Uber Launched Cheeky ‘Katter’ Option To Protest QLD Government’s Bullshit

Ahhh Bob Katter. The man who is absolutely sure there are next-to-no gay people in North Queensland.

Also the politician who most closely resembles the Rich Texan from The Simpsons.
Once you see that, you can’t unsee it.
Katter’s still quietly plugging away in his native QLD, far removed from his Federal halcyon days as a key right-leaning member of the highly contested Gillard Minority Parliament.
The Katter Australia Party currently holds a solid stake in the Queensland State Parliament, and has its sights firmly set on its latest target: ILLEGAL TAXI COMPANIES (said with reverb and a dramatic music sting).
Or, to put it in a much less-hyperbolic way: Uber. They’re going after Uber.
The party introduced a private member’s bill into state parliament yesterday, which was passed with support of the opposition. The bill gives transport inspectors greater scope to go after Uber drivers, and increases the maximum fine allowed up to $2356, whilst administrators can now be fined up to $23,560.
According to Katter, Uber – and by extension actual consumer-wanted competition to the archaic taxi monopoly – is simply not in the “national interest.

“Someone has to be the a grown-up and say ‘I’m sorry you might get a cheaper ride tonight but in the long run this does not serve the national interest’. That’s the question that needs to be addressed, not the tide is coming. That’s not a reason to do it.”


Whatever you reckon, Tex.

In a very cheeky response to Katter’s crusade against ridesharing companies, Uber has introduced a special Katter mode into the app for customers in Queensland.
Whilst requesting a ride on the app, users can slide across to Katter mode to see what Queensland would be like if the pollie gets his way and wipes Uber from the map in the state.
No cars available.

Uber has been on the front foot against the new legislation, essentially accusing the Katter party of bullying QLD state MPs into getting their way.


“Hundreds of thousands of Uber riders in the state will see that their MP chose to vote against them, and have a view of what Queensland could look like if the government continues to do backroom deals with the Katter Australia Party.”


“We are astounded that a government that claims to be pro-jobs and pro-innovation has taken such a backwards step for Queensland.”


“They have undermined the credibility of their own review process to appease Mr Katter, who continues to threaten the state’s leaders to get his way. We will continue to stand by our driver-partners and riders and fight for their choices, especially when their government clearly has no interest in doing so.”


There is also concern that the new laws will have knock-on effects for other hire car services such as limousines, who do not carry the regulated taxi licenses.

The laws do not prevent legislators from adopting regulations for Uber, much like in other states that have already done so such as New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, or the ACT.
For the time being, Uber continues to operate in Queensland as normal, despite the government’s decision.
Source: News.com.au.
Photo: David Ramos/Getty.

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