Live Wire #47 AUG/SEPT 2014 | Page 17

INDUSTRY NEWS 17

Around The Traps

WA taxi drivers lead the way in the fight against Uber under the stewardship of Howard Lance. TIFWA organized a meeting of all taxi industry stakeholders to formulate plans on how to fight Uber who are operating in many states with impunity. Transport departments are finally being pressured in to action to enforce laws already in place to fight Uber.

NSWTDA under the stewardship of Anne Turner are turning the screws on government to act against Uber which has had some success with the Minister coming out to say that Uber is operating illegally and has taken steps to stop them operating.

Victoria under the stewardship of Victorian Taxi Families has been fighting a long and hard struggle to reverse some of the unfair reforms brought on by the government which has reduced their plate values by over 50% which has left families on struggle street with families relying on hand outs from government and friends to live.

Ministers in SA and NT have came out against Uber by telling their departments to ensure Uber obeys the law if they come to their state or territory. They (Ministers) were written to by the Australian Taxi Federation on behalf of all Australian taxi drivers.

QUHDA has been leading the fight against Uber in Qld with approaches to the Premier and Transport Minister to get the Transport Department to enforce the laws with limited responses. QUHDA has petitioned the government to give all taxi eftpos providers a level playing field and opening up all eftpos providers to process all payment cards as well as TSS.

President QUHDA

Alister Smith

[email protected]

THE PEAK INDUSTRY BODY FOR THE

QLD TAXI INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND

UNITED HIRE DRIVERS ASSOCIATION