In light of current incidents across major capital cities like Brisbane, Melbourne, Darwin and Hobart, Australian bus and coach drivers face ever-increasing threats. From verbal abuse to physical violence, it’s just another day in the life of servicing the public.
Antisocial behaviours associated with acts of aggression, intimidation or
destruction negatively impact the quality of life of others. The most harmful, represented by violence, accounts for more than 1.5 million deaths each year worldwide, with many more suffering non-fatal injuries and chronic health problems as a consequence.
With this in mind, you might expect alarm bells to ring in response to bus drivers being at the hard receiving end with growing regularity. Yet they don’t.
Astonishingly, we seem to be at a point where these types of behaviours are becoming socially accepted. In fact, we’re more likely to take our phones out to record them than lend a hand.
Like other transport workers during COVID-19, bus drivers were heavily relied upon as essential. Why, then, have they been relegated so?
Poorly recognised. Poorly compensated. Poorly treated.
Every day, drivers are submitted to the pressures of hitting timetabling targets set by others with little to no understanding of their proper functioning. Meanwhile, modern-day contracts, plagued with a myriad of unfeasible performance measures, lack the rigour to deal with social issues adequately.
The bus and coach industry receives the least in public transport funding, and improvements to infrastructure are almost non-existent. Yet, it’s bus and coach that responds first to each rail delay, weather anomaly, system issue or health crisis to keep the public transport network running.
And when the verbal abuse, spitting and general disrespect from passengers gets too much—coupled with repeated road rage from other road users—it’s the bus driver who is called out for standing their ground.
No one should feel unsafe in their workplace.
Bus drivers provide an essential service and transport over 50% of public transport users to their destination every day. However, they don’t benefit from the same protections as designated essential or frontline workers which set robust deterrents for offenders and make drivers feel safer.
Data collated by the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) shows a sharp rise in incidents, with physical attacks up 80% and verbal abuse up 184% since 2022 in some states.
Working alongside the Transport Workers Union (TWU), the BIC is urging governments to act swiftly in response to rising assaults on bus drivers across the country.
BIC Council Chair Tony Hopkins stated: “These aren’t just statistics—these are real people being put at real risk while providing an essential service to our communities.”
Multi-faceted industry approach.
BIC key stakeholder members have worked with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to simplify the installation of driver safety screens, while a suite of guidance documents and exemption pathways designed to navigate outdated regulations will follow suit.
Speaking on the BIC’s associated lobbying efforts, Hopkins explained: “Though some states have begun installing protective screens, national consistency needs to come to the fore.
“Governments must rally to protect our bus drivers and include future Australian Design Rule (ADR) development as an absolute priority.”
TWU President Richard Olsen weighed in: “Screens are only part of the solution. We’re calling for stronger deterrents as a matter of urgency, such as tougher penalties for assaults on bus drivers across each state and territory.
“We’re also looking for immediate wage increases, reclassification to designate bus drivers as essential workers, a security and infrastructure analysis, plus stronger penalties for violent perpetrators on public transport, not just for drivers but passengers as well.”
The time for action is now. Bus drivers deserve safe workplaces and strong protections.
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Media contact |
Bus Industry Confederation
Andrea Luquesi Scott
T. 02 6247 5990
E. communications@bic.asn.au
