The Victorian taxi industry denies claims that there will be a taxi driver shortage this holiday period, as a new mandatory test is proving too difficult for most drivers to pass.
Since July 1, 140 candidates have taken the test but only one has passed.
Amrik Singh Saini drove a taxi in Sydney for over five years. After moving to Victoria he took the mandatory Taxi Services Commission knowledge test in the hopes of continuing his career but failed.
"I think being of a non-English speaking background is a disadvantage in this case. The test is so hard that even a person who's born in Australia would never pass," he said.
The test comes in three modules; a general assessment, driver behaviour and geographical knowledge. Each module of 55 questions must be finished in one hour. Some of the questions are multiple choice, with up to seven options, meaning it can take several minutes just to read through.
Applicants who fail the test twice are barred from reapplying for 12 months.
Mr Saini says he received a letter saying he did not pass the test, but when he asked how many questions he got wrong or what areas he needed more study in, he was given no feedback.
Jimmy Behal - who's been driving a cab in Melbourne for 14 years - says the test is the basics of what all taxi drivers in Victoria should know.
Mr Behal says preparation is required for the test, but it's not impossible.
"If you study through the Melways and put your time into the knowledge of Melbourne and put your time into basic skills it's not that hard, but if you think you just going to rock up and pass it, then yeah, some people think it's hard."
It's estimated that two out of every three taxi drivers are born overseas. A drop in the number of international students and migrants coming to Victoria - particularly from India - is creating challenges for the taxi industry.
The new testing regime has some questioning whether driver numbers will fall drastically in the state, right before a busy period. But Taxi Services Commission chief Graeme Samuel says that won't happen.
"There will be no difference in the number of drivers, because through that holiday period what we've done is that we've extended the accreditation of existing drivers right through the new year so there won't be an issue through the holiday period at all," he said.
"Bit of a scare campaign was put out there that we would lose 3000 to 4000 drivers off the road, now that's not the case."
A 2011 Victorian government inquiry into the taxi industry, found very low customer satisfaction and that there were too many poorly-skilled drivers with inadequate knowledge. Mr Samuel says the new tests will fix that.
"There's only been one person to have passed the test in all three modules. And that's someone who trains drivers. She says the test is passable but the drivers are poorly trained. And that's what it's all about."
But Amrik Singh Saini says it was his comprehension of the test let him down, not his driver skills. He says he's had to look for work elsewhere, and now is a casual security officer.
"It's very hard there's no other choice. When you go for work you at least make 100 bucks a day, even you spend a 12 hour shift you make 120-150, but if you make nothing and sit at home it's very hard to put food on the table for the kids."
