Big Medicine

Canberra ACT--The ACT Government is offering incentive payments to wheelchair-accessible taxi (WAT) operators who keep their cars on the road over the festive season in an effort to maintain services and reduce waiting times for people with mobility issues, Chief Minister and Minister for Transport Jon Stanhope announced today.

Mr Stanhope said the Government anticipated a good take-up of the incentive payments.

"The ACT Government will pay incentives to WAT operators to encourage them to keep their vehicles on the road and available for hire during the festive season," Mr Stanhope said.

"The $150-a-day incentive payment applies on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. To be eligible for the payment, WAT operators must ensure their vehicle is available for hire for at least 15 hours per day.

"The ACT Government will continue to meet the WAT lift fee, which will increase from $12.40 to $25for wheelchair hirings on days the incentive payments apply.

"The payments recognise that these drivers are giving up some of their own time with their family and friends in order to assist their fellow Canberrans who cannot easily get from place to place.

"For a community that values social inclusion it is important that we ensure Canberrans with mobility issues do not miss out on spending time with family on these special days due to a lack of appropriate transport," Mr Stanhope said.

Mr Stanhope said the incentive scheme has been operating over the Christmas/New Year period since 2007 and was expanded this year to include other significant public holidays including Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Easter and Anzac day.

There are 25 wheelchair-accessible taxis in the ACT and another five ‘conditional' taxis which are capable of carrying wheelchairs.