Less than a week after Opposition Leader Luke Foley called for NSW to embrace ride-sharing company Uber, the state government has moved to examine the future of the taxi industry.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance on Wednesday announced Gary Sturgess will head an independent taskforce, with assistance from the founding chairman of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal Tom Parry.
Professor Sturgess is due to report back to government in October with recommendations relating to sustainability and competition in the taxi and hire-car market, the impact of emerging technologies, customer safety and the burden of current taxi regulations.
"The taxi and point-to-point transport industry is changing rapidly and so are our customers' expectations," Mr Constance said in a statement on Wednesday.
"We know cities around the world are grappling with these changes and, in particular, the introduction of new unregulated ride-sharing apps.
"If we want to see a strong future for the taxi industry ... (we need) to ensure there's a more even playing field."
IPART's annual review of fares and licences will be deferred until after the government has developed a response to the task force's recommendations.
Both Uber and the taxi industry support the review, but for different reasons.
An Uber spokeswoman said the announcement recognised popular support for its services.
"(We) need to introduce sensible ride-sharing regulations that put the interests of everyday Australians above a small but vocal minority of industry incumbents and taxi plate owners," the spokeswoman said.
The NSW Taxi Council welcomed the government's move, with an insistence on fairness.
"This review must also consider the interests of those who have invested significantly in this industry over many decades," a representative said.
It comes after Mr Foley promised in his 2015 budget reply speech to bring a bill before the parliament to regulate ride-sharing services such as Uber.
The Labor leader accused the minister on Wednesday of dragging his feet.
"It's good to see the government has finally come to the party as far as ride-sharing is concerned - but all we see today is another inquiry that won't report back for four months," Mr Foley said.
"It's time for the government to get out of the slow lane and show real leadership when it comes to ride-sharing."
