Bus driver union calls for cashless systems in the wake of robbery

Bus drivers are no longer reporting assaults as concerns are falling on deaf ears, the Transport Worker Union claims.

New qconnect bus link service is announced for Townsville. Minister for Transport, John Mickel (L) with Wayne Patch, Managing Director of Transit Australia (parent company of Sunbus).

BUS drivers are no longer reporting assaults as concerns are falling on deaf ears, the Transport Workers’ Union claims.

It comes as a teenage girl, 14, was charged after allegedly robbing a Sunbus driver, with the incident prompting calls for cashless systems to stop opportunistic crime.

Police said it appeared the girl grabbed the cash tin as she exited the bus about 12.30pm on Tuesday.

“The female bus driver tried to stop the teenager and during the wrestle with the girl her glasses broke and she also sustained some superficial lacerations to her arm,” police said.

The girl fled but was caught shortly after, police said.

It’s the second bus driver assault in two weeks.

According to figures by Sunbus, there were four physical assaults on Townsville bus drivers in the 12 months to September 2019.

Transport Workers’ Union Queensland branch secretary Peter Biagini said assaults against bus drivers were completely unacceptable.

“Our members have given up on reporting assaults against them to TransLink because their concerns are falling on deaf ears,” he said.

“We need a transition to cashless systems in order to stop these opportunistic theft attempts.

“Bus operators have access to funds to install barriers for drivers that will protect them at work and need to implement these as soon as possible.”

A Sunbus Townsville spokesman said the company had zero tolerance towards any form of anti-social or criminal behaviour on buses.

“All buses are equipped with multiple CCTV cameras and two-way radio communication between drivers and our operations team to notify relevant authorities if an incident occurs,” the spokesman said.

“Sunbus is committed to working with government and industry to review safety measures to protect drivers. We are also committed to working with QPS to address anti-social and criminal behaviour.”

The charged teenage girl will be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.

Originally published as Bus driver union calls for cashless systems in the wake of robbery