Two aggressive attacks on Brisbane bus drivers every day

Shock data has revealed at least two aggressive attacks on city buses every day, after horrifying footage surfaced of a man allegedly assaulting a driver. HAVE YOUR SAY

Brisbane’s bus drivers are enduring more than two aggressive attacks each day while on the job amid a staggering rise in violence across the city’s network.

New data has also revealed a push to protect bus drivers by installing half screen protectors has led to an increase in bad commuters throwing items — like hot liquids — at them.

Bus drivers are calling for more security like full screen protectors, and harsher penalties for repeat offenders.

Brisbane City Council bus drivers endured 817 incidents of abuse — including verbal and physical — in 2024 according to data provided by the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU).

This is a 57 per cent increase from 2018, when there were 521 recorded incidents.

The shock data comes after horrifying footage surfaced of a man allegedly assaulting a Brisbane bus driver by punching him repeatedly.

RTBU secretary Tom Brown said there needed to be more security vehicles patrolling bus routes and extra security guards.

“Since 2018 we’ve had increased security measures, but we are calling for the full screen protectors,” he said.

Echibaketa Byamungu, charged with allegedly assaulting a bus driver, leaves the Brisbane watch house. Picture: John Gass

“The partial screens, they’re not the solution, in fact, they’re no protection at all.

“Spitting and throwing the objects just becomes the easier option to assault a driver. It’s generally in the form of a liquid.”

Since the half screen protectors were put in, the amount of objects being thrown at drivers increased from 3 in 2018 to 23 in 2024.

Verbal abuse increased from 353 incidents to 575 in the same time frame. Extreme verbal abuse —including shouting, screaming and punching the bus — increased from 91 incidents to 159.

Mr Brown claimed many of the incidents of aggression were perpetrated by repeat offenders.

Mr Brown said the rise in liquid being thrown at drivers was concerning because of the incident in 2016 where a bus driver was killed after being doused in fuel and set on fire by a passenger.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the council did not tolerate violence or aggression and signalled he would be advocating for the state government to boost frontline enforcement and ban repeat offenders so “drivers and passengers can feel safe”.

Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said incidents on public transport were “taken extremely seriously”.

But he argued there were already mechanisms in place for banning people from using the public transport network in the state.

“To support the safety of bus drivers and passengers, TransLink employs Senior Network Officers (SNOs) and provides funding to delivery partners for them to employ Network Officers (NOs),” he said.

“Violent behaviour will not be tolerated and TransLink continues to work with delivery partners, QPS and key stakeholders to prioritise safety for bus drivers, frontline workers and the travelling public.”

Originally published as Two aggressive attacks on Brisbane bus drivers every day