Taxi Death Prompts Action Call

Date: 02 March 2000

The Transport Worker's Union has called on the Department of Transport to urgently develop a taxi driver training initiative aimed at improving driver safety and the capacity of drivers to respond to violent situations.

The call follows the senseless murder of Taxi driver Satpal Suri earlier this week

"The brutal murder of taxi driver Satpal Suri earlier this week is a terrible loss and the Department of Transport (DOT) should be doing everything within its power to assist Mr Suri's family and to protect the lives and safety of all taxi drivers," TWU State Secretary Tony Sheldon said today.

The TWU is aware of a large amount of money held in store by the DOT for taxi industry initiatives and is requesting an urgent meeting with the DOT and the Taxi Advisory Council to discuss how these funds can used to improve the safety and protection of drivers in the industry.

"The DOT should be making some its fund available to help improve taxi drivers training to make sure they are better skilled and equipped and handle violent situations," Mr Sheldon said. The murder of Mr Suri tragically reinforces the levels of risk taxi drivers are forced to expose themselves to in their efforts to make a living providing a community service. A 1995 report found that every year there are 2,200 violent assaults on taxi drivers, or 6 attacks a day.

In spite of the successful efforts to introduce safety screens and more recently video surveillance cameras the murder of Mr Suri makes it clear that taxi drivers are still placing themselves at enormous risk. "With taxi drivers still being forced to risk their lives just to make a living and Sydney on the eve of the 2000 Olympics the DOT must have an obligation to be doing everything it can to improve the training, safety and skills of drivers," Mr Sheldon said.

The TWU is also requesting that the DOT conduct an emergency investigation into the incidence and levels of violence in the taxi industry and that it makes the result of its investigations publicly available.

As part of its efforts to assist Mr Suri's family the TWU is also supporting a fund raiser and is arranging legal representation for the family in their claim for victims compensation.

Individual donations can be made to Mr Suri's family care of the TWU at PO Box 649, Parramatta NSW 649.

For further information

Contact:	Scott Connolly
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
Phone:	0418 445329
WWW:	http://workers.labor.net.au/

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