Uber driving is illegal in victoria 20151204 p5ttyv.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Uber driving is illegal in Victoria

AAP

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Uber will support the court appeal of one of its Melbourne drivers found guilty of driving without a commercial licence.

Magistrate Julian Ayres found Uber driver Nathan Brenner guilty of two counts of operating a commercial passenger vehicle without a licence in court on Friday.

He was fined without conviction.

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Brenner was one of 13 Uber drivers charged by the Taxi Services Commission last year during an undercover operation.

The court decision means the Uber ride-sharing service is illegal in Victoria.

Uber was disappointed but says it will continue to operate across the state.

"We will continue to support Mr Brenner as he appeals the decision," Uber said in a statement on Friday.

"It is widely acknowledged that the current legislation could not have contemplated technology such as Uber - the legislation clearly needs to be updated."

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan says Uber has to abide by the laws.

"I'd encourage Uber to think about the position they're putting those drivers in if they continue down this path while this matter continues to remain unresolved," she told reporters on Friday.

Ms Allan said Victoria was "well advanced" in working through policy issues surrounding how to regulate the ride-sharing business and ensure it doesn't have an unfair advantage over the taxi and hire car industry.

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Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the government was taking too long.

"Other states are coming to the fore and making decisions around Uber," Mr Guy said.

"Canberra got off its backside and has made a decision, NSW is clearly looking at it, South Australia's gone further than Victoria.

"We've got to find a structure where ... Uber can operate in tandem with the taxi industry."

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Mr Guy said the "obvious" answer would be to look at an annual fee mechanism, which would incorporate taxis and ride-sharing companies.

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