Gold Coast Light Rail: Surprise solution to violence, fare evasion
A surprise solution has been pitched to solving violent crimes and fare evasion on the light rail, just days after an early morning assault. SEE THE PROPOSAL
Police & Courts
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A VIOLENT alleged assault on the Gold Coast light rail has reignited calls for uniformed public transport marshals to be station on trams.
The “extremely disturbing and also upsetting” Saturday morning incident, during which a 63-year-old woman was stomped and punched, is the latest in a series of violent occurrence around the tram route.
Robina councillor Hermann Vorster, who two years ago called for ramped-up security on the trams to combat crime and fare evasion, has written to Transport Minister Mark Bailey in the wake of the Saturday incident to demand action.
“At the time, you dismissed the idea saying [my] suggestion to duplicate existing resources with a new, snappily dressed quasi-police force would not be effective and you also said there were ‘clearly enough eyes’ on the network. Respectfully, Minister, you have it wrong,” he said.
“Just this month, a man is alleged to have punched and stomped on the head of a 63-year-old woman after he boarded the tram near Griffith University – a mother has been bashed in front of her children at a train station.
“There have been brawls of up to 50 youths involving knives and then there is the drug paraphernalia littered around stations and stops. It begs the question, just how much is going unreported?
“With the light rail snaking its way toward Burleigh, I firmly believe it is time for your department to revisit its position on my suggestion lest the anti-social behaviour on public transport compound the emerging night-time safety issues there.”
Fare evasion is costing the state about $25m each year.
In 2020, Mr Bailey dismissed the need for tram marshals and insisted there were “clearly enough eyes” on the network, citing TransLink’s senior network officers, Queensland Rail’s Railway Squad and Queensland Police.
Following the alleged incident on Saturday, East Brisbane man Cayden Jay Mollone, 20, was charged with serious assault and attempted robbery.
He was refused bail in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday. The matter was adjourned to November 17.
A TransLink spokesman insisted the state government was committed to the safety and wellbeing of its passengers.
“TransLink employs a frontline operational workforce of 53 Senior Network Officers (SNOs) who work alongside 30 G:link Customer Service Officers and other staff employed by bus delivery partners across the South East Queensland public transport network,” he said.
“Gold Coast Light Rail Authorised Officers maintain vigilance across the network, both on-board trams and at tram stations during the day and night. All trams and stations are equipped with rapid response emergency help buttons and over 300 CCTV security cameras are available across the entire light rail network.”
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