Violent assaults on Cairns bus drivers force state to double down on protection
Violent behaviour towards Cairns bus drivers has forced a crackdown on protection, with 22 new buses and 35 existing buses to be armed with cage-like barriers.
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Cairns bus drivers under siege from violent behaviour has forced the state government to crackdown on protection, with buses to be installed with cage-like barriers.
Full driver safety barriers will be installed in all Cairns urban buses (22 new buses and 35 existing buses) to protect Far North drivers as a growing number of aggressive incidents emerge, including a shocking spear attack on a bus driver in Mooroobool earlier this year.
After repeated instances of anti-social behaviour and with recommendations from the Transport Workers Union, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the state government was taking safety “one step further for the Far North” by doubling down on protective measures.
“Our bus drivers are on the frontline getting you from A to B each and every day, but unfortunately they are faced with some pretty scary scenes from time to time,” he said.
“That’s why we’ll be hiring six new network officers for deployment on Cairns buses to help bolster safety and reduce fare evasion.
“They will complement the four customer service officers in Cairns and provide a bus network coverage of close to 30 per cent at any one time.”
The added network officers will join the existing six, with calls for greater protection emerging after an alleged armed robbery in June where two boys threatened a bus driver with a knife in Mount Sheridan.
Granted extended powers, the officers will enforce conditions of travel and may issue infringement notices, including fines, for public transport offences.
Installation work for the protective barriers will begin in November with the creation of door frames, support posts and Perspex, according to Cairns MP Michael Healy.
“We will progressively roll out installation in coming months, with just over half of our buses expected to be completed by the end of the year and the remainder by February,” he said.
“Support has been provided for a proposed barrier design following a risk assessment by Kinetic and consultation with the Transport Workers Union and Workplace Health and Safety Officers.
“Installing barriers is another level of surety we provide to our drivers, in conjunction with other driver and passenger safety measures we take on our network, such as CCTV on all buses and Network Officers riding on our services.”
Transport Workers Union director of organising Jared Abbott said he welcomed the full safety barriers across Cairns which was a “great first step” in improving worker safety.
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Originally published as Violent assaults on Cairns bus drivers force state to double down on protection
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