Transport Workers Union NT Secretary Sam McIntosh says a new stream of police, Public Safety Officers, will give drivers and passengers more confidence and help keep them safe on the bus network, with greater powers to arrest people

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We know the transit safety officers are set to be
scrapped with the people in those roles transitioning to a
new stream of police dedicated to tackling anti social behavior.
So the new police public safety officer is going to
focus on buses, public housing, shopping centers, bottle shops, events
and to other public areas. The new approach is set

(00:21):
to take effect from next year and is aimed at
freeing up police to crack down on crime. Now joining
me on the line for their take on these changes
is the Transport Workers Union's Northern Territory secretary Sam McIntosh.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Good morning Sam, Good morning Katie, thanks for having me on.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
Yeah, good to have you on the show. Sam, tell
me what do you think this might mean for bus drivers?

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Well, we really welcome the intention behind this. I mean
our drivers, as you know, Katie, they put up with
a hell of a lot just going about doing an
important job, a tough job. They put up way too
much on the road, some terrible, some terrible, terrible incidents
that we hear about constantly. And so what will this
mean for drivers? I think it'll give us all more confidence,

(01:09):
drivers more confidence that they're being backed in. But also
passengers more confidence, because at the end of the day,
we want people on our network. We've got a great
bus network, we want people using it. But people've got
to feel safe, and people actually have to be safe.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, you spot on. I mean, they need to be
safe on the buses. And we've heard so many times
over the years of terrible incidents unfolding. I mean, we
know there's other safety measures that have had to be
put in place to keep our bus drivers safe. I mean,
are you worried though, that you know, with the scrapping
of the transit safety officers, that it may mean that

(01:46):
you don't have people as highly visible on those buses,
or are you hoping that this new stream is actually
going to, you know, to be able to do more
than what you saw the transit officers do.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
Well. The hope is certainly that they will be able
to do more. And I was listening to some of
the messages you're receiving earlier, Kadian and some of those
questions and concerns of right, you know, we've got to
make sure that the current level of transit officers are
reflected in the new police stream of this so that

(02:19):
we don't actually have we certainly don't have a lesser
number of people patrolling the network. Actually it's increased. They're
more visible. The visibility on the bus networks really important
because you know, the upshot is we don't want any incidents.
Our drivers, our members, they just want to be able

(02:39):
to do their work safely every day and go home
to their families. We don't want any incidents. And so
having a uniformed presence across the network, that's going to
be powerful and people will know that these individuals who currently,
let me say, do a terrific job are really they
do a terrific job. They're going to be trained, they're

(03:01):
going to be part of this police stream, and they'll
have some of the powers that are really important, including
the power of for rest. So from the perspective of
the bus network, we welcome measures that are going to
make our drivers and the public safer. We've got to
make sure that during the transition the visibility and the

(03:22):
presence is kept up, that's for sure. But on the whole,
I think the intent here is to make the network
safer and we welcome that now.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
In times of how things have been going at the
moment for our bus drivers. Mate, have you seen I mean,
are they least incidents on our buses at the moment?
How have things been since we saw those The driver's
screen sort of fast tracked through as well.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
Still incidents, Katie, I mean, this is an ongoing battle
for us. It's a fight that as a union we
take up every day. There's antisocial behavior out there that
isn't accept It's never ever acceptable, and with hearing reports
that it still exists. And that's why we welcome the
announcement yesterday because clearly more visibility is needed. Some of

(04:11):
the initiatives that we've been pushing for and that are
starting to be rolled out, they are welcome. The screens,
I think there's a way to go yet. Different models
of buses might need enhanced upgrades, but screens are positive.
The announcement around the interchanges that's positive as well, because

(04:32):
we want people using the network for what it's meant
for going to and from places. This is not a
place to congregate, it's not a place to make trouble.
The network needs to be used for its purpose. So
moving moving these interchanges to more appropriate areas we think

(04:52):
that'll make our network safer. So we're on that journey.
But as you pointed out the number of if your
listeners have pointed out, there's a way to go here
in terms of the detail, and we'd love to be
involved in that to make sure that we get the
outcomes that we all want.

Speaker 1 (05:10):
So, Sam, before I let you go, I mean, when
you look at those plans for the changes for the
bus interchange and also sort of taking into account those
fares are going to remain free, I mean, do you
think those things make a bit of a difference. Do
you think, you know, do you think they are going
to hopefully see a decrease in antisocial behavior?

Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah, I do. I think they do make a difference.
We know that carrying money on buses was a real problem.
It was a huge problem for our drivers because they
were suddenly the subject of attack. You know, they were
a group of workers who were carrying tender and there
were real incidents and are extremely dangerous, and so we

(05:53):
pushed for the buses to not be carrying fares. That
will make a difference. It continues to make a difference,
but as I said, this is a journey and we've
got to all be fully committed to making sure that
the network works for passengers and our members who do
a hell of a job every day. Really, it is

(06:14):
a difficult job. They do it with care and diligence,
but they deserve to be safe and so these measures
they will make a difference. But as a union, what
we want to do is continue to be involved in
the conversation and when I say a unit, I'm in
our drivers their voice is critical to this. They're on
the front line of it. They're seeing what's happening every day,

(06:36):
so let's continue to bring them into the conversation so
that we can continue coming up with solutions that make
an appreciable difference on the ground.

Speaker 1 (06:45):
Well. Transport Workers' Union in Secretary Sam McIntosh, thanks so
much for your time this morning, mate.

Speaker 2 (06:52):
Thanks Katie, appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (06:53):
Thank you.