Thank You

Over the past few weeks, we’ve asked Uber supporters to get in contact with their NSW election candidates to let them know why they love Uber and why they’d like to see sensible ridesharing regulations introduced in NSW.

The response has been overwhelming. Thousands of Uber riders in Sydney took time out of their day to send their local candidates an email, give them a call and engage in the political process first hand.

We want to extend a warm thank you to all who have given us support. With your help, NSW will join over thirty jurisdictions around the world that have already introduced forward-facing ridesharing regulations.

We’re also excited to see the Shadow Assistant Treasurer for Federal Labor Andrew Leigh joining the NSW Greens and Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey in recognising Australia’s overwhelming popular support of uberX ridesharing. Advocating the introduction of sensible ridesharing regulations, Dr Leigh recognised:

‘Australian consumers – like those around the world – have embraced these new services with gusto … We would be squibbing our responsibilities as policymakers if we simply tried to shut these services down or punted addressing them into the too-hard basket’.

Dr Leigh also foreshadowed that ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, Opposition Leader Luke Foley and South Australian Transport Minister Stephen Mulligan were working towards embracing Uber and the sharing economy.

These politicians are looking to the future. They are recognising that advances in technology are increasingly leading to new economic models that offer consumers greater choice; provide more sustainable ways of living in, planning, and getting around our cities; and create tens of thousands of new jobs by opening up previously closed and stagnating business models to an ever-increasing number of people.

In Sydney alone, uberX has offered a safe, reliable and affordable transport solution to hundreds of thousands of people, while at the same time creating thousands of flexible new jobs for the unemployed, or those looking to increase or supplement their income.

In the 13 suburbs in Sydney’s West and South West where unemployment is highest across the city, 1300 drivers are now earning a living on the Uber platform. These people and others across the country will be looking to Government to protect their right to earn flexible income for themselves and their families.

With the support of our riders, driver partners and Government, Uber will have an even greater social impact than we’re already seeing everyday in cities across Australia.

Team Uber Australia