Mum fears for daughters safety due to anti-social behaviour on Metro Tasmania buses

A mum fears for her daughter’s safety when travelling to school on Metro Tasmania buses amid concerns over anti-social behaviour on public transport, as a working group ramps up >>

Labor MLC Josh Willie with Samantha Mallinson and daughter, Tara, who are concerned about Metro bus cancellations. Picture: Supplied

Samantha Mallinson relies on public transport to get her daughter to school every day – but she says the recent glut of Metro Tasmania service cancellations has disrupted their lives and she now fears for her child’s safety on the bus.

Ms Mallinson, a TAFE student, said she and her daughter, Tara, a Grade 4 student, regularly caught the bus because it was their only means of transport.

She described the number of service cancellations as “ridiculous”.

“It is almost impossible to get Tara to school on time if the bus doesn’t show up. We rely on Metro as our main form of transport and we are frustrated by the constant cancellations,” she said.

Ms Mallinson said anti-social behaviour on buses was a source of anxiety for her.

“I fear for my safety, I fear for my child’s safety,” she said.

Labor MLC Josh Willie with Samantha Mallinson and daughter, Tara, who are concerned about Metro bus cancellations. Picture: Supplied

Labor transport spokesman Josh Willie reiterated the Opposition’s call for transit officers to be employed on buses and safety screens to be installed to protect drivers from abusive and violent passengers.

“We need a public transport system that is reliable, safe and affordable and [we’re] just not getting it under this Liberal government,” he said.

Metro is prioritising school runs amid the disruption.

Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said he had met with representatives from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union last week and that the government had subsequently agreed to establish a working group to “explore all potential improvements against anti-social behaviour”.

“Issues around recruitment have been a challenge for every Tasmanian bus business, including Metro and no different to a host of other industries in Tasmania,” he said.

“Metro has a recruitment campaign underway right now, with accelerated training.”

Originally published as Mum fears for daughters safety due to anti-social behaviour on Metro Tasmania buses