Melbourne’s taxi industry took to the steps of Parliament on Sunday to protest its competitor Uber.
The demonstration was organised to raise awareness of the current illegal status of the ride-sharing service in Victoria.
Spokesperson for Victorian Taxi & Hire Car Families Sandy Spanos told Neos Kosmos she was pleased with the turnout, which saw hundreds of drivers and their supporters rally together.
“What was amazing for us, the second generation, was to see so many elderly who attended with their children; all the nationalities fighting together,” she said.
At this stage, the app-based enterprise has been legalised in NSW, the ACT and WA, but is outlawed in Tasmania, QLD, SA and Victoria.
“They [Uber drivers] pay no GST, no tax, no relevant licences, insurances or registration. These issues have been brought before the courts who deemed Uber illegal; our transport minister states they are illegal, our regulator deems them illegal, but they continue to flout our laws, in effect decimating our industry, which is law abiding,” said Ms Spanos.
She added that Uber’s growing popularity has resulted in a loss of income for many taxi drivers, leading to grave consequences for both drivers and their families.
“There are tens of thousands of families who are losing a lifetime’s work, when they purchased licences from the government and paid upwards of $500,000.
“We were all of the belief that the law must be upheld. We don’t need new legislation – it exists.”
Committed to the cause, Ms Spanos says taxi drivers are at their wits’ end and will not hesitate from blockading the city at regular intervals if need be.