Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Northern Territory police are calling for information after an
attempted robbery and assault on a bus driver in Malden
on the weekend. This incident happened at around six pm
on Sunday. Police received reports that a large group had
attempted to rob a driver of a bus traveling along
Tilston Avenue in Molden.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Now, it's not the first time that.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
We've spoken about assaults on bus drivers or on the
bus network. On the line to talk more about this
is Barry Norton from the Transport Workers Union. Good morning, Barry,
Morning Katy. Thanks so much for your time this morning. Barry,
this sounds like a nasty incident. According to the police,
this group have allegedly engaged in violent, anti social behavior,
(00:43):
resulting in the driver being assaulted and the bus being damaged.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Barry, what do you know of the incident?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Basically, that's what I know as well. I don't know
to what extent the driver was aboot or what damage
was on the bus. So basically, you've got to remember
that the bus company always keeps the sort of information
very close to its heart. They don't let out. I've
(01:14):
been talking to bus drivers this morning and only one
of them had heard anything about it. And basically what
you've just said is the information that's been put out
and that is by the police, not by the bus company.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Goodness may so, So you have been out this morning
talking to different bus drivers, Barry, what have they said
to you? Then when you've told them of what's going on.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
We've had this conversation before cases where we've been discussing
the antisocial behavior on the bus network. And one of
the things that is apparent is when you realize that
there are thousands and I'm not just saying you know,
tens or hundreds or there are literally thousands of antis
for incidents on the bus network every year. So a
(02:06):
lot a lot is not reported, a lot is reported,
and nothing seems to be done about it. Consequently, a
lot of the drivers are very fatalistic about this and
simply so, well, nothing changes, nothing's going to change. The
government's not doing anything, company's not doing anything. The only
(02:28):
people that seem to be doing and something are the
transit officers. They are doing sterling work. There's only a
handful of them, and they are running from pillar to
posts putting out spot fires and sometimes full on conflications.
But they're very limited resource. The police, I imagine they're
(02:50):
doing what they can, but they're also understaffed.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Well, the fact is, you know, the police and all
the transit officers can be on every bus all of
the time. But it sounds like this is a real
worry and it has been for a while. Barry, how
often would you say that there are assaults on drivers?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
It's difficult to say. The actual facts and figures are
not put out for public consumption. Every now and again
in the Bus Consultative Committee, the teos and the police
will discuss it, but this is just a sort of
general general discussion. You can also include spitting as an assault.
(03:40):
This is common. Is this happens multiple times a day?
It is?
Speaker 1 (03:47):
It is, Well, it's disgusting, it's disgusting behavior that shouldn't happen.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Well, absolutely, But how are we going to change that behavior?
Is anybody's guests. But this is also brings us back
to what we've been calling for, the union has been
calling for for the longest time, is complete driver safety strengths,
so that they cannot be spat on, they can't be reached,
they can't be got to, they can't be assaulted attempted
(04:14):
robberies can't happen. And we've been in discussion with the
company and the government for at least two years and
nothing has happened.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
So where is this at Barry? Why are they not
being installed?
Speaker 1 (04:31):
You know, when we've got situations like what is unfolded
over the course of the weekend, what's the hold up?
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I think it's I think certainly with the company as
they've adopted the ostriche approach, and that is just sticking
their head in the sand and hoping it'll go away.
Of course it's not. It's not getting better Taty, it's
getting worse. And all of the drivers will be saying this, Barry, can.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
You tell me or can you explain to me any
recent incidents that have occurred that you're aware of.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Oh, there was an incident yesterday where a young girl
was assaulted on the bus at six thirty in the morning.
There was yes last week there was an incident of someone,
an elderly man, who flashed a young schoolgirl on the bus.
The driver was able to get him off the bus,
(05:30):
but only after he'd been alerted by other girls that
this was going on. Oh my goodness, Oh absolutely, I mean,
there are two aspects to this. Obviously, for us, if
we can get the driver absolutely safe and unconditionally safe,
there's just nothing that can happen to them. That's step one,
(05:50):
and it's actually an easy six. It costs a bit
of money, a bit of thought has to go into it.
And then obviously the second one just traveling public. Just
as interested in keeping the traveling public safe. Yes, it
is a war zone out there. I get reports on
a daily basis of I thinks that can it's just unbelievable, Katie.
(06:16):
I'm sorry it.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Look it sounds that way.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
And you know, as a parent of a young girl,
thinking about a young girl being assaulted on the bus yesterday,
that example that you've just given from your understanding, was
she okay?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I believe so yeah, I'm led to believe it was
a fight between school girls that I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
I mean, then though, in addition to that, an elderly
man flashing a young school girl again utterly disgraceful and
disgusting stuff that our children should not have to be
experiencing and our bus drivers shouldn't have to be dealing
with on a daily basis. Barry, we know that towards
(07:00):
the end of last year, but also earlier this year
there had been some further announcements from the Minister for Transport,
Eva Lawler around those transit safety officers. Also, you know,
discussions about improving the safety for those that travel on buses.
You know the discussion as well about the OC spray.
(07:22):
Is any of that making a difference.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
To date, No, the transit officers. I think we're discussing
about an improvement of numbers of two and they are,
like I said before, they're running from pillar to posts.
There's that much going on. As soon as they've finished
one thing, that's another five spot files to put out.
(07:48):
I imagine the police are trying to do as much
as they can. But I would think that the police
would be prioritizing things and something like an attempted robbery
and assault on the bus would obviously be high on
the list. Spitting I think that would be probably pretty
low on their list, although of course it is an assault.
(08:08):
How well that would be prosecuted I don't think to
date that it ever has been so. I think in
many ways there's a lot of blitz service being paid
to safety on the bus network.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Barrier.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
That's Unfortunately, I am.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Going to have to get ready to wrap up, but
I do want to ask you, you know, today, after
what happened over the course of the weekend, after those
two incidents that you've just told me about over the
last couple of days, what is your message right now
for the Northern Territory government when it comes to the
safety of bus drivers but also when it comes to
(08:47):
the safety of passengers on our bus network.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
First of all, the governments and the company and they
have to work in unison on this, have to recognize
the level of the safety threat on their bus network
and they have to actually do something about it. The
first thing would be to implement driver protection screens and
the second would be to do something about the antisocial
(09:16):
behavior on the buses.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Do you think the fact that people can ride for
free is having an impact in a negative Why no one.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Can ride for three three and a lot of people
are riding for three But from the beginning of this
year bus fairs were being taken again. That's ride for
Free finished on the first of January. But there's X
number of occasions where drivers say to me, you know,
five or six guys will get on, or five or
six people whatever, and they'll just walk straight through. They
(09:48):
won't pay, and that they're afraid to say, excuse me, lads,
or excuse me people. You have to pay, because usually
it's the that leads to an location.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Oh, Barry, it sounds like a really tough situation for
our bus drivers, mate.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Thank you very much for your time this morning.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Thank you for giving us a better understanding of exactly
what is going on. And I know we've got plenty
of bus drivers that listen to this show, so a
big thank you to each and every one of them
that still front up and go to work every day
despite the fact that they are in the words that
you've just said, they're feeling scared at different times based
on some of those different situations that they're in.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
No, this is no exaggeration, Katie. It is like a
war zone out there sometimes.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Barry, thank you so much for having a chat with
me today. It is very much appreciated.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Great, Thank you, Katy.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Thank you
The Northern Territory police are calling for information after an
attempted robbery and assault on a bus driver in Malden
on the weekend. This incident happened at around six pm
on Sunday. Police received reports that a large group had
attempted to rob a driver of a bus traveling along
Tilston Avenue in Molden.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Now, it's not the first time that.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
We've spoken about assaults on bus drivers or on the
bus network. On the line to talk more about this
is Barry Norton from the Transport Workers Union. Good morning, Barry,
Morning Katy. Thanks so much for your time this morning. Barry,
this sounds like a nasty incident. According to the police,
this group have allegedly engaged in violent, anti social behavior,
(00:43):
resulting in the driver being assaulted and the bus being damaged.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Barry, what do you know of the incident?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Basically, that's what I know as well. I don't know
to what extent the driver was aboot or what damage
was on the bus. So basically, you've got to remember
that the bus company always keeps the sort of information
very close to its heart. They don't let out. I've
(01:14):
been talking to bus drivers this morning and only one
of them had heard anything about it. And basically what
you've just said is the information that's been put out
and that is by the police, not by the bus company.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Goodness may so, So you have been out this morning
talking to different bus drivers, Barry, what have they said
to you? Then when you've told them of what's going on.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
We've had this conversation before cases where we've been discussing
the antisocial behavior on the bus network. And one of
the things that is apparent is when you realize that
there are thousands and I'm not just saying you know,
tens or hundreds or there are literally thousands of antis
for incidents on the bus network every year. So a
(02:06):
lot a lot is not reported, a lot is reported,
and nothing seems to be done about it. Consequently, a
lot of the drivers are very fatalistic about this and
simply so, well, nothing changes, nothing's going to change. The
government's not doing anything, company's not doing anything. The only
(02:28):
people that seem to be doing and something are the
transit officers. They are doing sterling work. There's only a
handful of them, and they are running from pillar to
posts putting out spot fires and sometimes full on conflications.
But they're very limited resource. The police, I imagine they're
(02:50):
doing what they can, but they're also understaffed.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Well, the fact is, you know, the police and all
the transit officers can be on every bus all of
the time. But it sounds like this is a real
worry and it has been for a while. Barry, how
often would you say that there are assaults on drivers?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
It's difficult to say. The actual facts and figures are
not put out for public consumption. Every now and again
in the Bus Consultative Committee, the teos and the police
will discuss it, but this is just a sort of
general general discussion. You can also include spitting as an assault.
(03:40):
This is common. Is this happens multiple times a day?
It is?
Speaker 1 (03:47):
It is, Well, it's disgusting, it's disgusting behavior that shouldn't happen.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Well, absolutely, But how are we going to change that behavior?
Is anybody's guests. But this is also brings us back
to what we've been calling for, the union has been
calling for for the longest time, is complete driver safety strengths,
so that they cannot be spat on, they can't be reached,
they can't be got to, they can't be assaulted attempted
(04:14):
robberies can't happen. And we've been in discussion with the
company and the government for at least two years and
nothing has happened.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
So where is this at Barry? Why are they not
being installed?
Speaker 1 (04:31):
You know, when we've got situations like what is unfolded
over the course of the weekend, what's the hold up?
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I think it's I think certainly with the company as
they've adopted the ostriche approach, and that is just sticking
their head in the sand and hoping it'll go away.
Of course it's not. It's not getting better Taty, it's
getting worse. And all of the drivers will be saying this, Barry, can.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
You tell me or can you explain to me any
recent incidents that have occurred that you're aware of.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Oh, there was an incident yesterday where a young girl
was assaulted on the bus at six thirty in the morning.
There was yes last week there was an incident of someone,
an elderly man, who flashed a young schoolgirl on the bus.
The driver was able to get him off the bus,
(05:30):
but only after he'd been alerted by other girls that
this was going on. Oh my goodness, Oh absolutely, I mean,
there are two aspects to this. Obviously, for us, if
we can get the driver absolutely safe and unconditionally safe,
there's just nothing that can happen to them. That's step one,
(05:50):
and it's actually an easy six. It costs a bit
of money, a bit of thought has to go into it.
And then obviously the second one just traveling public. Just
as interested in keeping the traveling public safe. Yes, it
is a war zone out there. I get reports on
a daily basis of I thinks that can it's just unbelievable, Katie.
(06:16):
I'm sorry it.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Look it sounds that way.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
And you know, as a parent of a young girl,
thinking about a young girl being assaulted on the bus yesterday,
that example that you've just given from your understanding, was
she okay?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I believe so yeah, I'm led to believe it was
a fight between school girls that I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
I mean, then though, in addition to that, an elderly
man flashing a young school girl again utterly disgraceful and
disgusting stuff that our children should not have to be
experiencing and our bus drivers shouldn't have to be dealing
with on a daily basis. Barry, we know that towards
(07:00):
the end of last year, but also earlier this year
there had been some further announcements from the Minister for Transport,
Eva Lawler around those transit safety officers. Also, you know,
discussions about improving the safety for those that travel on buses.
You know the discussion as well about the OC spray.
(07:22):
Is any of that making a difference.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
To date, No, the transit officers. I think we're discussing
about an improvement of numbers of two and they are,
like I said before, they're running from pillar to posts.
There's that much going on. As soon as they've finished
one thing, that's another five spot files to put out.
(07:48):
I imagine the police are trying to do as much
as they can. But I would think that the police
would be prioritizing things and something like an attempted robbery
and assault on the bus would obviously be high on
the list. Spitting I think that would be probably pretty
low on their list, although of course it is an assault.
(08:08):
How well that would be prosecuted I don't think to
date that it ever has been so. I think in
many ways there's a lot of blitz service being paid
to safety on the bus network.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Barrier.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
That's Unfortunately, I am.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Going to have to get ready to wrap up, but
I do want to ask you, you know, today, after
what happened over the course of the weekend, after those
two incidents that you've just told me about over the
last couple of days, what is your message right now
for the Northern Territory government when it comes to the
safety of bus drivers but also when it comes to
(08:47):
the safety of passengers on our bus network.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
First of all, the governments and the company and they
have to work in unison on this, have to recognize
the level of the safety threat on their bus network
and they have to actually do something about it. The
first thing would be to implement driver protection screens and
the second would be to do something about the antisocial
(09:16):
behavior on the buses.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Do you think the fact that people can ride for
free is having an impact in a negative Why no one.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Can ride for three three and a lot of people
are riding for three But from the beginning of this
year bus fairs were being taken again. That's ride for
Free finished on the first of January. But there's X
number of occasions where drivers say to me, you know,
five or six guys will get on, or five or
six people whatever, and they'll just walk straight through. They
(09:48):
won't pay, and that they're afraid to say, excuse me, lads,
or excuse me people. You have to pay, because usually
it's the that leads to an location.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Oh, Barry, it sounds like a really tough situation for
our bus drivers, mate.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Thank you very much for your time this morning.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Thank you for giving us a better understanding of exactly
what is going on. And I know we've got plenty
of bus drivers that listen to this show, so a
big thank you to each and every one of them
that still front up and go to work every day
despite the fact that they are in the words that
you've just said, they're feeling scared at different times based
on some of those different situations that they're in.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
No, this is no exaggeration, Katie. It is like a
war zone out there sometimes.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Barry, thank you so much for having a chat with
me today. It is very much appreciated.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Great, Thank you, Katy.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Thank you
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.