Quensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wants to see a "national response" to ride-sharing app Uber, as governments across the nation struggle with how to deal with its emergence on the market - and its popularity.
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Queensland's Taxi Strategic Plan is due to expire this year, prompting an increase in lobbying from both Uber and the Taxi Council of Queensland.
Uber has previously written to each of the state's 89 MPs accusing the government of siding with the established taxi industry, which it calls a "protected monopoly market", while the Taxi Council recently labelled Uber a potential "haven for sexual predators".
Uber has resisted attempts to be classified in the same way as taxis, arguing it is a technology company that streamlines connections between private contractors and people who need a ride.
The Taxi Council wants to see Uber drivers meet the same requirements - and costs - its drivers do.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has been charged with coming up with a solution. Ms Palaszczuk said she wants a "level playing field".
"A lot of life savings go into it and that is a person's income," she told 612 ABC Brisbane.
"It is basically a small business, really.
"We also know at the moment, that Uber is entering the market, not just here, not across the nation, but across the world.
"The concern with Uber is that although it is incredibly popular out there - a lot of young people love it, they love the convenience - we need to have a level playing field in this state.
"Because it is not fair that people have put their life savings into a licence, we have taxi drivers out there doing the right thing, and now you have a new player out there onto the field."
Ms Palaszczuk said despite states having control over their own taxi industries, there needed to be a whole-of-Australia approach to the issue.
"I know in NSW they have started a review into it," she said.
"This really does need a national approach. We need to look at it as a state government as well. It is happening right across the nation, you know, and I don't think you can have different playing fields across the nation as well."
Uber has been operating in Queensland under a cease and desist order since May last year. In June, Fairfax Media revealed 538 drivers working through the ride-sharing app had been fined $1.7 million by Queensland transport officials in 12 months. It is understood Uber pays the fines for the drivers.
Ms Trad said there was "no reason" a national approach towards Uber couldn't be developed.
"I am really loath to pre-empt the review, but what is clear is that in other jurisdictions, other jurisdictions have made a place for Uber, without diminishing the importance of the taxi industry that is already established," she said.
But she said there was not just one solution.
"There are a variety of ways forward," she said. "There is not only one way forward. There is obviously options to
completely crack down on Uber, there's the option of making room for Uber, there is also the option of, you know, further de-regulation in the taxi industry.
"You know, there are a variety of options, but rather than pre-empt what a review may look like, or make recommendations around, I would like for that to take place first."
