Transport Workers Union calls for strict robotaxi rules before self-driving taxis reach Australia
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) wants tough rules locked in before driverless taxis are allowed on Australian roads. In its submission to the federal Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, the union proposes a Human Driver Guarantee that would force robotaxi operators to keep most of their work for human drivers.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine says protections must be put in place before any autonomous vehicles are on the road, not after, to avoid repeating the mistakes of the gig economy.
What the TWU is asking for
| Proposal | Detail |
|---|---|
| Human Driver Guarantee | Operators keep a human-driven fleet alongside robotaxis |
| Early deployment | At least 95 per cent of jobs go to human drivers |
| Once established | At least 85 per cent of jobs go to human drivers |
| Profits | A share reinvested in Australia |
| Service levels | Regional areas, evening and weekend peaks and accessible transport maintained |
| Heavy vehicles | Automated vehicle law changes limited to light passenger vehicles |
Why the union is worried
The TWU cites research from the John Curtin Research Centre estimating that between 64,200 and 85,600 transport jobs could be at risk, along with about $220 million in rideshare driver earnings during an early rollout. The union also points to polling it commissioned in May, which found about seven in 10 Australians oppose fully automated taxis and trucks and three in four want the government to protect affected workers.
Where robotaxis stand in Australia
No robotaxi service operates commercially in Australia yet. Federal and state governments are still working on a national framework for automated vehicles, and current road rules require a human driver. Waymo, which runs driverless ride-hailing in several US cities, has been talking to Australian governments but declined to comment on the union’s proposal. Tesla, which shows its Cybercab concept in some showrooms here, did not respond. Uber’s submission backs a phased approach that mixes human drivers and automated vehicles.
The committee’s report is due by 30 November 2026, and any changes to vehicle laws would take longer. For today’s Tesla line-up, see our Tesla Model Y price guide and our story on the 2027 Tesla Model Y Performance. Our September EV sales report shows how the electric market is tracking.
