This is a win worth celebrating. And worth knowing about.
NSW taxi drivers who refuse to accept the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme payment from passengers with disability will now face a $3,000 fine.
That might not sound extraordinary. But until now — there was no penalty at all.
People with disability were being refused rides. Verbally abused. Removed from taxis for trying to use a scheme they are entitled to. And drivers faced zero consequences.
The Physical Disability Council of NSW spent three years advocating for this change — alongside the disability community and the Taxi Council of NSW. Four roundtables across NSW. A meeting with the NSW Treasurer. A $15 million Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Emergency Package. And now — real penalties.
$3,000 for refusing a TTSS payment. $3,000 (up from $300) for starting the meter before a passenger in a wheelchair is safely secured.
This matters for the participants we support at Kinship Uniting Services — particularly those using transport as part of their NDIS plan in Western Sydney, and our aged care clients in the Southern Highlands who depend on taxis for medical appointments and essential outings.
Transport is not a luxury for people with disability. For many participants — especially those with limited mobility — a wheelchair-accessible taxi is the only form of point-to-point transport available.
When it’s refused, it’s not an inconvenience. It’s isolation.
This change won’t fix everything. But it’s meaningful movement in the right direction. And it happened because people with disability kept speaking up — loudly, consistently, and together.
Source: Physical Disability Council of NSW | pdcnsw.org.au
— Aishah Shah Director & Care Coordinator | Kinship Uniting Services 📞 0437 733 744 | kinshipunitingservices.com