Those Prepaid Taxi Fares Aren't Fair For Passengers

The Age

Tuesday December 9, 2008

SUZANNE CARBONE

IT'S time to see how prepaid taxi fares are improving the lot of drivers and not their passengers. A reader named Emma reports that her partner jumped into a cab at Federation Square about 3.30am and asked to be taken to Collingwood. The cabbie told him to cough up $20, but the passenger protested that the fare is usually a bit over $10. Remember, the cabbie is supposed to "estimate" the fare at the start of the trip. Arriving home, the meter was around $12, but the driver refused to give any change, claiming he didn't have any. The passenger proceeded to take down the cabbie's number but found a picture with no number. Emma relayed: "The driver explained that the picture was not actually him and he was driving someone else's taxi." The passenger leant into the cab to get a new pair of $100 shoes that were in a bag, but before he could grab them: "The driver slammed his foot down, dragging my partner along the road until he could free himself." Let's brush up on what Transport Minister Lynne Kosky (below) said about prepaid fares in September: "Fare evasion and violence are very real problems in the taxi industry and this is a tough measure that we've had to take to curb the level of confrontation drivers experience." Too bad about drivers who evade giving change, get violent, embark on a $12 trip but help themselves to a $120 fare.

On the money

BESUITED humanitarian Julian Burnside, QC, was the guest speaker at a graduation dinner for Melbourne Uni medical students based at the Austin Hospital, giving a stirring oration about refugees and the stolen generation. But most of all, he implored the graduates not to seek out expensive houses or cars during their doctorly careers but to embrace a cause. Guests at the dinner received a lovely gift in a black box: a silver money clip.

Full of energy

AS THE great leader Napoleon said: "In politics, stupidity is not a handicap." The Spring Street Asylum's Red Morgue - the upper house - was grappling with the "Energy Legislation Amendment Act" last week and needed a bill to deposit the clause, but there was a small problem: there were no like-minded bills on the agenda. Never mind, Justin Madden rose to include the clause in the Prostitution Control and Other Matters Amendment Bill. We think the energy amendment fits into the "Other Matters" section.

Shining example

THE shoeshine lady at the Rialto Towers, Kate Kay, has set herself a goal: to raise $US10,000 ($15,450) by the end of the month for Madonna's pet project, Raising Malawi, to help orphans. Kate is rattling a big tin at a fund-raiser at the Rialto Observation Deck on December 15, appealing to pals for catering, refreshments, waiters, prizes, a fairy (to entertain the kiddies) and, most of all, "your hard-earned money". Her shoeshine clients are mainly bankers and CEOs, many of whom are finding their hard-earned is harder to earn these days, but if they've got a few spare gold coins, do it for Kate, Madge and the orphans.

Skirting the issue

NO, THE Skirt Network is not a television station but a posse of women in the comedy industry who banded together to share stories and gags. The girls are celebrating their first birthday with a drink at the Bella Union bar at Trades Hall on December 12, the evening hosted by Fringe Festival best newcomer Felicity Ward. While the bubbly and oestrogen will be flowing, it's not strictly skirts on the guest list. Comedian Wendy Little explains: "We have members who are blokes in comedy and are very supportive." But they probably won't be wearing skirts on the night.

Berry delicious

WE'VE heard about the joys of savouring chocolate "mouse" due to a typing malfunction on the menu, but an eatery in Phillip Island has another treat for sweet tooths: a serve of berry "moose". Sounds like a Canadian delicacy.

Sweet about US

TEEN singing queen Gabriella Cilmi may have snubbed Melbourne fans to appear on German TV, but the Dandenong export is headlining the Aussie contingent at the G'Day USA songfest in January dubbed Australia Plays Broadway. Cilmi will belt out some tunes at the famed Carnegie Hall with the great Aussie screamer Jimmy Barnes, his son David Campbell and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. Producing the extravaganza is Melbourne publicist/theatre impresario Ross Mollison, and we read that in a media release from his very own Mollison Communications. Ross is even quoted!

The trigger

THAT Underbelly actor Kat Stewart was smokin' on the AFI's red carpet in her black and silver J'Aton gown, but she would have been smokin' a whole lot more with another pair of shoes. Designers Jacob Luppino and Anthony Pitturino wanted her to wear the Chanel "Gun" shoes worn by Madonna (below) but the Collins Street store didn't have her size. Diary hears Kat was relieved and happily slipped into a pair of Cesare Paciotti black patent "Gladiator" pumps from South Yarra's Loula. Less controversial than those killer heels.

© 2008 The Age

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