Melbourne taxi drivers go slow

Taxi drivers in Melbourne, Australia, have staged a ‘go slow’ during morning rush hour on one of the city’s busiest roads, Tullamarine freeway, in protest at changes to state government industry reforms that would regulate ride-sharing app 8336 Uber and scrap taxi licences.

According to the Victorian Government website, taxi, hire car and rideshare services will operate under an aligned set of rules for the first time, creating what it calls a truly level playing field for all industry participants that will drive competition and innovation.

From 2018 all network service providers and other commercial passenger vehicles businesses will be charged a levy equivalent to AU$2 on all commercial passenger vehicle trips, replacing the current annual licence fees of currently up to AU$23,000.

Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, taxi driver Vasilos Spanos said the current offer would financially ruin his family. "It cost me altogether for the three licences more than AU$800,000" he said.

Ari Angelopoulos told Australian Associated Press he owns two taxi licences and said he has lost more than 30 per cent of his daily income. "I work hard, I have two children, and I am the only worker in my family. I didn't come to Australia to be a slave," he said.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan says she respects the drivers’ right to protest but called their behaviour irresponsible. “It’s actually not bringing people to their cause - it’s driving them away,” she told radio station 3AW.

The Andrews Government has offered taxi licence holders AU$100,000 for their first licence and AU$50,000 for subsequent licences.