The taxi industry along Australia's eastern seaboard have upped the ante in its battle with ride-sharing company Uber, which it claimed had engaged in illegal and unethical corporate behaviour.
The app-based Uber, which has ignored cease-and-desist orders from the Queensland government and raised the ire of other states, most recently South Australia, was presented as public enemy number one at the Taxi Council of Queensland's annual conference on Tuesday.
Transport Minister Scott Emerson issued the cease and desist order against Uber in May, but the company continued to operate, resulting in several fines being issued to drivers.
Reflecting the mood of taxi industry members at the conference, many of whom expressed concern about the "threat" of Uber, TCQ chief executive Benjamin Wash said he expected more of the same from the government.
"It's really incumbent on the government to operate in a level playing field and enforce the regulations they've put in place, as they do on us," Mr Wash said.
"If Uber's happy to operate in an illegal way against a cease and desist from a minister of the Crown, then that really goes to the heart of their business integrity."
But Victoria Taxi Association chief executive David Samuel said it was that flouting of authority that made Uber so popular.
"The interesting thing about Uber is that what they sell is disobedience and that's what the 18-to-25-year-olds like about it," he told the TCQ conference.
"That's why they don't change their model wherever they go, unless the regulator completely bends to their whim and does exactly what they want, they just say 'no, stuff you' and the 18-year-olds like that."
Adding to the anti-Uber chorus was New South Wales Taxi Council chief executive Roy Wakelin-King.
"Let's call a spade a spade. We've got some smart people on the other side of the world who have invented a technology system that allows them to collect the ticket on the way through," he said.
"And anyone who thinks for one moment that they care about the passenger or the driver is having a lend of themselves.
"We all know this and the challenge we all face is that we've got to convince decision-makers, the politicians and regulators, to recognise the obvious exposures that exist there."
Uber spokeswoman Katie Curran shrugged off the criticisms from the regulated taxi industry.
"It was very interesting to see the comments from speakers at the taxi industry event in Queensland who seem to be spending a lot of time talking about trying to stifle competition rather than focus on upping their own game," she said in a written statement.
Ms Curran sought to pressure the Newman government into accepting Uber in the marketplace by pointing to other Australian jurisdictions.
"Governments around the world are demonstrating leadership in adopting legislation that recognises the increased choice for consumers and economic opportunities for drivers and Uber is pleased to see individuals, such as NSW Minister for Finance, Dominic Perrottet, and parties, such as the WA Liberals, in Australia do the same," she said.
"With the focus on innovation, economic opportunity and consumer choice that we know this Queensland government has, we're sure they won't be far behind."
