By Richard Willingham and State Political Correspondent
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- Comment: Why I hail Uber and damn taxis
- The Uber effect
- Taxis versus Uber: which do you prefer?
Taxi drivers will begin rolling strikes across Australia in their fight against ride-sharing service UberX.
Melbourne's taxi drivers, lead by the Victorian Taxi Families group, rallied on the steps of State Parliament on Thursday morning, during the height of the tram strike, demanding the Labor government crack down on UberX, which taxi drivers say are running an illegal, unregulated service.
Taxi drivers want Uber shut down, or at least a level playing field where Uber drivers have to pay the same fees as Taxi drivers.
Following the vocal rally, the 400-strong crowd marched down Bourke, Exhibition and Swanston Streets before heading back to Spring St.
Taxi drivers striking in Melbourne. Credit: Justin McManus
Group spokesman David Singh, said 24 hour strikes were planned in Victoria, Queensland, WA and NSW, with other states also considering action.
"Enough is enough. We will start striking for 24 hours from next week," Mr Singh told the crowd outside government offices at 1 Spring St.
A global day of action against Uber is planned for September 16. One driver, Kim Dixon, told The Age that Melbourne drivers would join in.
She predicted blockages and rallies in the CBD and at the airport.
The Victorian Taxi Association said speculation about widespread strike action would continue until a resolution regarding Uber could be reached.
"The demonstration reflects the rising level of frustration in the taxi industry as legitimate taxi businesses are being expected to compete with an illegal service which refuses to comply with Victorian commercial passenger vehicle regulations," a spokeswoman said.
Protesters at parliament claimed they had helped Labor win the election by campaigning for them in marginal seats. Taxi drivers were furious with the Napthine government for allowing more taxis onto the market.
Such was the level of anger, some drivers, said the Labor government were like the Gestapo.
Uber emailed its customers on Thursday afternoon urging them to contact their local Victorian MP to lobby for regulation of their industry.
It also wants the state government to provide some certainty for its staff. The company also attacked those protesting saying they were plate holders who were ripping off honest cab drivers.
"The leaders of these protests are taxi investors, not drivers. These same investors are the ones who have kept drivers' wages low and working conditions poor for decades before Uber arrived," a spokesman said.
"Instead of improving their own business, these plate owners are blaming others. Uber is not to blame for taxi drivers' poor working conditions. Taxi industry data shows that the taxi market has grown since Uber arrived."
The government is taking a careful approach to how to regulate Uber, which is illegal in Victoria.
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said Labor would not rush into a decision that does not work for passengers or the industry.
"We are looking at the complex issue of ride-share services carefully, in consultation with the taxi and hire car industries, passengers and advocacy groups through the Ministerial Forum we established earlier this year," Ms Allan said.
Shadow Treasurer Michael O'Brien said Uber and its technology was here to stay and it required the government to act.
"Victorians are voting with their feet, some of them are choosing to use Uber and it's up to the government to make sure the law reflects reality," he said.
A spokesman for Warren Truss' department of infrastructure said a government report released in March had recommended each state review the regulation of the taxi industry and ride sharing services as a priority.
"State and territory governments have responsibility for regulating the taxi industry and ride sharing services," he said. "The majority of state and territory governments are currently undertaking these reviews."
With Lisa Cox