Uber on attack over $2 charge
Survey backs anger
RIDE-share giant Uber is taking up the cudgels against the State Government’s planned $2 industry levy.
It plans to email its customers, outlining how much the levy would have cost them for trips they have taken since downloading the Uber app.
For many, this would amount to hundreds of dollars.
The company says according to a ReachTEL poll conducted on its behalf, 67 per cent of people think the levy is unfair, and 46 per cent say it would make them less likely to back the Government.
Only 11 per cent said they would be more likely to vote for Labor because of the levy.
Uber’s Victorian general manager, Matt Denman, said its customers deserved to have a voice in the debate over the proposed industry laws.
“That’s why we’re giving our 800,000 Victorian riders the opportunity to tell the Government what they think about this plan to introduce an expensive levy with no end date,” Mr Denman said.
“It’s disappointing to see the Government miss a golden opportunity to unlock the full benefits of competition and ease cost-of-living pressures on ordinary Victorians.
“If the Victorian Government intends for this to be a new and permanent tax, it should be upfront with Victorians and say so.”
The $2 amount is a cap, and can be reduced by a future government without amending the law. But it is higher than proposed in other states; South Australia and NSW are planning a $1 levy.
The levy is being introduced to collect money for the Government’s planned $494 million compensation package for holders of taxi licences.
But there are industry concerns the levy, which is among sweeping industry reforms included in laws introduced in state parliament this week, could remain well after the compensation is collected.
According to a ReachTEL poll conducted for Uber, more than 67 per cent of Victorians think the levy is unfair, while just under 33 per cent think it is fair.
Only 11 per cent said they would be more likely to vote for the Government due to the levy, while 46 per cent said they were less likely and 42 per cent said their support was unchanged.