Andrew Leigh

LABOR’S PLAN FOR THE SHARING ECONOMY IN SYDNEY

Shadow Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh and NSW Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Michael Daley have today visited Collaborate Corporation to discuss Labor’s positive plan for the sharing economy.

They met with Collaborate Corporation to talk about creating a fair and flexible framework of rules for emerging services like DriveMyCar, MyCaravan and Rentoid to ensure all Australians can share in the benefits.

The sharing economy is changing the way we buy and sell things. It is also changing how we think about work and the line between private property and public goods. Australians are clearly embracing these services, with one in 10 Sydneysiders having used a sharing service and around one in 200 Australian homes now listed on AirBNB. DriveMyCar has attracted over 26,000 users and facilitated 200,000 rental days.

Prime Minister Turnbull and Premier Baird have failed to address the many sided challenges and opportunities of appropriately regulating the sharing economy which still suffers from a regulatory lag.

That’s why Federal Labor has announced a set of National Sharing Economy Principles and indicated we will work with state and territory governments to turn these into concrete rules and regulations.

Federal Labor’s principles are:

 1. Primary property is yours to share

When Australians use their own cars, homes or goods to deliver services, rules and regulations specific to the sharing economy should apply.

2. New services must support good wages and working conditions

When offering services which involve human labour, sharing economy companies should ensure their pricing and contracting arrangements allow Australians to achieve work outcomes at least equivalent to the prevailing industry standard.  

3. Everyone pays their fair share of tax

Everyone doing business in the sharing economy must pay a fair share of tax.

4. Proper protection for public safety

Sharing economy services must have the right insurance to protect Australians if anything goes wrong. Consumers should also be protected by the Australian Consumer Law and light-touch licencing and inspection rules at the state government level. 

5. Access for all 

Sharing economy services should be accessible to Australians with disabilities. Sharing economy companies should negotiate service levels and needs through accessibility agreements with disability peak bodies.

6. Playing by the rules

Once tailored, light-touch rules exist for the sharing economy, there should be zero tolerance for companies that continue to flout Australian laws.

Labor’s focus on the sharing economy is another part of our plan to advance Australia by building a more innovative and entrepreneurial country.

The details of Labor’s National Sharing Economy Principles can be found at: www.alp.org.au/sharingeconomy

Shadow Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh said:

“There is huge economic and community potential in this emerging peer-to-peer market. Labor believes we should embrace it, while making sure we put the right rules in place to protect workers, consumers and the public good. We want the next major sharing economy firm to be born and flourish here in Australia – that will only happen if we have a fair and flexible set of rules which encourage innovation.”

NSW Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Michael Daley said:

“NSW Labor has taken a pro-active approach towards the sharing economy from day one. We know that new technologies offer ways to transform not just the NSW economy but also help in making our cities even more livable. 

With the right regulatory balance, not only is the direct consumer benefit clear, but also that the sharing economy’s innovative solutions have the ability to encourage more sustainable consumption and help tackle larger issues such as congestion.”  

Labor calls on the Turnbull Government to adopt these national principles and put the right rules in place so that the sharing economy can work for consumers, workers and entrepreneurs. 

FRIDAY, 18 MARCH 2016

MEDIA CONTACTS: NICK GREEN (LEIGH) 0402 575 042

                                 DYLAN PARKER (DALEY) 0434 346 091