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Proposed Uber bill casts doubt over Tasmanian operations

Tuesday, 19 Apr 2016 05:42:19 | Richard Baines

Uber sees the enabling legislation for operations in Tasmania actually create barriers. (Reuters: Kai Pfaffenbach)

Ride-sharing company Uber has raised serious doubts over operations in Tasmania, just weeks after the State Government moved to legalise it.

Key points:

  • Ride-sharing can flourish in Tasmania with right laws, says Uber
  • Uber are 'bullies' who dictate to governments, says the Tax Council
  • Peak tech body urges Government to adopt other state's rules

The State Government has tabled legislation that would allow services like Uber to operate in Tasmania, and it has cleared the Lower House with tri-partisan support.

It will impose similar restrictions on ride-sharing that currently exist for hire cars, like medical, police and working with vulnerable people checks for drivers.

Uber's Brad Kipschke said his service was very different to hire cars.

"I think the key difference relates to some of the rules around insurance and some of the rules around the classification of the sort of activity," he said.

He said the approach could prevent Uber operating in Tasmania.

"I think if you create barriers to entry that have nothing to do with safety, that prevent people from accessing paid work or you create red tape or bureaucratic inefficiency that prevents people from being able to access work, then you're part of the problem not part of the solution," he said.

Mr Kipschke said he believed Uber would flourish in the state, but only with the right regulation.

"If the rules aren't right and ride-sharing isn't able to launch in Tasmania, then the Government would have to go back to the drawing board."

Mr Kipshke said if Uber did eventually move to establish in Tasmania, it would only move to set up in Hobart.

Uber 'a bunch of bullies': Taxi Council

The Taxi Council's Roger Burdon said Uber was making unreasonable demands.

"As far as I'm concerned, Uber are a bunch of bullies. They go in and they dictate what they want to do to governments all around the world," he said.

"The hire car licence expresses that you must have a working with vulnerable people's check, a police check, a medical — so they are very basic and simple things."

Will Kestin from TasICT was confident Uber would eventually establish in Tasmania, but wanted to see the company in the state as soon as possible.

"We are missing incredible opportunities here, especially as we head towards large events like Dark Mofo," he said.

Mr Kestin urged the Government not to enforce the proposed restrictions on Uber.

"We think it's really important that the Government gets this right and takes a close look at what is currently being legislated in other states," he said.

The Government's bill will face further scrutiny when it reaches the independent-dominated Upper House later this year.

Repeated attempts were made to contact Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding for comment.

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