'We don't know who they are': Calls to stamp out illegal drivers at airports

Victoria's commercial passenger vehicle regulator has been accused of not doing enough to stamp out illegal drivers harassing passengers at Melbourne Airport.

Former taxi driver of 30 years turned MP, Rod Barton, was instrumental in having the practice, known as "touting", outlawed in 2019.

But three years on, there has been an explosion of rogue operators roaming airport terminals, asking passengers if they are looking for a ride.

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Barton said Safe Transport Victoria had allowed the "disgraceful" behaviour to continue.

"What a naive bloke that I was, I actually thought the regulator would go out and enforce the law," he said.

The Transport Matters MP said passengers could be endangered by getting into a touter's car.

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"You may be jumping into a car that isn't licensed," he said.

"If it isn't licensed, it isn't insured.

"They could be an axe-murderer, we don't know who they are."

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Barton said he received frequent complaints from passengers, including government ministers.

"We've even heard of cases where a touter spat on people when saying no, they don't want a car," he said.

A Current Affair set up an undercover sting to catch touters in the act after being granted access to the terminals by Melbourne Airport.

Over several days, A Current Affair observed dozens of illegal drivers approaching travellers at Melbourne Airport.

One man sprinted through the terminal in a bid to shield his face.

Another man, who claimed it was the first time he had touted, was caught in the act again the following day.

Ground transport chief at Melbourne Airport Jai McDermott said there had been a rise in touting as more travellers took to the skies post-pandemic.

"We want touting gone from Melbourne Airport," he told A Current Affair.

"It's unsafe for our passengers and it does honest drivers out of a living."

According to statistics obtained by A Current Affair, Safe Transport Victoria has only issued 125 fines to touters across the state so far this year.

It did not respond to questions about how often its officers conducted patrols at the airport.

Statement from Chris Banks, Safe Transport Victoria

Touting is illegal and anti-social behaviour that undercuts commercial passenger vehicle drivers who are doing the right thing.

We encourage members of the public who are approached by touts to say 'no' - and to instead hail a taxi from the rank or book a taxi or rideshare service.

Safe Transport Victoria takes touting seriously and regularly undertakes enforcement action at Melbourne Airport and other busy locations to deter touting, including compliance officers conducting overt and covert (undercover) operations.