WA govt won't regulate uber price hikes

The West Australian government will not stop ride sharing services such as Uber from charging "surge pricing", says the transport minister.

Angered West Australians took to social media on Friday after being charged several times the standard fee on New Year's Eve.

But Dean Nalder says as long as Uber remains transparent with its demand-driven price hikes, the government won't regulate it.

The ride-sharing service is expected to be legalised in 2016.

"If people are choosing to use ride-sharing services and they're looking it up on their phone and the price is transparent, then it's the consumer's decision as to whether they are prepared to pay for that or not," he told ABC Local Radio.