Ride shares could discriminate against indigenous residents in NT, says Transport Minister Peter Chandler

RIDE-sharing services such as Uber may be discriminatory in the Territory because, according to Transport Minister Peter Chandler, Aboriginal people might not have mobile phones or credit cards

--FILE--A mobile phone user shows the logo of car-hailing app Uber on his smartphone in Chengdu city, southwest China's Sichuan province, 6 May 2015. U.S. firm Uber Technologies Inc and Chinese rival Didi Kuaidi are taking steps to operate legally in China, a key market for both firms but where their car hailing services currently operate in a regulatory prey zone. Uber China said in a statement on Thursday (8 October 2015) it was "actively preparing" documents to apply for a license to operate an online car-hailing platform to meet new regulations governing the sector that are expected to be announced soon. Didi Kuaidi, a $16 billion valued firm backed by Chinese Internet giants Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Tencent Holdings Ltd, also said on Thursday it had received a car booking license for its operations in Shanghai and that it was seeking more licenses from other cities.

RIDE-sharing services such as Uber may be discriminatory in the Territory because, according to Transport Minister Peter Chandler, Aboriginal people might not have mobile phones or credit cards.

Mr Chandler said it was possible the NT Government would legalise services such as Uber in the future, but he wanted to ensure a robust regulatory framework was in place to ensure the Territory’s indigenous population wasn’t disadvantaged.

“Will the very nature of Uber coming to town provide a level of discrimination, given that 30 per cent of our population is indigenous, many of whom probably wouldn’t have credit cards or access to a smartphone? Does it leave a big proportion of the Territory alienated and can’t use the services?” he said.

Senior researcher at Charles Darwin University Andrew Taylor said Aboriginality had little to do with mobile phone uptake.

While people on lower incomes were less likely to use mobiles than their wealthier counterparts, there had been a “dramatic increase” in their use among Aboriginal Territorians in remote communities, he said.

“This came with the rollout of broadband towers so that even the most remote communities have good broadband coverage,” he said.

“If they come (to Darwin) they’re going to be bringing their phones with them.”

Dr Taylor said the “technology gap” between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians was narrowing quickly.

“To say that indigenous people don’t have mobile phones simply isn’t the case,” he said.

An Uber spokesman rubbished the presumption the service would disadvantage Aboriginal clients.

“The Uber app connects users with driver partners in an egalitarian, non-discriminatory way via GPS-based dispatch, reducing discrimination and favouritism,” he said.

“Regardless of what a person looks like, their income, background, ability or destination, the Uber app provides access to a safe, affordable and reliable ride.”

Eleven of 12 Katherine cabbies were found to fail basic standards during a police sting on Friday.