- MELISSA GRANT
- Australian Associated Press
- 11:15AM February 15, 2017
uber is expanding into north Queensland as the state’s taxi industry continues to push back against the legalisation of ride-sharing.
Taxi Council Queensland last week began an election offensive as part of its fight against the state government over its decision to legalise ride-sharing last year.
uber, which already operates across southeast Queensland, has announced it will launch in Cairns and Townsville on March 16.
uber Queensland spokesman Sam Bool said more than 5000 people had already expressed interest in becoming drivers in the two regional cities.
The push into regional Queensland comes after the Palaszczuk government legalised ride-sharing services in September last year, despite strong opposition from the taxi industry.
In launching its election campaign offensive, Taxi Council Queensland said the state had abandon over 16,000 small business operators who had been abandoned by the law to placate a wealthy multi-national company.
The taxi council has given a list of demands to every political party and is targeting every electorate across the state before the poll, due in the second half of 2018.