Exclusive: For many Australians, the shutdown of Menulog will make ordering a late-night kebab on a Friday more challenging.

However, for Menulog drivers such as 29-year-old Alexi Edwards, the closure means a significant loss of income, making it difficult to make ends meet.

Edwards, who has been involved in gig work intermittently for nearly ten years, is one of thousands of delivery drivers facing financial hardship due to Menulog’s exit.

The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) acknowledges the substantial impact on drivers like Edwards and Collyer, but their capacity to assist is limited.

The union is advocating for new regulations to ensure that the food delivery industry benefits both customers and workers, emphasizing the urgency of these changes before the situation deteriorates further.

“This development underscores a point the union has been stressing for quite some time,” Edwards remarked.

“The transport reforms have come too late, the minimum standards order is happening too late, and we lost the only platform that was Australian-made and doing the right thing.”

Collyer is also worried for some of his customers.

He regularly delivers meals and groceries to the elderly, aged care facilities, people living with disabilities, and other Aussies who rely on delivery to get fed.

He fears Menulog’s exit will make it harder for them to access food delivery and could see rival platforms hike prices, making the service they rely on less affordable.