The Tele is a tabloid but appears to be the best source for this article.<p>September: <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-28/uber-drivers-face-suspension/6808582" rel="nofollow">http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-28/uber-drivers-face-susp...</a><p>Here's what's probably the press release that was used for this article: <a href="http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/about/news-events/news/ministerial/2015/151217-ride-sharing.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/about/news-events/news/ministerial...</a>
This is awesome news!<p>As a NSW taxpayer, I'm not too sure I agree with the government doling out our taxpayers to compensate a dying/legacy industry, or tacking on $1 per Uber ride to pay them out but I suppose the taxi lobby is strong, and the government needs to pander to them.<p>I'm curious what licensing is required, will be good to hear more details.
As an American resident of NSW, I had no idea Uber wasn't legal, I just knew they couldn't pick up from the airport. I've been using the service regularly since moving here. Perhaps this helps explain why locals I've met seem to favor taxis.
Actually, this article raises a point I'd not considered: Why doesn't Uber just start buying medallions, especially in large / angry markets? In NYC, medallions are down to $600,000: <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-taxi-medallion-king" rel="nofollow">http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-taxi-medallion-king</a>. Presumably Uber wouldn't have to buy all the medallions out there, but if it bought enough it could circumvent much of the political opposition from current holders.
> <i>The perpetual owners of taxi plates, about 5800 people, will receive a $20,000 payment for the plate. Multiple plate owners will receive a maximum of $40,000.</i><p>> <i>Both taxi and Uber drivers will also have to pay the government a $1 levy per trip for a maximum of five years to fund the compensation package.</i><p>So, "here's $20k, now start paying us back"?<p>I wonder how long it takes to accrue 20k rides in a taxi.
Can someone explain what I'm missing? 20,000 in perpetuity at the approx 2.5 rate in oz is PV of 800,000? But the plates hit there highs of 475,000 in 2011?
Why aren't we addressing the safety aspects of Uber rather than making it legal? Can we not ensure that the cars are professionally insured, professionally driven and kept up to standard and safe to be in? That should be our number one priority before allowing the company to continue operating.<p>Some random examples:<p><a href="http://www.cnet.com/au/news/sydney-ridesharing-driver-charged-with-sexual-assault/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cnet.com/au/news/sydney-ridesharing-driver-charge...</a><p><a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/uber-driver-arrested-over-alleged-sex-assault-in-melbourne/news-story/200c9101a4f31ec7218507d7bd6b6d4a?=" rel="nofollow">http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/uber-driver-arres...</a><p><a href="http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/08/uber-driver-dragged-passenger-out-of-car-and-ran-over-her-5381679/" rel="nofollow">http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/08/uber-driver-dragged-passenger-...</a>