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What is the Taxi Subsidy Scheme?

The Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS) subsidises taxi travel for people with disabilities, providing half of the total fare, up to a maximum of $25 per trip.
The subsidy is paid directly to taxi drivers, so the passenger receives the discount on the spot when they show their TSS membership card.
The Queensland Government also currently offers Wheelchair Accessible Taxi (WAT) drivers a Lift Payment of $20 when they transport a TSS member who uses a wheelchair.
This payment is aimed at further improving accessible transport for people with disabilities, as an added incentive for drivers to offer these services, due to the additional time it takes to secure and disembark passengers with a disability.
However, the Lift Payment only applies for WATs, not other personalised transport services such as Uber.
In July 2017 the Queensland Government announced it would extend the TSS for two years, responding to community concerns about funding levels under the NDIS.

Doesn’t the NDIS provide transport funding?

Based on our experiences supporting people in their transition to the NDIS so far, transport funding is inconsistent.
Our members have reported that the funding they have received in their plans is just not enough to cover their transport needs, especially without the subsidy to assist with half their fare.
With the scheme aimed at supporting people to achieve their goals and participating more in their community, accessible transport is more important than ever.
We are confident that the scheme will provide adequate support in future, however this will take time to get right.
We’re calling on the Queensland Government to continue to offer the TSS to NDIS participants for the next two years, to ensure there are no gaps in funding.

How will this impact the availability of accessible transport in Queensland?

We are concerned that removing the TSS for Queensland NDIS participants will mean people cannot afford to travel as much, reducing the demand for accessible services.
Furthermore, removing the Lift Payment means less incentives for WAT operators to offer this service.
Figures from taxi companies show that offering this additional payment has led to less complaints and improved pick-up rates.

What is happening in other states?

In New South Wales, the State Government is continuing to offer the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS), subsidising up to $60 per trip, along with the Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Driver Incentive Scheme (WATDIS) which provides a $15 payment per trip.
In Victoria, the State Government is continuing to offer the Multi Purpose Taxi Program, subsidising up to $60 per trip, while the Government works with the NDIA to confirm how participants will receive transport support.
In South Australia, the State Government has extended its Transport Subsidy Scheme for a further six months from 30 June 2019, providing members with 80 personalised vouchers every six months which subsidise up to $40 per trip.Tasmania’s subsidy scheme is scheduled to end on 30 June 2019.
In Tasmania, the State Government has announced it will extend its subsidy program that was scheduled to cease on 30 June 2019, which offers $1000 in taxi travel for the first year and then $350 for each subsequent year until the end of December in 2023.
Western Australia and the ACT are maintaining their equivalent programs to run alongside the NDIS, while NDIS participants in the NT are also still receiving a taxi subsidy.

What else would you like to see happen to fix this issue?

We would also like the Queensland Government to consider making the subsidies and payments open to vehicles other than WATs, such as Uber, to provide incentives for these services to provide accessible transport.
In addition to introducing an interest-free, government loan scheme of up to $80,000 per Maxi Taxi from a fund of $4,000,000 each year to enable new vehicles to be purchased or existing vehicles to be refurbished.