‘Troubling’ data sparks calls for more security on South Australian public transport

Safety on SA’s public transport has come under fire once again as new data paints a ‘troubling picture’ for the network, with critics calling for more security.

Security must be increased on SA’s public transport system with damning new data painting a “troubling picture” for the network, according to the state opposition.

Shadow Transport Minister Vincent Tarzia said many public transport users did not feel safe on the system and the opposition has called for the state government to do more to stamp out poor behaviour.

Department for Infrastructure and Transport data – released under a Freedom of Information request – revealed a large number of assaults and disorderly behaviour reports on SA’s public transport system.

During the month of December, it was reported to DIT that eight staff were assaulted on buses and a further six customers were assaulted on buses.

There were also 112 reports of disorderly behaviour on buses, and 18 reports of vandalism.

Shadow Transport Minister Vincent Tarzia said many public transport users did not feel safe on the system and the opposition has called for the state government to do more to stamp out poor behaviour. Picture: Emma Brasier

On trains, there were 50 reports of disorderly behaviour in December and 164 reports of vandalism.

Of the 426 total incidents on trains reported to DIT in December, Adelaide Station had the highest count with 48 incidents, followed by Salisbury with 19 and Noarlunga Centre with 17.

There were also four assaults of customers on board trams during December according to the data, and 22 reports of disorderly behaviour.

Mr Tarzia said the data pointed to the growing need for increased security measures.

“After some horrific train incidents last year – including an 11-year-old who was struck on his way to school – Tom Koutsantonis promised his department would conduct a rail safety review, but we’ve heard nothing about it since.

“Labor needs to let us know exactly what this review found. Are there improvements that can be made?

Earlier this month, the government announced protective screens would be installed in buses across the state to keep bus drivers safe from violence.

However, Mr Tarzia said that roll out was taking too long.

“While we welcome news of protective screens being installed on our buses, as assaults on drivers are on the rise, we called for this important safety measure to be fast tracked back in September,” he said.

“We’ve now learned it’s going to take four years for the rollout to be complete, and we believe that is just far too slow.

Earlier this month, the government announced protective screens would be installed in buses across the state to keep bus drivers safe from violence. Picture: Mark Brake

SA Attorney-General Kyam Maher hit back at the criticism on Sunday and said the government had committed to safety personnel the opposition would have cut.

“There are personal safety officers on trains that under the Liberal’s plan would have been cut … from 90 officers to 27 under their privatisation,” he said.

“That’s not going to happen on Labor’s watch with the reverse of the rail hospitalisation, so we take safety on our trains very seriously.”

Mr Maher said a review was undertaken in terms of rail safety generally and a number of things had been implemented post the review, including the new protective screens.

He said the screen rollout would be done in a way that would not cause a “massive disruption to people who use public transport”.

“There are hundreds and hundreds of buses … I’m not sure if the opposition is suggesting if they were still in power they would take every single bus off the road for a couple of months to install all the screens all at once,” he said.

Originally published as ‘Troubling’ data sparks calls for more security on South Australian public transport