Melbourne taxi drivers protest

On 17 December 2008 taxi drivers protested in front of the Victorian Parliament in Melbourne over a new law that would require the installation of safety screens in their vehicles. During the protest, approximately 60 drivers blocked Spring Street in the area outside the Windsor Hotel, causing significant traffic disruptions citywide. The street was cleared after the public transport minister agreed to meet with the protesters; however, the minister has refused to cede to their demands to change the law, and the taxi drivers are now threatening to block access to Melbourne Airport (YMML/MEL) on 18 December. In response to unrest related to the safety of taxi drivers earlier in 2008, the government has ordered all drivers to purchase safety screens to place in between the front and back seats of the vehicles. However, some taxi drivers object to the high cost of the screens, which they say they would not use, and have demanded that the requirement be changed or the government cover the screens' cost.