Lexi Webster
Uber is currently legal in almost every Australian state and territory, with the exception of the Northern Territory (NT). Uber's legalisation in Australia has been a gradual process, with each state implementing rideshare regulations differently. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was the first state to legalise Uber in October 2015, followed by New South Wales (NSW) in December 2015, Western Australia in 2016, and Victoria in August 2017. Queensland (QLD) and South Australia also legalised ridesharing in 2016, while Tasmania became the latest state to join in 2017. Despite its widespread availability, Uber faced opposition from traditional taxi services and local police in some states, who imposed fines on Uber drivers. However, the service's popularity among Australians has forced many state governments to amend laws and accommodate this new model of transportation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Locations in Australia where Uber is banned | Northern Territory |
| Locations in Australia where Uber is legal | ACT, NSW, Western Australia, Victoria, QLD, South Australia, Tasmania |
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What You'll Learn
- Uber is legal in most Australian states and territories
- The Northern Territory (NT) is the only place in Australia where Uber is not operating
- The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was the first state to legalise Uber
- NSW was the second state to legalise ridesharing
- Queensland legalised ridesharing in September 2016
Uber is legal in most Australian states and territories
Uber is currently legal in most Australian states and territories. However, the road to legalisation has been bumpy, with taxi services holding anti-Uber protests and local police in some states issuing fines to Uber drivers. Despite this, Uber has gained popularity in Australia, with over 1.5 million riders and 30,000 drivers. This widespread uptake has forced many state governments to amend existing laws to allow the legal use of the ride-sharing app.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was the first state to legalise Uber in October 2015. Regulations in the ACT include background checks, car inspections, and insurance requirements. Uber drivers must pay a $65 application fee and a $100 annual fee to operate in the ACT. New South Wales (NSW) was the second state to legalise ridesharing in December 2015. Initially, Uber drivers were restricted from Sydney Airport, but they can now pick up passengers from a designated zone. Western Australia became the third state to legalise Uber, followed by Victoria in August 2017, and Queensland in September 2016.
In April 2017, the South Australian government reached an agreement with Uber, making the rideshare provider fully accredited. Ridesharing was also legalised in Tasmania, with the Infrastructure Minister expressing delight at the development. However, Uber is not yet operating in the Northern Territory (NT), making Darwin the only Australian capital city without Uber. Uber and the NT government are in discussions about launching the service, but it is unlikely to happen until a review of the hire car industry in the state is conducted.
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The Northern Territory (NT) is the only place in Australia where Uber is not operating
Uber is a popular ride-sharing service that has become available in many countries and cities worldwide. However, it has also faced bans and suspensions in several places due to regulatory issues and opposition from local taxi services.
In Australia, Uber is legal in almost every state and territory. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was the first state to legalise Uber in October 2015, with New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia following suit soon after. Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania have also legalised ride-sharing services, allowing Uber to expand its market share in Australia.
Despite its widespread availability in Australia, Uber is notably absent in the Northern Territory (NT), making Darwin the only Australian capital city without Uber. The absence of Uber in the NT is a result of ongoing discussions between Uber and the NT government regarding the regulation of the hire car industry in the state. While there were early indications that Uber would launch in the NT in 2017, it has yet to commence operations in the region.
The situation in the Northern Territory highlights the varying approaches to rideshare regulation across Australia, with each state implementing different rules and requirements for Uber and its drivers.
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The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was the first state to legalise Uber
Uber is currently legal in almost every Australian state and territory. However, the confusion about the legalisation of Uber in Australia arises from the fact that each state has handled ridesharing regulations differently. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was the first jurisdiction in Australia to legalise Uber in October 2015.
The territory government passed legislation to regulate ridesharing, allowing ridesharing services, including Uber, to operate legally in the territory. Canberra, the capital city of Australia, is situated within the ACT and was previously served by only two local taxi companies, Aerial Capital Group and Cabxpress. Uber drivers in the ACT must adhere to regulations such as background checks, car inspections, and insurance requirements. Additionally, they are required to pay a $65 application fee and a $100 annual fee to operate.
Following the ACT's legalisation of Uber, other Australian states have followed suit. In December 2015, New South Wales became the second state to legalise ridesharing services, including Uber. While Uber drivers were initially restricted from Sydney Airport, they can now pick up passengers from a designated pickup zone. In July 2016, South Australia also allowed Uber to operate legally in the state.
Despite the widespread legalisation of Uber in Australia, there are still some areas where it is not available. Uber is currently not operating in the Northern Territory (NT), making Darwin the only Australian capital city without Uber. However, Uber is in discussions with the NT government about launching the ridesharing service after conducting a review of the hire car industry in the state. Additionally, while Uber was effectively legalised in Victoria by a court case, the State Parliament boosted the powers of the Taxi Services Commissioner, creating uncertainty about the status of ridesharing services in the state.
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NSW was the second state to legalise ridesharing
In 2015, New South Wales (NSW) became the second jurisdiction in Australia to legalise ridesharing services, including UberX. The NSW government's decision to legalise ridesharing was influenced by the desire to modernise the state's transport regulations, address the concerns of taxi licence plate investors, and provide consumers with more choices for transportation.
Prior to the legalisation, the government sold and regulated taxi licence plates, creating a responsibility to protect the investors who owned these plates. The legalisation of ridesharing services was accompanied by a $250 million "industry adjustment package" to compensate traditional cab drivers and reduce regulatory costs for the industry. This package was funded through consolidated revenue and a temporary levy on point-to-point transport providers, equivalent to $1 per ride for a maximum of five years.
The NSW government's reform of the transport sector included changes to the legislation surrounding taxi, hire car, tourist, rideshare, and community transport services. These changes allowed rideshare companies like Uber to operate legally in the state. Under the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Act 2016, rideshare drivers in NSW are required to hold a Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) driver authority, register their vehicles for business use, and comply with specific safety standards.
The legalisation of ridesharing in NSW was well-received by Uber, which applauded the government's "leadership" and emphasised the benefits of ridesharing for Sydney. Uber also expressed gratitude for the government's consideration of the interests of passengers and drivers, stating that the decision reflected the embrace of ridesharing by Sydneysiders.
While NSW was the second jurisdiction in Australia to legalise ridesharing, other states such as Queensland and Victoria have also introduced or are working towards implementing similar ridesharing legislation.
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Queensland legalised ridesharing in September 2016
Queensland, Australia, legalised ridesharing services, including Uber, in September 2016. The Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, and Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe made the announcement via Facebook on 10 August 2016, following a review of personalised transport options in Queensland.
The legalisation of ridesharing services in Queensland came after a period of uncertainty and protest. In 2013, a cease and desist order was issued against Uber, and in the years that followed, the value of taxi licences dropped significantly. The Queensland government delayed making a decision on the legal status of ridesharing for almost a year, citing the need to conduct a review to determine the best options for moving forward.
The legalisation of ridesharing in Queensland was met with mixed reactions. The RACQ welcomed the decision, recognising the positive impact that ridesharing was already having in the state. However, the Taxi Council Queensland criticised the review as a waste of money, arguing that the results were predetermined.
To assist the established taxi industry in adjusting to the legalisation of ridesharing, the Queensland government offered a $100 million assistance package, which included a one-off payment of $20,000 per taxi licence (capped at two licences) and $10,000 per limousine licence. Additionally, 80 pieces of red tape were cut to reduce regulations for taxi operators. While ridesharing was legalised, the government announced that drivers would face increased regulations, including background checks, to match the standards of the taxi industry.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Uber is not banned in Australia. However, it is not available in the Northern Territory, making Darwin the only Australian capital city without Uber.
Uber is legal in most Australian states and territories. The ACT was the first Australian state to legalise Uber in October 2015, followed by NSW and Western Australia. Uber is also legal in Victoria, QLD, South Australia, and Tasmania.
Uber is not available in the Northern Territory due to ongoing discussions between Uber and the NT government. The NT government is reviewing the hire car industry in the state before launching the rideshare service.
There have been concerns about the legalisation of Uber in Australia, as each state has handled rideshare regulations differently. There have also been protests from Australian taxi services and fines for Uber drivers in some states.
