工党交通安全事务发言人 达伦∙芬顿（Darien Fenton）

有迹象显示：去年被忽视的出租司机人身安全问题，如今终于开始得到政府关注----工党交通安全事务发言人达伦∙芬顿对此表示欢迎。

达伦芬顿说：“交通部长斯蒂芬乔伊斯现在看来是认真对待司机的安全问题了，这令人宽慰。”

“去年12月发生出租司机被刺致死的案子之后，交通部长当时承诺说会重新审察出租车行业的安全问题，还说会要求交通局及劳工部与出租车公司一起，增强对出租司机们的安全保护。但具体到实际措施时，他却以“不想把现有制度弄得更复杂”为由推脱。

“出租司机们对人身安全由来已久的忧惧，因Hiren Mohini的悲惨丧生而再次公开化”，达伦∙芬顿还说，“司机们要求得到更多保护，要求在车内增设监视器等安全设备。”

出租车公司要对出租司机的人身安全负责，但现有的法律要求对这一点明显规范不足。

政府本来可以早些有所作为以避免又一条生命的丧失，但乔伊斯先生似乎被诸如在更多出租车上装安全摄像头的安全建议吓坏了。现在他将出租司机被刺死的悲剧归咎于‘新西兰社会变得越来越暴力’，完全是逃避责任。我们还记得：约翰基总理在大选前声称请公众以他治理犯罪的成果来评价他的政绩，说他不会轻易推卸责任。

达伦∙芬顿最后表示：“部长这一次看起来是把出租司机们的话听进去了。接下来他会如何在措施上跟进，避免更多司机失去生命----我们拭目以待。”

Darien Fenton MP
Spokesperson on Transport Safety

10 February 2010 Media Statement

Govt listens to taxi drivers at last

Labour’s Transport Safety spokesperson Darien Fenton has welcomed signals today from the Government that it will move to improve taxi drivers’ safety, after ignoring the issue last year.

“I am pleased Steven Joyce appears now to be taking the issue seriously,” Darien Fenton said.

“After the fatal stabbing of a taxi driver in December 2008, he promised to review driver safety within the taxi industry and said he asked the Transport Authority and the Department of Labour to work with the industry to enhance the safety of drivers.

“But he shied away from further regulatory measures, saying he ‘didn’t want to add another level of compliance’.

“After the tragic death of Hiren Mohini taxi drivers’ fear for their safety was once again bought into the open,” Darien Fenton said. 

“They want more protection and are pushing for security cameras, or screens, in their cars.

“While the safety of taxi drivers is the responsibility of the companies that employ them, clearly the current legal requirements are not enough.

“The Government could have done more to prevent another violent loss of life in the taxi industry, but it seems Mr Joyce got spooked at the idea of requiring more taxis to have more safety measures such as security cameras.

“And now he is trying to put the blame for the death on ‘a more violent’ New Zealand society. That’s a cop out. John Key said before the election he would be judged on crime and would not sheet the blame elsewhere.    

“The Minister appears to have listened to the taxi drivers this time round. The onus is now on him to follow through and do everything possible to prevent any more deaths,” Darien Fenton said.

Contact: Darien Fenton 021 684 093

Richard Trow
Press Secretary
Office of Hon Phil Goff
Leader of the Opposition
Tel: 021 278 7233
Email: richard.trow@parliament.govt.nz