[lukevdp]

The problem is that taxi plates were so expensive and the fees went to the government as a requirement to be able to drive a taxi. A taxi driver that spent 100k to the government for an exclusive right to drive passengers should be compensated by the government when they break their end of the deal.

[sanswork]

They weren't paying for the exclusive right to drive passengers though. Hire car drivers could already do that. They were paying for the exclusive right to pick up people off the street without prior arrangement which they already have.

[wycx]

Was that 100k to the NSW govt, or 100k on the secondary market?

I am not sure the govt should compensate beyond the initial sale price. Everything else is speculative inflation.