CANBERRA BUS DRIVERS STOP WORK OVER ESCALATING ASSAULTS, SAFETY FAILURES BY ACT GOVERNMENT

Hundreds of Canberra bus drivers have walked off the job this morning in response to rising assaults and inaction from the ACT Government and Transport Canberra around improving safety.

More than 40 assaults on drivers are reported each month, with workers detailing abuse ranging from having bags of rotten fish dumped on them, full cans of soda thrown at their heads, physical violence, being spat on and verbal abuse.

The Transport Workers Union of NSW/ACT (TWU) is calling on top bureaucrats from Transport Canberra to front drivers in depots and explain why they continue to delay the implementation of crucial safety measures.

The ACT Government has failed to provide workers with certainty on when increased transit police patrols, better driver security screens, de-escalation training and giving drivers the ability to refuse service to abusive passengers would be implemented.

TWU NSW/ACT State Secretary Richard Olsen said it was unacceptable Transport Canberra and the ACT Government continued to sit on their hands while drivers were being abused daily.

“These safety measures were approved, so why the delay? Our drivers deserve to know.”

“Canberra drivers face daily threats to their safety—more than 40 assaults a month are not just statistics; they’re lives impacted by a toxic, dangerous work environment. The ACT Government and Transport Canberra need to wake up to this crisis and act now before it gets worse”

“The voices of workers can’t be ignored any longer. We need transit police on buses, secure screens, and the tools for drivers to protect themselves, and we need them now. Every delay puts drivers and passengers at further risk.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Adam Jacobson – 0405 625 208 / adam.jacobson@twunsw.org.au