GEELONG'S John Arandjelovic watched in anger as a taxi driver walked along a row of travellers at Avalon Airport touting for Melbourne fares.

The driver had first knocked back Mr Arandjelovic's fare to Bell Post Hill, leaving  him stranded with two tired children.

"He refused to take me, straight-out," Mr Arandjelovic said.  "He said, `I only want a Melbourne fare'."

The incident is one of many to have raised hackles at Avalon, with a minority of taxi drivers ignoring rank protocols and industry regulations. Touting for and cherry-picking jobs is against the rules.

Reports of punch-ups, verbal abuse and pushing between drivers, and drivers and airport staff, have raised concerns about regulation of the industry and the image of the gateway to Geelong.

Avalon Airport manager Tim Anderson believes more than 30 complaints about driver behaviour have been lodged with the Victorian Taxi Directorate.

 Member for Lara John Eren has raised  concerns with Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky.

 "Clearly there are serious issues there that cab companies need to tackle, and obviously if they don't do it then it should be taken to the taxi directorate," he said.

 "I have already spoken to the minister's office in relation to the issue and I'm seeking further contact with the directorate and companies to ensure those behaviours are stopped immediately."

 Taxi drivers joined an angry chorus yesterday, levelling allegations at a few rogue operators  approaching customers and jumping cab queues.

 "I was at the rank on Sunday, third in line, and people were walking down the footpath," one driver, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

 "This driver got out of the taxi and . . . tried to coerce these young international students into the taxi, two spaces behind me, and took them to Melbourne."

 Another driver, who also wished to remain anonymous, said "countless" reports and information about two drivers had been forwarded to the taxi directorate.

 "Nothing ever seems to be done," the driver said.

 Geelong Taxi Network chief executive Peter Valentine said touting was unacceptable.

 "We would have to investigate that," Mr Valentine said.  "We need to get on top of this.

"There needs to be projected back to the public an image of service, and any behaviour outside the regulations doesn't project a good image."

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/08/01/5826_news.html