Qld has announced that Uber drivers will have to pay an annual...

Qld has announced that Uber drivers will have to pay an annual fee of $237 and they squealed!

"The figure does not include the cost of other requirements under the new laws, such as criminal history checks, vehicle safety inspections, and driver authorisation applications."

(http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-25/new-ride-booking-uber-laws-queensland-pass-parliament/8556922)

Personally, I don't think the govt gets it.  Rather than charging Uber fees, it should be deregulating traditional taxis so that they can reduce their rates.  Currently taxis are burdened by a raft of compliance costs that Uber currently escapes.

"Uber said the new laws this would make Queensland one of the most expensive places in Australia to become a ride-share driver."  Oh really?  Could that be why Uber has been so much cheaper than taxis??

I suspect that we will see the emergence of many more "ride sharing" businesses (eg, Shofer in Perth) so the state governments will have to think carefully and quickly what to do with the over-regulated legacy of taxis.