Queensland's taxi council has slammed Uber as a "foreign bully" after the ride-sharing app slashed customer fares by 10 per cent to boost participation.
Uber announced on Wednesday it would cut fares for the Brisbane area until early August.
But Taxi Council Queensland says the app is continuing to flout industry regulations trying to stamp out local business.
"Uber is a foreign bully attempting to steamroll over the top of Queensland small business operators," chief executive Benjamin Wash said.
"Here is a company big enough and rich enough to get away with laughing at the law."
So far, the app had spent almost $2 million in fines for not meeting industry regulations, he claimed.
But Uber says it's having a positive impact in Queensland by reducing congestion, the likelihood of drink driving and providing a safe ride home.
It says driver pick-ups times are happening faster than ever, typically under four minutes, as locals turn to the alternative service.
For their part, the Labor government has said it wants to heed both sides of the debate when the state's Taxi Strategic Plan expires at the end of the year.
"We understand that the world is changing, but we also understand that a lot of mums and dads have made significant investments in terms of their taxi licences and that needs to be respected," Transport Minister Jackie Trad said last month.
Share
