Uber has urged the Victorian government to bring in swift laws to allow ‘ride-sharing’ within the same legislation regulating the taxi and hire car industries.
In a move to ensure a shortterm fix, the company put a submission to Transport Minister Jacinta Allan this week, asking the government to include its services within a new subclass of special purpose vehicle to allow its drivers to legally operate their vehicles as hire cars.
Around 4,500 Victorians are registered to drive with Uber, but the company is locked in a legal battle after an undercover operation by the Taxi Services Commission charged 11 people for allegedly driving a commercial passenger vehicle.
Under the current arrangement Uber does not charge a fee to register its drivers, instead taking a 20 per cent stake in each fare, but its policy may change if it successfully lobbies the government to bring it within current legislation.
At present, taxi operators are charged a fee of $22,000 a year, whilst other services attract a $40,000 annual fee.
Uber’s head of policy Brad Kitschke said the company is self-regulated and is not in the business of cutting the taxi market.
“The taxi lobby makes all sorts of claims; ride-sharing is a supplement that grows the total transport market.”
“The main focus of any fees should be around consumer safety and protection.”
“It needs to be appropriate, because a lot of drivers don’t do this as a full-time job.”
Director of operations at South Cross Chauffeur Drive, George Kapnias, told Neos Kosmos that the government needs to show Uber the black letter of the law.
“After an extensive review of the industry by Allan Fels, legislation was enacted in July 2014 to allow for new entrants to the industry with the view to allow the travelling public choice but also to maintain stringent standards. These standards have been breached en masse by Uber.”
“The legislation clearly obligated those operating a PBO (Pre-Booked Only) commercial passenger vehicle service to comply accordingly. The Uber service clearly falls within this category.”
Mr Kapnias added that the existing rules “need to be applied by the state government without fear or favour – regardless of the means utilised to book that service.”