TAXI drivers in Queensland will no longer have to speak English or have knowledge of common destinations.

As part of the changes being made by the Queensland Parliament under Stage 1 of the personalised transport reforms, the English language and destination knowledge requirements have been removed.

Section 20C(1)(b) - "be able to speak and understand English" and Section 20C(1)(c) - "have a knowledge of common destinations and major connecting roads within the taxi service area where the applicant intends to drive the taxi" are just two of several requirements that have been removed from the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994.

Reader poll Would you get in a taxi with a driver who didn't speak English? This poll ended on 17 November 2016. Current Results Yes 4% No 95% This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

Taxi applicants also no longer need to have held an "Australian open, provisional or probationary licence of the appropriate class for at least 1 year during the 3 year period" immediately before applying after Section 20C(1)(a) was also removed.

The Queensland Government announced the changes to the regulatory amendments that commenced on September 5, late last week.

In September, personalised transport reforms were rolled out across the state when ride-booking services such as Uber were made legal in Queensland.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? NO PRIOR LICENCE, NO ENGLISH LANGUAGE OR DESTINATION KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED - IMPORTANT OR NOT IMPORTANT?

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