New South Wales, Australia
— TAXI drivers have been routinely ripping off
thousands of dollars each from a $15 million State
Government subsidy aimed to make taxi transport
affordable for the disabled.
An investigation by The Daily
Telegraph using the Freedom of Information Act has found
that theft from the scheme is now so bad Transport
Minister Michael Costa has ordered a full review of ways
to stop the thefts, including the use of smartcard
technology.
In two of the more serious cases in
2002 and 2003, cab drivers were convicted in court on 43
and 58 breaches of the Crimes Act and fined $11,200 and
$12,000.
More criminal charges are expected
against other drivers. Dozens of others have had their
driver authorities removed after they were caught out
making false claims.
Under the Taxi Transport Subsidy
Scheme, cab drivers charge disabled passengers only half
the normal fare and then claim back the balance up to a
maximum $30 though a docket reimbursement system akin to
Cabcharge.
But a NSW Ministry of Transport
document states an unknown number of cab drivers have
"coerced" disabled passengers into handing over a large
number of signed blank dockets so fictional journeys can
be claimed.
There is also a fear some disabled
passengers may have co-operated with the drivers and
shared the profits.
The document stated that abuse of
the scheme became apparent when an internal audit
revealed the top five "passengers" would have had to have
paid between $26,000 and $53,000 a year out of their own
pockets on cab fares based on the claims they
made.
In one case, the amount of subsidy
claimed by a participant would require that person to use
cabs a minimum of five times a day, seven days a
week.
There are about 50,000 registered
participants able to use the scheme. Between 12,000 and
13,000 people are considered regular users of
it.
Mr Costa said last night there was
no suggestion he would end the subsidy, but said: "More
needs to be done to stop unprincipled operators from
preying on those who rely on this scheme."
He said only "a few rotten eggs"
were responsible for the fraud.
