Gold Coast bus driver Johnny Po calls for more protection after ‘garbage’ treatment from passengers

A Gold Coast bus driver is calling for more protection, saying he and other drivers are treated like “garbage” by passengers.

A GOLD Coast bus driver is calling for more protection, saying he and other drivers are treated like “garbage” by abusive passengers who regularly refuse to pay fares.

Johnny Po, who has been driving on the Gold Coast for over a decade, has written to the State Government calling for compliance officers on bus routes to enforce fare payment.

Mr Po, who says he has been spat on and verbally abused, accused the Government of letting drivers down.

“Bus companies do what they can but there is a duty of care. We are not a security service,” he said.

Bus drivers are reporting abuse from passengers. Picture by Scott Fletcher

“You get smacked on the side of the head, you get spat on and all you can do is ignore them and press the fare evade button.

“We can’t do anything to deal with people disobeying the rules. We can’t engage with an abusive passenger. Something needs to happen.”

Mr Po has written to Transport Minister Mark Bailey and every Gold Coast state MP about the issue.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR JUST $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS

He called for increased security at night to allow drivers to eject adult fare evaders, and a school program in which every child receives a free bus pass that can be used outside of school hours.

“Drivers are tired of being trampled on by both the general public and their elected government. Lip service is not the answer,” Mr Po said.

Minister Bailey last month said he had instructed TransLink to hire up to 16 new Senior Network Officers (SNOs) to add to the current pool of 55 officers that patrol all modes of public transport.

Police have in previous years ridden the buses with drivers to prevent attacks.

“Officers handed out more than 17,000 fines for public transport ticketing offences last financial year, but it’s not possible to have SNOs on every bus, train, tram or ferry.

IN OTHER NEWS

Alpaca dead after Coast man fails to feed pets

TV show takes over Gold Coast beach

Have you seen Honeybear the frenchie?

“Our drivers do a tremendous job transporting thousands of commuters across the state every day and we want them to feel safe when they come to work,” Mr Bailey said.

“Any act of violence against bus drivers or anyone travelling on that network is unacceptable.

A round table on how to discourage fare evasion and address associated behavioural issues will be held this month.