The State Government wants to get rid of bad taxi drivers.

It is proposing to implement a demerit system, similar to the point system for general drivers.

Once taxi drivers reach 12 points they will be suspended.

The Transport Minister Troy Buswell says concerns have been raised from both within the industry and from customers.

"I have feedback from taxi drivers themselves and from the travelling public that says they're not happy with the standards of service they're receiving in cabs," he says.

"Our response is to put in place a framework which will enable us to identify those drivers, those repeat offenders who don't provide a suitable level of service and move them out of the industry."

But the Opposition's Transport Spokeperson Ken Travers has been quick to point out flaws in the proposal.

"One is the detail on the demerit points and the new training system; two, it's about how are complaints from the public going to be received and dealt with, and then finally, how are we going to attract good people to this industry when we get rid of the rogue element?" he asked

How it works

Taxi drivers will accrue points for unacceptable behaviour such as refusing short distance fares or passengers with guide dogs.

Different offences will receive different 'scores' depending on the severity of the offence.

Once a new driver accrues six points they will be disciplined and when a driver reaches 12 points their licence will be suspended.

The government has not said how long the suspension will last nor has it determined what classifies an offence and how many points each offence will be worth.

"That's a matter we're still working through with the industry," says Mr Buswell.

"What we've announced is the framework, the details of how many points will accrue with the different types of offences and what happens at the end of that period is something we're yet to work through.

"But I anticipate they will lose their licence for a significant period of time."

The opposition says it welcomes moves to improve the taxi industry but Mr Travers says the Government also needs to examine ways to attract better drivers.

"One of the key areas that the government needs to be telling us today is how do they intend to attract good people to the industry," he said.

"Because if we get rid of the rogue element, which is great, how are we going to get good people to fill those spaces, so we don't have a shortage of taxi drivers?"

The Taxi Council's chairman Kevin Foley says the main aim is ensuring better quality taxi drivers.

"Well we're definitely concerned about the shortage of drivers with the oncoming [resource] employment up in the North West, but we don't want [just] any drivers, we want better drivers than some who are coming through the system now," he said.

Other elements of the taxi overhaul include developing a mentoring system for new drivers.

It will mean those who are starting out will have to spend two full days with an experienced driver before they can start working alone.

The taxi driver registration test will now incur a fee for those who repeatedly try to pass the test.

The cost of the fee is yet to be determined.

Not a new idea

A former chairman of the group which represents taxi drivers says a plan to introduce a demerit point system is not new.

Stephen Satchell has been driving taxis for 35 years and has held a number of industry positions, including the chairman of the Taxi Industry Forum.

He says he was part of an industry group which developed a demerit point system a decade ago.

"I'm angry and frustrated with the fact that it's taken this long to get here," he said.

"Finally something might happen. We don't just want talk, we want some action. The people in Perth deserve a better service. We have gone from being the best cab service in Australia to the worst and that hurts."

He is hopeful now that the government is reconsidering a demerit system, the taxi industry will lift its game and improve its reputation.

"Our industry has hit rock bottom and now they're looking for ways out of it."

The proposed demerit point system will require customers to lodge complaints.

Mr Travers says the way complaints are dealt with now needs to be improved if it is to be an effective way of uncovering bad taxi drivers.

"The current system is very messy," he said.

"Passengers don't know whether to make a complaint to the Department of Transport or the taxi company and there is no feedback system.

"I think we need to see a single, well advertised phone number and email where people can lodge complaints, no matter what the seriousness of the complaint is and for them to get feedback on that complaint once they've lodged it."

The demerit system will be enforced by the Department of Transport which will also use compliance officers to conduct random inspections and investigate customer complaints.

The proposal is likely to need parliamentary approval before it can be implemented.