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Council calls for changes to Multi Purpose Taxi Program By Latrobe City Council - 23rd December 2003 - Back to News At a Special Council Meeting held on 15 December, Latrobe City Council passed a resolution to write to the Premier, relevant Ministers and local members of State Parliament, asking for the proposed changes to the Multi Purpose Taxi Program to be put on hold whilst meaningful dialogue and consultation be entered into with key stakeholders.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Graeme Middlemiss, said there was a widespread view in the community that changes to the Multi Purpose Taxi Program were unfair and would result in people with a disability (including older people) being severely restricted in their ability to travel around their local community.
"Of particular concern is the $550 annual cap to trip subsidies. This equates to a weekly subsidy of just $10.70, which is inadequate to meet the transport needs of many members of the program who live in Latrobe City. This weekly subsidy may not be enough for two trips within a single town in the municipality, or one trip between towns per week," Cr Middlemiss said.
Latrobe City’s Rural Access Project Officer, Bill Lawler, said people with an intellectual disability who use taxis to attend day services, including Cooinda Hill, Moe Life Skills, the Alfred Murphy Centre and Scope, are particularly concerned about the proposed changes. "Attending programs each day and accessing their local community independently will become less affordable under the new proposed arrangements," Mr Lawler explained.
Cr Middlemiss said Council believes that the changes to the Multi Purpose Taxi Program are not consistent with the intent of the State Disability Plan which reaffirms the rights that people with a disability have to live and participate in the community on an equal footing with other citizens in Victoria.
"The proposed changes were introduced with minimal consultation with transport providers and members of the MPTP. Council is proposing that a better deal for users of the program could be achieved by entering into a period of consultation with key stakeholders," Cr Middlemiss said.
The Multi Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP) assists people in the community who are unable to use public transport because of a severe and permanent disability. The MPTP provides a 50% subsidy to taxi fares (up to a ceiling of $25) for people who are eligible for the program.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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