Uber to pay $178 million in Australia taxi class action settlement

Uber has agreed to pay A$271.8 million ($178 million) to settle a lawsuit filed by Australian taxi operators and drivers, alleging income loss when the ride-hailing company entered the country.

The lawsuit accused Uber of violating laws mandating licences for taxis and hire cars. While Uber maintained it never knowingly broke the law, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, representing the plaintiffs, noted Uber’s vigorous defense throughout the legal proceedings.

An Uber spokesperson highlighted the company’s contributions to state-level taxi compensation schemes since 2018 and characterized the settlement as resolving legacy issues. Former lawmaker and taxi driver Rod Barton, a member of the class action, viewed the settlement as a vindication of claims that Uber circumvented the country’s taxi licensing regulations.

Source: Reuters