History

Cabcharge was established by the Taxi Industry in 1976 as a financial services provider for the Industry. Its first priority was to improve convenience and security for passengers and drivers through providing a national alternative payment system to cash. Today the Cabcharge electronic payment system is found in approximately 97% of Australian taxis as well as limousines and water taxis.

Cabcharge listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in December 1999 and is now one of the top 200 companies in Australia. Today it is a diversified Australian technology, financial services, taxi payments and passenger land transport Company. It also develops and manufactures in-taxi equipment.

In 2008, Cabcharge established EFT Solutions which develops payment system software for other clients, including major banks and retailers, as well as for the Cabcharge system.

Combined Communications Network in Sydney became a wholly owned subsidiary of Cabcharge in January 2002. Black Cabs, Melbourne’s second largest taxi company, was acquired in March 2003. This was followed by Newcastle Taxis and Melbourne’s Arrow Taxis.

In 2005 Cabcharge, together with ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited (Singapore), formed a joint venture company, ComfortDelGro Cabcharge Pty Ltd (CDC). It purchased the Westbus Group and later the Baxter private bus business and Toronto Bus Services. In 2009, CDC purchased the Kefford Group in Victoria.

The strength of Cabcharge is built on its commitment to look ahead, leading edge technology, continuing innovation and the expertise and commitment of its people.

Business Structure

In Australia, Cabcharge’s customer base spans accounts ranging from large corporations and government bodies to small businesses and individuals. Cabcharge holds merchant agreements with a range of Taxi Companies, and many of the major taxi companies are shareholders in Cabcharge. As well as processing Cabcharge products, our EFTPOS terminals process all credit and debit cards, including bank issued cards such as MasterCard and Visa and third party cards such as AMEX.

Combined Communications Network, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cabcharge, provides booking and dispatch services for Taxis Combined Services, Yellow Cabs, ABC Taxis, South Western Cabs and Silver Service. It also provides a wide range of additional services to taxi operators in these fleets including vehicle leasing, loans, insurance, smash repairs and driver training. In addition, it operates Zero 200 on behalf of the Taxi Industry which provides booking and dispatch services for all Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Service (WATS) vehicles in metropolitan Sydney.

ComfortDelGro Cabcharge Pty Ltd (CDC), the joint venture formed between ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited (Singapore) and Cabcharge, is recognised as the largest private bus operator in Australia and operates under brands that include Westbus, Hillsbus, Hunter Valley Buses in New South Wales and Eastrans, Westrans, Davis and Bender in Victoria.

Overseas Presence

Cabcharge has a longstanding relationship with ComfortDelGro, one of the largest land transport companies in the world, and together own CityFleet UK, on the same basis as CDC. It provides account, booking and dispatch services for taxis and private hire vehicles in London, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Birmingham and Liverpool. It is planned that these operations will provide a base for further expansion into Europe.

Future Developments

The future for Cabcharge is very positive. Our initiatives in relation to contactless payments technology demonstrate that we are still at the forefront of a very competitive market. New opportunities are continually emerging for us in different areas, for example, innovative technology in taxi meter and camera products, further development in other modes of transport such as buses, and expanding into new geographic centres. We examine each opportunity on the basis of its value to our business.

Click here to view Cabcharge's Board of Directors

Corporate Social Responsibility

At Cabcharge our objective is to be the company of choice in the markets in which we operate. To achieve this we recognise the interdependence of financial returns, social benefits and environmental impacts. We aim to create sustainable value for all our stakeholders – customers, the Taxi Industry, employees, shareholders, business partners and the communities which we serve. We are here for the long term – sustainability and corporate social responsibility are integral to the way we do business.

Environment

Cabcharge continues to implement a range of policies to distinguish itself as an environmentally sound and responsible company. We regularly review progress and identify potential additional initiatives in the light of developments in the marketplace.

Within our own businesses we aim to:

• Use energy, water and paper resources as efficiently as possible – initiatives include a “lights-off” policy in workplace bathrooms, supported by visible signage.
• Maximise recycling of waste – examples include a recycling program for office paper and non-secure general paper waste; recycling our old computers, monitors and toners; and Cabcharge business cards and Taxi eTICKETs are made from recyclable paper.
• Look to continually improve products and services in ways which provide benefits to all key stakeholders and minimise environmental impact – such as increasing use of electronic delivery of Taxi operator statements and newsletters; and offering an online e-book version of the Annual Report.

Environmental considerations are now an integral part of our new product development. Hence, the new contactless Cabcharge FASTCARD™ is designed to last for 5 years rather than 3 years for the Cabcharge silver card it has replaced. Similarly, the EMV software for the new Cabcharge terminals provides for receipts to be printed at the request of the passenger rather than automatically.

Community

Cabcharge believes it is important to play a role in contributing to the community, both directly and through involvement in and support of Taxi Industry initiatives.

In recent times, natural disasters, especially floods, had a devastating impact on affected individuals and families, businesses and communities. Cabcharge played its part in helping the recovery from this tragedy through targeted financial contributions. We did the same for those impacted by Cyclone Yasi.

In addition, we encourage our staff to become involved in events such as Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea for the Cancer Council, the Pink Ribbon Breakfast and other fundraising campaigns.

We have a strong interest in developing successful community relationships and establishing opportunities for partnerships. We sponsor the Australian Taxi Industry Association conference and provide assistance with State conferences. We also currently provide administrative and processing support for Government Taxi Transport Subsidy schemes in Queensland, Victoria and the Northern Territory.

Cabcharge recognises the importance of providing our customers and the community more generally with services that are safe, accessible and efficient.

Our Staff

Cabcharge has a strong commitment to encouraging diversity at all levels within the Company. We believe this makes good business sense in encouraging innovation, ensuring a broad talent pool and responding to the diverse needs of both our customers and Taxi Industry participants. Given this context, the Company has a particular focus on women in leadership, age diversity and cultural diversity.

The Company has always provided a wide range of both internal and external training and development opportunities for our staff including support for graduate study. In recent times, there has been a particular emphasis placed on in-house training related to the introduction of new technology and supporting staff to gain nationally recognised qualifications in areas important to the future of our businesses.

We maintain a range of non cash benefits available to staff such as providing negotiated discount movie tickets and access to private vehicle, CTP and home insurance on the same terms as those being offered to taxi operators. In addition, we offer an Employee Assistance Plan which provides a free confidential counseling service for employees. We also continue to sponsor staff participation in events such as the City 2 Surf in Sydney and the Corporate Games in Melbourne.

Section 46 Competition and Consumer Act 2010

Cabcharge Australia Limited (Cabcharge) is committed to conducting its business in a professional, lawful and ethical manner. In particular, it is committed to complying with the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and especially section 46 of that Act.

Section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act prohibits a use of market power for an anticompetitive purpose. Section 46 is set out in full in Schedule 1 to this document, but the key sub-section is sub-section 46(1) which provides as follows:

Cabcharge will be conducting training of its directors, officers and other employees whose duties could result in them being concerned with conduct that may contravene section 46. Cabcharge has appointed a Compliance Officer to ensure that its compliance program is effectively established, maintained and administered.

All employees are directed to report any compliance related issues and Competition and Consumer Act compliance concerns or complaints to the Compliance Officer whose name and contact details are as follows:

• Andrew Skelton
• Compliance Officer, Cabcharge Australia Limited
• Tel: (02) 9332 9248
• Email: askelton@cabcharge.com.au

Where an employee desires to do so, any concerns or complaints can be forwarded to, or discussed with, the Compliance Officer on a confidential basis or on an anonymous basis. Cabcharge guarantees that any employee making a complaint or report in relation to Cabcharge’s compliance with section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act will not be victimised or disadvantaged in any way by reason of their complaint or report and, if they so request, their complaint or report will be kept confidential and secure.

Compliance with section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act by Cabcharge, and by all of its directors, officers and employees, is of the utmost importance to Cabcharge. Any employee who is knowingly or recklessly involved in a contravention, or attempted contravention, of section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act will face disciplinary action by Cabcharge as Cabcharge will view their conduct as a serious contravention of their duties and conditions of employment.

It is also important to note that individual employees can be personally liable to large pecuniary penalties if they are involved in a contravention by Cabcharge of section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act, and that Cabcharge will not indemnify them either in respect of any penalty or any legal costs incurred by them should they be found guilty of having been involved in a contravention.

If any employee has any question in respect of their compliance obligations or in respect of section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act, they should contact the Compliance Officer. Again, this can be done on a confidential basis.

SCHEDULE 1 COMPETITION AND CONSUMER ACT 2010 - SECTION 46

Misuse of market power

1.	A corporation that has a substantial degree of power in a market shall not take advantage of that power in that or any other market for the purpose of: eliminating or substantially damaging a competitor of the corporation or of a body corporate that is related to the corporation in that or any other market; preventing the entry of a person into that or any other market; or deterring or preventing a person from engaging in competitive conduct in that or any other market.
1AAA.	If a corporation supplies goods or services for a sustained period at a price that is less than the relevant cost to the corporation of supplying the goods or services, the corporation may contravene subsection (1) even if the corporation cannot, and might not ever be able to, recoup losses incurred by supplying the goods or services.
1AA.	A corporation that has a substantial share of a market must not supply, or offer to supply, goods or services for a sustained period at a price that is less than the relevant cost to the corporation of supplying such goods or services, for the purpose of: eliminating or substantially damaging a competitor of the corporation or of a body corporate that is related to the corporation in that or any other market; or preventing the entry of a person into that or any other market; or deterring or preventing a person from engaging in competitive conduct in that or any other market.
1AB.	For the purposes of subsection (1AA), without limiting the matters to which the Court may have regard for the purpose of determining whether a corporation has a substantial share of a market, the Court may have regard to the number and size of the competitors of the corporation in the market.
1A.	For the purposes of subsections (1) and (1AA): the reference in paragraphs (1)(a) and (1AA)(a) to a competitor includes a reference to competitors generally, or to a particular class or classes of competitors; and the reference in paragraphs (1)(b) and (c) and (1AA)(b) and (c) to a person includes a reference to persons generally, or to a particular class or classes of persons.
2.	If: body corporate that is related to a corporation has, or 2 or more bodies corporate each of which is related to the one corporation together have, a substantial degree of power in a market; or corporation and a body corporate that is, or a corporation and 2 or more bodies corporate each of which is, related to that corporation, together have a substantial degree of power in a market; the corporation shall be taken for the purposes of this section to have a substantial degree of power in that market.
3.	In determining for the purposes of this section the degree of power that a body corporate or bodies corporate has or have in a market, the court shall have regard to the extent to which the conduct of the body corporate or of any of those bodies corporate in that market is constrained by the conduct of: competitors, or potential competitors, of the body corporate or of any of those bodies corporate in that market; or persons to whom or from whom the body corporate or any of those bodies corporate supplies or acquires goods or services in that market.
3A.	In determining for the purposes of this section the degree of power that a body corporate or bodies corporate has or have in a market, the court may have regard to the power the body corporate or bodies corporate has or have in that market that results from: any contracts, arrangements or understandings, or proposed contracts, arrangements or understandings, that the body corporate or bodies corporate has or have, or may have, with another party or other parties; and any covenants, or proposed covenants, that the body corporate or bodies corporate is or are, or would be, bound by or entitled to the benefit of.
3B.	Subsections (3) and (3A) do not, by implication, limit the matters to which regard may be had in determining, for the purposes of this section, the degree of power that a body corporate or bodies corporate has or have in a market.
3C.	For the purposes of this section, without limiting the matters to which the court may have regard for the purpose of determining whether a body corporate has a substantial degree of power in a market, a body corporate may have a substantial degree of power in a market even though: the body corporate does not substantially control the market; or the body corporate does not have absolute freedom from constraint by the conduct of: competitors, or potential competitors, of the body corporate in that market; or persons to whom or from whom the body corporate supplies or acquires goods or services in that market.
3D.	To avoid doubt, for the purposes of this section, more than 1 corporation may have a substantial degree of power in a market.
4.	In this section: a reference to power is a reference to market power; a reference to a market is a reference to a market for goods or services; and a reference to power in relation to, or to conduct in, a market is a reference to power, or to conduct, in that market either as a supplier or as an acquirer of goods or services in that market.
4A.	Without limiting the matters to which the court may have regard for the purpose of determining whether a corporation has contravened subsection (1), the court may have regard to: any conduct of the corporation that consisted of supplying goods or services for a sustained period at a price that was less than the relevant cost to the corporation of supplying such goods or services; and the reasons for that conduct.
5.	Without extending by implication the meaning of subsection (1), a corporation shall not be taken to contravene that subsection by reason only that it acquires plant or equipment.
6.	This section does not prevent a corporation from engaging in conduct that does not constitute a contravention of any of the following sections, namely, sections 45, 45B, 47, 49 and 50, by reason that an authorization or clearance is in force or by reason of the operation of subsection 45(8A) or section 93.
6A.	In determining for the purposes of this section whether, by engaging in conduct, a corporation has taken advantage of its substantial degree of power in a market, the court may have regard to any or all of the following: whether the conduct was materially facilitated by the corporation's substantial degree of power in the market; whether the corporation engaged in the conduct in reliance on its substantial degree of power in the market; whether it is likely that the corporation would have engaged in the conduct if it did not have a substantial degree of power in the market; whether the conduct is otherwise related to the corporation's substantial degree of power in the market. This subsection does not limit the matters to which the court may have regard.
7.	Without in any way limiting the manner in which the purpose of a person may be established for the purposes of any other provision of this Act, a corporation may be taken to have taken advantage of its power for a purpose referred to in subsection (1) notwithstanding that, after all the evidence has been considered, the existence of that purpose is ascertainable only by inference from the conduct of the corporation or of any other person or from other relevant circumstances.
	Cabcharge Trade Practices Complaints Handling Procedure (view document)