00:00 Fourteen-year-old Launceston boy Mitchell Guymore has cerebral palsy.
00:06 Both of his parents have medical conditions that prevent them driving,
00:10 so Mitchell relies on wheelchair accessible taxis for transport.
00:13 But the service is unreliable.
00:16 He's just not been able to be like a normal 14-year-old
00:20 with after-school activities or, you know, things like that
00:24 because we just can't rely on the taxis to turn up on time.
00:28 The frequent no-shows and wait-time blowouts for wheelchair taxis
00:32 aren't just affecting Mitchell's social life.
00:35 Because the taxi just hasn't turned up,
00:37 so I've had to end up cancelling his appointment.
00:39 You know, I've got to wait another 12 months to see that specialist.
00:42 Then his hips could deteriorate
00:44 and he could end up having to need an operation.
00:48 They're often forced to take the bus, which isn't easy.
00:51 I've had to take his other smaller manual wheelchair,
00:55 which then means that I have to push him.
00:57 It's an absolute disaster.
00:59 It costs money, it's embarrassing, it's humiliating
01:03 and it's incredibly frustrating.
01:05 Taxi Combined Launceston has just taken over management
01:09 of Launceston's wheelchair taxi service.
01:11 They say the problem stems from driver shortage
01:14 and appears to be worse in the north of the state.
01:17 The company says it's committed to meeting community needs
01:20 and is recruiting more drivers.
01:22 Earlier this year, the Tasmanian government mandated
01:25 that each wheelchair taxi must make 30 trips a month
01:28 for wheelchair passengers.
01:30 If it's not appropriately enforced, then no change will be realised.
01:35 Just hope that they fix it and fix it quickly
01:40 so that, you know, people with a disability
01:43 or people in a wheelchair can actually get out and about
01:47 and do the things that they want and love to do.
01:51 Yeah.
01:51 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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