Nowhere in the defeated GPS bill are taxi fare increases mentioned, Opposition senators pointed out in the Senate yesterday.

But the Opposition "transmogrified" their stance on fare increases, demanding increases now despite voting against them when they voted against GPS, according to Government.

Taxi drivers have not seen any fare increases, not even a cost of living increase, since 1997, Opposition Senate Leader Kim Swan pointed out.

Though drivers found it pegged to the digital dispatch bill, which passed in the House of Assembly several weeks ago but was defeated in the Senate for the second time in as many years, Sen. Swan said it had "nothing to do with anything other than that (taxi drivers') costs have increased and their profits decreased as tourism decreased".

He called on Government to "do the right thing" and put the fare increase through by August 1, adding that, unlike other workers, taxi drivers will not get any retroactive pay.

The fare increase of 20 percent this year and five percent next year was originally supposed to go through on July 1.

However Sen. Mussenden said he was "shocked and appalled" by Sen. Swan's "tirade" seeing as the Opposition had voted against the GPS bill just two weeks ago.

The increase in fares was part of the overall increase in service along with GPS, he said. "That information was known and it was clear ... The Opposition knew full well they were also voting against the increase in fares".

To the awed "oohs" of senators, Sen. Mussenden said Sen. Swan had "transmogrified" ? a word which was bandied about the Senate with great relish for the length of the debate.

Government Sen. Walter Roban said there was still room for positive input on the issue, adding that Government was still open to and calling for further discussions with taxi drivers about how to move the industry forward.

Government Sen. Neville Tyrrell accused Sen. Swan of "grandstanding" and repeated that the Opposition voted against the bill. However, Sen. Swan pointed out, there is absolutely nothing in the GPS bill which was defeated by the Senate that mentions fare increases.

"You're making it up as you go along," he said.

Independent Sen. Walwyn Hughes produced a massive dictionary from which he read the definition of "transmogrify", reading: "A verb ? to alter or change in form or appearance ... to transform utterly, grotesquely."

"I'm sure it was a bit tongue-in-cheek," he added, however Mr. Mussenden interjected: "No, I meant it!"

Sen. Hughes defended his decision to vote against the bill, saying the legislation comes to the Senate "in pristine form".

Senators are asked to vote on the legislation and the legislation only, he said, and do not necessarily know what Government policies are behind that.

"I voted against that bill because I didn't like what it was doing. I don't think it's appropriate to say that when we voted against it, that was the death knell of the fare increase because they are all tied together."

Though Government Sen. Raymond Tannock said the accusation of "transmorgrification" was aimed at the Opposition Senators, Sen. Hughes said it was the principle of the thing.

And Opposition Sen. Leonard Santucci accused Government first of being a "prostitute" ? for which he later apologised) and then a "hypocrite".

With Emancipation Day looming, he said, "you all have forgotten from where you came. This is liberation. We're just saying, set the people free."