He said Uber would not provide services to those without credit cards or a smartphone, cars weren’t wheelchair-accessible, did not want drivers to undergo medical and criminal history checks, or to have mandatory security cameras installed.
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It is also setting up a $75 million “Fairness Fund” to those experiencing immediate financial hardship, with $25 million going to improve access for people with a disability.
Northern Territory Labor’s promise to bring in ride-sharing service Uber is “un-Australian” and threatens small business, taxi drivers say.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the State Government would do away with taxi licences and provide $378 million to help existing licence holders transition to the new laws.
The ineffective, inefficient and costly Knowledge Test abolished and replaced by a simple system of industry accountability for all drivers. “”We’re levelling the playing field for the whole industry while ensuring consumers have safe and reliable access to transport services.””.
The reforms are expected to come into effect over two phases: Draft legislation will be introduced in Parliament this year to remove barriers to entry in the booked market in the short-term, which will facilitate ride-booking services and reduce the hire vehicle licencing fee to zero; before a second piece of legislation will be introduced next year that will set out the framework for the long-term reforms.
“These changes are more radical than those that have been introduced in other Australian states and it appears that the government has gone to great lengths to level the playing field to advantage the area’s best drivers, whether they drive a traditional taxi or a their own vehicle for ridesharing”.
“For Victorians that have a disability Taxis are often their only means of transport which is why we’re ensuring with these reforms that they will have more choice and funding support than ever before”, The Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan said.
Victorian Uber users can rejoice with breaking news that the State Government has taken steps to overhaul the commercial passenger industry.
Cabcharge CEO Andrew Skelton said he hoped the changes would create a fairer environment for all industry participants, but called the compensation package inadequate.
“The VTA broadly supports the government’s approach to fundamentally reforming the regulations governing the commercial passenger vehicles (CPV) industry in Victoria”, it said in a statement.
“We welcome government’s recognition that ride-sharing is a positive for Victoria and its decision to formally recognise ride-sharing as part of the state’s point to point transport industry, with sensible, safety-based ride-sharing regulations”, he said.
He goes on to say the assertion that plate compensation packages are for industry is “misleading”.
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The government expects the levy to raise $44 million a year. These investments typically form a large portion of their retirement capital.
