Rather than paying a per-vehicle licence fee "Uber would support the imposition of a moderate platform licence fee", the submission reveals. Sources have confirmed to Fairfax Media that Uber floated a similar idea for Victoria during a recent industry forum.

The proposal would see Uber paying a flat "platform licence" fee to a regulator that sets minimum safety and service standards. Uber then regulates its own network. Industry sources have said Uber's suggested fee could be as low as $10,000. Meanwhile taxi drivers and operators pay as much as $22,000 per year per vehicle in Victoria, and $13,000 in WA.

If the WA government were to adopt Uber's proposal it would potentially devalue existing taxi licences, but also shift regulation from the state to the platform operator – Uber.

The WA Transport Minister, Dean Nalder, recently released a green paper looking to reform the on-demand transport industry. His department has received 682 responses so far and the minister plans to make changes "as soon as possible", according to a spokeswoman.

Uber's submission argues a "streamlined regulatory system should allocate to platforms the responsibility for monitoring drivers, vehicles and passengers...Platforms facilitate the connection between rider and driver-partner. Platforms market the service. Platforms are responsible for matching supply with demand. It is appropriate that any licensing fee allocates economic risk to the platform rather than to driver-partners."

A spokeswoman for Uber in Australia said globally, some governments had waived licence fees, while others charged technology platforms a nominal fee "that covers basic administrative costs".

"We would expect every government to make their decisions based on safety and what is in the best interests of consumers, not in creating economic barriers to entry to appease incumbent industries. We did not suggest any licensing fees at the Ministerial Forum," she added.

Victoria's Taxi Services Commission declined to comment on Uber's idea. The Victorian government was yet to announce any changes to existing taxi regulation since hosting the industry advisory forum earlier this year.

"We are not going to rush to a decision that doesn't work for passengers or the industry," a spokesman for Public Transport Minister, Jacinta Allan, said.

A spokeswoman for the Victorian Taxi Association said regulation should be created through consultation "not a list of demands outlining what any commercial entity is willing and not willing to comply with."

Uber's WA submission also argues against special training, licensing or testing of ride-sharing drivers, saying general driving licences and GPS navigation were sufficient.

"To insist that commercial drivers should be trained and tested again on their knowledge of basic road rules is an admission that the original licensing system is not adequate."

UberX drivers use private cars to carry passengers who book rides through the Uber smartphone app. Regulators have tried but so far failed to charge any UberX drivers in Australia for driving a vehicle for commercial purposes without a proper licence. Several state governments have started reviewing existing transportation laws because of smartphone-based ride-sharing's disruption and popularity among consumers.