Launceston bus driver attacked by teenagers ‘lucky’ to be alive

Photos have emerged of the swollen face of a bus driver serious injured in Northern Tasmania — where it’s alleged two teens attacked him with a broken bottle.

Union warns bus drivers need safety measures upped after attack in Launceston. File picture.

The state’s bus union is calling for safety measures to be implemented immediately on Tasmanian buses after a ‘near-tragedy’ assault on a Metro driver last week.

The Metro bus driver was driving a route from Mowbray to Launceston on Friday evening when police say he asked two young passengers to exit the bus as “they were drinking alcohol”.

Stopped at Mowbray Hill, police then alleged the pair – a 16- and 17-year-old – assaulted the driver by punching and kicking “and hitting him with a broken bottle”.

One of these hits resulted in a serious injury to the driver’s eye, which Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) Tasmania Branch secretary Byron Cubit said “could have been deadly”.

“The driver is doing well now all things considered, but it was a near-miss, a near-tragedy for this driver,” he said.

“He could have lost an eye or his life and it’s only sheer luck that he is still here today.

“Apart from the physical injuries, he is sure to be in some distress and quite traumatised from this.”

Injuries to the Metro bus driver. Picture: supplied.

Injuries to the Metro bus driver. Picture: supplied.

The driver then drove himself to the Launceston General Hospital after the incident, with police later apprehending and charging the two youths on Sunday in relation to the incident.

Mr Cubit said this is the latest in a long line of violent and anti-social behaviour on buses which has sharply risen post-Covid.

“Bus drivers have been on guard for some time,” he said.

“It’s not about if something will happen anymore, but when.

“We need these safety measures that have been promised to be put in place.”

Mr Cubit said that protective screens and guards that were promised for drivers still weren’t in place.

State government funding was promised in September last year for transit safety officers on buses, but Mr Cubit said their implementation had been held up due to the creation of a training program.

“There’s no excuse for the delay in transit officers,” he said.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union Tasmanian branch secretary Byron Cubit. Picture: Supplied

“We don’t need a death to occur to know that safety measures are needed – this is something we know happens and is continuing.”

A Metro spokesperson said police are investigating the incident and Metro is following its post-incident response process.

“Regarding security screens, Metro has consulted widely with its staff to ensure that the screens are as safe as practicable,” the spokesperson said.

“While we understand the frustrations with the delay in implementation, it has been critical that Metro’s ensures no unintended safety risks are created by the screens.

“Metro is confident this it is now in the final stages of modifications and as a result, Metro has commenced the procurement process with expressions of interest closing today.”

Transport Minister Eric Abetz said it was still in the process of rolling out transit officers, but could not give a date on when this would be completed.

“The attack on Friday was completely and utterly unacceptable and needs to be condemned by absolutely everybody in the community,” he said.

“Transit officers are an extra expense to the community which are unfortunately necessary now because of this sort of anti-social behaviour.

“We are getting more transit officers and training to ensure the public is protected as much as we can, but like we can’t have a police officer on every street corner nor can we have a transit officer on every bus.

“The extra screens and transit officers are just an extra expense to the Tasmanian taxpayer courtesy of this anti-social behaviour, so it’s not just to be condemned for the ugliness to the driver involved and the danger occasioned to other passengers but it's a cost to every Tasmanian taxpayer.”

Originally published as Launceston bus driver attacked by teenagers ‘lucky’ to be alive