Global ride-share giant Uber has been hit with a substantial financial penalty after a court found it guilty of using drivers who were not authorised to carry passengers.
The Charges and The Guilty Plea
Uber was fined $250,000 after it pleaded guilty to a total of 57 charges brought against it by the NSW Point to Point Transport Commissioner, Anthony Wing. The legal proceedings culminated on November 14, where the multinational company formally admitted its wrongdoing.
The case stemmed from an investigation into 100 separate passenger trips that were facilitated through the Uber platform. These journeys were conducted by 57 individuals who were officially registered only as Uber Eats delivery drivers. The problematic trips occurred during a period in 2022, specifically between August and December.
Safety Standards Were Compromised
Commissioner Wing was unequivocal about the safety failures his investigation uncovered. He stated that the drivers involved in these incidents did not meet the mandatory standards required for transporting members of the public.
The primary issues identified included a lack of sufficient Australian driving experience and, in more serious cases, some drivers were found to be operating without holding a valid Australian driver licence at all. This created a significant safety risk for passengers who trusted the platform.
It is understood that the root cause of these compliance failures was a technical malfunction within the Uber application itself, which incorrectly allowed delivery-only drivers to accept ride-share passenger requests.
A Clear Message on Compliance and Safety
Commissioner Wing, whose authority covers all point-to-point transport services including taxis and ride-shares, emphasised that the outcome sends a powerful message. "This outcome sends a clear message that safety cannot be compromised and that breaches of the law will have serious consequences," he said.
He reinforced that New South Wales has robust legislation designed to protect people using these services. "Every provider — regardless of size — must comply with them," Wing asserted, adding, "I will take action when a company fails to meet their legal obligations."
His office has committed to ongoing monitoring of Uber to ensure the technological glitch has been fully resolved and to prevent any future recurrence of such incidents.
In a statement provided to 7NEWS.com.au, an Uber spokesperson acknowledged the ruling. The company highlighted its "strong track record when it comes to safety" and stated it takes regulatory compliance seriously. Uber accepted responsibility for what it described as "two isolated incidents in 2022," claiming the issue was fixed promptly after discovery. The company also said it has since implemented further technological and procedural upgrades to bolster its compliance systems.
