Is the Victorian government trying to avoid helping people in need?

The relationship with the Taxi driver

In practical terms an ethical and empathetic m50 taxi driver can help “people with disabilities”, especially those with severe mobility problems. As a reliable taxi driver can help ease the restrictions associated with one’s severe loss of mobility.

For the past 12 years I have travelled with Frankston Radio Cabs. In particular, a driver called Rob has assisted me with most of my mobility problems. Over the years Rob (the taxi driver) and I have developed a friendship based on respect and understanding; he goes out of his way to assist me in most of my mobility requirements.

For example, Rob and his fellow workers at times help me switch from my manual wheelchair to my electric one. They would also, if the meeting or function that I attended ends a bit later than expected, patiently wait the extra time. On returning home on most occasions they will assist me with the transfer into bed and reposition everything to help me the following morning. They are also at times kindly available to take me shopping and assist me with duties that the able-bodied take for granted. I have yet to be left in a situation where I have asked them for help and they have let me down.

The little extra mobility that I have been in receipt of from the m50 taxi drivers, I believe has helped me to succeed in a political system that does not want to be burdened by people with severe disabilities.

Conclusion

The m50 taxi program is a six per cent part of the Multipurpose Taxi Program that has not increased in monetary value to recipients since its inception in 1983 despite inflation. This suits the government’s needs to maintain a budgetary surplus and allows them to claim that the program is being rorted by taxi drivers and is in need of an overhaul. The swipe-card system introduced in 2000 has made the system mostly infallible to rorting.

What the government calls a blow-out in costs can be easily explained in this way:

• The average cost of a taxi trip from Dandenong to the city in 1985 was$ 20.00, today the same trip costs more than $ 60.00
• As well, because of medical and technological advances we have vast increases in the current elderly and severely disabled populations.
• Especially since the year 2000; Australia and Victoria have witnessed the state develop unprecedented forms of economic growth and a GST.
• The nation, including “people with disabilities” is more educated and is more in touch with access to social gatherings and meetings.

Being wheelchair-bound has allowed me personally to acknowledge the important role that mobility plays in social inclusion for people with disabilities. However, the State government is trying very hard to make it appear admirably feasible that we need to reform and reduce social services, rather, than help people.