The government plans to streamline registration to cover all taxis, ride-sharing services and rental cars under one system. It’s allocated $378 million for taxi licence holders to help them transition to the new legislative framework, forking out $100,000 for each licence and $50,000 for a second licence.

But Mr Cowie, who has two licences, disputed these figures and said his were worth much more.

“It’s disgraceful – they’ve just come along and said anybody can do the exact same thing without a licence,” he said.

North East residents could be charged an extra $2 for every taxi or ride-sharing trip they take from 2018 under a proposed levy to assist in the industry’s changes, whereas NSW residents would pay only $1 extra.

But Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said it would be up to service providers to choose how they would pass on the fee to consumers, which would run for eight years.

Mr Cowie, who has a business degree from CSU, said the levy was unfair to cabbies and punters.

“Only Uber benefits from this decision and the Andrews government is going to have blood on its hands, one way or the other, dollar-wise,” he said.

The Victorian government also appointed a commissioner for disability services to the Taxi Services Commission and put aside $25 million to improve access. 

Uber-like ride-sharing service app My County Taxi launched last month on the Border, which founder Mitch Knorr said was progressing despite a few technical mishaps.