Licence holders expect compo

MORE than 140 Cairns taxi licence holders left a roadshowstyle meeting yesterday with hope that a $1 billion closed action against the Queensland Government would force the payment of compensation in the wake of taxi licences devaluing.

The action, spearheaded by instructing solicitor John Maitland, seeks reimbursement off the back of the popularisation of ridesharing services. Licence holders have until December 15 to join the closed action.

Queensland Taxi Group spokeswoman Marie Meares said licences had been devalued up to 80 per cent and, as insurers of licences, the Queensland Government had a responsibility to make financial reparation.

“The mood in the room was very accepting of where we are going and very positive,” Ms Meares said.

“The lack of agro questions at the end of the presentation was indicative of the satisfaction of what had been presented to them.”

Ms Meares said the group had been advised by legal counsel that strong merit”.

Cairns taxi licence holder Robert Hayles, who joined the action, said there was “some hope” that the compensation would be forthcoming.

“I would never be confident that the government would willingly cough up money, if they were willing to do that they would have already done it by now,” he said.

“The fact that we are having to take these steps is testament to the fact that there is no confidence in the government reimbursing us for the mess that they have created.”

Cherie Meares told the Cairns Post having faith that the government would regulate ridesharing and maintain the value of taxi licences was the “the biggest regret we have had in life so far”.

“We have worked hard for the last five years and are still nowhere close to paying off the debt we owe for a licence that cost us $580,000 and is now worth nothing,” she said.

A second meeting will be held today in Brisbane. “the case had

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