A Sydney businessman’s viral video accusing taxi drivers at Sydney Airport of behaving like a “mafia” has reignited complaints about refusals of short fares and overcharging, as authorities prepare a trial of a $60 flat rate from the airport to the central business district.
Scott Kuru, a property investment adviser, posted footage on TikTok after exiting the domestic terminal last month, saying drivers refused to take him home because he had three bags and that others were inventing "fixed fares" instead of using meters. "The cab drivers in this city, it's like a mafia. It is like an organised crime gang," he said in the clip, adding that he had been "begging and pleading" with multiple drivers to accept his fare.
Kuru’s video prompted widespread social media reaction, with many users describing similar experiences at the airport, including allegations of inflated fares and drivers refusing short trips. One user wrote that a 25-minute trip from the airport to a harbourside suburb cost $120, and another said a driver in Melbourne attempted to charge $85 for a short wet-weather journey instead of using the meter, while a ride-share ride would have cost substantially less.
Other commenters defended taxi drivers, saying the system of queues and long waits for access to the terminal makes short trips uneconomical. "The cabs have to wait three to four hours to get to the front of the queue. It's why they don't like taking short trips," one wrote.
The state government and regulators say the problem has been persistent. The New South Wales Point to Point Commissioner has received regular complaints about alleged rip-offs involving airport fares, including instances where travellers were charged more than $150 for journeys of roughly 13 kilometres. Since the introduction of a Taxi Fare Hotline in November 2022, more than 1,100 fines have been issued to drivers found to have breached rules.
In response to continuing complaints, the Minns Labor Government announced a 12-month trial of a $60 flat-rate taxi fare from Sydney Airport to the CBD, due to start on Nov. 3. Officials said the measure is intended to curb overcharging and provide greater price certainty for visitors arriving at the city’s airports.
Taxi industry groups have described structural pressures on drivers, including the costs of queueing at terminals, fuel, vehicle maintenance and competition from ride-share services, which can offer lower prices for short trips. Drivers have told media and advocacy groups that long waits at airport ranks reduce the incentive to accept short fares that push them to the back of the queue.
Regulators have continued enforcement activity. The Point to Point Commission has the power to issue fines for fare-related breaches and has pursued enforcement activities alongside consumer-complaint mechanisms such as the hotline. Transport officials said the flat-rate trial will be evaluated on whether it reduces incidents of refusal and overcharging while ensuring an adequate supply of drivers at the airport.
Tourism operators and consumer advocates welcomed steps to increase transparency and reduce the risk of excessive charges for inbound travellers, while saying oversight and enforcement must be sustained. The trial will be monitored for impacts on driver earnings, queue times and the number of consumer complaints.
Kuru’s video highlighted the frustrations of arriving passengers and contributed to renewed public debate about fares and fairness in Sydney’s taxi network. Authorities said consumers should report incidents to the Point to Point Commission and that the flat-rate trial is one of a number of measures aimed at addressing long-standing issues at airport taxi ranks.