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Uber bill to be introduced

Pressure is building on the Victorian Government to provide legislative certainty for ride-sharing service Uber, as Upper House MP Fiona Patten plans to introduce a private member’s bill to regulate the company.

The company operates an app that connects drivers to users, processes fare payments and identifies drivers who are given a rating by consumers after the journey.

UberX was legalised in New South Wales in December, with a $250-million compensation package to the taxi industry.

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It is also legal in the ACT, and the West Australian government is set to head down the same path later this year.

Queensland is due to finish a review into the industry in August.

In August 2015, 1.2 million UberX rides were completed in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

But last year, the Victorian government said it would not be rushed into regulating the industry.

Ms Patten, leader of the Australian Sex Party, said she would introduce a Regulation of Ride Sharing Bill to the Upper House, as a “circuit breaker” on the issue.

“The issue of ridesharing seems to be permanently stalled on Transport Minister Jacinta Allan’s desk,” she said in a statement.

“Roundtables and endless discussions don’t seem to have provided a solution to how we move forward with services like Uber.

“This means more uncertainty for the public and more uncertainty for both ridesharing and taxi drivers alike. We need to create the guidelines for a fair and safe system.”

Opposition calls for Government action on Uber

The Victorian Opposition said they supported the dual operation of Uber, saying the debate would now take place in the Upper House due to government inaction.

“We’ve all taken our points of view and our sides on Uber, and I think it’s now up to the Government who’ve got a review in place to find some results out of it,” Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said.

“My view is that we need to have a ride-sharing agreement between Uber and cabs, it’s been coming to the fore in NSW and other states, so Victoria should hurry up and get on with it.”

Last year, a Melbourne Uber driver was fined $900 in the Magistrates Court after he was found guilty of operating as a commercial driver with proper accreditation.

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