
Issue No 62		14 July 2000

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News

Taxi Drivers Win GST Justice

With the confusion surrounding the GST allegedly ebbing, it's worth sparing a thought for bailee drivers of NSW Taxis.

In the front line as individual tax collectors since the clock first turned over to July 1, bailee taxi drivers are having to relive the GST nightmare of every small business around the country as they issue individual receipts ("Tax Invoices") for each fare over $50.

Drivers in the industry are reporting to the TWU that the nightmare they anticipated just keeps on getting worse.

But for a recent decision of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, however, things could be considerably worse.

Initially, some taxi owners and the service providers were expecting drivers to pay GST for their cab hire, collect GST from their customers and then pass on the full 10% back to the cab owner. Despite being illegal and in contravention of ACCC guidelines, this proposal would have left the drivers having to pay for the GST out of their earnings.

But thanks to this decision won by the TWU all Bailee Taxi Drivers in NSW are now protected from losing money as a result of the GST.

Under the decision all bailee drivers hiring a cab now have two options for passing on the 10% GST they collect from passengers to the cab owners. Both options ensure the driver retains any cost the GST has placed on the operation of their cab. In option two, the driver pays the current Pay-in plus 7.8% GST.

The decision also provides for a number of other important benefits for bailee drivers working under the new tax system, including the compulsion on owners to provide drivers with their legal entity, name, and ABN prior to the driver commencing each shift.

"This is an important decision delivering GST justice for all NSW taxi drivers," TWU Taxi Industry Official Alice DeBoos says.

"Thanks to this decision NSW cabbies will not be being ripped by the GST. Furthermore, because owners now have to let the drivers know their names and legal details, next time a driver is unfairly dismissed or being overcharged for their pay-ins we will be able to track them down and make sure the driver is delivered justice," DeBoos says.

For further information or copies of the decision contact the TWU on (02) 9912 0700

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Issue 62 contents

Interview: Fair Trader
AMWU boss Doug Cameron is gearing for a showdown with the ALP over their free trade agenda. But what's he really on about?

Politics: Free Trader
Trade Minister Peter Cook states his case for coninuting trade liberalisation and why the 'fair trade' agenda is against the interests of Australian workers.

History: Organising - Fifties Style
What do the new wave of organisers do? Pretty much the same hard slog that Audrey Petrie did in the 1950s around Sydney for the Hotel, Club and Restaurant Union (HCRU).

Unions: The Whistleblower
A lone Chinese seafarer is fighting to stop a Panamanian flagged vessel from dumping toxic waste into Australian waters

International: Jakarta Breakthrough
Indonesian workers have just won a new historic bill of rights which gaurantees them legal protections when they form unions.

Solidarity: Rio Versus the Rest of the World
Union members around the world have taken part in a week of international action against the mining giant Rio Tinto. Andrew Casey looks at all the hot spots.

Satire: Amnesty Branch Targets Lazy Letter Writer
Police are investigating claims that the Glebe branch of Amnesty International has captured and tortured a member whose tardiness in letter writing had become renowned.

Review: Little by Little
Clinton Walker's groundbreaking book, CD and video charts the careers of indigenous artists like the legendary Jimmy Little.

» Hotel Workers Get Serious on Olympic Pay

» Global Rio Tinto Campaign Bites

» Nike Faces Olympics Shame

» Cameron Calls for 'Social Audit'

» Orange Rally Softens Email Job Losses

» No Joy in the Chase

» Reith Scheme Short Changes Workers

» World Banks' PNG Edict: Six Thousand Bucks per Job!

» New Wages Scam - Sink Company to Avoid Pay

» Shaw Returns to Bar Room Life

» Newman! Minister Dumps on Staff for GST

» Taxi Drivers Win GST Justice

» Unchain Your Mind

» ACTU Womens' Conference

» The Soapbox

» The Locker Room

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» Political Hackers and the Law

» Still a Role for Tariffs

» Fair Trade - Australia Would be Hit Too!

» Mexican Greens - A Different Analysis

» Korean unrest - All the Latest Here

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