The state government regulatory body, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has called for the government to charge a regulator with examining all forms of ‘point to point’ transport such as taxis and ride-sharing services.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance says that drivers currently using the Uber X booking platform would be pursued because they were in breach of the Passenger Transport Act, which allows only accredited taxi and hire car operators to take bookings.

Secretary/manager of Goulburn Radio Cabs Co-Op Society Limited, Michael Gordon says he and a number of other taxi operators across the state are in negotiations with the president of the NSW Taxi Council (NSWTC), Brian Wilkins, to start a ‘fighting fund’ against Uber.

“Fortunately Uber hasn’t managed to creep into the Goulburn market just yet,” Mr Gordon said.

“Currently the NSWTC is looking at each taxi owner putting up a $225 fee towards a ‘fighting fund’ against Uber, and they need support from every member.

“We currently have six members who are members of the Council, but there are about 70 per cent of drivers who are not, so that makes it a bit harder to try and get those people on board with this.”

Mr Gordon said he had noticed a downturn in the taxi industry in Goulburn due to the “high” fees currently charged by the RMS for licensing. A recent study undertaken by IPART found that a taxi operator in NSW would have to pay about $27,000 to hire licence plates, $11,000 of which would go towards insurance, $9,000 in vehicle licence costs, and $7,000 in network fees.

“On July 1 at the start of every financial year, you find that every taxi owner is down around $15,000 in costs,” he said.

“But we have learnt to absorb that cost and keep ourselves going. Generally you’re looking at one taxi licensing plate per 1,000 people, and here in Goulburn we have a fleet of 28 cabs. What happens is that you have what is called a ‘buy in’ of owners who want to drive their own cars, and then there are some retired guys who come out on an occasional basis. But 90 per cent of the time we try and stay compliant with the RMS regulations.”

Mr Gordon also noted that when someone calls a taxi in Goulburn, they normally don’t have to wait too long before it comes.