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Uber, other ride-sharing services able to enter Canberra market from late October - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Uber and other ride-sharing services will be legally able to enter the Canberra market from October 30 after reforms to ACT legislation.
The ACT Government said the territory would be the first jurisdiction in Australia to regulate ride-sharing before services like Uber entered the market.
In other states and territories authorities have cracked down on Uber, with drivers facing fines and registration suspensions.
Earlier this month ACT taxi drivers undertook at three-hour strike to protest the imminent arrival of Uber.
They claimed without changes to legislation, services like Uber would have an unfair advantage over traditional taxis.
Today, the Government said the changes to legislation would also reduce costs for the existing taxi industry, ensuring they remained competitive.
Under the reforms, taxi licence fees will be reduced from $20,000 to $10,000 from October 30 and then $5,000 a year later.
Hire car fees will be slashed from $4,600 to $100 a year.
Do you use Uber? Do you think the service should be able to legally enter the market? Have your say in the comments below.
A new Transport Booking Service will replace Canberra's traditional taxi network, and will cover services like Aerial (the company in charge of Canberra Cabs), Uber and goCatch.
But the legislation will also allow accredited taxi and hire car drivers to carry passengers through services such as Uber, if they and their vehicles meet certain conditions.
That means on-demand drivers could have access to multiple modes of business, from traditional taxi rank and hail work, to ride-sharing and third-party taxi-booking apps.
Though, the ACT Government said Uber and other ride-sharing services would have to meet certain conditions in the Canberra market, prioritising safety through car inspections, driver assessments and driver medicals.
Appropriate compulsary third-party (CTP) and property insurance would also be required to be in place.
As well as having a zero blood alcohol level and being drug-free, Uber drivers would be unable to collect passengers at traditional taxi ranks or stop in taxi, bus or loading zones.
The ACT Government said there would be no changes to the booking system for the wheelchair accessible taxi service or the Taxi Subsidy Scheme.
Greens Minister Shane Rattenbury said the reforms were part of a broader reform to public transport, with benefits to the economy, the community and the environment.
"These reforms are a win for Canberrans and those travelling to the territory, improving access to diverse transport options and competitive pricing," Mr Rattenbury said.
"Taxis and other demand-responsive transport options are important for accessibility and social equity."
