Ride-sharing service Uber is looking to head off safety concerns by adding more female drivers to its service, following a handful of highly publicised assaults.
Uber has set itself a target of signing up one million female drivers globally by 2020 as part of a partnership with the United Nations' gender equality arm UN Women.
General manager David Rohrsheim said the company has "hundreds" of female drivers in Australia but was looking to add many more.
Uber, which has run into conflict with state governments and the taxi industry which has labelled its service "illegal", says it is currently adding 1,100 drivers a month in Australia.
Mr Rohrsheim pitched the move as positive for both gender equality and the economy.
"Creating greater economic opportunity for women is not only good for gender equality, but is also important for the economy," he said.
"The recent (federal government) Intergenerational Report found that if Australia is able to increase its female workforce participation rates, our economy and GDP (gross domestic product) will also significantly improve."
The move could also help address safety concerns following some highly-publicised assaults internationally, including the alleged rape of a female passenger in India's capital Delhi, that led to the service being temporarily banned in that city.
