whodeservegaschamber.blogspot.com/2010/08/mad-hatters-tea-party-and-lies-about.html"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://whodeservegaschamber.blogspot.com/2010/08/mad-hatters-tea-party-and-lies-about.html"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >A Mad Hatter's Tea Party and Lies about 9/11</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >For more: </span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/burqahandenemies/a-mad-hatter-s-tea-party-and-lies-about-9-11"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >A Mad Hatter's Tea Party and Lies about 9/11</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/usa-must-quit-afghanistan-now"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/usa-must-quit-afghanistan-now"><span style=";font-family:";" >USA Must Quit Afghanistan Now</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/osama-bin-laden-to-slaughter-the-arabs-and-muslims"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/osama-bin-laden-to-slaughter-the-arabs-and-muslims"><span style=";font-family:";" >(Who Invented) Osama bin Laden to Slaughter the Arabs and Muslims?</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;color:red;" > </span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/osama-bin-laden-guilty-or-innocent"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/osama-bin-laden-guilty-or-innocent"><span style=";font-family:";" >Osama bin Laden! Guilty or Innocent?</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;color:red;" >
<br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;color:red;" >By the way who was behind 9/11 and benefited from this tragedy?</span></b><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Who are the beneficiaries of 9/11?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >1. Israel?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >2. USA?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >3. Defense Industrial Complexes?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >4. Afghanistan?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >5. Iraq?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >6. Iran?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >7. Pakistan?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >8. India?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Who are the losers of 9/11?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >A. Notion of Justice?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >B. Democracy?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >C. Human Rights?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >D. Civil Rights and Industrial Rights?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >E. Muslims?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >F. Arabs?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >G. Humanity in general?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://fanb.blogspot.com/2010/08/mad-hatters-tea-party-and-lies-about.html"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://fanb.blogspot.com/2010/08/mad-hatters-tea-party-and-lies-about.html"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >A Mad Hatter's Tea Party and Lies about a Mosque</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >For more: </span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/a-mad-hatter-s-tea-party-and-lies-about-a-mosque"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >A Mad Hatter's Tea Party and Lies about a Mosque</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Further to<b> </b></span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/mad-haters-party-of-usa-no-mosque-near-ground-zero"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Mad Haters Party of USA (No Mosque near Ground Zero)</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > </span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >and </span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://australianmosqueattacks.blogspot.com/2010/08/beyond-mad-hatters-tea-party.html"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Beyond A Mad Hatter's Tea Party?</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > , a variety of proposed scenarios </span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >have been reported by various media outlets. These speak of a <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >1. Mosque at Ground Zero,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >2. Mosque near Ground Zero,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >3. Or a Mosque several blocks away from Ground Zero.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >It makes one wonder which of these descriptions is correct, and what is an acceptable distance for a Mosque from the Ground Zero? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://australianmosqueattacks.blogspot.com/2010/08/beyond-mad-hatters-tea-party.html"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://australianmosqueattacks.blogspot.com/2010/08/beyond-mad-hatters-tea-party.html"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Beyond A Mad Hatter's Tea Party?</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >For more: </span></b><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/beyond-a-mad-hatter-s-tea-party"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Beyond A Mad Hatter's Tea Party?</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Further to </span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/mad-haters-party-of-usa-no-mosque-near-ground-zero"><span style=";font-family:";" >Mad Haters Party of USA (No Mosque near Ground Zero)</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > Islam and Muslim bashing is the most spectacular sport in USA! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >The Muslims did not conspire to kill Jesus and that's why the term Islamo-Christian Culture does not exist!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >The Muslims respect Jesus and mother Marry and the Jews do not. Yet, they are revered as </span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/what-is-a-judeo-christian-culture"><span style=";font-family:";" >Judeo-Christian Culture</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >!!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >One must wonder, "why is it so"?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/mad-haters-party-of-usa-no-mosque-near-ground-zero"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/mad-haters-party-of-usa-no-mosque-near-ground-zero"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >Mad Haters Party of USA (No Mosque near Ground Zero)</span></b></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" >Mad Haters Party of USA is mad indeed. They are also Islamophobic! It is cheap and popular. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.newt.org/node/1394#comment-67111282"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a><a href="http://www.newt.org/node/1394#comment-67111282"><span style=";font-family:";" >No Mosque at Ground Zero</span></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > </span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/robert-spencer-praises-newts-intellectual-leadership-identifying-threat-radical-islam" title="Robert Spencer praises Newt's intellectual leadership in identifying threat of radical Islam"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/robert-spencer-praises-newts-intellectual-leadership-identifying-threat-radical-islam" title="Robert Spencer praises Newt's intellectual leadership in identifying threat of radical Islam"><span style=";font-family:";" >Robert Spencer praises Newt's intellectual leadership in identifying threat of radical Islam</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/video-america-risk-camus-national-security-and-afghanistan" title="Video: America at Risk: Camus, National Security, and Afghanistan"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/video-america-risk-camus-national-security-and-afghanistan" title="Video: America at Risk: Camus, National Security, and Afghanistan"><span style=";font-family:";" >Video: America at Risk: Camus, National Security, and Afghanistan</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/newt-gingrich-praises-anti-defamation-league-opposing-proposed-islamic-community-center-" title="Newt Gingrich Praises Anti-Defamation League for Opposing Proposed Islamic Community Center near Ground Zero "><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/newt-gingrich-praises-anti-defamation-league-opposing-proposed-islamic-community-center-" title="Newt Gingrich Praises Anti-Defamation League for Opposing Proposed Islamic Community Center near Ground Zero "><span style=";font-family:";" >Newt Gingrich Praises Anti-Defamation League for Opposing Proposed Islamic Community Center near Ground Zero </span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/newt-says-wtc-mosque-construction-%E2%80%9Cpolitical-act%E2%80%9D-ny1-news"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/newt-says-wtc-mosque-construction-%E2%80%9Cpolitical-act%E2%80%9D-ny1-news"><span style=";font-family:";" >Newt says WTC mosque construction is a "political act" on NY1 News</span></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" > </span></b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/newt-gingrich-statement-proposed-mosqueislamic-community-center-near-ground-zero"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.newt.org/newt-direct/newt-gingrich-statement-proposed-mosqueislamic-community-center-near-ground-zero"><span style=";font-family:";" >Newt Gingrich Statement on Proposed Mosque/Islamic Community Center near Ground Zero</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/01/terrorism-in-europe/" title="Permanent Link to Europol Report: All Terrorists are Muslims…Except the 99.6% that Aren't"><b><span style=";font-family:";color:red;" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/01/terrorism-in-europe/" title="Permanent Link to Europol Report: All Terrorists are Muslims…Except the 99.6% that Aren't"><b><span style=";font-family:";color:red;" >Europol Report: All Terrorists are Muslims…Except the 99.6% that Aren't</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/05/rand-report-threat-of-jihadist-terrorism-exaggerated/" title="Permanent Link to RAND report: Threat of homegrown jihadism exaggerated, Zero U.S. civilians killed since 9/11"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/05/rand-report-threat-of-jihadist-terrorism-exaggerated/" title="Permanent Link to RAND report: Threat of homegrown jihadism exaggerated, Zero U.S. civilians killed since 9/11"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >RAND report: Threat of homegrown jihadism exaggerated, Zero U.S. civilians killed since 9/11</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/01/not-all-terrorists-are-muslims/" title="Permanent Link to All Terrorists are Muslims…Except the 94% that Aren't"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></b></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/01/not-all-terrorists-are-muslims/" title="Permanent Link to All Terrorists are Muslims…Except the 94% that Aren't"><b><span style=";font-family:";" >All Terrorists are Muslims…Except the 94% that Aren't</span></b></a></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/jesus-killed-mohammed"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/jesus-killed-mohammed"><span style=";font-family:";" >The crusade for a Christian military</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/the-good-soldiers-of-david-finkel"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /></span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/crimesexposed/the-good-soldiers-of-david-finkel"><span style=";font-family:";" >The Good Soldiers of David Finkel</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-83340650370002597302010-06-02T04:25:00.001-07:002010-06-02T04:25:26.550-07:00Who was behind Hamas and why?<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Who was behind </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas"><span style="font-size:130%;">Hamas</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> and why?<br /> </span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Hamas' early growth had been supported by the </span><a title="Mossad" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossad"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mossad</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> as a "counterbalance to the </span><a title="Palestine Liberation Organization" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_Liberation_Organization"><span style="font-size:130%;">Palestine Liberation Organization</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> (PLO)". Furthermore, the French investigative newspaper Le Canard enchaîné stated that </span><a title="Shin Bet" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_Bet"><span style="font-size:130%;">Shin Bet</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> had also supported Hamas as a counterweight to the PLO and Fatah, in an attempt to give "a religious slant to the conflict, in order to make the West believe that the conflict was between Jews and Muslims", thus supporting the controversial thesis of a "</span><a title="Clash of Civilizations" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash_of_Civilizations"><span style="font-size:130%;">clash of civilizations</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">".</span><a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas#cite_note-Le_Canard-85"><span style="font-size:130%;">[86]</span></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Source: </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas"><span style="font-size:130%;">Hamas</span></a></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-70137661356797159742010-01-18T21:58:00.000-08:002010-01-19T23:52:04.311-08:00Cost Effective Public Education Campaign<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BFaKf_zgJdU/S1a2CqTeInI/AAAAAAAAADo/At69GhjgFnI/s1600-h/IMG_0003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BFaKf_zgJdU/S1a2CqTeInI/AAAAAAAAADo/At69GhjgFnI/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428726557673661042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BFaKf_zgJdU/S1a10Dzt2ZI/AAAAAAAAADg/yxMLLMJId5Y/s1600-h/IMG_0002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BFaKf_zgJdU/S1a10Dzt2ZI/AAAAAAAAADg/yxMLLMJId5Y/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428726306821757330" border="0" /></a>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-1998104286760568582009-10-13T08:47:00.001-07:002010-01-18T00:24:02.031-08:00Will you support a NSWTaxi Royal Commission?<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Will you support a NSWTaxi Royal Commission?<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Taxi mafia used to wash taxis at Bayswater Road, KX. Taxi drivers wanted to sack him because he was not washing taxis properly. But, mafia survived due to racism and sectarianism. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />However, he became owner of two taxis and a few more earthly possessions by shagging a widow. Eventually, he became the taxi mafia by adding misery and misfortune on taxi drivers, owners and passengers. Ironically, successive NSW Premiers and Ministers of Transport started to lick his balls and they threw bag full of money at him. As a result, he gained the power to sue any one, silence anyone and even destroy someone! </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />What a mighty man the taxi mafia is?! One must wonder what happened to other man and woman of the state of NSW?!!? Are they mouse and mice? </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Moderator<br /></span><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freeaustralianow/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Free Australia Now</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Mobile: 041 091 4118</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: union_faruque@...<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Monday, October 05, 2009<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Cabcharge head Reginald Kermode sues Fairfax<br />AAP<br />October 02, 2009 06:18pm<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />CABCHARGE executive chairman Reginald Kermode has filed defamation proceedings in the New South Wales Supreme Court against Fairfax Media and one of its journalists.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The action against Fairfax Media Publications, Fairfax </span><a title="Search for more about Digital Australia across the News Network" href="http://search.news.com.au/search/0/?us=ndmnews&sid=31037&as=news&ac=business&r=seealso&q=Digital%20Australia"><span style="font-size:130%;">Digital Australia </span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">and New Zealand Pty Ltd and journalist </span><a title="Search for more about Linton Besser across the News Network" href="http://search.news.com.au/search/0/?us=ndmnews&sid=31037&as=news&ac=business&r=seealso&q=Linton%20Besser"><span style="font-size:130%;">Linton Besser </span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">relates to articles published last month.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Sydney Morning Herald investigated the supply of taxi licence plates and Mr Kermode's influence within the taxi industry.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />"</span><a title="Search for more about Fairfax Media across the News Network" href="http://search.news.com.au/search/0/?us=ndmnews&sid=31037&as=news&ac=business&r=seealso&q=Fairfax%20Media"><span style="font-size:130%;">Fairfax Media </span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">recently published a series of articles directed at Mr Kermode and Mr Kermode has issued these legal proceedings to repair the damage caused to his reputation,'' the Cabcharge board said today.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />"The board takes the view that Fairfax Media's attack on Mr Kermode is part of a planned campaign against him by Fairfax Media.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The matter is set down for November 12 for directions.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Fairfax Media did not wish to comment.<br />Source: </span><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freeamericanow/message/55476"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freeamericanow/message/55476</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--- In freeamericanow@yahoogroups.com, "Biplobi Faruque" <union_faruque@...>wrote:Re: Will you support a NSW Taxi Royal Commission?<br /></union_faruque@...></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The Taxi Royal Commission<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The NSW Taxi Royal Commission is a good idea. NSW Greens are supporting the NSW Taxi Royal Commission. I was told that the Liberals are also supporting this initiative. A few Labor party MPs told me that they too are in support of a NSW Taxi Royal Commission.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The Sydney Morning Herald is doing a good job. A few commercial radio stations are also giving us plenty of air time. All of us can use these air times to advocate our goals. Information in support of our campaign is available in the </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sydney Taxi Corruption</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> and other message boards.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Please avoid divide and rule<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The Mexican Bandit (Jools) managed to waste our valuable time for his private ventures to satisfy his lust and greed. Who knows when he will stop!<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">End of the last year we were forced to waste our precious time for totally destructive goal and the NSW TDA gained nothing out of such a foolish (if not criminal) vendetta.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Before and after the election also we faced some tough period. It was not easy and I personally did everything to avoid an unnecessary confrontation. However, I won't be a spring chicken either. I will stand up for taxi drivers' rights and welfare.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Surprisingly a Few Allegations Against Faruque Ahmed Emerged Recently!</span><br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;" align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;" align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;" align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Some one told me that I am not good as Tony O'Donnell. The evidence against me was, "Tony is rich and he got his own companies – what you got, nothing!" The answer: Yes, I introduced Tony in the taxi politics. He was a good fighter. Later he took the "King Shilling", sold out taxi drivers and did many wrong things. O'Donnell also betrayed his master Tony Sheldon and the NSW TWU. Surely, Faruque can't be held responsible for O'Donnell's crime. On that time Faruque used to drive a brand new car – now Faruque is virtually broke! Is it also Faruque's fault?<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Someone also told me, "We know all about you and your past record – your interaction with Emil Haraszti, …. ". Well, if anyone knows my dirty past then please drop it in public. Emil, Mike, I and many more people has started a few movements in the past. We did well and achieved a few things for taxi drivers. At one stage Emil tried to become a mini Reg Kermode! I pressed my foot!! A division emerged in the rank. The taxi mafia, TWU mafia, Robert Mayell and Tony O'Donnell took the advantage. They went to the NSW IRC and screwed the taxi drivers once again. Before Emil passed a way, he showed his respect for Faruque. Mike Hatrick knows a bit about this chapter. Silly Tony Denton was an outsider at that time and he is totally irrelevant in this debate.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Some one also told me that the taxi council (p/l) is good, powerful, … and we should bend over for that illegal and immoral body who have been sucking taxi drivers and owners blood for a long time. My answer is, NO, NO, NO. We must fight that corrupt body. The successive corrupt Ministers and government officials have handed over millions of dollars to the taxi council (p/l) and in turn the taxi council thugs have been using public money against the public, state, taxi drivers and owners. My mind is clear. The taxi council p/l is an enemy of the public, drivers and owners. I can not compromise with them.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Faruque is manipulate by ….<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The telecrap articles are wrong, ill-motivated and they can't stand in a court of law. Our original Media Release, recent drafts are correct and proper way to move forward. I don't think INJUNCTION is a good idea for a number of reasons. The allegation of manipulation is childish. Should anyone presents a good idea and would like to work for that goal they will find my warm support. However, if anyone would like to use any events for their own advantage and contrary to our common interest then I will do what ever I can to prevent it.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />I hope I made myself clear and let's move forward.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />--- In Sydney_TaxiCorruption@yahoogroups.com, "Biplobi Faruque" <union_faruque@...>wrote:Re: Will you support a NSWTaxi Royal Commission?<br /></union_faruque@...></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />These links along with many documetns I have prove the fact that the DoT/MoT is corrupt and the Taxi Mafia, specifically Peter Hyer of the Premier Cabs got his 90% wealth from the public purse!<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2009/taxis/"><span style="font-size:130%;">MULTIMEDIA: Find out how Reg Kermode got to the top, and read the documents which put him there</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">.<br /></span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2009/taxis/pdf/1.pdf"><span style="font-size:130%;">Special Purpose Taxis and Nexus Licence Conditions</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2009/taxis/pdf/2.pdf"><span style="font-size:130%;">Simple Nexus Contract</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a title="Confidential: networks allowed to keep Nexus plates" href="confidential:%20networks%20allowed%20to%20keep%20Nexus%20plates" target="new"><span style="font-size:130%;">Confidential: networks allowed to keep Nexus plates</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a title="Government demands return of Nexus plates" href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/Government%20demands%20return%20of%20Nexus%20plates" target="new"><span style="font-size:130%;">Government demands return of Nexus plates</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a title="Secret memo: Baird refuses to allow Nexus trade" href="http://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2009/taxis/pdf/5.pdf" target="new"><span style="font-size:130%;">Secret memo: Baird refuses to allow Nexus trade</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />--- In Sydney_TaxiCorruption@yahoogroups.com, "Biplobi Faruque" <union_faruque@...>wrote:Re: Will you support a "NSW Taxi Royal commission"?<br /></union_faruque@...></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Man with a licence to print money<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">September 26, 2009, Linton Besser examines the relationship between the players and the regulators.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />It is no secret that Reg Kermode runs a dominant empire in Sydney. But for the first time this year, the authorities are making allegations which go much further: Cabcharge, says the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, bullies others out of the taxi industry.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />It is the most serious attack against the company since Macquarie Bank tried - unsuccessfully - to gain a toehold in Sydney's taxi market earlier this decade.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The empire is fighting back, and filed a robust defence in the Federal Court this week against the ACCC's allegations. Cabcharge, and the other big fish in the pond, maintain there is vigorous competition when it comes to taxis. And with more than 5000 taxis doing fierce battle, being managed by no fewer than 12 taxi networks, it appears to be a fair defence.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />At the top of the tree there are three dominant organisations with serious muscle and thousands of cabs between them: Cabcharge, Premier and Legion.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The key to the power of Kermode's companies is that they have links with more than 3700 rival cabs because they are operated by Cabcharge shareholders. But ''the matter is more complicated than that'', says the economist Peter Abelson.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Not only does Legion own 2.75 million shares in Cabcharge, he explained at a recent talk at Sydney University, but ''the managing director of Premier Cabs has been a director of Cabcharge since 1996''.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />''He owns a million shares in Cabcharge with a private investment worth over $8 million [this has fallen to about $6.9 million] in wealth in Cabcharge, went to all nine directors meetings of Cabcharge last year and drew a salary of $98,000 from Cabcharge,'' Abelson said.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />''So it is very difficult to see how Premier could be operating in anything other than operating entirely in collusion with Cabcharge or CCN [Combined Communications Network].''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The last national survey of taxi services by the research firm Colmar Brunton in 2003 found that in every category Sydney's taxi fleet was the worst in the country. Drivers were underpaid, ruthlessly exploited and poorly trained. Taxis were tardy, sometimes filthy and, at certain times of the day, they simply vanish.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />There have been plenty of attempts to clean up the hire car and taxi industries - no fewer than 14 since 1984 - but all have failed and most have been covered up. A ministerial inquiry in 2004 was shut down before it could publish a final report; taskforces have been convened and forgotten about; files have been destroyed. This year the Rees Government has continued to hide a probity audit into a licensing scheme with holes in it worth millions.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Now, because of confidential documents seen by the Herald, astounding details have emerged of a portfolio in decay. Never-before-published memos and correspondence reveal the extraordinary extent of Kermode and the Taxi Council's influence in persuading the Government to abandon reform.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Most recently, a cabinet-level attempt to rationalise the state's dysfunctional taxi licensing system was buried. The reforms, which would have improved services and ''value for money to the community'', also would have led to a crash in the price of taxi plates.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />In May, the Transport Department's director-general, Jim Glasson, was poached by the Cabcharge family and appointed to a lucrative senior executive position. This, too, the Herald has discovered, was nothing new.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Over the years, at least six former transport bureaucrats, or their spouses, have gone to work for either the Taxi Council or one of Kermode's companies. Some have been senior executives, others just middle managers.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />In that time, the 83-year-old has almost single-handedly revolutionised the industry. By the mid-1980s, serious money began flowing. To a large degree, this was because of Kermode's pioneering efforts at installing new radio and computer technology in his dispatch centres. And crucially, when competing taxi networks would subscribe to his payment-processing technology, Cabcharge, they would also become its shareholders.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />As Cabcharge grew, as it hit the sharemarket in December 1999, and as it acquired all of Kermode's other taxi interests, his rivals were transformed into allies, each with a keen interest in ensuring the financial health of his companies.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />But Kermode and the other elite on the Taxi Council knew their wealth and power rose and fell at the whim of the regulator.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />''Reg Kermode would ring me two or three times a week,'' a middle-ranking official remembered. ''If you look out your window,'' he said Kermode would say, ''you'll see another new cab [going] past.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />John Walker, a former director-general of the Transport Department, described the lobbying from Kermode as ''constant''.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />''I was always friendly with Reg Kermode,'' another said. ''You would get a phone call from Reg and invariably a request would be made.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />This was nothing unusual, it seems. So close were these people during the 1980s and early '90s, the players and the regulators, that the exchange of gifts at Christmas was not uncommon.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />''At the ministry, a big box of scotch would arrive that was given to us from the Taxi Council,'' the Herald was told by one former official. ''Ken Trott [a former director-general] would get the Black Label, and we would get the Red Label.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />''That went on for years. The girls would get the chocolates and the blokes would get scotch … It didn't feel like a bribe but it was something the industry gave us.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Parliamentarians also got the Kermode treatment. Bruce Baird, the transport minister in the Greiner government, said the taxi king featured regularly in his diary. ''He was constant. He was coming up to see me regularly.''<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">And it wasn't just boozy dinners and Christmas gifts; Kermode befriended bureaucrats. Four years ago, Anne Rein, the wife of Rod Gilmour, a departmental executive director, became a senior executive at Cabcharge on an annual salary of more than $200,000.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />In 1982 the Government was talking about introducing 100 extra taxis to get drinkers home after the introduction of random breath testing; two years later, a departmental review recommended lifting entry restrictions from the hire car industry, introducing new competition for taxi fares; and in 1988 the Greiner government threatened to fully deregulate the industry.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />But the industry's leaders, including Kermode, saw off all these threats. The department released only 40 plates in 1982, not 100. Outrageous licence fees kept a lid on the rival hire car industry for many years, and the 1984 departmental review was largely ignored. And as for the premier's efforts at broad deregulation, Baird now says: ''It was not a major period of reform, which I think is a great pity.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Over the years, other reforms have been stymied, too. Confidential files also reveal the Taxi Council - which owns the only taxi driver training curriculum recognised in NSW, according to department files seen by the Herald - opposed moves by the Government to set up an independent driver training assessment centre. It never happened.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />A Herald investigation revealed this week that companies run by Kermode have received the largest share of free taxi plates issued by governments stretching back to Neville Wran.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />This week the new Transport Minister, David Campbell, had little to say about the taxi industry. And, perhaps more ominously, neither has the Opposition. Kermode's Cabcharge has openly donated more heavily to the ALP over the years, but the conservatives have received tens of thousands of dollars, too.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />The Greens have called for an inquiry into the way taxi licensing has been managed by the Government. But the Opposition Leader, Barry O'Farrell, has said only that ''we're happy to have a look at what the Greens' terms of reference are''.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />As it turns out, O'Farrell and Kermode go way back. The taxi tsar attended his wedding.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />--- In Sydney_TaxiCorruption@yahoogroups.com, "Biplobi Faruque" <union_faruque@...>wrote:Will you support a "NSW Taxi Royal commission"?<br /></union_faruque@...></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />Will you support a "NSW Taxi Royal commission" for the sake of fairness and justice rather than the Telecrap's false crusade </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1516"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cabbie cheats face the sack</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> based on false and fabricated reasons and grounds? The choice is yours and you will be judged by the history.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Missing in the list:</span><br /><br />Our attempt to have an ICAC Inquiry<br />Our attempt to have a Parliamentary Staysafe Committee Inquiry<br />Our attempt to have a NSW Taxi Royal Commission<br />Roy Morgan Report conducted by Ms Ann Matheson re ATIS<br />Keatsdale Report (the DoT and the NSW Workcover Authority) re Taxi Drivers' Safety<br />Dalziel Reports (Sydney University, Dept of Psychology)<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">However we have some interesting documents.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Moderator, </span><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freeaustralianow/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Free Australia Now</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, Mobile: 041 091 4118, Email: union_faruque@...<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Inquiries into the taxi and hire car industry<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />YEAR NAME OF INQUIRY AREA OF REFORM OUTCOME (Italic added).<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">2007 Taxi Licensing Review Rationalization of taxi plates - Never made public.<br />2006 Administration of the 'Nexus Scheme' - Final Report Probity investigation into the issue of free plates - Never made public<br />2006 Taxi Industry Safety and Security Task force - Final Report Driver safety (Madden Report) - Report released (Nothing was done) December 2007.<br />2005 WAT committee report Wheelchair-accessible services -Never made public.<br />2005 NSW Taxi Taskforce To address 2004 Ministerial Inquiry Interim Report Never made public.<br />2004 Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Taskforce Improve disabled services - Never made public<br />2004 Auditor-General annual review Examines Nexus Plates Probity investigation into the issue of free plates Government - review not released.<br />2004 Ministerial Inquiry In to the Taxi Industry All led by Allan Cook Interim report published and inquiry shut down.<br />1999 National Competition Council Recommends urgent reform of NSW taxi industry None.<br />1999 Ombudsman Inquiry into hire car license fees Hire car industry regulation by the MoT Licence fees, Eventually reduced from $16,100 to $8,235<br />1998 Taxi Legislation Review Anti-competitive regulations - Never Made Public<br />1995 Ron Cotton & Associates Review Recommended hire car license fees be halved. Never Made Public<br />1993 Arthur Anderson review of taxi and hire car plates. Recommended hire car license fees be halved. Never Made Public<br />1990 ICAC Operation ITA Corruption in Department of Motor Transport Overhaul of non-taxi driver licensing procedures<br />1987 Review of Hire Cars and Wedding Cars Recommended hire car plates be issued at market value None<br />1984 Dawn Linklater Review Deregulation of the Hire Car industry. Never made public<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/editorial/tell-the-driver-change-needed-20090921-fyhj.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Tell the driver: change needed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Please have a look at </span><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/08/failure-of-executive-government-to.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Failure of Executive Government to Address Taxi Industry</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/editorial/tell-the-driver-change-needed-20090921-fyhj.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Tell the driver: change needed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />September 22, 2009<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />USERS of Sydney taxis know that they are licensed, but they may well wonder why. Taxi passengers have to put up with cabs which are often dirty, and driven by people who with disturbing frequency do not know the most direct route to simple destinations. When booked they can simply fail to arrive. What role, they may ask, does licensing play in maintaining standards in the industry? As readers of Linton Besser's series on the industry have discovered, licensing in effect maintains not standards, but the dominance of one group, Cabcharge, over the entire industry.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The company's dominance has been built up over decades to the point where, as the Herald has shown, both sides of politics have been furthering its interests.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">On Sunday it was revealed that the NSW Taxi Council has refused to fulfil its legal requirement to provide the State Government with statistics on the performance of Sydney's taxi networks. The council is offended that past statistics had found their way to the Herald - even though these statistics were benign. It says a great deal about the relationship between the taxi industry and the State Government that the public is forbidden by a government-licensed industry to know how that industry is performing.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Secrecy, in fact, is endemic. The number of licenses is restricted and as a result those licences have great value. The Government keeps secret its list of those who buy and sell taxi plates in a market that is worth up to $2.2 billion.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The details of the state's licensees, solicitors and landholders are all on the public record. Until our investigation, who owns the licence plates has not been public information. Why not? What possible public benefit is conferred by this confidentiality?<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The links between the bureaucracy and the dominant player are deep. Public servants whose job has been to oversee the industry have taken jobs with Cabcharge. The effect of this close relationship has been to stymie competition and produce a second-rate taxi service. A series of inquiries over a decade have recommended that the industry be opened up to new operators, but ferocious resistance from Cabcharge, with its deep links in the bureaucracy, has defeated all attempts at reform.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The series shows the regulator has become the captive of the industry. Roles are reversed: the industry regulates the public service, not the other way around, and controls what the public may know of the relationship. Sydney deserves better. It deserves an open industry in which roughly equal competitors vie for custom. The first step must be to open up information on the taxi industry.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/cabcharge-will-fight-regulator-in-court-20090921-fylq.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cabcharge will fight regulator in court</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Please consider </span><a href="http://taxiscombined.blogspot.com/2009/07/combined-communications-network.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Combined Communications Network</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> , </span><a href="http://graemesamuel.blogspot.com/2009/07/australian-competition-consumer.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Australian Competition & Consumer Commission Response</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><a href="http://legiontaxis.blogspot.com/2009/07/legion-taxi-network.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Legion Taxi Network</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> and </span><a href="http://crimestoppersnsw.blogspot.com/2009/07/faruque-ahmed-p-o-box-349-alexandria.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">NSW Police-Crime Stoppers</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/cabcharge-will-fight-regulator-in-court-20090921-fylq.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cabcharge will fight regulator in court</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />ELISABETH SEXTON, September 22, 2009<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />CABCHARGE Australia has signalled a robust defence to the competition regulator's lawsuit which alleges the company tried to eliminate competitors and deter potential rivals in the taxi industry between 2002 and 2008.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In its formal response filed in the Federal Court on Friday, Cabcharge denies it misused its power as Australia's largest processor of payments for taxi fares.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">It also takes issue with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's assessment that there is a discrete market for processing taxi payments.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">''Electronic processing services outside of a taxi and manual processing services are … reasonably substitutable for electronic processing services [in taxis],'' the defence says.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In one area the document admits to conduct which was ''done without authority and without the knowledge or approval of the board''. The admission relates to ACCC's allegation Cabcharge updated some taxi meters free of charge when fares changed.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The defence document admits that free updates were supplied, but says this was unauthorised and denies it was done as part of a strategy to prevent new rivals gaining a foothold.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">It also denies the broader claim that by integrating its eftpos terminals with taxi meters from 2004 it ''materially reduced the likelihood of other meter suppliers being able to enter or compete with Cabcharge in the electronic processing market''.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In relation to the 10 per cent commission Cabcharge charges on all credit, debit and charge card transactions in taxis, the document says that ''not all the revenue received by it from the 10 per cent service fee is retained by it''.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">It admits that its revenue exceeded its costs of supplying processing services, but does not admit the ACCC's allegation that ''the 10 per cent service fee provided Cabcharge with profits consistent with it having a substantial degree of power in the electronic processing market''.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">''Cabcharge admits that the 10 per cent service fee is not directly derived from or calculable by reference to the costs to Cabcharge of supplying electronic processing services and manual processing services,'' it says.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cabcharge denies the ACCC allegations it illegally refused to allow its rivals access to its electronic terminals. ''Its purpose in engaging in its conduct in relation to each of the alleged refusals to deal was to achieve a legitimate business objective,'' it says.<br />Source: </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1533"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1533</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1530"><span style="font-size:130%;">Will you support a NSW Taxi Royal Commission?</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />Monday, 21 September, 2009 3:15 PM<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">From: "Minister Campbell's Office" </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/post?postID=plwW2OJQ-YS-rU8eUhXTd_NMTT_rUgetw9okGdIEUUE0dN-HH2FTRvPC3Ya-7Dvel0sFhhH1lr_GKp4pbO3hEAaNAeEp5H74cQ"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/post?postID=plwW2OJQ-YS-rU8eUhXTd_NMTT_rUgetw9okGdIEUUE0dN-HH2FTRvPC3Ya-7Dvel0sFhhH1lr_GKp4pbO3hEAaNAeEp5H74cQ</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, To: "Faruque Ahmed" </span><a href="mailto:union_faruque@..."><span style="font-size:130%;">union_faruque@...</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Thank you for your e-mail to the Hon David Campbell MP, Minister for Transport and Minister for the Illawarra.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Your correspondence has been noted and will be given all necessary attention.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Regards<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Office of the Minister for Transport Minister for the Illawarra Ph: 9228 3777 Fx: 9228 3722<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Politicians, Journalists, community leaders,<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Will you support a Taxi Royal Commission in NSW?<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Taxi Mafia,<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />I have been collecting and analysing many taxi industry documents for a long time. Most important ones are photocopied and stored at different locations including webs and blogs.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Therefore, any funny business won't work.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />Faruque Ahmed<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Moderator</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sydney Taxi Corruption</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mobile: 041 091 4118, Email: union_faruque@...<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/lights-are-on-but-some-people-arent-getting-home-20090919-fw44.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lights are on but some people aren't getting home</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Please read </span><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/08/request-for-inauiry-by-nsw-stay-safe.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Request for an Inauiry by the NSW Stay Safe Committee.</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Faruque Ahmed<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/lights-are-on-but-some-people-arent-getting-home-20090919-fw44.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lights are on but some people aren't getting home</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">LINTON BESSER, September 20, 2009<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />Ongoing nuisance... Greg Killen says for the disabled, booking taxis is a lottery. Photo: Peter Rae<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">A QUARTER of all wheelchair-accessible taxis in Sydney are in danger of being declared unfit for service, with many posing a safety risk to passengers and operating in breach of federal guidelines.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">---------------------------------------------------------</span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2009/taxis/"><span style="font-size:130%;">MULTIMEDIA: Find out how Reg Kermode got to the top, and read the documents which put him there.</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">---------------------------------------------------------<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">And since December 2007, Sydney's taxi service has been in breach of the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act because pick-up times for wheelchair-bound passengers lag well behind those for ordinary taxi bookings.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Yesterday The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that the country's biggest taxi company, Cabcharge, run by Reg Kermode, continues to profit from $19.4 million worth of taxi plates given out free by successive state governments.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">While all taxi networks received these plates, it was companies run by Mr Kermode that received the largest share. Under the most lucrative of these schemes, the millions of dollars in revenue generated by these free plates were meant to subsidise a growing fleet of wheelchair-accessible taxis.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />A test case before the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has heard that as many as a quarter of Sydney's modified wheelchair taxis may breach government standards.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The case, which has been brought by one wheelchair taxi passenger, Greg Killeen, and is being run by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, may result in a major overhaul of the type of </span><span style="font-size:130%;">disabled taxis being accredited by the State Government.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Mr Killeen told The Sun-Herald the Department of Transport and Infrastructure had been aware of the problem since June 2006.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />''Booking taxis is a lottery as to the type of wheelchair taxi that may arrive,'' he said.<br />''The impact of wheelchair-accessible taxis with inefficient space for wheelchair passengers has created an ongoing nuisance for up to 10½ years.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The centre says more than 100 wheelchair-accessible taxis - roughly a quarter of Sydney's fleet - do not comply with standards introduced in 2002 under federal anti-discrimination legislation. They say there is insufficient room provided for wheelchair passengers - in one style of vehicle conversion, the steel wheelchair ramp is stowed directly behind the passenger's head.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />If the commission agrees the conversions breach the standards, it is possible all of these vehicles will be declared invalid.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Advocacy centre chief executive Robin Banks said national disability standards were meant to improve access to public transport for people with disabilities.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">''However, many people with a wheelchair are not able to use wheelchair-accessible taxis in NSW because of the way these standards have been interpreted by the department. This is absurd.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In August 2007 the Roads and Traffic Authority agreed.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In a document released to the centre under freedom of information, its manager of vehicle operations and investigation, Harry Vertsonis, examined all the types of converted vehicles nominated by Mr Killeen and found them too small.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">''On Thursday 9th August 2007, I attended Silverwater Motor Registry to inspect the six wheelchair accessible taxis nominated by Mr Greg Killeen in order to determine their compliance with Section 9.1 'Minimum Size for Allocated Space'.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">''Given that all taxis nominated by Mr Killeen failed to meet the requirements of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002, it is recommended that a comprehensive audit of all Wheelchair Accessible Taxis be instigated and all non-complying vehicles made to conform.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Ministry of Transport later disputed this memo. It has since written to Canberra to have the standards clarified.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the firms facing scrutiny is Right Price Conversions, which says it has carried out more vehicle conversions than any other company in Sydney.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But even with all Sydney's wheelchair taxis in operation, response times remain below-standard for those in wheelchairs.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Under the 2002 standards, taxi networks were given until December 31, 2007, to ensure response times where the same for both wheelchair accessible taxis and other cabs. But performance statistics released to advocacy centre under freedom of information show the networks are still to meet the requirement.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In February disabled passengers had to wait more than 10 minutes longer for a taxi, on average, than those who wanted a standard vehicle.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Source: </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1527"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1527</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Please click the link if you like </span><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/08/taxi-cab-inspection-system.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Taxi Cab Inspection System:</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/main-players-had-most-to-lose-from-reform-plan-20090920-fwsn.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Main players had most to lose from reform plan</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />LINTON BESSER INVESTIGATIONS, September 21, 2009<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />Annual expenditure of the committee. Photo: Sydney Morning Herald<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">OVER three years, a big reform package for Sydney's dysfunctional taxi industry bubbled away inside the State Government. By rationalising taxi licences and restructuring the industry, the changes would ''improve service quality and value for money to the community'', according to cabinet documents.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But the reforms also would have diluted the power and influence of Sydney's taxi networks, including those owned by Cabcharge, and by last year the top-secret project was buried inside the Transport Department, where it remains today.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In May, the top official overseeing the department during that period, Jim Glasson, was appointed chief executive officer of a Cabcharge joint venture company. He followed a string of other department officials who had been appointed to jobs within Cabcharge, which is headed by executive chairman Reg Kermode.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr Kermode's companies received the largest share of $35 million worth of taxi licences first loaned free by the Wran government, and then handed over by the Carr government, the Herald revealed on Saturday. Neville Wran is now a Cabcharge director with a share package worth $1.5 million.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Tracey Cain, a spokeswoman for Mr Kermode, Cabcharge and the NSW Taxi Council, described the Herald's coverage as ''badly researched innuendo'' and declined to comment further. Offered an opportunity to identify any errors of fact in the reporting, Ms Cain declined: ''That would be offering commentary.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">During Mr Glasson's three-year tenure at the top of the ministry, a planned move to restructure the taxi industry came to a head after a string of official inquiries recommended sweeping changes.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">These coalesced in a review of taxi licences in 2007 as well as a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers - a highly sensitive project kept hidden from the public. Cabinet documents show in May that year the review warned current policies were not well defined or communicated, that they suffered from ''poor transparency'', and that the ''growth in licence values [is] pushing up costs to industry and consumers''. The result, the documents say, is ''poor reliability and response times''.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">If implemented, the reforms could have significantly improved the state's much-criticised taxi service but would have also slashed the value of the taxi plate market - worth up to $2.2 billion - and made a considerable dent in the assets of big taxi players, including Cabcharge, which at the time owned $44.9 million worth of taxi plates.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The review underwent several drafts and included detailed analysis of the costs and benefits of the reforms, while the policy statements were circulated to officials from the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Treasury and to the office of the then minister, John Watkins.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The modelling showed demand for taxi licences from new players would soar as the price of those licences was reduced, that Treasury coffers would benefit from an increase in the stamp duty payable on the licences, and ultimately, that consumers would benefit with improved response times.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The planning went so far as to include discussion over the vexed issue of compensation to existing taxi plate owners, which was to form the core of an ''adjustment assistance'' program.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The NSW Taxi Council, which represents taxi plate owners and powerful networks, was asked for its input. It wanted a cap on the number of new licences, and suggested that all time-restricted licences should be made perpetual.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The Transport Minister, David Campbell, said taxi licensing was under consideration.<br />Mr Glasson, who was director-general between 2006 and 2009, left his $342,186 position with the Government to take up an appointment as the chief executive officer of ComfortDelGro Cabcharge.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The joint venture's principal interest in Sydney is in the private bus industry, which Mr Glasson also regulated in his former position. Cabcharge owns 49 per cent of the company.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Source: </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1526"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1526</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/defunct-cab-body-costing-millions-20090920-fwsk.html?autostart=1"><span style="font-size:130%;">Defunct cab body costing millions</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Do you like to examine </span><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/08/emergence-of-taxi-council.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Emergence of the "Taxi Council"?</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Faruque Ahmed<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/defunct-cab-body-costing-millions-20090920-fwsk.html?autostart=1"><span style="font-size:130%;">Defunct cab body costing millions</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />LINTON BESSER, September 21, 2009<br />Reg Kermode: the Taxi Tsar<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />A Herald investigation reveals how Sydney's taxi king Reg Kermode reached the top, with help from the NSW Government.<br />· </span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/defunct-cab-body-costing-millions-20090920-fwsk.html?autostart=1#"><span style="font-size:130%;">Video feedback</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />· </span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/defunct-cab-body-costing-millions-20090920-fwsk.html?autostart=1#"><span style="font-size:130%;">Video settings</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">A GOVERNMENT-run taxi committee has spent more than $7.6 million since it was officially dissolved five years ago when it was found to be riddled with budget problems and conflict of interest.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The NSW Government abolished the committee in 2004 when a review by the Department of Premier and Cabinet found concerns over ''potential conflict of interest in tendering'' and ''no clear probity process''.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But government accounts released to the Herald under freedom of information show millions of dollars in taxi industry taxes collected by the transport department are still being spent by the non-existent committee.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">It is a neat illustration of the Government's loss of regulatory control over the industry and follows Herald revelations that Cabcharge, run by Reg Kermode, along with the industry's other big players, continues to benefit from millions of dollars worth of free taxi plates issued to it by successive governments.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The Taxi Advisory Committee was one forum for the taxi networks to make their views known to government officials.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">It was set up in 1998 as the NSW Ombudsman began an investigation of the transport department and as pressure was mounting to release more taxi plates before the Sydney Olympics.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But even more puzzling than the transport department's multi-million dollar black hole is the work the committee did when it was in session.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">It spent more than $11.5 million to produce just nine reports to the Government. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">These ranged from a survey of drivers in September 1999 to the trial of orange vacancy lights on taxi roofs.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">A breakdown of the committee's expenses shows more than $6.5 million was spent between 2003 and 2008 on staffing.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">''Management fees'' made up $1.7 million of its expenditure. A department spokeswoman, Jody Connor, said this money went to the Government for the administrative support lent to the committee by transport department officials.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">''The Taxi Advisory Committee has not met since 2004,'' Ms Connor confirmed, although two-thirds of these management fees - about $1.2 million - have been racked up since then.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Another spokeswoman, Stacey Ryan, said taxi industry initiatives continued to be funded through the committee even though it no longer met. ''The management fee is to reimburse NSW Transport and Infrastructure for the costs involved in managing initiatives funded from the Taxi Advisory Committee and collecting the Taxi Advisory Committee fees.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The committee originally comprised representatives from the NSW Taxi Council, the police, the Roads and Traffic Authority, Tourism NSW and disability groups, and was meant to discuss how best to regulate the industry on issues such as driver and passenger safety.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But it was soon disregarded by some as a joke, with no clear guidelines for the millions of dollars the committee would spend, and no adequate accounting and audit processes.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">A review by the Department of Premier and Cabinet discovered ''no clear probity process for dealing with potential conflict of interest in tendering, evaluation and contractual arrangements''.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The investigation also found ''no clear, transparent process for assessing the potential value [to] the industry of projects sponsored by the committee'' and ''an absence of adequate budgeting, accounting and audit processes''.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">There was also ''no clear tender assessment process or control of expenditure of the committee's funds''.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In 2004, another government body called the Taxi Taskforce was set up to examine reforms to the industry. Its draft findings urged the Government to dissolve the Taxi Advisory Committee and replace it with another body.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In its final year, only five people attended committee meetings: three industry figures and two representatives from the Transport Workers Union, which represents only about 1 per cent of the 22,500 drivers in NSW.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Source: </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1525"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1525</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/inside-the-world-of-mr-taxi-20090918-fv9k.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Inside the world of Mr Taxi</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Links like </span><a href="http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/03/108568.php"><span style="font-size:130%;">Nexus Taxi Plates</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><a href="http://lovefromaaustralia.blogspot.com/2007/02/racist-ross-nelsons-confession.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">higher</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><a href="http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/03/108568.php"><span style="font-size:130%;">intelligence</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><a href="http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/06/115603.php"><span style="font-size:130%;">integrity</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><a href="http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/03/108512.php"><span style="font-size:130%;">capabilities</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><a href="http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display/15424/index.php"><span style="font-size:130%;">origin</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><a href="http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display/19065/index.php"><span style="font-size:130%;">monster to cult leader</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><a href="http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/02/139016.php"><span style="font-size:130%;">public good</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><a href="http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/121692.php"><span style="font-size:130%;">safety</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, </span><a href="http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/122932.php"><span style="font-size:130%;">vital interests</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> may add more flavour.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Faruuqe<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/inside-the-world-of-mr-taxi-20090918-fv9k.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Inside the world of Mr Taxi</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />September 19, 2009<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />Reg Kermode ... the taxi king who has dominated the industry for almost three decades. Photo: Sahlan Hayes<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The man behind the country's dominant taxi company has made some powerful friends over the years, writes Linton Besser.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">BETWEEN 1982 and 1985, Neville Wran's government gave at least 92 plates to Sydney's taxi networks free-of-charge. Reg Kermode's companies got the largest share. Today Cabcharge owns 51 of these licences, worth $19.4 million.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sixteen years later, in 2001, Wran received 250,000 Cabcharge shares after being appointed to the company's board. Those shares are now worth $1.5 million.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">---------------------------------------------------------</span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2009/taxis/"><span style="font-size:130%;">MULTIMEDIA</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">: Find out how Reg Kermode got to the top, and read the documents which put him there.---------------------------------------------------------<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr Wran and Mr Kermode's relationship originated in the 1980s, a decade that made Kermode's reputation as Sydney's taxi kingpin. He ran the city's biggest fleet of taxis and for many years he also ran the industry's mouthpiece, the NSW Taxi Council.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">He also knew how to wield influence. He was a regular financial donor to the political class, but he charmed bureaucrats also. Former officials have told the Herald that each Christmas, gifts would arrive. "At the ministry, a big box of scotch would arrive that was given to us from the Taxi Council," one said. Others say his phone calls were "constant".<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Now Cabcharge is Australia's dominant taxi company, with a string of taxi-related businesses including taxi networks, a voice-recognition business and even a smash-repair garage.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But its power is in its payment processing technology, which is found in 95 per cent of the country's taxis.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In June, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleged Cabcharge had been using its monopoly to bully others out of the taxi industry, a charge the company has announced it will defend.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Herald has learnt that much of Mr Kermode's power was granted to his companies by successive state governments.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In 1981, the International Year of the Disabled, Mr Wran set up a committee to improve public transport for people in wheelchairs. One member of the committee remembers that Mr Kermode proffered an idea. Rather than putting elevators in train stations, he would provide a fleet of specially modified taxis, with fares to be subsidised by the State Government.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In 1982, the Wran government handed out 40 free plates on a short-term loan to taxi networks. They were designed to provide transport for late-night drinkers after the introduction of random breath testing.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Taxi Council persuaded the government to allow the networks to keep them to offset the cost of providing the wheelchair-accessible taxis he had suggested. These taxis cost more to run and make less money than ordinary cabs.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In 1985, the Wran government released another 52 free plates. These were to expire after 12 months, but the networks were never forced to surrender them.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Each plate was to be paired with a separate wheelchair taxi, and they became known as Nexus plates.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr Kermode's company received the largest share of these Nexus licences under Mr Wran, and a further six in 1990 under the Greiner Coalition government.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The details of the scheme have remained shrouded in secrecy until now, including the revelation that Mr Kermode's taxi networks are the scheme's chief beneficiary.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Crucially, the plates were not allowed to be traded because they were technically on loan.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Confidential government memos, obtained by the Herald, warned that any such trade would create a major financial benefit for the networks. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr Kermode's Taxis Combined Services had the most to gain.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">"Clearly, the key issue in this proposal is that the transfer of these licences will result in a windfall gain for the transferor, since the licence was originally issued at no charge. Any transfers of other Nexus licences will have the same result," a March 1994 memo to the then transport minister, the Liberal Bruce Baird, says. "It is also relevant, in this context, that the mere issue of these free licences created a windfall revenue for the taxi co-ops, which they have now enjoyed for some seven years and which they have little prospect of losing."<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The memo alerted Baird to "concerns about the morality of windfall gains", but ultimately recommended that a proposed transfer be allowed.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr Baird, however, refused to do so, the memo shows, "particularly at a time when DoT [the Department of Transport] itself has taken concerns about trading in plates, in one circumstance, to ICAC [the Independent Commission Against Corruption]".<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But a year later, in one of its first decisions after taking power, Bob Carr's government removed these restrictions and allowed these free plates to be bought and sold.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">This decision effectively granted the networks an overnight windfall of more than $20 million – about half of it to Taxis Combined. The plates are now worth $35 million. Although this money was meant to subsidise wheelchair taxis, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission found, in 2002, that Sydney had the lowest proportion of such cabs of all major capital cities.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Since late 2007, the networks have been in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act, because wheelchair taxis commonly take twice as long to arrive as general cabs.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Herald has established that many of the state's wheelchair taxis have spent long periods off the road.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Frustrated at the lack of interest in wheelchair-modified vehicles from drivers, the Government has instead paid more than $1.4 million in incentives in 2008 to try to improve the service.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Transport Department has estimated that, since 1990, the Nexus plates have generated about $20 million in revenue for the networks, with a large portion of this sum going to the four taxi networks owned by Cabcharge.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Between 1999 and 2007, Cabcharge donated more than $190,000 to the NSW branch of the Australian Labor Party, and the Taxi Council donated another $183,000.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">These were declared and the Herald does not suggest a link between these donations and government decisions.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In 2004, a ministerial inquiry recommended the Nexus scheme be thoroughly audited by an independent investigation. In February 2007, the Ministry of Transport commissioned an audit of the scheme by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu – but the document was never made public.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The same company was hired in 1995 by the Department of Transport to provide </span><span style="font-size:130%;">advice about how to value the Nexus plates in preparation for allowing them to be traded. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Bob Carr's government removed the restrictions and allowed these free taxi licence plates to be bought and sold.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Source: </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1522"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1522</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/from-cabbie-to-kingpin-kermodes-long-and-winding-road-20090918-fv9n.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">From cabbie to kingpin: Kermode's long and winding road</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Further to </span><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/08/submission-concerning-allegations-of.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">ICAC Submission</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, long long ago; a "phantom strike" was called at Granville Taxi Base, Sydney, NSW of the `lucky country'! The TWU trouble shooter named Robert Mayell who used to work around the adjacent area quickly went over there and negotiated a settlement! The `Pay-in' went down by five dollars!!<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/from-cabbie-to-kingpin-kermodes-long-and-winding-road-20090918-fv9n.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">From cabbie to kingpin: Kermode's long and winding road</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />September 19, 2009<br /><br /><br /><br />SYDNEY'S taxi king came from humble beginnings.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Reginald Lionel Kermode, the 82-year-old who presides over Australia's taxi industry, was born in Smithtown, a sleepy dairying village, on the NSW mid-north coast.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Today, Kermode heads the multibillion-dollar Cabcharge empire. His company stock is worth more than $7 million and over the past eight years he has received more than $9.4 million in wages.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">It was at a mate's university graduation that Kermode made the pivotal decision to get behind the wheel of a taxi.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">''The dean of the faculty of medicine got up and said that the one thing they didn't teach was psychology,'' he told the Herald in 2005.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">''He recommended that instead, everyone at the ceremony should spend time driving a cab.'' … So I decided to give it a try.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">He transformed an industry dominated by returned servicemen and their widows.<br />Linton Besser and Damien Murphy<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Source: </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1521"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1521</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/kermodes-kingdom-20090918-fv9l.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Kermode's Kingdom</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Do you like to consult with my endless communication with the department of </span><a href="http://graemesamuel.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Graeme Samuel</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> ?<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Faruque<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/kermodes-kingdom-20090918-fv9l.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Kermode's Kingdom</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />September 19, 2009<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />The list of companies Mr. Taxi Reg Kermode owns.<br />* Cabcharge Australia Limited* Cabcharge (Investments) Pty Ltd* ComfortDelGro Cabcharge Pty Ltd* Combined Communications Network Pty Ltd (formerly The De Luxe Cab Company Ltd)* Taxis Combined Services Pty Ltd* Enterprise Speech Recognition Pty Ltd* South Western Cabs (Radio Room) Pty Ltd* ABC Radio Taxi Pty Ltd* Arrow Taxi Services Ltd* Black Cabs Combined Pty Ltd* Newcastle Taxis Limited* Silver Service (Vic) Pty Ltd* Silver Service Taxis Pty Ltd* T.C.S. Communications (Vic) Pty Ltd* Taxis Australia Pty Ltd* Yellow Cabs of Sydney Pty Ltd* Yellow Cabs Victoria Pty Ltd* 135466 Pty Ltd* Carbodies Australia Pty Ltd<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Source: </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1520"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1520</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/cabcharge-takes-a-cut-from-disabled-taxi-subsidy-20090918-fv9i.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cabcharge takes a cut from disabled taxi subsidy</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />My </span><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/08/submission-concerning-allegations-of.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">ICAC Submission</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> provides a good picture of the industry. My </span><a href="http://www.airc.gov.au/awardmod/databases/public_not_rail/Submissions/FaraqueAhmed_multi_amend_transport.pdf"><span style="font-size:130%;">initial submission</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> and </span><a href="http://www.airc.gov.au/awardmod/databases/public_not_rail/Submissions/FaruqueAhmed_further_multi_transport_amend.pdf"><span style="font-size:130%;">final submission</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> to the AIRC contain lots of useful evidence to understand the industry. </span><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/2008/12/nsw-twus-crime-against-taxi-drivers.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">The NSW TWU's Crime against Taxi Drivers</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> presents a picture of 1984 sell out by the NSW TWU. The </span><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/12/ghost-and-gas-no-conspiracies.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ghost and Gas – No Conspiracies</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> adds some light on how did they pass the burden of gas and wash to bailee drivers' shoulder illegally! The AIRC </span><a href="http://www.airc.gov.au/awardmod/fullbench/industries/awardmodindustry.cfm?award=public_not_rail"><span style="font-size:130%;">transcript</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> is like a "scary canary" trying to expose many crimes and corruption in front of seven judges under pressure.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Faruque<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/cabcharge-takes-a-cut-from-disabled-taxi-subsidy-20090918-fv9i.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cabcharge takes a cut from disabled taxi subsidy</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />September 19, 2009<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">One company landed a lucrative deal to handle government payments to drivers of wheelchair accessible cabs, writes Linton Besser.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">THE country's most powerful taxi group, Cabcharge, is earning a commission from a government subsidy scheme designed to improve taxi services for the disabled.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">While the national competition watchdog takes legal action against Cabcharge for trying to wipe out its competitors, the NSW Government is paying exclusive commissions to the company to process incentive payments to wheelchair taxi drivers.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The $8.47 incentive payment is made to drivers every time they accept a wheelchair job, under a program intended to improve the taxi industry's woeful performance in offering services to disabled passengers.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But Cabcharge is the only payment system accredited by the State Government to process the payments - and it has turned into a tidy earner for the company.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Between December 2007 and June 2008, the State Government paid more than $43,000 in these fees.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cabcharge turned over more than $1.1 billion last year.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The exclusivity of the deal has helped Cabcharge cement its control over the industry during a period in which the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has been investigating alleged anti-competitive conduct, which the company has announced it intends to defend.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">"The Cabcharge administration fee paid by NSW Transport and Infrastructure is 3 per cent of the value of wheelchair accessible transport taxi dockets presented on a monthly basis," said Stacey Ryan, a spokeswoman for the department.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">"There are no other administration fees paid to any other companies in relation to the Wheelchair Accessible Transport (WAT) Taxi Driver Incentive Scheme."<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">As wheelchair-related taxi jobs take more time than others and thereby reduce the overall earning potential of a cab, the industry persuaded the Government that incentives were needed to both pay for vehicle modifications and to entice drivers to do the work.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Since 1981, successive governments have signed off on tens of millions of dollars in incentive schemes to entice taxi networks to improve response times and the availability of taxis for wheelchair-bound passengers.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">But in 2002, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission found NSW had the lowest proportion of wheelchair-accessible taxis in its fleet of cabs compared to all major capital cities.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The following year, the Physical Disability Council of NSW wrote that the service quality for disabled taxi services was substandard. "It is common for PDCN to be told by wheelchair users that their taxi was between 45 minutes and one hour late for a booked appointment," the council said at the time.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Taxi Council told the pricing regulator it would lift its game and that "by 2005, response times for WATS are to be equal to the general network standards for booking service response times".<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But it still has not met the Government's guideline. This year the industry reported the number of wheelchair jobs picked up in under 15 minutes fell 6.7 percentage points short of the standard.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal reported this was an improvement on past figures, and put this down to the new incentive payment scheme which was "designed to improve reliability and response times for passengers requiring a wheelchair accessible taxi".<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">According to documents the Herald obtained under freedom of information laws, the Government spent $1.46 million on the WAT Driver Incentive scheme in 2007-08.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Source: </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1519"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1519</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/drivers-public-not-satisfied-20090918-fv9f.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Drivers, public not satisfied</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Do you like to visit </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sydney Taxi Corruption</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> to find out more about the taxi mafia and more?<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Faruque<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/drivers-public-not-satisfied-20090918-fv9f.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Drivers, public not satisfied</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />September 19, 2009<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />How has the influence of Reg Kermode and the Taxi Council over State Government taxi policies affected you? Linton Besser reports.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">RUBBERY STANDARDS<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Taxis are often late and sometimes don't show up at all. But under the reporting standards watered down by the Taxi Council and adopted by the Government, the woeful performance of Sydney's taxi networks looks almost perfect.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Nineteen years ago a new law was passed which meant that for the first time the taxi industry would be governed by a new set of performance standards. But the Government failed to draft and adopt permanent benchmarks until last year.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Until then the industry used "interim standards" to report their performance to the Government. But internal records seen by the Herald show that until April 2004 "there appears to have been no detailed analysis of the performance statistics provided by the networks".<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">When the permanent standards were introduced, the measures were significantly lowered, making it easy for networks to register a near-perfect performance. In one category, for example, the networks are asked to report on the percentage of passengers who book taxis over the telephone who are picked up within 15 minutes. The minimum standard is 85 per cent.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But instead of this being measured against the total number of bookings requested, as was required in the interim standards, the networks now only measure this against the number of bookings that actually take place (many bookings are referred to other networks).<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The difference is stark.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In 2003, before the change, four out of the five Sydney taxi networks owned by Cabcharge failed miserably to meet this target, according to confidential department files: the ABC network averaged 66 per cent; Taxis Combined Services 82 per cent; Silver Service 68 per cent and Yellow Cabs 52 per cent.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Last year, under the new, softer standards, all of these networks performed glowingly. Every one of Cabcharge's five networks registered pick-ups within 15 minutes at well above the standard.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">DRIVERS EXPLOITED<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Drivers are the focus of most complaints about taxis. Passengers say they don't know their way around or are rude or that they refuse short fares. But few pause to ask why.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Drivers are poorly paid. They earn roughly $12.50 per hour and most work six 12-hour shifts a week. They are heavily exploited by taxi operators from whom they lease cabs, and many pay little or no income tax. They lack any real industrial representation. The Transport Workers Union represents less than 1.5 per cent of the state's drivers, and many of them are immigrants with poor English.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The problem is that drivers are considered self-employed contractors, not employees. Even though the industrial court has ruled taxi operators must fund entitlements such as holiday and sick pay, industry bigwigs have openly admitted that in 70 per cent of cases they do not.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But a 2003 government survey of drivers said things were actually far worse. It revealed 90 per cent of drivers did not get any holiday pay, and 95 per cent got no sick pay. Departmental correspondence from 2004 says: "The current agreement may allow operators to manipulate the system to avoid the payment of basic entitlements." But in 2002 the department decided not to force networks to comply with their responsibility to pay these entitlements.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">"The Taxi & Hire Car Bureau just does not have the resources to take on such a major new responsibility," says a confidential memo seen by the Herald. It said it would defer the issue "till late 2003" but it has never been tackled by the State Government.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">There are two industrial arrangements for drivers: they can split the cab's takings with the operator from which they lease the vehicle or they can pay a set rental, or "pay-in", for each shift.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But even though the second method leaves drivers about 20 per cent worse off, four out of five drivers work under this arrangement. And the majority have to pay for fuel, e-tags and the end-of-shift car wash. All this means that drivers are desperate to earn enough money to look after their family, or further their studies, or just get by.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Other internal documents show the Government has never made any attempt to monitor the performance of driver training schools. Crucially, the only approved driver training package in NSW is owned by the NSW Taxi Council. Attempts to promote competition in the training sector and establish an independent assessment centre never materialised following opposition from the Taxi Council.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">WHEELCHAIR TAXIS ABYSMAL<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">If you think taxis are unreliable, try being in a wheelchair. Despite decades of incentive programs and millions of dollars in government subsidies and free taxi plates, the performance of Sydney's wheelchair-accessible taxi (WAT) fleet remains dire.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Although there is a requirement for 10 per cent of Sydney's fleet to be modified for wheelchair passengers, the taxi networks fall short. In 2004, only 7 per cent of Combined Communications Network's fleet were wheelchair accessible, and CCN has one of Sydney's largest wheelchair-accessible taxi fleets.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The number of wheelchair taxis on the road that year was somewhere between 5.2 per cent and 7.3 per cent of the fleet. Now it is higher at 9.3 per cent.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But the state's taxi service remains in breach of the federal Disability Discrimination Act, which required that by December 2007 "response times for accessible vehicles are to be the same as for other taxis".<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In December last year, the average pick-up time for a standard taxi was 6.85 minutes. But passengers wanting a wheelchair taxi were forced to wait 18.62 minutes – more than twice as long.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In February this year, disabled passengers had to wait more than 10 minutes longer for a taxi, on average, than those who wanted a standard vehicle. But again the figures are likely to be far worse. These percentages are improved because they are actually the total performance of a wheelchair taxi, including all of the non-disabled jobs it undertakes.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">INDUSTRY ELITE RUN FREE<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The NSW Transport Department has failed the travelling public and has instead protected the interests of taxi-plate owners.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Importantly, the department has actively restricted the release of new taxi plates, contrary to what it says publicly. This has enriched licence holders at the expense of the public, which has needed a huge boost in the number of taxis for 20 years, according to a string of reports.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Although the department's website says it sells plates to prospective buyers, applicants are pushed away and told to approach the NSW Taxi Council or buy plates on the open market, according to internal files seen by the Herald.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">"As a consequence, the supply of unrestricted taxi licences in NSW had continued to effectively be constrained to what was in existence pre-1990. This in turn has led to a general increase in the value of these licences," an internal memo says.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">It has been known for some time that taxi networks have a "poor customer service ethos", the memo says. "It has been stated by the Taxi Council on more than one occasion that the taxi networks were only booking companies and that they were ultimately not responsible for service delivery.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">"It appears to be the view of the industry that the accountability for service delivery ultimately resides with the driver. As such, the ministry firmly believes that this culture, combined with a culture among drivers to pick and choose jobs on the basis of personal financial benefit, is not in the public interest."<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Source: </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1518"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1518</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/free-ride-mr-taxis-20-million-windfall-20090918-fv9o.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Free Ride: Mr Taxi's $20 million windfall</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Linton<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Who made it easier for anyone to write about the taxi mafia? Even some destroyed files could be traced by Faruque too.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Faruque<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/free-ride-mr-taxis-20-million-windfall-20090918-fv9o.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Free Ride: Mr Taxi's $20 million windfall</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />LINTON BESSER<br />September 19, 2009<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />MILLIONS of dollars worth of free taxi plates have been issued to companies run by the country's biggest taxi mogul, Reg Kermode, by successive state governments in a series of questionable deals that have helped to entrench their stranglehold on the industry.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">A host of government decisions, uncovered for the first time, have directly benefited Mr Kermode's companies and owners of the other powerful taxi networks in NSW, but have left the state with a dysfunctional, much-criticised taxi service.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr Kermode's companies continue to benefit from the more than $19.4 million worth of taxi plates which were loaned, at no charge, by the Wran government - then given to Sydney's taxi networks by the Carr government.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Today, Mr Kermode is the undisputed king of a $3.5 billion industry, as executive chairman and chief executive of Cabcharge, as a key force behind the NSW Taxi Council and as director of Sydney's largest taxi company, Combined Communications Network.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">A Herald investigation has exposed the extent of Mr Kermode's influence. Through his companies and the NSW Taxi Council he has befriended officials, given them whisky at Christmas, appointed them to well-paid jobs, and been a regular political donor.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The Taxi Council has also persuaded the government over the years to stymie reform that would have diluted the power of the industry's biggest players.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Between 1999 and 2007, Cabcharge donated more than $190,000 to the NSW branch of the Labor Party, and the Taxi Council donated another $183,000, although the Herald does not suggest these donations have any link to decisions taken by government.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">And key Labor figures have benefited personally, including Neville Wran, who in 2000 was appointed to the Cabcharge board with a share package now worth $1.5 million.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">There have been no fewer than eight reviews of the industry in the past decade, all of which recommended sweeping changes to boost competition and all bitterly opposed by the industry's leaders.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Much to the alarm of insiders, the Rees Government has maintained the cosy relationship. Crucially, it has continued to keep secret the list of taxi plate owners who trade their licences on a market worth as much as $2.2 billion.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In June the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission launched a court action against Cabcharge, accusing it of trying to wipe out competitors and deter potential rivals.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">But the Herald has discovered that the NSW Government has helped Mr Kermode and Cabcharge reach their dominant industry position.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">While many people struggle to pay the $380,000 needed to buy a single taxi plate, Sydney's powerful taxi networks have received almost 200 free taxi plates. And Mr Kermode's network has been the chief beneficiary.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Since October last year, the Herald has been fighting under Freedom of Information laws for access to a 2007 audit of one of these licence releases, but its application has been repeatedly denied. In mid-August the NSW Ombudsman launched an investigation after the Herald brought the matter to his attention.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">As well as a series of inquiries that have been quashed by the Government, key public records have also been destroyed.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">A government memo from 2004 says: ''Between 1988 and 1990, it is believed that numerous files and licence records were destroyed by the Government Records Repository/State Archives. The Ministry has no evidence at this time that would indicate that this destruction was deliberately carried out to conceal their contents. As a result, however, there are serious gaps in the Ministry's records.''<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Government also continues to ignore external reports which say there is an urgent need to improve conditions for drivers, increase competition and lift standards for passengers.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">NSW remains in breach of a National Competition Council ruling that its taxi licensing regime be overhauled and the industry deregulated. In 2003, the Carr government was fined $12 million for ignoring this ruling.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In a letter sent to the Herald by Mr Kermode's solicitor, he said any suggestion that Mr Kermode had an ''improper relationship'' with the NSW Government or the Labor Party was false.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Source: </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1517"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1517</span></a></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-89516186074549266852009-03-12T01:04:00.000-07:002009-11-27T04:50:08.653-08:00The 1952 Law of Entry<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The 1952 Law of Entry </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="justify"><br /><br />Anti-Arab racism is Israel is not only expressed in the attitudes of Israeli Jews towards Arabs, but it is embedded in the Israeli legal system.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br />The 1952 Law of Entry, for example, states that whatever "does not hold an immigration visa or immigration certificate" can face immediate deportation by the interior minister or can be denied visa at any time.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br />But who is able to qualify for such a visa? <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;color:#ff0000;" >The Law of Return restricts immigration visas solely to Jews</span>. Palestinian refugees are therefore legally barred from re-entering Israel. The interior minister also has the ability to withdraw residence from non-Jews regardless of how long they have been living in Israel.</span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-82499825076358872562009-02-27T03:32:00.000-08:002009-11-14T08:05:01.062-08:00NSW Taxi Drivers’ Association Submission Regarding Seat Belt<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">NSW Taxi Drivers’ Association Submission Regarding Seat Belt</span><br /><br /><br />Yesterday was a RTA/MoT/Workcover meeting about "Seat belts" following the Madden Report. Many people from the NSW TDA Committee, and Geoff and Ernie and a number of others, contributed significantly to the position paper below as presented. Attending the meeting from the NSW TDA Committee were Anne Turner, Trevor Bradley, Rodney Sayer, Ray Prasad and myself. Rodney very convincingly demonstrated the non-strangle Lime `silver service' tie.<br /><br /><br />It was stressed by RTA that the meeting was NOT to make decisions about seatbelts. (My) understanding of the meeting was they agreed they must get detailed statistics on :<br /><br />- Driving risks<br />- Risks of strangling<br />- Risks of escape<br />- Working restrictions (in and out of cab etc)<br />Many thanks to all for major contributions.<br /><br />Cheers<br />Ted<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="center"><br />NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS,<br />OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS Inc.no. 9882558<br />ABN 98 653 928 763<br />PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015<br /><br />Secretary: Ted Hirsch Mob: 0432 665 822 Phone:9810 1136<br />` A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><br />26 February 2009 PRESENTATION: -<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">RETENTION OF EXISTING LEGISLATION ON; NON - COMPULSORY SEAT BELTS FOR TAXI DRIVERS<br /></div><div align="justify"><br />The NSW Taxi Drivers Association is the only democratic, elected organization that represents NSW taxi drivers. It is open and transparent. It was formed during its successful campaign against the No Desto proposals in mid 2004. The motto of the NSW TDA is "A Fair Share of a Fair Fare". "A Fair Fare" reflecting the interests of taxi drivers in which safety is paramount. And "a Fair Fare" which reflects its concerns for a viable, effective taxi industry and good service to the public.<br /><br /><br />Initially we ask where the initiative for a review of non-compulsory seat belts originates. And why compulsory seat belts, as such a critical issue to the taxi industry, has not been introduced with a white paper setting out the reasons for any proposal and its pros and cons. To which informed responses could then be submitted, or discussed at a forum such as this. And what are the processes subsequent to this forum? As a consequence this presentation may not be complete and we request to reserve the opportunity to make a full submission.<br /><br /><br />By unusual coincidence, this very week a letter from the Minister for Transport dated 19 February 2009 was individually addressed and postal delivered to the home of every NSW taxi driver. It reports improvements effected as a result of the Madden Report (Taxi Industry safety and Security Taskforce report). These improvements are commendable, but much more would be expected to be done resulting from the Madden Report - and from the many previous reports on the taxi industry going back as far as Keatsdale.<br /><br /><br />The Minister's opening is that " Taxi drivers and their families have the right to expect their safety to be a top priority … ". And on that the NSW TDA and all NSW taxi drivers and their families wholeheartedly support the Minister for Transport!<br /><br /><br />Seat belts are about safety; safety is a top priority for the NSW TDA and all taxi drivers. And the NSW TDA strongly supports the use of seat belts by all drivers for their safety. And in this regard the NSWTDA most strongly supports ongoing education campaigns for the use of seat belts (if such education is considered warranted) and recommends that the Taxi Council and MoT should constantly encourage the use of wearing seat belts for driving safety. The NSW TDA would be pleased to work with and provide advice to help achieve the most effective seat belt education /information campaigns for taxi drivers. But, it has to be asked, where are such campaigns (and others), and why do they not occur? Especially when the Taxi Council derives its funding indirectly from drivers' earnings.<br /><br />And the NSW TDA would also encourage Network seat belt reminder messages, say monthly, on all taxi radio MDTs. Reminders that are effective and virtually cost free.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">However, the NSWTDA and the taxi drivers of NSW do NOT support Compulsory seat belts!<br /></span><br />Compulsory seat belts in the taxi industry is a punitive approach. It is an approach open to petty revenue raising with devastating effects on the earnings and licenses and livelihoods, and the supply, of taxi drivers. It is an approach that is frequently unsafe for taxi drivers! It is an approach that flies in the face of all known experience for the last 35 years of the taxi industry!<br /><br /><br />The NSW TDA unambiguously and very clearly represents the opinions of NSW drivers' on the question of compulsory seat belts. The NSW TDA deliberately asked this question in its Squeaky Wheel newsletter of June 2008 only eight months ago, debated it at its August 2008 AGM and advised drivers of the outcomes in the following Squeaky Wheel issue. 4000 copies of each newsletter are always distributed to drivers. Notably, when the June newsletter first raised the issue as a question, a number of angry calls were received from drivers who had misread it as the NSW TDA advocating compulsory seat belts. The debate at the AGM was <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>strongly and unanimously against compulsory seat belts</strong></span>. Driver opinions are universally that seat belts must NOT be Compulsory!<br /><br /><br />The reasons why the taxi industry is, and was originally in 1974, exempted from compulsory seat belts is that it is a unique industry. An industry unfortunately with unique problems and unique safety problems. The following are some of the major reasons for the exemption from compulsory seat belts. They are strong, realistic and very practical reasons.<br /><br /><br />1. LOSS OF EARNINGS, LICENSES AND LIVELIHOODS - Compulsory seat belts make taxi drivers the easy targets for revenue raising. Petty infringements fines and loss of points due to the nature of taxi driving work will inevitably result. Seat belt<br />offenses carry severe license demerit point penalties that could rapidly strip taxi drivers of their vital driver's license. - There are innumerable situations where taxis are highly vulnerable to vexatious fines and loss of points from overzealous rangers and police. The reputation of police and rangers for revenue raising bookings are unfortunately widely recognized. (The RTA No Stopping rules in direct conflict with Taxi Regulations are a notorious and devastating case in point.) Under compulsory seatbelt legislation taxis will be easy revenue raising prey. The most obvious example of this threat to taxi drivers is the rigmarole of moving a taxi forward, one car space at a time, along a long line of ranked taxis. It is not uncommon for a taxi driver to spend a full hour edging forward to reach the head of a taxi rank. The taxi driver is literally a sitting target if he has not fastened his seatbelt each time that the taxi creeps forward. Similarly a taxi will often wait and then move when the passenger comes out at the next driveway at an apartment pickup. Or is often asked "thanks driver for loading that luggage, now please pick up my friend around the corner who also has a suitcase." Or advancing in the Airport waiting pens ; or traveling at slowly from the pens 300 Meters to the pickup rank. Presently the airport is targeted for easy taxi inspections ; will the airport also be invaded by police for easy seat belt bookings and revenue pickings ?<br /><br />2. INCREASING VIOLENCE AND UNSAFE SEAT BELTS. - Compulsory taxi seat belts are unfortunately a major safety problem for taxi drivers. Taxi drivers are assaulted with disturbingly high frequency. Seat belts are an unsafe restraint if a taxi driver is assaulted in the taxi. Seat belts are a serious impediment if a driver needs to escape quickly from the taxi. And, dreadfully, the driver can be strangled by the very seat belt that should save his life.<br /><br /><br />Violence is on the increase as officially reported; incidents at and away from hotels and elsewhere have been increasing. The Sydney Morning Herald (page 1, 21/2/09) reported there were 13,086 violent, alcohol related, incidents recorded by police in the eleven months to July 2008. Taxi drivers are expected (and indeed exhorted) to provide services to the patrons of hotels and expose themselves to this potential violence. And taxi /hotel incidents do occur very frequently, both at hotels and on the journeys away from the hotels. Taxi drivers know these risks; it is a major reason why unfortunately increasing numbers feel compelled to drive with their vacant lights off. - The incidence of alcohol related violence for just 11 months is more than 33 times the number of traffic fatalities. Considering that not all alcohol related incidents are reported to police but that all road fatalities are, then it is abundantly clear that taxi drivers have far more to be concerned about than the comparatively rare event of a serious traffic accident. - The decisions that taxi drivers have to make when carrying drunk customers include whether or not no `gamble' on wearing the drivers' seat belts. That critical decision must be left to the drivers, literally in the hot seat. ONLY the taxi-driver can make that judgment depending on the circumstances.<br /><br />Taxi drivers are neither foolhardy nor reckless. They are all imbued with survival strategies, not death wishes. And the taxi driver must be able to legally make that critical seat belt judgment.<br /><br /><br />3. TAXI DRIVER PRACTICES - Given that taxi drivers already consistently wear their belts when driving their own, private, cars it is clear that their choices to not wear belts in taxis are directly attributable to the unique aspects of taxi driving. Usually for many very good reasons, including the situations above. - Many taxi drivers do in fact buckle up when they feel that circumstances warrant it and when they are "on the road". To illustrate this, many passengers are surprised to learn that taxi drivers need not wear their seat belts; presumably because the passengers usually see their taxi drivers wearing their belts. - If such practices need improvement, then, as stated above, education and reminders are the way to go.<br /><br /><br /><br />4. WHY CHANGE THE PRESENT EFFECTIVE LAWS?<br />- The present laws have worked well since 1974. The laws have been effective for taxis for 35 years! For what overriding reasons should they be changed now?<br />- The Madden Report, it must be clearly noted, did NOT recommend to make seat belts compulsory for taxi drivers! At the very end of its last Chapter titled "Long Term Work" it carried only a small mention of seat belts. It stated "It was clear to the Taskforce that this issue merited further investigations. 11.3 Recommendations: 22. Government to review the current exemption for taxi drivers in NSW from wearing seat belts under Schedule 1 of the Road Transport." The report carried no supporting statistics of any kind. Obviously gathering substantiating data and evidence is the primary and first intention of the Madden Report. - The Minister's 19February 2009 letter refers to further "… implementation of the remainder of the recommendations … (of the Madden Report) " and then details these. However, very significantly, it makes NO mention whatsoever of Compulsory seat belts!<br />- The question then clearly arises, at whose initiative is the present review of seat belts legislation and what is its motivation? Undoubtedly, compulsory seat belts for taxi drivers would be a revenue raising bonanza in fines, as per above. But these are not valid arguments for change. There are some 22,000 taxi drivers in NSW of whom 17,000 drive in Sydney. This is a tiny percentage of the NSW seat belt population for whom to change present legislation. And compared also to the many more bus drivers in NSW who are exempt. - NSW last year celebrated its lowest road toll since the Second World War (only 395). The accident rate for taxis has always been relatively low and there is scant evidence that seat belts for taxi drivers would have made any significant difference to the NSW road toll (as compared to the very high incidence of assaults on taxi drivers!).<br /><br /><br />The Minister's 19 February 2009 letter refers to "Improved data gathering and monitoring of taxi related crime … ". The NSW TDA fully supports the Minister's call in this regard. There are no known Police statistics kept for taxi accidents, crimes or incidents. There are currently NO statistics on the percentage of taxi drivers currently not wearing seat belts but it can be easily verified that many in fact DO routinely wear their belts. Legislative changes to seat belts for taxi drivers must be resolved by reference to facts and data, not unfounded assumptions. Accident statistics for taxis and violence incident stats must be produced for any change ; and compared to the known increases in Police statistics on public violence!<br /><br />For these long standing laws to change, the RTA and authorities must PROVE beyond doubt that circumstances have changed to such a degree as to warrant changing legislation that has worked well for 35 years.<br /><br /><br /><br />5. Why Taxi Drivers?<br /><br />- Neither train nor bus drivers nor taxi drivers are obliged to wear seat belts. To make changed regulations just for taxi drivers is inconsistent with the Government's approach to other forms of public transport. - There are many more bus drivers than taxi drivers. Given that taxi drivers are greatly more vulnerable to assault and other incidents and problems, and greatly more vulnerable to predatory petty fines and license point losses, why consider changing the rules for taxi drivers? It would appear to many that a move to add the risk of even more penalties and safety problems to the role of taxi drivers is a form of intimidation and unfair singling out of a group. - Will review of taxi driver seat belts lead to changes of the laws for bus drivers too?<br /><br /><br /><br />6. TAXI INDUSTRY DOES NOT SUPPORT CHANGE.<br />- Any initiative for changing the laws for taxi drivers does NOT come from the taxi industry.<br />- (The opinion of one taxi driver - Mr Ross Nelson - in written submission supporting Compulsory seat belts, is a lone voice in the wilderness. Mr Nelson is not a member of any driver association and does not represent any drivers.)<br /><br />- The taxi industry is represented by the NSW TDA and the Taxi Council Ltd and the TWU(NSW Branch). - The views of the NSWTDA directly reflect the very strong<br />views of the 22,000 drivers of NSW. They are set out above.<br />- The Taxi Council does not represent drivers and it may not be in attendance today. But it draws its funds from driver earnings via compulsory levies from the taxi Networks. The NSW TDA Committee members have contacted the senior levels of several Networks which, as far as gathered, are all set against Compulsory seat belts, primarily on the grounds of Safety! The Taxi Council would therefore be expected to reflect the Networks views that it is completely against Compulsory seat belts. And as has been the Taxi Council's public position going back at least 6 years. - In a word, the views of the taxi industry are totally and strongly against Compulsory seat belts!<br /><br /><br />Finally, it is necessary to stress the strength of feeling of drivers about compulsory seat belts. The proposed No Desto issue was defeated by widespread demonstrative driver action. The recent proposal to cancel the return Harbor Crossing toll faced the prospect of strong driver resistance. These issues pale in comparison with drivers' feelings about compulsory seat belts. The taxi drivers' resolve to fight this further restriction on their livelihoods and safety ought not to be underestimated.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">In summary, it is submitted that the existing legislation exempting taxi drivers from compulsory seat belts is effective and appropriate. If anything the conditions justifying the exemptions of taxis have grown far worse since 1974. Compulsory seat belts in the taxi industry is a punitive approach. It is an approach open to petty revenue raising with devastating effects on the earnings and licenses and livelihoods, and the supply, of taxi drivers.<br /></span><br /><br />It is an approach that is frequently unsafe for taxi drivers! Vitally, the exemptions are critically important to the safety and protection of taxi drivers! It is an approach that flies in the face of all known experience for the last 35 years of the taxi industry!<br /><br />The present legislation should be retained unchanged.<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/NSWTDAFORUM/message/5102">http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/NSWTDAFORUM/message/5102</a></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-67528269942692301442009-01-26T05:57:00.000-08:002009-11-14T08:00:01.911-08:00Metropolitan Taxi council Fund Story<span style="font-size:130%;">Metropolitan Taxi council Fund Story<br /><br /><br /><br />Trevor Bradley could you kindly answer the following questions please:<br />1. Are you familiar with the MTC (Metropolitan Taxi council)?<br />2. Who were the official of that MTC?<br />3. Have you been involved with the MTC?<br />4. How much money was left at the MTC kitty?<br />5.<span style="color:#ff0000;"> Where are this MTC funds</span>?<br />6. Are they still available at the MTC kitty or eaten by anyone?<br /><br /><br />Faruque Ahmed<br />Moderator<br />Sydney TaxiCorruption<br /></span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/</span></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Mobile: 041 091 4118</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: union_faruque@...<br />Monday, January 26, 2009</span>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-75320593385390598622008-12-27T00:28:00.000-08:002009-11-27T04:53:29.323-08:00The NSW TWU’s Crime against Taxi Drivers<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>The NSW TWU’s Crime against Taxi Drivers</strong><br />Taxi Industry Services Association of NSW </span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">volume 29, No 4, March 1984 issue editorial, "we (the T.C. and NTIA) were placed in a position of being forced to a Determination rather than altering the previous Agreement because of a handful of owners who would not observe some aspects of that Agreement". In plain English the bailors continued their lawless ways despite getting their bailor/bailee relationship between owners and NOSETDs.<br /><br />2.9.1. The Path to the new Determination went like this: after 1981 the bailors had to come up with new ways of carrying on their prel980 activities within the bailor/bailee system. So the fixed pay-in system made it's first appearance. The position in negotiations was reached when the bailors refused to agree to anything unless the TWU agreed to include fixed pay-ins in the new Contract Determination, The TWU, it's delegates, it's members and all taxi drivers refused to agree. The stalemate continued for nearly 12 months! The following events occurred and I make no comment on them, nor do I infer anything by them -<br />(i) One of the NOSETD delegates of the TWU, who helped to prepare the TWU's case<br />turned up at the hearing as a witness for the bailors. Subsequently he became a<br /><strong>"plate holder" and was elected to the Taxi Council board</strong>.<br />(ii) <span style="color:#ff0000;">The Secretary of the TWIT Mr. E. McBeaty <strong>died</strong> in a boating accident.</span><br />(iii) The new secretary of the TWU Mr. H. F. Quinn ordered their legal representatives to <span style="color:#ff0000;">agree</span> to the bailers terms, fixed pay-ins and to wind up the case. They did so.<br />(iv) The Contract Determination 1984 came into effect 22.2.84.<br /><br />2.9.2. The fact that fixed pay-ins got into the CD84, contrary to:<br />(i) <strong>All past practices</strong>,<br />(ii) <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">All past recommendations of inquiries into the taxi industry</span></strong>,<br />(iii)<strong>All members of the TWU opposing it</strong>,<br />(iv) <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">All taxi drivers opposing it</span></strong><br />(v) The Industrial Arbitration Act 1940 to 1968 giving jurisdiction to the Commission to grant pay-ins <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">only as a percentage of meter takings</span></strong>.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />I leave for the Commissioner to ponder over and comment on.<br /><br />2,9.3 The council representing the bailors was Mr. Callaghan. But it must be brought to the review's attention that Mr. R. Kermode played such an integral part of these proceedings that the Deputy President McMahon decided to<br />-----------------------------------------------------------¬<br />NOTES:<br />1. Refer Annexure “B” P153. 3. Refer Annexure "B" P125.<br />2. ,, ,, “A” 89 4. ,, ,, I.R.A.40-68 Sec. 91K.</span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-30157022579642928452008-12-27T00:21:00.000-08:002009-11-27T04:54:52.864-08:00Taxi Driver Entitlement under the Law<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Taxi Driver Entitlement under the Law<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="center"><br />TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AUSTRALIA<br />(NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH)<br />388 -390 SUSSEX STREET SYDENY 2000<br />E McBEATTY –Secretary Treasurer<br /><br />SYDNEY: 2124A77<br />NEWCASTLE SUB-BRANCH: 69 3645, 693845<br />SOUUTH COAST SUB- BRANCH: WOLL 291753<br /><br /><strong>18th December, 1979 </strong><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Mr. R, Kermode,<br />Secretary,<br />Metropolitan Taxi Council<br />48 Oxford Street<br />PADDINGTON - 2021<br /><br /><br />Dear Mr. Kermode,<br /><br />Since 1974, the Taxi Section of this Union has unsuccessfully attempted, to achieve, a new Taxi Drivers (State) Award to replace the current award made on the 8th March 1972 (1851G1413).We did not file a formal claim, but sought to negotiate before taking legal action. Without attempting, to apportion blame for the lack of success, we can at least agree that the efforts on both sides to resolve our differences failed to achieve any worthwhile results.<br /><br />Accordingly, the Union decided to await the foreshadowed amendments to the N.S.W. Industrial Arbitration Act to establish tribunals empowered to arbitrate on the rates and conditions for Taxi Drivers.<br /><br />These historic changes become legally effective by Proclamation on the 30th November, 1979.<br /><br />As a result thereof, we are now seeking to obtain (preferably by consent) a Contract Determination under section 91K and/or a section 91H Agreement to cover Taxi Drivers: To this end, and consistent with our policy of fully exploring the Conciliation process before resorting to Arbitration, we have attached here to a Claim for discussion with your organization at a series of Conferences which we seek to commence as soon as possible.<br /><br />We would appreciate your advice as to a suitable date for holding the first of such negotiations.<br /><br />Yours Sincerely<br /><br />T. Heir<br />Organiser<br />(Note: A copy of the Claim prepared by our Delegates is attached hereto).<br /><br /><br /><br />TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AUSTRALIA<br />(NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH)<br />388 -390 SUSSEX STREET SYDENY 2000<br />E McBEATTY –Secretary Treasurer<br /><br />SYDNEY: 2124A77<br />NEWCASTLE SUB-BRANCH: 69 3645<br />69 3845<br />SOUUTH COAST SUB- BRANCH: WOLL 291753<br /><br />T.W.U. CLAIM Re: TAXI DRIVERS STATE) CONTRACT DETERMINATION, (DECEMBER 1979)<br /><br />1. <strong>Minimum Rate of Commission</strong>:<br />Drivers shall be paid a minimum rate of commission, expressed as sixty per cent 60% of the chargeable fares earned.<br />2. <strong>Sick Leave</strong>.<br />Each driver shall be entitled during the -first year of the contract to<br />five(5)days sick leave and-to eight (8) days paid sick leave annually during<br />the second and subsequent years. Such payment shall be based on the drivers "average earnings" assessed over the week preceding such absence.<br />The rights under this clause shall accumulate from year to year, so that any part of the leave entitlement which has no been allowed in any one year may be claimed, and paid for, in a subsequent year of continued contract.<br />3. <strong>Annual Leave</strong>.<br />(a) Drivers shall be entitled to take four (4) weeks paid annual leave for each year of contract.<br />For the purpose of this clause, the driver shall be paid and, treated as though he was an employee covered by. the N.S.W. Annual Holidays Act, 1944.<br />(b) In the case of "Night Drivers", their entitlement under this clause shall be based on an annual leave period applicable of (5) weeks per year of contract in lieu of the four (4)weeks for ordinary drivers. At the time of his entering a perk of annual leave as above provided, each driver shall receive a "Loading'--of 25% extra, based on the annual leave payment due.<br />4. <strong>Long Service heave</strong>.<br />Drivers shall receive all benefits due to employees under the N.S.W. Long Service Act, 1955.<br />5. <strong>Public Holidays</strong>.<br />Each driver shall be entitled to absent himself on all public holidays without loss of pay. He shall be paid his "average earnings (based on the preceding weeks commission) for each such days of absence.<br />Where a driver works on a public holiday, he shall be paid his "average earnings"<br />(as above defined) plus $30.00.<br />6. Receipts for Payment.<br />Drivers shall receive receipts for all payments made to Bailors (Owners)and Taxi Co-operatives.<br />7. Air Conditioning.<br />All taxis shall be suitably air-conditioned without the driver incurring any expense or payment therefor.<br />8. <strong>Guaranteed Earnings</strong>.<br />A driver commencing work on any day shall receive guaranteed minimum earnings of at least thirty dollars (30.00) for that day.</span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-46089852907807937192008-09-21T07:48:00.001-07:002009-11-14T07:53:36.129-08:00Vilification of Taxi Drivers and Ethnic Groups<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION<br />INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS<br />Inc.no. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015<br /><br /><br />'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;color:#ff0000;" >Vilification of Taxi Drivers and Ethnic Groups<br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="center"><br /><br /> </div><div align="justify">Based on a recent ongoing court case (regarding Kowsar Ali), <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;color:#ff0000;" >some sections the media outlets are making attempts to vilify Taxi Drivers and some Ethnic Groups unfairly.</span> We oppose and condemn such unfair forms of racism. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">We believe in the presumption of innocence for all equally, and are against trial by media.</span> We strongly believe that cases such as that of Kowsar Ali should be strictly dealt with by the Judiciary and other law enforcement authorities. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Such cases should not be used by anyone in the media to vilify all Taxi-Drivers and ethnic groups. </span><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">We also call upon the government to remove any ambiguity in the ‘Duty of Care” provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Regulations (regarding safety equipment), and to enforce such regulations regardless of bailor/bailee relationship.</span> Namely, we are calling for the correct and effective functioning of all relevant safety equipment (alarm, GPS, camera, etc.) to be the sole legal responsibility of the operator. Reports by Keatsdale, Dalziel and Cook, were in full support of our ideas, which are in essence similar to the recommendations of Justice Edwards and Justice Beatie. Unfortunately, such previous good work by these authorities, was largely undone by the state Labor government through the appointment of Dave Maddan. Since then, the NSW Ministry of Transport has silenced this burning issue for the last four years by refusing to allow any Taxi-Driver participation in the Taxi-Driver Safety Task Force.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Faruque Ahmed<br />Media Manager<br />Mobile: 041 091 4118</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au<br />Monday, September 22, 2008</span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-88905013060788540102008-09-21T07:46:00.000-07:002009-11-14T07:51:22.534-08:00Compulsory Seat Belt for Taxi Drivers<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION<br />INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS<br />Inc.no. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015<br />'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare' </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="justify"><br /></div></span><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Compulsory Seat Belt for Taxi Drivers</span><br /></span></div></span><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The NSW Taxi Drivers Association <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">condemns</span> the idea of <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">compulsory seat belt for taxi drivers</span> because it considers that such a move will <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">compromise taxi divers’ safety</span> and will <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">severely impact on their other industrial rights</span>. Most importantly, our association failed to find any good reason in support of such a harsh, unjust, oppressive anti-taxi driver agenda.<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="justify"><br />Faruque Ahmed<br />Media Manager<br />Mobile: 041 091 4118</div><div align="justify">Email: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au<br />Monday, September 22, 2008</span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-30495235733980345582008-09-21T07:43:00.000-07:002009-11-14T07:50:00.384-08:00Expulsion of Michael Jools from the NSW Taxi Drivers Association<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION<br />INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS<br />Inc.no. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015<br />'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Expulsion of Michael Jools from the NSW Taxi Drivers Association</span><br /></span></div></span><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The above mentioned Michael Jools has been <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">falsely</span> claiming himself to be the President of the NSW Taxi Drivers Association for the last two years. In reality however, two years ago, this same person (<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Michael Jools</span>) <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">was expelled from our association for financial impropriety, as well as gross misconduct</span>.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed<br />Media Manager<br />Mobile: 041 091 4118</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: union_faruque@yahoo.com.au<br />Monday, September 22, 2008</span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-31471596746622574832008-06-20T03:29:00.001-07:002009-11-14T07:48:19.354-08:00Taxi fares up as LPG price keeps rising – 20th June 2008, Sydney Morning Herald<div align="right"><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />P O Box – 349, Alexandria – 2015<br />Mobile: 041 091 4118<br />Email: </span><a href="mailto:union_faruque@yahoo.com.au"><span style="font-size:130%;">union_faruque@yahoo.com.au</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Blog: </span><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Member of Parliament and Media Outlets</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">To<br />The Editor<br />Sydney Morning Herald<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Re: </span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/taxi-fares-up-as-lpg-price-keeps-rising/2008/06/19/1213770827374.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Taxi fares up as LPG price keeps rising</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> – 20th June 2008, Sydney Morning Herald<br /><br /><br /><br />Dear Sir<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">“the fuel used by more than 90 per cent of taxi owners” (</span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/taxi-fares-up-as-lpg-price-keeps-rising/2008/06/19/1213770827374.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Taxi fares up as LPG price keeps rising</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> – 20th June 2008, Sydeny Morning Herald) is serious distortion of the truth. In reality more than 90% non owner bailee taxi drivers pay for the fuel.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">According to the law of the land, the bailor is responsible for fuel and wash.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"> </p><div align="justify"><br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">However, at the Industrial Relations Commission the “taxi mafia” made an application to pass the responsibility of fuel and wash to the bailees without any compensation whatsoever.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffcc00;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffcc00;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffcc00;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffcc00;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffcc00;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffcc00;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;">During the proceedings, the TWU lawyer said to CC Connor, “we reserve the right to oppose at a later date” (was it a conspiracy?).<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;">Further to </span><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/08/submission-concerning-allegations-of.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;">ICAC Submission</span></a><span style="color:#ffff33;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;">, long long ago; a “phantom strike” was called at Granville Taxi Base, Sydney, NSW of the ‘lucky country’! The TWU troubleshooter named Robert Mayell who used to work around the adjacent area quickly went over there and negotiated a settlement! The ‘Pay-in’ went down by five dollars!!<br /><br /><br /></span></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The following day, a number of taxi drivers were frog marched behind the “messiah” Robert Mayell at the Industrial Commission in front of CC Connor (NSW IRC Matter No 2383 of 1993).<br /><br /><br /></span></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-size:130%;">No one is suggesting any conspiracy here! Poor Faruque and a few taxi drivers busted in anger and confronted the “messiah” Robert Mayell and the Transport Workers Union lawyer Adam Hatcher.<br /><br />During that time those new taxi drivers of Granville asked Faruque to be quiet and follow Meyall. Faruque told them, “I do not know who you are and I have not seen you in any of TWU meetings earlier – who are you people and what is the game going on here”?<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Later many of these people confessed to Faruque and others that they were not even members of the TWU, many of them were not financial members of the union and the taxi bosses encouraged them to join in the TWU!<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#009900;"></div></span></span><div align="justify"><span style="color:#009900;"></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The good CC Connor found the opportunity and then he keenly passed the responsibility of gas and wash to the bailees without any compensation whatsoever. He did so despite strenuous objections made to him by Faruque and other drivers.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The decision by CC Connor did not change the bailor/bailee remuneration principle or law, but he made a decision which was not opposed by the parties.A few weeks later the LPG price jumped from $A0.20-$A0.30/L to $A0.50-$A0.60/L.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">An application was made to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on a different ground. After a futile exercise, the price went down for a while.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#339999;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#339999;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#339999;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Today, who is increasing the LPG price and on what basis no one knows or cares. The net impact is the weaker party in the chain is carrying the burden while “taxi mafia” is laughing all the way to the bank. The TWU lawyer Adam Hatcher found a chamber at the higher end of the town and become a BARRISTER! The good union boss Steve Hutchins became the president of the NSW Labor Party and eventually a number one ticket SENATOR from NSW.<br /><br /><br /></div></span></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Taxi drivers made an appeal to the Full Bench.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">After a long and costly exercise, we found out that only the TWU have the right to represent taxi drivers at the Industrial Commission! During that hearing the rights and wrongs of the actual case were not discussed.That means, in reality the court said the TWU can do whatever they like and they can ignore their own taxi driver members all together or their welfare! They are virtually not answerable to anyone. The union bosses do not have to follow justice, fairness, courtesy or common sense! Since then the union removed a few bi-laws of their own constitution i.e. they don’t have to advance the well being of their own members”. The law is same today.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Whether we drivers like it or not, even if the TWU got any taxi driver members or not they will decide the bailee taxi drivers working conditions. No matter, how sad, immoral and unlawful they are.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque and others used to expose them in the media. However, the union bosses used to make attempts to trap taxi drivers and block them from the media, parliament, etc. etc. Some of the documents are very revealing.<br /><br /><br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3366ff;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I say, the most tragic thing of my life is that knowing and dealing with the NSW Transport Workers Union.<br /><br /><br /></span></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Thursday, December 20, 2007<br />Source: </span><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/12/ghost-and-gas-no-conspiracies.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Independent Commission Against Corruption</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">With thanks<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sincerely Yours<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://nswmot.blogspot.com/2008/06/merger-and-acquisition-by-cabcharge.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Media Manger<br />NSW Taxi Drivers Association<br />Friday, June 20, 2008 </span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-50555113867371311342008-06-11T08:15:00.000-07:002009-11-14T07:46:46.333-08:00Lime, Apple and GPS Taxis<div align="right"><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />P O Box – 349<br />Alexandria – 2015<br />Mobile: 041 091 4118<br />Email: union_faruque@...<br />Blog: </span><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Member of Parliament and Media Outlets</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr. John Watkins<br />NSW Minister for Transport<br />Level 21, 227 Elizabeth Street<br />Sydney NSW 2000<br />Telephone: (02) 9268 2800Facsimile: (02) 9268 2900<br /><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">Re: Lime, Apple and GPS Taxis<br /></span></u></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Dear Mr. Watkins,<br /><br />A few famous, wealthy, well connected and powerful people appeared in the horizon earlier to revolutionise the NSW Taxi Industry. They also said that they will improve the disable taxi service! During the process poor cabbies got a few more bad publicities and eventually new found ‘messiahs’ have disappeared from the taxi industry while they left some debris behind them!<br /><br />I therefore would like to request you to provide us with the following information at your earliest convenience to ensure openness, accountability and transparency in the NSW Taxi Industry.<br />1. How many taxi plates were issued to Lime, Apple and GPS taxis by the NSW Department of Transport and Government?<br />2. What were the terms and conditions of those taxis mentioned in question “1”?<br />3. What mechanisms are in place to ensure those taxis mentioned in “1” are adhering to prescribed terms and conditions?<br />4. Do you have any mechanisms available to ensure that these taxi companies/networks adhere to NSW Occupational Health and Safety Acts, provide a safe and efficient service to passengers and drivers?<br /><br />With thanks<br />Sincerely yours<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://nswmot.blogspot.com/2008/06/merger-and-acquisition-by-cabcharge.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Thursday, 12 June 2008</span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-71700498454772352552008-05-13T09:21:00.000-07:002009-11-14T07:45:40.658-08:00Racism vs Taxi Drivers Safety in Victoria<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Racism vs Taxi Drivers Safety in Victoria<br /></strong><br /><br />Victorian Director General of Transport<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">It is the responsibility of civilized society to <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>provide a safe workplace and safer work practices</strong></span> to workers under the Occupational Health and Safety legislation under the Duty of Care provisions. It is also a fundamental right of a worker to work in a safe work place that adheres to safe work practices.<br /><br /><br />In the state of New South Wales we had the <strong>Keatsdale Report, Dalziel Reports and Cook Reports</strong> which are relevant to to-days taxi drivers' safety initiatives in NSW. I believe the current Victorian taxi driver’s safety issues are not too different to their NSW counterparts. You are welcome to contact your NSW counterparts to obtain copies of these reports mentioned for some assistance or guidance should you wish to do so.<br /><br /><br />The commendable multicultural, Melbourne taxi drivers’ <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>spontaneous blockade/strike</strong></span> was a genuine and legal one. No one should dismiss or minimise their great effort with blatant and pseudo racism as we have witnessed recently. For example, taking off shirts on a wintry night as these drivers did was a symbol of their actual working conditions and the industrial reality that they experience. These taxi drivers do not have cameras, a global positioning system, workable safety shields or anything in this so called 21st century Victorian work environment. In terms of safety, they are virtually naked and unprotected.<br /><br /><br />When super models take their bikinis or bras off in the middle of the town center to high light or draw attention to their causes, there is barely any criticism. That situation is unlike the recent outcry directed to these vulnerable Victorian taxi drivers and the protest style they used. Recent murmurings and attempts to smear Indian students in general, many of whom were involved in this Victorian protest, and their living practices so as to undermine and destruct these taxi driver’s spotlighting of unacceptable working conditions are purely racially driven. Many European and American backpackers and students also live in an identical cost effective and uncomfortable manner as some Indian students and by extension Indian origin taxi drivers are purported to do. This is blatant generalization designed to undermine the whole issue, which is the shameful and unsafe standard of working conditions and safety being experienced by Victorian taxi drivers.<br /><br /><br />Surely, a student or any workers poverty should not deny or diminish their basic industrial and safety related rights.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Mobile: 041 091 4118</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: </span><a href="mailto:union_faruque@yahoo.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">union_faruque@yahoo.com.au</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Wednesday May 14, 2008<br /><br /><br /><br />CC: NSW Director General of Transport</span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-45046266712710682362008-04-30T05:44:00.000-07:002009-11-14T07:43:08.490-08:00NSW to Victorian Taxi Drivers’ Safety<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION<br />INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS<br /></span><a href="http://inc.no/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Inc.no</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015<br /></span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />NSW to Victorian Taxi Drivers’ Safety<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Taxi drivers used to be expendable commodities like the ANZACS to the British. Greedy taxi networks and companies did nothing to save human lives. However, due to the courageous stand of a few dedicated taxi drivers, the NSW community got the Keatsdale Report, Dalziel Report and Cook Reports; all vital in achieving taxi driver safety. The grateful community of NSW gave enough money thorough the “$1.00 flag-fall rise” for taxi-drivers’ safety with the GPS and screen recommendations of the Keatsdale Report. The NSW government then extracted $40.00 a day from the vulnerable taxi drivers for their own safety. In return they got unworkable cameras and unreliable GPS systems. All of those little achievements are going to be buried by the partisan Madden Report- under the leadership of the NSW Labor Government. Tragically this $1000.00 per word David Madden Report is without any direction or vision whatsoever.<br /><br /><br />In the meantime two more taxi drivers were brutally murdered in NSW and many more were robbed and injured.<br /><br /><br />Today with our Victorian colleagues stood up for their own safety in facing down the police in Melbourne.<br /><br /><br />Channel Nine sinking to unfortunate disparagement and calculated derision of taxi drivers amounting to veiled racism could not resist the insult of describing the attention winning stunt on the part of the drivers of removing their shirts in the wintry weather thus " for reasons best known to themselves drivers removed their shirts". How puerile.<br /><br /><br />Penultimately what drivers want here in NSW and undoubtedly Victoria is workable legislation, regulation and mechanisms ensuring workers’ safety to save lives.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Media Manager, Mobile: 041 091 4118</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: </span><a href="mailto:union_faruque@yahoo.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">union_faruque@yahoo.com.au</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Wednesday, April 30, 2008</span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-28576267388135716572008-04-20T08:37:00.000-07:002010-01-14T06:43:27.153-08:00Cabcharge and Criminals<div align="right"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cabcharge and Criminals<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Right now action should be taken to declare, “the Cabcharge is the proceeds of crime and all proceeds should be seized by the government and eventually to be utilized for the public and workers’ safety, welfare and benefit”.<br /><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><div align="right"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Contact Officer: Monica Bourke<br />Contact Phone: 02 6243 153 1<br />Australian Competition & Consumer Commission<br />GPO Box 3131<br />Canberra ACT 2601<br />23 Marcus Clarke Street<br />Canberra ACT 2601<br />tel: (02) 6243 11 11<br />fax: (02) 6243 1 199<br /></span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:130%;">18 April 2008</span></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr Faruque Ahmed<br />PO Box 349<br />Alexandria NSW 2015<br />Dear Mr Ahrned<br /><br /><br />Re: Removal of Cabcharge Decals from Taxis<br /><br /><br /></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">I refer to your emails dated 29 November 2007 and 28 March 2008 regarding the removal of decals advertising Cabcharge products.</span></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Review of Taxi Authorisations<br /></strong>As you are aware, on 11 March 2005 the ACCC issued a determination regarding its review of twelve taxi authorisations (including authorisation A301 12 granted to Deluxe Red and Yellow Cabs) concerning the provision of radio booking services to taxi operators and drivers on the condition that they accept certain forms of non-cash payment (card and voucher payments) and the display of decals of those payment methods. </span></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The ACCC considered that cards and vouchers would continue to be widely accepted with or without authorisation, however decided not to revoke the authorisations on the basis that there existed some small benefit in the certainty provided by the authorisation and negligible detriment.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Tribunal decision</span><br /></strong>The Commission's determination of 11 March 2005 was appealed to the Australian Competition Tribunal. The Tribunal decided on 27 June 2006 to revoke the authorisations on the basis that the benefit of certainty of acceptance of non-cash payments was not sufficient to sustain the authorisations. The Tribunal agreed with the ACCC's proposition that irrespective of the authorisations, taxi operators and drivers are likely to continue to accept non-cash payments.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><br /><br /><br /><br />Eflect of the Tribunal decision<br /></strong>The revocation by the Tribunal of the twelve authorisations means that the networks which previously had authorisation can no longer engage in the conduct without being at risk of action under the Trade Practices Act. Whether or not specific requirements would raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Act would depend on the specific nature of the requirements imposed.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />However, the ACCC and the Tribunal expected that cards and vouchers would continue to be widely accepted absent authorisation. Taxi operators and drivers are entitled to advertise the cards and vouchers they accept. Should certain taxi operators and drivers not accept certain cards and vouchers, but advertise on their taxis that these cards are accepted, such could amount to misleading conduct.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />Yours sincerely<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />Isabelle Arnaud<br />Director<br />Adjudication Branch<br /><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">--- In Sydney_TaxiCorruption@yahoogroups.com, "jasonnash80" <jasonnash80@...>wrote:<br />Re: Dear Patricia<br /><br /><br />Racism to Long Bay Hilton<br /><br /><br /></jasonnash80@...></span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The taxi mafia used lies and racism to get the Trade Practices Authorisation back in 1980s.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/450"><span style="font-size:130%;">Because Cabcharge gets so much cash; it gained enormous buying power; legal or illegal. Such a power usually hurts the bailee driver and rest of the society in many ways. Recent procurement of many taxi industry related instrumentalities are a prime example and unless this lawless monster is stopped it will swallow the whole society and no one would be in a position to counter the monopolistic venom of Cabcharge.</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />TPC Determination P 22 … "By reason , inter alia, of the ethnic diversity of taxi drivers … a need for discipline and clearly and simply defined systems"<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">--- In Sydney_TaxiCorruption@yahoogroups.com, "mamubhi" <mamubhi@...>wrote:<br />Re: Dear Patricia<br /><br /><br /></mamubhi@...></span></p><div align="justify"><a href="http://thebeautyofrabbinicallaw.blogspot.com/2008/04/long-bay-hilton-for-taxi-mafia.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Long Bay Hilton for Taxi Mafia</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://profiles.yahoo.com/barrybullman"><span style="font-size:130%;">barrybullman</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> said, "</span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/1033"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cabcharge is the major user of taxi s in Sydney, It would be stupid to remove their decals or to promote other services irrespective of kermode and all the other idiots.</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">"<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />Probably he did not know the fact that Mr. </span><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> who is also merely a Media Manager of the NSW Taxi Drivers' association said to the judges, "</span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/553"><span style="font-size:130%;">Taxi co-operatives (not taxi companies or networks) obtained "the authorisation in contention" by not telling the truth, twisting the truth and using racism as well as some other false claims they made to misguide the then Trade Practices Commission. Ultimately, the original applicants, specifically the Red and Yellow Deluxe have used many false claims "for their own narrow benefit" and got away with them. Fortunately most of their typical false claims and lies were detected and eventually correctly rejected by the TPC in matter A30152.</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">"<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />This </span><a href="http://profiles.yahoo.com/barrybullman"><span style="font-size:130%;">barrybullman</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> should have refrained to call others stupid because the mighty Cabcharge and the NSW Taxi Council Pty Ltd failed to argue with Mr. </span><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> or points of contentions presented by him in front of three wise Judges! At the end the taxi mafia lost the case.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />Right now Mr. </span><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> and others should have cornered the taxi mafia properly and organized a permanent residency for Mr. Kermode at the Long Bay Hilton. Alas! Some detractors under the guise of taxi industry activists like Nelson and Jools are always wasting Faruque's time and letting Kermode get away with murder. What a sad state of affairs!!<br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">--- In Sydney_TaxiCorruption@yahoogroups.com, "union_faruque" <union_faruque@...>wrote:<br />Re: Dear Patricia<br /><br /></union_faruque@...></span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Beside the unintelligent and uninformed comment of `nobody', the Cabcharge is a proceed of CRIME and therefore all assets of Cabcharge should be confiscated by the good government immediately and utilized for public and workers' safety.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">--- In Sydney_TaxiCorruption@yahoogroups.com, "union_faruque" <union_faruque@...>wrote:<br /><br />Dear Patricia<br /><br /><br /></union_faruque@...></span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">I have not received any further information beside your initial note below in response to my original correspondence.<br /><br />With thanks<br /><br /><br />Faruque Ahmed<br />Friday, March 28, 2008<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Subject: Removal of Cabcharge Decals from Taxis<br />Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:53:31 +1100<br />From: "Infocentre" <info.centre@...>Add to Address Book<br /></info.centre@...></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">To: </span><a href="mailto:union_faruque@..."><span style="font-size:130%;">union_faruque@...</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Classification: UNCLASSIFIED<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Dear Mr. Faruque,<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Thank you for your email of 3 December 2007 to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) requesting the removal of Cabcharge decals from Taxis.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The role of the ACCC is to ensure compliance with the Trade Practices Act 1974 (TPA), which is designed to encourage fair trading and discourage anti-competitive conduct through a specific set of competition and consumer protection rules. It is only when there is a contravention of the TPA that there may be a role for the ACCC.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The information provided in your email has been passed on to the relevant area of the ACCC. You will only be contacted if further information is required.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">As part of its role the ACCC also monitors emerging trends across consumer and business complaints to determine whether there is a pattern of behaviour by a particular trader or in a particular industry that requires attention. In this regard, your complaint has been recorded and is an important part of our ongoing analysis.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Thank you for contacting the ACCC with your concerns.<br /><br /><br />Yours sincerely<br /><br /><br /><br />Patricia<br />ACCC Infocentre<br />1300 302 502<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">From: Faruque Ahmed [mailto:union_faruque@...] Sent: Sunday, 2 December 2007 7:35 PMTo: FOISubject: Removal of Cabcharge Decals from Taxis<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="right"><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />P O Box – 349<br />Alexandria – 2015<br />Mobile: 041 091 4118<br />Thursday, November 29, 2007<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr. Graeme Samuel</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Australian Competition & Consumer Commission</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">GPO Box 3131</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">CANBERRA ACT 2601</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ph: 02 6243 1244Fax: 02 6243 1210 </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: </span><a href="mailto:foi@..." target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">foi@...</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Re: </span></span><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/2007/11/removal-of-cabcharge-decals-from-taxis.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Removal of Cabcharge Decals from Taxis</span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Dear Mr. Samuel,<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />I request that the ACCC move to take action forcing requirement that taxi entities be compelled to remove from surface areas of taxi cabs, decals proclaiming and advertising Cabcharge products.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />Originally taxi cooperatives (not taxi companies or networks) obtained "the authorisation in contention" to subject workers in the taxi cab industry to perform for Cabcharge from the then Trades Practices Commission by not telling the truth, twisting the truth and using racism. Ultimately, the original applicants, specifically the Red and Yellow Deluxe have used many false claims "for their own narrow benefit" with impunity.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Fortunately this issue was largely dealt with to my satisfaction in TPC in matterA30152.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Since then, we have been asking the ACCC and other relevant departments to remove the Authorization A30112. Surprisingly, they are very reluctant about it.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Finally, in Matter No - 3 of 2005 of the Australian Competition Tribunal, Justice Goldberg and three other eminent Judges revoked the contentious authorization which gave the Cabcharge the "exclusive power" and "monopoly" in the first place. It is interesting to note that during the proceeding neither the taxi network nor the Cabcharge made representation as to the (their) case.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The fact is, the then TPC then made a mistake back in 1984- since then the Federal Competition Tribunal corrected the anomaly.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The ACCC used it's power, authority and creativity to compel all taxi owners of this country to display the Cabcharge decals and therefore accept the Cabcharge cards and dockets.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Now, the ACCC must do everything to remove the Cabcharge decals from all taxis as they are false advertisement and NOT legally required in the first place.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">With thanks<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed<br />Source: </span><a href="http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sydney_TaxiCorruption/message/951"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sydney Taxi Corruption</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-26609373591507662792008-03-15T23:19:00.000-07:002009-11-14T07:38:59.790-08:00NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION<br />INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS<br /></span><a href="http://inc.no/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Inc.no</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015<br /><br /><br />'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'<br /><br />MACQUARIE AIRPORT TAXI TROUBLES CONTINUE<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Since the use of </span><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/2007/10/taxi-driver-capsicum-sprayed-at-airport.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Capsicum spray on a taxi driver at the Sydney Airport</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> operations have been on edge.<br /><br />On Friday afternoon the </span><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/2007/10/top-level-sacl-meeting-9am-tues-23-oct.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Airport E-tag control system failed again</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, this time for a relatively new taxi driver Darren Han. As so often happens. To the huge frustration of all taxi drivers and Wilson staff.<br /><br />Darren was stopped from picking up a fare after others were allowed through. At least 5 Federal Police and 3 Wilson staff surrounded him. Flustered, Darren under extreme pressure and intimidation may have selected Drive instead of Reverse when told to move his taxi. He was verbally and racially assaulted and punched, he claimed.<br /><br />The Airport issued him a fine and the Police ordered him to go to Mascot Police Station where he was held for 7 hours and charged with Negligent Driving!<br /><br />If any of these things happened then the </span><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/2007/10/constructive-dialogue-vs-industrial.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sydney Airport is out of control</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">! This driver was only helping the Airport by picking up passengers.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">The NSW Taxi Drivers Association held high level Airport meetings to prevent future Capsicum situations occurring.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">When will sanity return to Sydney Airport?!<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Media Manager, Mobile: 041 091 4118</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: </span><a href="mailto:union_faruque@yahoo.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">union_faruque@yahoo.com.au</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Sunday, March 16, 2008</span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-60656708075210159752008-02-11T04:44:00.001-08:002009-11-14T07:37:37.038-08:00Monopoly and de-Regulation of the Taxi Industry<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION<br />INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS<br /></span><a href="http://inc.no/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Inc.no</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763 PO Box 322, Alexandria NSW 2015<br /><br /><br />'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/2008/02/nsw-taxi-drivers-association.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Monopoly and de-Regulation of the Taxi Industry</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div></strong><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><strong><div align="justify"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Once upon a time taxi plate licenses were free. Many were issued to returned soldiers who looked after the cab, worried about fares being too high, and earned a modest living.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">That fairytale ended in 1980’s when the Government decided to “sell” the taxi plates to the highest bidder. Many of these new owners lived overseas, concerned only about the value of their investment. Mr. Reg Kermode "bought" many plates from ex soldier widows, became Mr. Taxi Big and invented the unfair and oppressive monopoly called the Cabcharge system. Taxi drivers became the short term cannon fodder, losing their long term skills, earning a pittance waiting on ranks most days and nights, with passengers grumbling at peak times.</span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Now Prof Allan Fels suggests the economists' doctrinaire "deregulate", double the number of taxis, reduce the value of taxi plates and make the drivers' lot even worse. Unfortunately such taxi deregulation has succeeded in few if any places in the world, but instead has given the public fly by night<br /><br /></span></div></strong><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">COWBOY TAXIS. </span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The NSW Taxi Drivers Association solution is to issue new free, non tradeable taxi plates in response to proven passenger demand to 5 year experienced taxi drivers to build careers and continue to improve decent taxi services to the public.</span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Plates will completely lose their value and taxi fares will reduce as Allan Fels suggest. However, why deregulation of any kind is another fairy tale is because the 'Mr Kermodes' will lose their power and the Govt its lucrative plates revenue.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Media Manager, Mobile: 041 091 4118</span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: </span><a href="mailto:union_faruque@yahoo.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">union_faruque@yahoo.com.au</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Monday, 11 February 2008</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-74346320649288326602008-02-04T22:58:00.000-08:002009-11-14T07:36:20.463-08:007.30 Report, Australia Wide or To whom It May Concern<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">7.30 Report, Australia Wide or To whom It May Concern </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="justify"><br /><br />The Taxi Industry is a SERVICE industry. It got no resemblance with the Stock Exchange or Casino. Our aim is to provide service to the public. The so-called value of taxi plate is NOT relevant at all.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>The State OWNS all taxi plates</strong></span>. The government of the day can alter, suspend or vary any taxi licenses for the benefit of the public. Therefore, no one has to be compensated in case of regulation or de-regulation. The High Court of Australia also said the same thing. You see, no one pays Sales Tax when they “buy” a taxi plate! In reality they pay Transfer Tax only. So this ridiculous notion of compensation should be out of question when the question of regulation or de-regulation appears at the horizon.<br /><br /><br />Similar to Company Registers, the <span style="color:#ff0000;">Taxi Register should be open to the public</span>. Yet, the taxi register is secret for a long time. So, we do not know who really owns taxis and therefore the possibility of owning taxi plates by unsavory people and thereby their influence can’t be dismissed. Many industry experts suspect, current system is running contrary to public interest and compromising the public and worker safety in favor of the taxi mafia.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Nexus Taxi Plate issue is a blatant scandal</span>. Governments have given millions of dollars worth of public assets (taxi plates) to taxi companies so that they will provide special service to the communities in need. However, they took these plates and double dipped both the public and taxi drivers for eternity without providing services required by them! Despite repeated requests no one would like to investigate this scandal.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Media Manager, Mobile: 041 091 4118 </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: </span><a href="mailto:union_faruque@yahoo.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">union_faruque@yahoo.com.au</span></a></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-64757163363276486132008-01-25T23:59:00.000-08:002009-11-14T07:33:56.681-08:00The Dirty Politics of Clean and Green LPG<p class="defaulttext" align="center"><b><u><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;color:black;">NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION</span></u></b><span style="color:black;"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="defaulttext" align="center"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;color:black;">INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS</span></i></b><span style="color:black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="defaulttext" align="center"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="color:black;"><a href="http://inc.no/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Inc.no</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. 9882558 ABN <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">98 653 928 763 PO Box 322</st1:address></st1:street>, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Alexandria</st1:place></st1:city> NSW 2015</span></span></b><span style="color:black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="defaulttext" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:130%;color:black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="defaulttext" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="color:black;"></span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;color:black;">'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'</span></i></b><span style="color:black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/2008/01/dirty-politics-of-clean-and-green-lpg.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Dirty Politics of Clean and Green LPG</span></a><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></b> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span style="font-size:130%;">The clean and green energy LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is lighter, easier to process, contains lesser energy, and does not attract Excise Duty like other petroleum products! Most importantly, it is a waste product! Therefore the current LPG price hike is totally unjustified and immoral indeed. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span style="font-size:130%;">The oil companies LPG division’s recent exuberant profit margins and Australian Petroleum Institute’s data will prove the above beyond reasonable doubt. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Therefore the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Petrol Commissioner must include products like LPG, Petrol, Kerosene and Lube oil in it’s jurisdiction with wider terms of references for the benefit of the public and ensure fairness. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: rgb(66,66,66)"><span style="font-size:130%;">Media Manager, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Mobile</st1:place></st1:city>: 041 091 4118, Email: </span><a href="mailto:union_faruque@yahoo.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">union_faruque@yahoo.com.au</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Saturday, January 26, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:130%;">For more: </span></b><a href="http://au.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-GofJ21okda.DNLfej1ZAxnAS.aFD?p=36"><span style="font-size:130%;">LPG to Iraq and Discrimination</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-42931684389361435022007-12-21T00:41:00.000-08:002009-11-14T07:32:27.357-08:00Ghost and Gas – No Conspiracies in Australia<div align="justify"><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/12/ghost-and-gas-no-conspiracies.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ghost and Gas – No Conspiracies</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> in Australia<br /><br /><br />It appears, the </span><a href="http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/3744"><span style="font-size:130%;">Australian Competition and Consumer Commission</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> do not know the fact that one can make millions of products out of a black substance called </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum"><span style="font-size:130%;">Crude Oil</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. The refiners make these products under certain conditions, pressure and temperature at the oil refineries based on the market requirement. Right now the main products in the Australian market are the L.P.G., petrol, kerosene, diesel and lubricating oil.<br /><br />An intelligent organization with integrity must be watching all of these products, profit margins, price fluctuations and possible links behind any changes. According to </span><a href="http://www.accc.gov.au/content/search/index.phtml?filter=1&rowLimit=25&fromItemId=3744&searchQueryString=Mr.+Graeme+Samuel&submit=Search"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr. Graeme Samuel</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> of the </span><a href="http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/3744"><span style="font-size:130%;">Australian Competition and Consumer Commission</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, his organization is only watching the unleaded petrol prices to change the world.<br /><br />However, the giant ACCC and Australian Government got millions of well paid and connected advisers and experts. One can hope they will ensure public good and fairness while they discharge their responsibilities.<br /><br />Remember, taxi drivers are waiting for </span><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/2007/11/removal-of-cabcharge-decals-from-taxis.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Removal of Cabcharge Decals from Taxis</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--- In NSWTDAFORUM@yahoogroups.com, "Cabbie Rights" <wstaxi@...>wrote:<br /><br />Well done Faruque,<br /><br />For once I read a post worthy of a media manager there is hope for you yet!The sad part being, that neither the TWU who don't give a shit, or the NSWTDA who are totally impotent as is the ATDA in this matter or any TDA in any state. It is obvious for anyone that pauses to think, that the oil companies in the present price hike are playing 'pay back' to Labor Australia and unless Kevin Rudd and his team takes a strong stand we are going to be screwed by the capitalist monopolies.What that stand should be, I have no idea as there has never been one single government to my knowledge be it Labor or Liberal that has the balls to tackle the oil companies and win.<br /><br />I may be wrong in this, and if the great historians of the Taxi industry have any corrections to this statment then I would be most happy to be corrected.So my dear collegues, tighten your belts and TRY and have a happy festive season.Remember Christmas is a time for caring and sharing, and we who have so little and try to share with others what little we have may be twice blessed.Peace and blessings to ALL<br /><br />Jimmy<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/NSWTDAFORUM/message/4659"><span style="font-size:130%;">NSW TDA Forum</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/12/ghost-and-gas-no-conspiracies.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ghost and Gas – No Conspiracies</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />According to the law of the land, the bailor is responsible for fuel and wash.<br /><br />However, at the Industrial Relations Commission the “taxi mafia” made an application to pass the responsibility of fuel and wash to the bailees without any compensation whatsoever.<br /><br /><strong>Further to </strong></span><a href="http://nswicac.blogspot.com/2007/08/submission-concerning-allegations-of.html"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>ICAC Submission</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>, long long ago; a “phantom strike” was called at Granville Taxi Base, Sydney, NSW of the ‘lucky country’! The TWU trouble shooter named Robert Mayell who used to work around the adjacent area quickly went over there and negotiated a settlement! The ‘Pay-in’ went down by five dollars!!<br /></strong><br />The following day, a number of taxi drivers were frog marched behind the “messiah” Robert Mayell at the Industrial Commission in front of CC Connor (NSW IRC Matter No 2383 of 1993).<br /><br /><strong>No one is suggesting any conspiracy here! Poor Faruque and a few taxi drivers busted in anger and confronted the “messiah” Robert Mayell and the Transport Workers Union lawyer Adam Hatcher. During that time those new taxi drivers of Granville asked Faruque to be quiet and follow Meyall. Faruque told them, “I do not know who you are and I have not seen you in any of TWU meetings earlier – who are you people and what is the game going on here”?<br /></strong><br />Later many of these people confessed to Faruque and others that they were not even members of the TWU, many of them were not financial members of the union and the taxi bosses encouraged them to join in the TWU!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">During the proceedings, the TWU lawyer said to CC Connor, “we reserve the right to oppose at a later date”.<br /></span></strong><br />The good CC Connor found the opportunity and then he keenly passed the responsibility of gas and wash to the bailees without any compensation whatsoever. He did so despite strenuous objections made to him by Faruque and other drivers.<br /><br />The decision by CC Connor did not change the bailor/bailee remuneration principle or law, but he made a decision which was not opposed by the parties.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>A few weeks later the LPG price jumped from $A0.20-$A0.30/L to $A0.50-$A0.60/L.<br /></strong></span><br />An application was made to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on a different ground. After a futile exercise, the price went down for a while.<br /><br /><strong>Today, who is increasing the LPG price and on what basis no one knows or cares. The net impact is the weaker party in the chain is carrying the burden while “taxi mafia” is laughing all the way to the bank. The TWU lawyer Adam Hatcher found a chamber at the higher end of the town and become a BARRISTER! The good union boss Steve Hutchins became the president of the NSW Labor Party and eventually a number one ticket SENATOR from NSW.<br /></strong><br />Taxi drivers made an appeal to the Full Bench.<br /><br />After a long and costly exercise, we found out that only the TWU have the right to represent taxi drivers at the Industrial Commission! During that hearing the rights and wrongs of the actual case were not discussed.<br /><br />That means, in reality the court said the TWU can do whatever they like and they can ignore their own taxi driver members all together or their welfare! They are virtually not answerable to anyone. The union bosses do not have to follow justice, fairness, courtesy or common sense! Since then the union removed a few bi-laws of their own constitution i.e. they don’t have to advance the well being of their own members”. The law is same today.<br /><br />Whether we drivers like it or not, even if the TWU got any taxi driver members or not they will decide the bailee taxi drivers working conditions. No matter, how sad, immoral and unlawful they are.<br /><br />Faruque and others used to expose them in the media. However, the union bosses used to make attempts to trap taxi drivers and block them from the media, parliament, etc. etc. Some of the documents are very revealing.<br /><br />I say, the most tragic thing of my life is that knowing and dealing with the NSW Transport Workers Union.<br /><br /><br />Thursday, December 20, 2007<br /><br /><br />Ted Hirsch <tedhirsch@gmail.com>wrote:<br /><br />From memory, about 4-5 weeks ago gas rose to a minimum 55/ litre and up to 70/litre.After cabbies got used to the shock, then a week or two ago it rose to minimum 65/litre and up to 75/litre.Did you say price gouging, Brian? Tut, tut. But Yes, getting our Media Manager onto it sounds worthwhile !On Wed 19Dec07 in the SMH, Gordon Samuels announced that the ACCC inquiry had NOT found any evidence of petrol price collusion. And Coles and Woolies dockets were cleared from accusations of higher shelf prices. Independent servos disappearing was is part of a long term trend, although they are hotly contesting this finding (self interest obviously). It is proposed to introduce a daily petrol price information scheme, popular in WA and which has reduced volatile price changes to once per day. By 4pm the next day's price is shown on the computer. No mention of gas prices or gouging by the ACCC, of course.Our in house historian Mr. Ahmed, tells of an IRC "temporary decision" some years ago which, thanks to the TWU made drivers pay for fuel, whereas previously Bailors paid (or bailors/ bailees split the costs?).<br /><br />Faruque reckons taking this to the IRC for review is too difficult and costly. He reckons Parliament, somehow. Any specific advice, Faruque?Ernie suggest IPART gives us a handout for fuel price increases. That's the easiest approach, no doubt, albeit in June/July from memory and a massive amount of work if we do the full Monty! (Should IPART be added to our Calendar?) (BTW, why are radio jobs so poorly returned, Ernie? Cheers to all.<br /><br />Ted<br /><br /><br /><br />Ernie Mollenhauer <erniethecabbie@hotmail.com>wrote:<br /><br />As bus fares have just been increased, their explanation being increased costs, I reckon there are more than reasonable grounds to pester Ipart for an increase in taxi fares. The other string in the bow would be the currently poor responses to radio booking which are now even less attractive than before. Is there support for a claim, (seeking to leave the meters alone) for an increase in the radio booking fee to say $3 so they can knock us back to $2?<br /><br />Ernie<br /><br />On 19/12/2007, Brian Ridge <</span><a href="mailto:brianfridge@msn.com"><span style="font-size:130%;">mailto:brianfridge@msn.com</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">> wrote:<br /><br />To the committee, Last night while filling my cab with gas at the Legion base at 65.9 cents per litre another driver told me he had narrowly avoided paying 74.9 at Crows Nest, and he estimated that it was costing him about $100 a week extra. My recollection is that when the fare rates were increased back about July the cost of gas rose from about 48 to 52 cents per litre. If my memory is correct that equates to about a 40% rise in less than 6 months. The term "price gouging" springs to mind. I am wondering whether the NSWTDA could do a bit of probing and perhaps create a bit of noise so that these prices are justified.<br /><br />Brian</span></div>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-10862090097693931842007-12-07T00:42:00.000-08:002009-11-14T07:29:29.894-08:00Carrots not Sticks Mr. Wilton<p class="defaulttext" align="center"><b><u><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p><p class="defaulttext" align="center"><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">INCORPORATING BAILEE DRIVERS, OWNER DRIVERS AND LESSEE DRIVERS<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></p><p class="defaulttext" align="center"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://inc.no/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Inc.no</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. 9882558 </span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">ABN 98 653 928 763 </span><a href="http://www.hermes.net.au/toursbm1/NSWTDA.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.hermes.net.au/toursbm1/NSWTDA.htm</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="defaulttext" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Arial;">PO Box 322</span></b></st1:street><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Arial;">, <st1:city st="on">Alexandria</st1:city></span></b></st1:address><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Arial;"> NSW 2015</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="defaulttext" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span lang="EN-AU"></span></b><b><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;">'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'</span></i></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center"><tt><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">President: Geoff Coates Secretary: Ted Hirsch</span></b></tt><b><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center"><tt><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">Mob: 0431 585 944 Ph: 02 9526 1629 Mob: 0432 665 822 Phone: 9810 1136</span></b></tt><b><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><pre><span class="postbody1"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"> </span></b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></pre><p><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><u><span style="font-size:130%;">Carrots not Sticks Mr. Wilton<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b></b></span> </p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Macquarie Bank's Max Moore-Wilton complains about lack of peak hour taxis (as well as quarantine queues and rail service) at his <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Sydney</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Airport</st1:placename></st1:place> (SMH 7 Dec 07 p4). </b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b></b></span> </p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Neither the Government nor the taxi industry owes Max (the Axe) anything, let alone preferential taxi treatment for Mr. Moore's money making machine. Mr. Moore might do much better with tried and proven private enterprise incentives for taxis to come to his airport. </b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></b> </p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span style="font-size:130%;">Taxis are forced to pay a $2.50 toll which they then have to retrieve from Mr. Moore's passengers. Instead, a peak hour incentive payment to taxis for servicing Mr. Moore's passengers might improve his service for airport passengers. Together with improved respect from Mr. Moore's airport 'security' staff and airport Police (</span><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/2007/10/taxi-driver-capsicum-sprayed-at-airport.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">ban all Capsicum spray on taxi drivers</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">), improved taxi queuing arrangements and driver facilities, would all lift Macquarie Bank's taxi services for its flying public. Improved taxi services for airport travelers are entirely in </span><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/2007/10/top-level-sacl-meeting-9am-tues-23-oct.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr. Moore's hands</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">!</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><o:p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></o:p></b></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b></b></span> </p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Faruque Ahmed</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Media Manager NSW TDA</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b><span lang="EN-AU">Mobile</span></b></st1:place></st1:city><b><span lang="EN-AU">: 041 091 4118 Email: <a href="mailto:union_farqueue@yahoo.com.au">union_farqueue@yahoo.com.au</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-size:130%;">Friday, 7 December 2007<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-82038140868125366522007-12-05T15:59:00.000-08:002009-11-14T07:28:04.412-08:00Media Release Re: Dodgy Taxi Inspection<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NSW TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION<br />Incorporating Bailee Drivers, Owner Drivers & Lessee Drivers<br />Inc 9882558 ABN 98 653 928 763<br /></span><a href="http://www.hermes.net.au/toursbm1/NSWTDA.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">www.hermes.net.au/toursbm1/NSWTDA.htm</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">P.O. Box 322 Alexandria NSW 2015<br />'A Fair Share of a Fair Fare'<br />President: Geoff Coates Mob: 0431 585 944 Phone: 02 9526 1629 </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Secretary: Ted Hirsch Mob: 0432 665 822 Phone: 02 9810 1136<br /></span></div><p align="justify"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Media Release Re: Dodgy Taxi Inspection<br /></strong><br />Channel 9 reports that Police are stopping/booking taxi drivers for not picking up passengers.<br /><br />The relevant Regulations are that taxis need not pick up passengers at night between the changeover times from 1.30 to 4.30AM. For safety reasons taxis also need not pick up passengers who are intoxicated or problematic.<br /><br />On behalf of taxi drivers the NSW Taxi Drivers Association asks the Minister for Transport and the Commissioner for Police under whose authority Police are stopping taxi drivers? And the NSW TDA asks under what Regulations are Police stopping taxi drivers?<br /><br />During Christmas the problems of people getting home at night are severe because buses and trains stop running long before people want to go home. Only buses and trains can move the large crowds of partygoers during December. Only buses and trains operating until 4AM can get the majority of people home. Taxis can never handle such large crowds of people.<br /><br />Taxi drivers will take all the passengers they can to earn an extra quid. Police stopping them from their work are only making the December situation worse. A simple electronic destination sign could avoid frustrations! So let’s look for solutions rather than passing bucks.<br /><br />Police needlessly stopping taxi drivers for not picking up people may be distracting the public from the real problems of the lack of late night buses and trains for the public at Christmas. Are these Police actions deliberately distractions from the real problems of lack of December late night public transport by the Iemma Government?<br /></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Faruque Ahmed<br />Media Manager<br />Mobile: 041 091 4118, Email: </span><a href="mailto:union_faruque@yahoo.com.au" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">union_faruque@yahoo.com.au</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7416470126033539074.post-88175610649155340672007-11-29T22:50:00.000-08:002009-11-14T07:26:15.585-08:00Removal of Cabcharge Decals from Taxis<div align="right"><a href="http://zionisthoward.blogspot.com/2007/07/australian-competition-tribunal.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Faruque Ahmed</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />P O Box – 349<br />Alexandria – 2015<br />Mobile: 041 091 4118<br />Thursday, November 29, 2007<br /></span></div><p><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Mr. Graeme Samuel<br />Australian Competition & Consumer Commission<br />GPO Box 3131<br />CANBERRA ACT 2601<br />Ph: 02 6243 1244Fax: 02 6243 1210 </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: </span><a href="mailto:foi@accc.gov.au" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">foi@accc.gov.au</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></p></span><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Re: </span><a href="http://mpandmo.blogspot.com/2007/11/removal-of-cabcharge-decals-from-taxis.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Removal of Cabcharge Decals from Taxis</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><p align="justify"><br />Dear Mr. Samuel,<br /><br />I request that the ACCC move to take action forcing requirement that taxi entities be compelled to remove from surface areas of taxi cabs, decals proclaiming and advertising Cabcharge products.<br /><br />Originally taxi cooperatives (not taxi companies or networks) obtained "the authorisation in contention" to subject workers in the taxi cab industry to perform for Cabcharge from the then Trades Practices Commission by not telling the truth, twisting the truth and using racism. Ultimately, the original applicants, specifically the Red and Yellow Deluxe have used many false claims "for their own narrow benefit" with impunity.<br /><br />Fortunately this issue was largely dealt with to my satisfaction in TPC in matterA30152.<br /><br />Since then, we have been asking the ACCC and other relevant departments to remove the Authorization A30112. Surprisingly, they are very reluctant about it.<br /><br />Finally, in Matter No - 3 of 2005 of the Australian Competition Tribunal, Justice Goldberg and three other eminent Judges revoked the contentious authorization which gave the Cabcharge the “exclusive power” and “monopoly” in the first place. It is interesting to note that during the proceeding neither the taxi network nor the Cabcharge made representation as to the (their) case.<br /><br />The fact is, the then TPC then made a mistake back in 1984- since then the Federal Competition Tribunal corrected the anomaly.<br /><br />The ACCC used it’s power, authority and creativity to compel all taxi owners of this country to display the Cabcharge decals and therefore accept the Cabcharge cards and dockets.<br /><br />Now, the ACCC must do everything to remove the Cabcharge decals from all taxis as they are false advertisement and NOT legally required in the first place.<br /><br />With thanks<br /><br /><br />Faruque Ahmed </span></p>Austro_Banglahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367584061843264801noreply@blogger.com0