By Adam Carey | Sydney Morning Herald

The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched an investigation into Uber and whether its contracts with tens of thousands of Australian drivers are in breach of federal workplace laws.
The employment watchdog undertook to probe the US-based company’s contractual relationship with its large workforce of “driver-partners” earlier this month, after a request by a group of disgruntled drivers who argue they have been “misclassified” by Uber as self-employed.

The Ombudsman is now preparing to interview drivers who use Uber’s wildly popular, low-cost UberX platform, which has upended the taxi industry’s established business model in Melbourne and around the world.
A spokesman for the Fair Work Ombudsman said it had “commenced an investigation into Uber, with the purpose of determining whether the engagement of Uber drivers is compliant with Commonwealth workplace laws”.

Uber drivers have argued their work agreement with the company is not like that of a self-employed contractor, because Uber controls every aspect of the job other than the number of hours a driver chooses to work.
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Members of the group that made the request, Ride Share Drivers United, remain anonymous, and its spokesman “Max B.” claimed this was for fear that Uber will cut off any outspoken member’s access to the ride-hailing app.

Uber’s ability to block a driver’s access to the app and deny income opportunities, without a right of reply, is one of the key complaints the group has asked the Ombudsman to probe.

READ MORE: http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/fair-work-ombudsman-investigates-uber-over-potential-breach-of-labour-laws-20170628-gx0a82

Jack McKay, The Courier-Mail
June 12, 2017 12:00am

The assault on the value of taxi licences in Brisbane brought about by ride-sharing service Uber has intensified.

Documents released under Right to Information show the price of licences has dropped significantly.

Sixteen taxi service licences were sold in Brisbane between April 2016 and March this year.

The most expensive licence sold for $275,000 in May 2016, but a licence changed hands in March for just $110,000.

The last licence sold in Brisbane over the 12-month period went for $120,000, while the average value of the 16 licences was just over $200,000.

This compares with peak values over $500,000 before the ride-share disruption of the industry.

Despite the fall in prices, a TransLink spokeswoman said the value of licences could appreciate after a raft of legislative reforms passed State Parliament last month.

“The comprehensive reforms passed by State Parliament on 24 May, 2017, focus on increasing customer safety and providing certainty and stability to the industry,” she said.

“We believe these legislative changes will provide certainty to the industry, reinforce taxi licence values, and allow them to appreciate in value into the future.

​“Existing taxi service licences have retained their perpetual status and still provide the opportunity for revenue generation under the reforms.”

The spokeswoman also said there were no plans for further perpetual taxi licences to be made available.

Opposition transport spokesman Andrew Powell said the Government had “delayed and dithered” in its response to changes to the taxi industry, hurting owners, drivers and passengers.

“While the Palaszczuk Labor Government and its revolving door of transport ministers dragged their feet on getting assistance payments out the door, the uncertainty and delays caused serious damage to taxi businesses,” he said.

“We’re confident our plan will restore value in the taxi industry by providing certainty and stability, respect for owners, operators and drivers and a level playing field.”

The LNP has committed to appointing an independent personalised transport commissioner if it wins government at the next election.

Taxi Council Queensland chief executive Benjamin Walsh said the value of taxi licenses was set by the market.

“The value is set by the market and the Government has had a history of leading the market by accepting the highest tender, so it has distorted the market over time,” he said.

25 May, ABC News

Ride booking services like Uber will now have to be licensed and pay annual licence fees in Queensland after new laws were passed in State Parliament on Wednesday night.

​Taxi Council of Queensland CEO Benjamin Wash told ABC Radio Brisbane said the legislation still did not level the playing field.

“In fact, the legislation enshrines a different cost structure for what is essentially the same service,” he said.

“It’s still strangers picking people up and dropping them off.

“The fact that there’s no cameras and there’s no minimum conditions for personalised transport drivers or people in booked hire services, it beggar’s belief that the Government’s dropped the ball so badly on this.”
He said it was widely known that people in booked-hire services and ride-sharing around the world want to be able to run a business with no regulation and no cost structures.

“It’s certainly nothing new, but there’s no element in the community or society where a business can just run with impunity, cutting corners, cutting costs, and not having any regulatory frameworks that are meaningful to define their business,” he said.

Ride Sharing Drivers Association of Australia spokesman Les Johnson said it had found there was only a 4 per cent retention rate of drivers after 12 months, with 80 per cent not earning enough money.

“There’s other expenses coming into it,” he said.

“I think that with a lot of the fees and charges the Government has looked at over a period of time — many which the association has argued against — they’re just forcing the cost of entry into the industry up and up and up when the returns are not there.

“If drivers are up for all these extra charges and the rate of return is below what is sustainable, then I think people will pull out.”

Read More

By AAP, May 25 2017
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Queensland Uber drivers will need to obtain a new licence and have their vehicles inspected annually, but will not be forced to install security cameras under new laws passed on Wednesday night.

The Palaszczuk government passed its ride-sharing bill overnight with the support of the Liberal National Party opposition, though crossbench MP Robbie Katter failed in his bid to have several amendments added to the bill.

The Mount Isa MP had sought to have security cameras installed in all ride-sharing vehicles, as well as commercial-grade GPS and duress alarms.

The government had ultimately followed public opinion instead of being a “strict parent” in dealing with disruptive new services, he told ABC Radio on Thursday.

But Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey said there were a range of measures within the legislation designed to ensure public safety, and noted ride-sharing services did not follow an “anonymous model” compared to taxis.

He said the laws, which include requiring drivers to obtain a new ridesharing licence annually, will deliver a fairer playing field while also reinforcing the value of existing licences.

“Taxis will retain exclusive rights to rank and hail services and significant penalties – including possible driver licence suspension – will be imposed on those who infringe these,” Mr Bailey said.

Compliance officers would soon be deployed to ensure the tightened rules are followed, while the disability portion of the market has also been reserved for taxis only, he told ABC Radio.

The minister conceded bringing the state’s laws into line with fast-moving digital developments had been “a very difficult” and sometimes “painful” process for those involved.

But Taxi Council of Queensland chief executive Benjamin Wash said the government had shown a “lack of knowledge and foresight” by passing the laws.

“I hope the premier and government are happy that they have compromised the wellbeing and safety of Queenslanders by ensuring booked hire services are under no obligation to implement any safety and service standards,” he said.

The industry body has pledged to press the issue at the next state election.
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© AAP 2017

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/05/25/07/39/no-security-cameras-for-qld-uber-drivers#GdJW8wpp3mzw2bHy.99