Taxi Council Queensland is spending big to fight Uber. Brisbane's average taxi licence price was publicly available until last year but has not been released for 2015. Long-term driver Mark Berry, 59, told Fairfax Media he finally sold his licence for $300,000 in April after a series of higher valued sales fell over, shattering his retirement plans. "I would have been a fully self-funded retiree with health care," he said. "I didn't even know what a pension was until 12 months ago.

"Now when I turn 66 and a half, I'll be on a full pension for four years until my wife catches up and then we'll be on a part pension the rest of our lives. "And there'll be thousands of blokes like me." At least one potential competitor warned the taxi industry's monopoly on private transport could be replaced by one held by Uber thanks to the Queensland government's delay in regulating. The cab industry in Queensland has been fighting Uber every step of the way since its launch in Brisbane in early 2014, with lobbying and a long-running scare campaign on safety. According to a letter from TCQ president Max McBride sent to members in April, an extraordinary general meeting held on November 11 last year voted unanimously to raise the $360 levy.

"With each licence owner suffering a substantial paper loss as a result of the devaluation in licenses that is occurring, none of us can afford to not give our all in this fight," Mr McBride wrote. "That means that TCQ needs to be adequately funded to give ourselves the best chance of protecting our businesses and the Queensland community from the denigration that ride share will cause to service levels." Uber argues it offers lower prices, better journey monitoring and easier booking as well as providing a safe transport option and choice for both riders and passengers. Mr McBride's letter laid out a three-part plan in the industry's battle with the US company and other ride-share operators, which are yet to launch in Queensland. First priority, Mr McBride wrote, was the upcoming Opportunities for Personalised Transport Review, which is expected to decide the fate of ride-share in Queensland in July, the "most important the taxi industry has faced in a generation", according to COO Wayne Crookes.

Mr McBride hailed the success of the Katter's Australian Party's recent bill, which tightened up the definition of an illegal taxi, increased fines and boosted transport officers' enforcement, enabling a recent crackdown that netted $128,000 in fines. But Mr McBride warned it was only a "small battle", with a favourable outcome in the review the real goal. To that end TCQ engaged economists, PR experts, legal advisers, political strategists and more to help push its case. "TCQ is throwing everything we have at this fight and no matter what the outcome we will not stop until we have won," Mr McBride wrote. "In terms of other Australian jurisdictions it is possible that this fight may go on for many years. "However to win they must first believe they can win.

Loading "If they can come together and fight with a common goal in mind, as we are doing in Queensland, then I have no doubt that they will win in their jurisdictions." Stay informed. Like the Brisbane Times Facebook page.