Melbourne taxi drivers blocked one of the city's busiest roads on Monday morning as a government minister labelled the go-slow "irresponsible".
Taxi drivers protesting against the state government’s legislation to legalise Uber and pay out taxi license holders a fixed amount has met with series of protest in Melbourne.
On Monday morning, the cabbies began the protest along the Tullamarine freeway lanes which connects to Melbourne Airport.
AAP reported the taxi license holders are angry at the Labor government's planned compensation for taxi licence holders as part of new ridesharing regulations, with offers well below that of last year's market price for licences.
The State government has offered taxi license holders $100,000 for their first license and $50,000 for subsequent licenses.
Last year's market price was about $150,000 per license, while cabbies could get $275,000 for a license in September 2015.
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan says she respects the drivers' right to protest but there comes a point when "this sort of behaviour is irresponsible" particularly when it disrupts people going about their daily lives.
"It's actually not bringing people to their cause - it's driving them away," she told 3AW on Monday.
Taxi driver Aris Angelopoulos paid $500,000 for one of two taxi licences he owns and says he wants fair compensation.
Taxi Drivers Strike Source: Robert Prezioso/Getty Images
"I work hard, I have two children, and I am the only worker in my family" Mr Angelopoulos told AAP.
"We lost more than 30 per cent of my daily income."
"I didn't come to Australia to be a slave, my wife is from here. I had a good lifestyle until these changes."
George Katis has been driving taxis for 16 years and though he is now retired, he earns his living from the three licences he owns.
"Three or four years ago, I was earning $25,000 for each licence per year, now not even $10,000. It's very unfair," Mr Katis told AAP.
Joe De Sanctis has been driving taxis for 58 years and has since bought three taxi licences which he makes an earning from during his retirement.
"As soon as the legislation was passed, they're worth zero," his daughter Lily De Sanctis told AAP.
"We're not against ride sourcing, just pay out the taxis fairly."
COMMUTERS NOT HAPPY
Angry commuters on the Tullamarine freeway used emergency lanes to overtake protesting cabbies blocking one of the city's busiest roads.
Many on Twitter spoke out against the protest.
Are you a taxi driver or an Uber driver? Get in touch with us on mosiqi.acharya@sbs.com.au
