Threat sent to home of taxi reforms MP Tony Buti

POLICE are investigating a sinister note sent to the house of Armadale MP Tony Buti, which threatened “strange things will happen to your family” unless he “fixed the taxi industry”.

Dr Buti, co-ordinator of the State Government’s on-demand transport reforms, reported the threat ahead of new laws reforming the industry being introduced in Parliament today, where there is expected to be an audience of taxi drivers.

The Government’s dignitary protection unit and Armadale police were notified, a Government spokesman said.

“It’s very disappointing it has come to this,” the spokesman said.

“Dr Buti has been doing an excellent job on taxi reform and put in a lot of time and effort to talk directly with many taxi drivers about this overdue reform.

“No one should feel threatened in their workplace.

“The majority of taxi plate owners have been constructive and appreciative of the reforms the Government has put forward.”

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti conceded the changes would not please every plate owner, with a maximum amount payable limited to $250,000.

Announcing the introduction of the laws, which will deregulate the industry and implement a four-year, 10 per cent levy on all metropolitan trips to pay for a plate buyback scheme, she said taxi drivers were divided on whether the scheme was fair.

Ms Saffioti said since the announcement of the package in November, negotiations had led to concessions to the reforms, including a maximum levy of $10 per fare, exemptions for vehicles with 12 seats or more and for operators who provide services only for special events, such as school balls or weddings.

“We’ve made a series of compromises to make sure the package is as a robust as possible,” she said.

“We can’t compromise on the levy or the buyback amount and I know there’s been a lot of discussion in the community and particularly in the taxi industry about the buyback amount.

“We set it because we believe it’s a fair amount and we know that not everybody thinks this package is perfect — we believe it strikes the right balance.”

Taxi plate owner Lindsay Hill said the laws would bring closure to a three-year saga that had cost him more than $300,000.

“I know my colleagues in the industry would prefer a fairer buyback but I’ve visited many politicians and I don’t see one coming,” he said. “I can take this to the bank.”

Shadow transport minister Liza Harvey said the Government’s plan pleased no one and criticised it for introducing an industry-funded buyback model.