Angry taxi drivers protest Vic reforms

Taxi drivers rallied outside Victorian parliament to protest against the taxi industry reforms. Source: AAP

MORE than 100 taxi drivers and owners have rallied outside Victorian parliament to protest against the state government's taxi industry reforms.

The reforms will mean a number of taxi licences released by the state government go on sale.

A group of 20 taxi licence holders and drivers at Tuesday's protest say they will go on an indefinite hunger strike until they are contacted by Premier Denis Napthine.

Last year, licences at their peak were worth $525,000, but they will be available for anyone to rent for $22,000 from July next year.

A spokeswoman for Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder said the reforms would bring greater opportunity to the industry.

"We would encourage the taxi families to speak with industry counterparts to see the opportunities that the reforms are bringing," she said.

Leo Mauro, 84, has owned 11 taxi licences and says he will die on the steps of parliament if nothing changes.

He plans to sleep in his sleeping bag indefinitely, drinking only liquids.

"I will stay here until the ambulance or the hearse takes me away," Mr Mauro said.

Licence owner John Zammit, 74, will join Mr Mauro in the hunger strike.

Mr Zammit has worked in the industry for 35 years and says the reforms have destroyed his family and are a huge burden.

Victorian Taxi Families founder Sandy Spanos said the reforms have sent taxi owners and their families into financial ruin.

"What they are attempting to do is basically destroy our livelihood. The government has no right, when it is a government-approved asset, to then tell us our assets are worth nothing," Ms Spanos said.

Ms Spanos said many members have borrowed against their taxi licences and are now at risk of losing their homes.

"It's putting people into financial hardship. You can't recover from a $500,000 loss," she said.

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