Delaney Myers: Bus and Coach Association CEO on abuse against public transport workers becoming an aggravating factor in court

There’s a belief that cracking down on abuse against public transport workers will help address a wider societal issue. 

The Government is set to make it an aggravating factor in court after noting a worrying increase in abuse to staff and passengers. 

Local authorities will soon be able to apply for funding to make safety improvements, including safety screens and real-time CCTV monitoring. 

Bus and Coach Association chief executive Delaney Myers told Mike Hosking it's unacceptable. 

She says the ramifications on them are significant and they need more help to keep people safe. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Later social ill we have to crack down on appears
to be the business of our behavior. On public transport.
We have what the Justice Minister calls a worrying increase
in the tax and buses and taxi drivers as well
as trains. Of course, so the offense will become an
aggravating factor in court. Other safety measures will also receive funding.
Apparently the Bus and Coach Association BOS Delaney Myers is
with us. Good morning to you.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good morning, Mike.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
I'm very well. Indeed, how would outside of what I've
just described by way of an intro, how would you
describe the vibe on a bus or a train at
the moment in terms of interacting with the public, better, worse,
no different that.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
We're certainly seeing problems, Mike. And it's not just violence,
you know, we've got threats, aggression and a particular racial
salus going on and it's just unacceptable. No one should
be abused in their workplace.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
Quite correct? And is this getting worse than the sense
that because there's seemingly a no consequences, people just take
the mickey.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Look, it is getting worse. And look, we know many
of these incidents involve people who are in fringes of
society with mental health and drug and alcohol shoes. So
you know, for us, we're not seeing this as just
a public transport problem. It's a complex societal issue. But
you know, the ramifications on us at the end of
it delivering public transport services are significant and we do
need more help to keep people safe.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
In making it an aggravating factor in court, it would
need to go to court, which would mean something would
need to happen when the event, does anything ever happen?

Speaker 2 (01:22):
Look, it does tend to vary. All of the buses
are equipped with CCTV, so any incidents that do occur
are court on camera. And you know, of course, like
anything else, this comes down to relative priority for police.
But we have been experiencing good support from police when
incidents occur.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
Okay, I'm when we talk about these safety measures being funded,
What are these safety measures and what do you need?

Speaker 2 (01:45):
So one of the things that are being funded and
we support our moves to install safety screens for drivers.
It is unfortunate things have come to this because most
of our passengers love engaging you know, most of the
drivers love engaging with the passengers, but we do need
to keep them safe. And a physical barrier is part
of that, but it doesn't help stop the thark, the
threats and the racial abuse or keep passengers safe. So
really what we'd like to see in addition is increased

(02:08):
personnel support on buses because we know that the presence
of authority figures helps to moderate behavior.

Speaker 1 (02:13):
And that's all about cost, and the moment you do cost,
you got trouble, don't you.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Absolutely, you know, without a doubt, increased personnel is increased money,
and really it comes down to the investment priorities. But
we think it's critical to keep that workplace safe and
to keep users of public transport safe.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Well see Delanney, appreciate your time to Loney Myers, who's
the Bus and Coach Association boss.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
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