ONE day, two cab ranks, two savage assaults.
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Monday’s wild brawl at the Gurwood Street taxi rank and a sickening one-punch attack at the Station Place rank offer yet another jarring reminder of Wagga’s late night culture of violence.
That these assaults occurred on a day when Australians pause to remember those who fought under our flag makes it all the more unsettling.
Wagga’s cab ranks as flashpoints for violence is not a new phenomenon. For decades, the ranks have been fertile ground for flying fists.
It’s hardly surprising boozed-up pub patrons forced to line up for long periods of time can prove a potentially lethal cocktail.
Over the years, authorities have rightly recognised this and moved to safeguard the ranks with security guards at peak periods. But more must be done.
As CCTV footage of Monday night’s Gurwood Street brawl so graphically illustrated, a simple debate over who is next in line for a cab can be a precursor to unthinkable violence. It follows then that part of the solution must involve ensuring passengers are picked up in a more timely fashion.
Like any business, Wagga taxis operate under a commercial imperative. But they have a social obligation, too.
The state government must also kick the can for security guards during busy periods, even when they fall on a public holiday.
Better quality CCTV to make it easier to apprehend offenders and a renewed focus on the responsible service of alcohol at licensed venues are also important pieces of the puzzle.
But despite calls from some on social media, forcing taxi drivers to play security guard is not part of the script.
Our cabbies face enough danger inside their vehicles without having to confront hooligans outside it.
Local taxi driver Lindsay Hoile, who drove past the Gurwood Street brawl and called police, took the entirely appropriate course of action.
Ultimately, any measure to quell Wagga’s late-night carnage is merely a band aid.
Responsibility rests with the individuals involved – in this case the tanked-up troglodytes that think spilling blood is the perfect way to end a big night.
Until they recognise their actions are grossly negligent, the problem will continue. We can only hope it doesn’t take a murder charge to convince them.