There are fears the collapse of regional Australia's taxi industry may isolate the elderly and people with disabilities.
Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast podcast.From May 1, many drivers will be eligible for $1,500 fortnightly payments under the Federal Government's JobKeeper scheme.Taxi licences have also dropped in value from around $500,000 to less than $150,000 since the introduction of Uber in 2012.
For drivers, the resale value of their licence was a financial parachute before retirement, said Transport Workers Union NSW secretary Richard Olsen."It's nationwide, it's hit everyone, and there hasn't been enough done by the taxi regulator to protect the industry." A Transport For NSW spokesperson said the department was"engaging with industry and stakeholders to ensure essential services remain in place".
The department did not respond to questions about specific measures targeting the taxi industry, but said it was working to ensure services to vulnerable members of the community.
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