Labor government is introducing an ‘urgent’ legislation in the state parliament to boost powers of the Taxi Service Commission at the back of a court order effectively legalized Uber in Victoria.
The legislation is aimed at removing section 159 of the Transport Act that led to Uber driver Nathan Brenner win an appeal against a $900 fine for operating without accreditation.
"It is to ensure that people we don't want driving taxis, people with criminal convictions, people with convictions of sexual assault can't get behind the wheel of a taxi and the taxi services commissioner can enforce those powers," Public Transport minister Jacinta Allan told 774 ABC Melbourne.
"What we are doing is to give absolute clarity around the taxi services commission's powers to enforce regulations on the taxi and hire care industry as a whole,” she said.
Ms Allan said the government was getting closer to a decision about whether or not Uber would be legalized in Victoria.
"Other states have made announcements but no other state has legislated except Queensland and they've cracked down on regulations around ride sharing," she said.
"It's close. We have more work to do. We want to get it right.”
"We have to protect people getting in a vehicle with someone else and being driven around town.”
"We have to make sure that there are the safety regulations in place to address any issues."
