Posted on the 18th December 2025 in PHTM News

PERTH COUNCIL GREENLIGHTS 24 NEW TAXI PLATES DESPITE BACKLASH FROM TAXI ASSOCIATION

Perth and Kinross Council’s Licensing Committee has approved a controversial new scheme to issue 24 additional taxi licence plates, ignoring warnings from the local trade that the move could "destroy" the industry.

The decision, made on Monday, December 15, aims to address "unmet demand" in city, but local drivers argue the council is fundamentally misreading the market.

The scheme introduces strict conditions for the 24 new licences to ensure “fairness and transparency”:

  • Non-Transferable: Plates must be returned to the council if no longer used.

  • Accessibility: All new vehicles must be wheelchair accessible.

  • New Entrants First: Priority is given to operators who do not currently hold a licence to “grow the local taxi trade.”

Council officials defended the legality of the move, with Head of Legal Services Lisa Simpson insisting the process was “legal, competent, appropriate and lawful.” She noted that a 2024 survey showed that while total hires were down, the number of people waiting for cabs was “significantly higher.”

The Perth Taxi Association (PTA) launched a scathing attack on the plan.

Vice-chairman Kevin Kulik, a cabbie for 32 years, warned: "We are fighting to save an industry that has been built up over many years by working class people; yet decisions are being made by officials and councillors who - with respect - have little understanding of how a taxi or a private hire business actually operates.

"The consequences of these decisions will be devastating for livelihoods, public safety and the people of Perth."

He claimed the whole process had been "marred from the very beginning" and there were "major flaws".

He added: "This is not a system in a position to safely expand; it's a system struggling to cope. The trade has repeatedly asked to work with the council and was told we would have an input. Yet we had late notification of this meeting then discovered the decision already appeared to have been drafted up without consent."

He added: "Waiting times have fallen dramatically from 12 minutes, 32 seconds in 2021 to five minutes and 30 seconds in 2024 yet you are being asked to introduce five times the number of plates that were previously added. The figures don't add up.

"This decision will dilute the market to the point where many operators will walk away."

Veteran driver Peter Milne argued the council is solving the wrong problem, suggesting that the city lacks drivers, not cars. He claimed the restriction on transferring plates was unlawful and would discourage investment.

“The underlying issue is not that we need another 24 licences; the underlying issue is we need another 24 or 40 drivers to cope with the existing fleet. That's the fundamental problem with our industry at the moment.” 

Despite these pleas, the committee unanimously agreed to approve the scheme.


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