Limo Action Group Gears Up

 The Limo Action Group Queensland (LAGQ) has only just begun their fight for fairness under Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe's new ride-booking laws. 

On the first day of the last Parliamentary sitting for 2016, the LAGQ gathered nearly 20 limousines to drive by Parliament House 10 times, representing each $1,000 offered for limousine licences. The drive by was supported by a rally involving several Queenslanders affected by the new laws. A number of media outlets attended the event with Channel 7 and Channel 10 reporting on the event in prime time news slots. Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth of Katter's Australian Party also dropped by and addressed the group.

Late on Thursday 1 December 2016, Minister Hinchliffe - who is also the Commonwealth Games Minister - had enough support for the bill to pass. Minister Hinchliffe has said previously that legalising ride-booking services would create opportunity for existing participants (such as limousines) in the market. However, Commonwealth Games Chairman Peter Beattie told the Courier Mail that the official car fleet would include chauffeur driven cars but these would not be limousines. This seems to be in direct contrast to Minister Hinchliffe's earlier words about 'opportunity'.
 
LAGQ Chairperson Jacqui Fiebig spoke about former-Premier Peter Beattie's comments and the bill passing on 612 ABC with Steve Austin. Several LAGQ members rang through and spoke on air. Following the weekend, a follow-up piece was run on the same program and this enabled more LAGQ  members to voice their concerns with Minister Hinchliffe's industry changes.

The government also published a press release about the changes. Minister Hinchliffe and the Department of Transport and Main Roads have continuously called the $10,000 on offer to limousine licence owners 'transitional assistance'. They have said it is not a form of compensation. However, in a 01 December 2016 Media Release, Minister Hinchliffe is quoted calling this payout 'compensation'. It was quietly changed.

The LAGQ is still not allowed to meet with Minister Hinchliffe. The LAGQ is still not allowed on the Industry Reference Group. The LAGQ is only just gearing up and will continue fighting for fair value compensation.