Land Transport Amendment Bill 2025 to be debated in Parliament today

The Land Transport Amendment Bill 2025 will be debated in Parliament today.

The Bill was moved by the Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services Ro Filipe Tuisawau under Standing Order 51.

While speaking on the motion, Ro Filipe says the Bill proposes critical amendments to the Land Transport Act 1998.

He says these amendments are intended to address the operational and regulatory challenges that have arisen following the implementation of the Open Taxi Rank System (OTRS) and to facilitate the removal of the OTRS and reintroduction of the base and stand system for the taxi industry throughout Fiji.

He also says this OTRS was introduced following amendments to the Land Transport Budget Amendment Act 2021 and came into effect on 25th April 2022.

The Minister adds the system was designed with the aim of promoting fairness, improving flexibility and reducing illegal operations by allowing taxi permit holders to operate from any open taxi rank on a rotational first-in, first-out basis.

Ro Filipe says since its introduction, the OTRS has contributed to unnecessary traffic congestion in major urban centres such as Suva, Lautoka and Nadi.

He says enforcement agencies, including the Fiji Police Force, LTA and the Municipal Councils have faced considerable difficulties in monitoring operations effectively.

He further says there has been a notable increase in illegal taxi operations, congestion, disruptions, misuse of permits, selective provision of day and night services to the public, undermining the objectives of a public transport system.

Ro Filipe adds passengers, especially women, children, shoppers, elderly and even the sick, have been left stranded because of the current taxi situation.

The Minister says it must be highlighted that the OTRS was introduced following limited consultation with key stakeholders which resulted in considerable resistance from operators and a lack of public understanding about the operational framework.

He adds these shortcomings have impacted the efficiency and success of the system and ultimately the confidence of both operators and the travelling public.

Ro Filipe says recognising the gravity of these challenges, the Ministry in close collaboration with LTA undertook a series of nationwide public consultations in the Northern, Western, Eastern and Central Divisions, and the feedback received was clear and consistent.

He says stakeholders expressed serious concerns about the operational inefficiencies, congestion issues, regulatory weaknesses associated with the OTRS, and strongly supported a return to a more structured, regulated and transparent operational framework.

He also says the Land Transport Amendment Bill 2025 accordingly is proposing to amend the Land Transport Act 1998 to remove all references to the open tank taxi system, to reinstate the framework for taxi bases and stands, also liberalize the definitions of bases and stands, to allow expansion into urban areas on native Mataqali lands, to delete the provisions of the Public Service Vehicle Levy that has been introduced under OTRS, and to update related definitions and regulatory powers.

He adds the reintroduction of the base-and-stand system is expected to improve traffic management by designating specific areas for taxi operations, thereby easing congestion in urban areas.

Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya questioned the Minister why the Bill is being tabled in Parliament under Standing Order 51 as it is not a life or death situation.

He says the Bill should be brought to a Standing Committee to conduct further consultation.