I46 Road Transport

Fare’s fair: Uber’s plea for reform

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Original article by Mitchell Bingemann
The Australian – Page: 19 : 29-Oct-14

Niall Wass, ­senior vice-president Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific at online chauffeur car bookings business Uber, has called for greater deregulation of the sector in Australia. He urged state governments to cease fining Uber drivers, who operate in competition to the incumbent taxicabs industry. Under particular scrutiny is the UberX service that allows private vehicle owners to offer ride sharing at about a 50% discount to taxi fares. Wass noted that the state of California in the US has created a new licensing system to cater to emerging businesses like Uber

CORPORATES
UBER TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED, NEW SOUTH WALES. ROADS AND MARITIME SERVICES, LYFT INCORPORATED, SIDE.CR LLC, TAXIS COMBINED SERVICES PTY LTD, SILVER TOP TAXI SERVICE LIMITED

Australia exposed on oil by Mid-East conflict

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Original article by Cameron Stewart
The Australian – Page: 4 : 20-Oct-14

The NRMA motorists’ lobbying body in New South Wales warns that the nation’s energy security is under threat by the rising level of fuel importation as well as the armed conflict in the Middle East. Director Graham Blight says the current stores of transport fuel are only three weeks’ worth or less, and the economy would be severely crippled if they were to be depleted. Some 90% of fuel is now being sourced from overseas, compared with just 60% in 2000

CORPORATES
NRMA LIMITED

Transurban signs $850m deal to widen CityLink

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Original article by Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 19 : 7-Oct-14

Scott Charlton, CEO of toll road operator Transurban, has announced a new deal worth $A850m with the Victorian Government. Traffic capacity will be lifted 30% via extra lanes on the Tullamarine Freeway portion of Transurban’s CityLink. There will be a moratorium on toll increases during the construction phase between October 2015 and the start of 2018, to be followed by a rise of 4.5% or the CPI

CORPORATES
TRANSURBAN GROUP LIMITED – ASX TCL, TRANSURBAN CITY LINK LIMITED, HILLS MOTORWAY GROUP LIMITED

Disabled bay penalty $2000

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Original article by Kate Emery
The West Australian – Page: 5 : 2-Sep-14

The Western Australian Govenment will crack down on motorists who use parking spaces that are reserved for drivers with disabilities. At present the maximum fine for using disabled parking bays without a permit is $A140, but this will be increased to $A300. However, disability advocates believe that more severe on-the-spot fines are justified. Courts will be able to impose fines of $A2,000 under the reforms, compared with $A1,000 at present

CORPORATES
NATIONAL DISABILITY SERVICES LIMITED, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Toll to return motorists to Parramatta Rd

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Original article by Jacob Saulwick
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 3 : 14-Aug-14

The environmental impact statement has been issued for phase one of the WestConnex expressway in Sydney, set to be a toll road. The document predicts that the fees of between $A1.50 and $A3.90 will have the effect of boosting traffic density on the free Parramatta Road and Victoria Road routes, as drivers seek out alternatives. The added users will include heavy vehicles and cause a deterioration in air quality in some neighbourhoods. However the addition of two lanes to the M4 will reduce travel times by up to 74%. New South Wales Roads Minister Duncan Gay argues the full benefits will emerge once all sections of WestConnex have been built

CORPORATES
WESTCONNEX, NEW SOUTH WALES. MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, STATEWIDE ROADS LIMITED, INTERLINK ROADS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, THE GREENS NSW INCORPORATED

Bikie trucking firms rip off millions

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Original article by Noel Towell
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 6 : 7-Jul-14

Australian Federal Police and Australian Taxation Office (ATO) investigators are unhappy that no criminal charges are being laid against outlaw motorcycle gang members accused of illegally gaining diesel fuel rebates. An associate of the Hells Angels allegedly controlled an accounting firm that lodged the false rebate claims, for trucking firms that either did not exist or vastly overstated the number of trips they made. While no criminal prosecution is underway, the ATO has launched a civil case in the Federal Court to recover some of the funds it paid out

CORPORATES
HELLS ANGELS MOTORCYCLE CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIA. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Tougher fines, demerits

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Original article by Gabrielle Knowles
The West Australian – Page: 1 : 3-Jul-14

Western Australian (WA) Road Safety and Police Minister Liza Harvey has announced an increase in fines and demerit points for motorists. This follows a Road Safety Council push for harsher penalties for such offences as using a mobile telephone while driving, running a red light or blocking emergency vehicles. Motorcyclists riding without a helmet will incur four points and a fine of $A550. However, a recommendation to also impose demerits for speeding at less than 10 km/h above the posted limit will not be adopted, despite all other states enforcing such a regime

CORPORATES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF JUSTICE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ROAD SAFETY COUNCIL, MONASH UNIVERSITY. ACCIDENT RESEARCH CENTRE, UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE. CENTRE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY RESEARCH