<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="" title="Victorian "><span>Victorian</span></a><span> taxi and rideshare drivers found guilty of manipulating fares more than once could have their accreditation slashed, as part of a state government crackdown on dodgy drivers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New taxi reforms aimed at improving passenger safety were triggered after Nine program </span><em><span>60 Minutes</span></em><span> uncovered video evidence of disabled passengers being abused, along with evidence of taxi drivers scamming the NDIS and hospital systems.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Public transport minister Gabrielle Williams said the government was determined to stamp out behaviour that was "quite clearly unacceptable to all Victorians", announcing a raft of reforms today.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/erin-patterson-mushroom-poison-murder-trial-cook-at-lunch-leftovers/90e6766a-0407-46f2-84a5-2698df219c1b" target="_blank"><strong><span>Mushroom cook ate lunch leftovers with kids: daughter</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We saw some reporting earlier this year that quite frankly put on display some utterly unacceptable and disgusting behaviour," Williams said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The first change will force all taxi and ride-share drivers to display a QR code inside their vehicle, to inform passengers of their rights and allow them to make complaints if required.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Drivers found guilty of manipulating fares more than once will have their accreditations suspended or cancelled, once legislation is passed later this year.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/taxi-reform-victorian-government-two-strike-policy/dce2000d-bfc4-4ba9-b53c-62dac381202a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Taxis hailed on the street already record video of their trip but soon they'll also be required to record audio, to make it easier for complaints to be investigated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Recordings only need to be kept for 72 hours, but the government is negotiating to see if that can be extended.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They will also need to provide access to a livestream for carers of passengers living with disabilities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Where there are added layers of vulnerability, we need to have higher expectations of vulnerability and respect," Williams said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We want a robust industry, a safe industry and ultimately one Victorians can depend on."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/new-pope-elected-who-is-robert-francis-prevost-first-american-pope-leo-xiv/6fc0fd55-9d60-4eef-9091-cf5423900f74" target="_blank"><strong><span>Who is Robert Francis Prevost, the first American pope?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Taxi drivers told 9News a "big mess around the taxi industry" needed to be cleaned up, but critics fear the government is not clamping down hard enough.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"100,000 drivers and three inspectors, do your own math. It's not enough," Victorian Taxi Association director Peter Valentine said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Taxi Association wants to see the conditions extended to Ubers, Didis and other rideshare vehicles, which the government claims would be difficult to enforce in private vehicles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a statement, Uber said it "will work with our driver partners across the state to ensure compliance."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With Uber, riders have always been able to see the full cost of the fare before requesting a trip, and a range of safety features are turned on before, during and after every ride," a spokesperson said.</span></div></div>