Urgent changes to bus driver licenses to fix shortage

The NSW government will overhaul licence requirements and slash red tape to boost bus driver recruitment, after urgent recommendations from the Bus Industry Taskforce.

It will be cheaper and simpler for aspiring bus drivers to get behind the wheel as the government moves to fix Sydney’s crippling driver shortage.

Minimum licence requirements will be overhauled and red tape slashed as the NSW government is urged to recruit more than 500 bus drivers for Sydney alone.

The Bus Industry Taskforce was created by the new Labor government in a bid to fix Sydney’s bus woes.

The taskforce is looking at the efficiency of privatised bus services, the driver shortage and current bus timetables.

The first emergency recommendations of the newly established body have been delivered to the state government, with the taskforce finding driver shortages are crippling the network.

Sydney’s bus driver shortage is creating transport woes.

In a letter to Transport Minister Jo Haylen, Taskforce chair John Lee said service cancellations and delays in Sydney were a direct result of staff shortages.

“After less than four weeks of investigation, it is already apparent that there are acute and significant issues relating to bus service cancellations in some regions, the reliability of supply of bus services to cover planned and emergency rail, light rail and ferry service replacement and additional service to cover major events,” the letter said.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen. Picture: NCA NewsWire Monique Harmer

The NSW government will adopt three key emergency measures to reduce delays in the approval of driver authorities and encourage more drivers to apply.

Prospective bus drivers over the age of 25 previously had to hold a full Australian licence for 12 months to qualify.

Now the minimum requirements will be slashed to include anyone who holds a full licence, regardless of how long they have held it for.

The applicant would need to have held a probationary, open, restricted, provisional or probationary Australian or nationally recognised overseas driver's licence for at least 3 years.

The current $70 application fee will be waived, and the amount of paperwork will be slashed.

The taskforce will also hold an emergency summit on June 21 to consult with operators, drivers, unions and other stakeholders to work on solutions to issues within the sector.

“The shortage of bus drivers has had a massive impact on bus services right across the state. If we can begin to fix the driver shortage, we’ll be well on the way to fixing our bus services,” Transport Minister Jo Haylen said.

“We will make it simpler and cheaper to become a driver and get on the road, while ensuring the same standard of safety and service for our passengers is in place.”

The taskforce found more than 500 driver vacancies in the Greater Sydney region, and noted commuters were often frustrated by lack of services.

“The key finding at this early stage is that most service failures are a direct result of driver shortages, and that needs to be urgently addressed,” chair John Lee said.

“For example, I went on Seek.com and found over 130 vacant positions in less than 3 weeks.

“This is a massive issue that needs resources and focus to fix.”