Northern beaches: Protests against private companies invited to take over public buses
Community concerns are growing about a move to allow a private company to take over State Transit bus services on the northern beaches.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Man charged with pushing trolley into pack of cyclists
- L-plater hits 150km/h in police chase across northern beaches
Noisy protests against a move to allow private companies to run public bus services were held across the northern beaches today.
State Transit drivers and supporters rallied outside NSW Government Liberal MP’s electorate offices at Manly, Dee Why and Mona Vale as part of a citywide action to halt the franchising push.
Private companies have been invited to tender for the contract to operate government buses in Region 8 — the northern beaches and part of the north shore — on behalf of the government.
But critics have slammed the move as “privatisation” that would end up with unprofitable routes being dropped, fewer bus stops and jobs being lost.
It is understood the awarding of the contract is scheduled for November with the new operator taking over services in mid-2021.
The government has repeatedly said that the move would improve customer service and on-time running as well as provide better value for money for taxpayers.
Today’s demonstrations outside the electorate offices of Wakehurst MP Brad Hazzard, Manly MP James Griffin and Rob Stokes, MP for Pittwater, were held in the lead-up to a debate in
NSW Parliament late this afternoon on the decision to tender out buses on the northern beaches, in the eastern suburbs and in the Ryde/Willoughby area.
Bus division secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW, David Babineau, said the privatisation of Sydney’s buses would lead to the closure of some bus routes and bus stops and would severely impact workers.
“The NSW Government is attempting to push through its shocking privatisation plans at the expense of commuters and workers,” Mr Babineau said. “We’ve seen what happens when our transport services are privatised – bus stops close, routes are cut and workers and commuters miss out. We can’t afford to let that happen throughout Sydney.
“The public has been banned from attending the parliamentary debate on this important issue, so instead we’re taking our protests to the streets and to the offices of local MPs who are standing by and allowing commuter services to be cut.”
At the Dee Why rally outside Mr Hazzard’s office, State Transit driver, Lance Feather, said he feared for his job security and the type of service commuters would receive if the region was handed over to a private operator.
The protesters wanted Mr Hazzard to sign a “Public Transport Pledge” to keep bus services in government hands.
“State Transit is a fantastic organisation to work for and looks after its employees,” Mr Feather, based at the Brookvale depot, said.
“But if we are taken over by a private company I worry about it dropping services which only a small number of school kids use for example.
“It’s a public service and should stay that way.”
Transport for NSW has invited transport operators from around the world to register their interest in operating the bus services.
“As part of this process, the government would retain control of all assets including buses and depots, and continue to be responsible for setting fares and regulating routes,” a spokesman said earlier this year.
“Already, private operators run services for the NSW Government in 11 of our 14 bus regions in the Sydney Metropolitan area.”