Tassos Revis, a ‘guru’ of Melbourne’s taxi industry, and for many years a taxi company owner, told Neos Kosmos this week that Melbourne’s taxi drivers are suffering badly because of Uber.

“Many colleagues tell me that Uber has become their nightmare. Customers are not calling and their turnover has significantly reduced,” says Mr Revis, who believes the ride-sharing company should be declared illegal by the Victorian government.

Meanwhile, Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has called for the traditional taxi industry to “learn from Uber”.

“The government should have a conversation with Uber. Simply saying ‘we’re going to ban it’ is not going to solve the problem. There is a technology that is happening, and we have to say ‘how do we regulate it?’.”

Mr Revis said that the Napthine administration Mr Guy was a member of should take the blame for the current situation. “That government didn’t support professional taxi drivers.”

Mr Revis is pinning his hopes on the Andrews government to rectify the situation.

“Premier Andrews has pledged to support our industry with $4 million and his government has already shown its good intentions.”

Apostolos Kounelis, a Melbourne taxi insurance company owner, has warned that Uber customers run the risk of suffering uninsured injuries if the Uber car they are travelling in is involved in an accident.

“If you use Uber and experience an accident and you are injured, passengers are not insured and will have to pay for all their medical expenses,” said Mr Kounelis.

“But in taxis, precisely because it is a professionally-insured vehicle, passengers should feel more secure. Uber is a reality. It’s here to stay. But there must be some kind of intervention by the Victorian government.”

Victorian Taxi and Hire Car Families (VTHCF) – the organisation which represents many taxi owner operators across the state (and which ran a vocal campaign against reforms to the taxi industry introduced by the Napthine government), said this week that it was increasingly concerned over Uber’s lobbying of the Victorian government.

It is understood Uber met with Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan recently to make its case. VTHCF administrator Sandy Spanos told Neos Kosmos that during the last 12 months licenced cabbies in the state were experiencing 40 per cent less demand because of Uber’s impact.

“Competition is not an issue but Uber drivers should pay the $3,000 registration licence, another $3,000 for the insurance, and of course GST.”