7650 anti-social incidents reported on NT public transport in 11 months
New figures show public transport riders are being subjected to a shocking amount of ‘anti-social incidents’ per day across the Northern Territory.
Northern Territory
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SHOCK new figures show public transport riders across the Territory are being subjected to increasing numbers of assaults and anti-social incidents.
Statistics obtained by the CLP through questions on notice revealed there were 7650 anti-social incidents on public transport across the Northern Territory between July 1 2020 and May 31 2021.
Those figures are a big jump on the 6832 cases recorded in 2019, and come despite the NT government implementing a public transport ‘tracking system’ in 2019.
A spokeswoman for the government has defended the figures, saying Transit Safety officers were cracking down on poor behaviour.
Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley said the figures were concerning.
“Territorians who use our public transport network expect to do so without being harassed and subjected to abuse on a daily basis,” Mr Maley said.
“It’s shocking that more than 20 anti-social incidents are being reported, on average, every single day on public transport across the Northern Territory.
“Minister Lawler has completely shirked her responsibility to keep Territorians safe by doing nothing to fix the issue.”
Mr Maley said the “abuse tracking system” which promised to crack down on anti-social behaviour had failed.
A spokeswoman for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said there were 18 staff dedicated to the ‘Transit Safety Unit’ who worked with various groups, including NT Police and the Larrakia Services, to deal with incidents.
“No one should have to deal with anti-social or abusive behaviour on our buses – this is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” the spokeswoman for Ms Lawler said.
“This is why the Territory Labor Government were the ones to introduce a dedicated Transit Safety Unit to crack down on bad behaviour.”
The spokeswoman said all buses and interchanges were equipped with CCTV which could be monitored “in real time” by Police and the Transit Safety Unit.
“Security guards are stationed at the bus interchanges and at the Cavenagh Street bus stop,” the spokeswoman for Ms Lawler said.
“The security guards work alongside Transit Officers in providing a safer public bus network.”
Originally published as 7650 anti-social incidents reported on NT public transport in 11 months
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