But another issue - the number of free buses around Wollongong - has them hot under the collar.

The ministry's director-general, Jim Glasson, has used falling LPG prices since November as a reason not to implement fare increases as recommended by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal late last year.

The tribunal took the unusual step of reviewing fares for a second time in 2008 because LPG prices had risen so much.

The decision was made after drivers expressed concerns that by the time the annual review was released last June, LPG costs had increased significantly.

The tribunal found LPG prices had risen by more than 10 per cent between June and November and recommended that from this month, distance charges should increase by 3 cents to $1.88 per kilometre in urban areas such as Wollongong.

But in response, Mr Glasson said because LPG prices had fallen since November, he would defer a decision until June.

"It appears that there has been a significant downward trend in fuel prices since November 2008, and I have decided that, on balance, it would be prudent to ascertain the net impact of fuel prices over a full year," he said.

Wollongong taxi drivers said while a 10 cents rise in LPG could add up to thousands of dollars in extra costs a year, fare rises had a negative impact on passenger numbers during the day. And while LPG fluctuations earlier last year hit them hard, prices had fallen significantly to around 50 cents a litre in recent weeks.

"If you increase the fare it makes it harder for people we pick up during the day, like pensioners," driver Ashraf Hadaya said. "We are happy with fares at the moment."

But Mr Hadaya said the State Government's decision to launch a new free bus service in Wollongong did have drivers concerned. As did an initiative in Wollongong where owners of nightclubs and pubs provided free buses to ship in young patrons to their venues.

He said buses brought patrons in to the city but did not take them home.

"They pick up young people from home or another pub, take them to their clubs to drink, spend their money, and that's it. Afterwards many of them are drunk and it's us who are left to take them home."