Angry taxi drivers blocked Melbourne's Bolte Bridge on Monday morning, causing peak hour chaos in a protest against a government licence buyback scheme.
Over 60 taxis drove slowly across Melbourne’s Bolte Bridge in protest of the Victorian government’s plan to buy back taxi licences and legalise ride sharing service Uber.
Victorian Taxi and Hire Car Families urged cabbies to cause gridlock on the bridge to protest changes to the taxi industry after the introduction of ridesharing.
The group's spokeswoman Linda De Melis told ABC 774 they aren't opposing industry changes.
"The government can dismantle the industry if they choose, but we as license holders should not have to pay the price for industry reform," Ms De said on Monday.
"Currently the government is seizing our licences for zero in return."
Indian taxi driver Resham Sekhon who joined the protests told Herald Sun that new reforms will wreak havoc as he faces debt of more than $380,000.
“I will have to sell my house, I will be homeless,” he said.
“I’m a hard worker. I have worked 20 years without a holiday. I had planned to retire but I’ve got no hope of that now,” Mr Sekhon said who paid more than $550,000 for two taxi licenses.
Taxi drivers plan to cause traffic chaos by shutting down one of Melbourne's busiest roads during peak hour. #7News https://t.co/imd7V1P4lZ — 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) February 7, 2017
The state government is planning to deregulate the taxi industry, abolishing taxi licences and introducing a single registration for taxis, hire cars and ride-share services like Uber.
It plans to compensate licence holders by paying $100,000 for their first licence and $50,000 for up to three others.
But licence holders say the compensation being offered is unfair and could spell financial ruin, with many paying up to $500,000 per licence.
"We are at breaking point, people are losing their homes, and it's that level of desperation that has driven us to this point today," Ms De Melis said.
Angry motorists honked and yelled at the protesters as they passed, frustrated at the massive delays.
