Koutsantonis’ jab at alleged offender on Adelaide train as he pushes expanded powers to ban transport patrons

SA’s transport minister wants to give his department the ability to ban unruly patrons from trains, buses and trams – as he took aim at a man accused of attacking four women.

• Spat at, punched, kicked but alleged attacker on bail

Public transport patrons could be banned by the South Australian Department of Transport from using buses, trams and trains under new proposed regulations, following an alleged assault on four women.

Four female passengers on the Gawler train line were allegedly assaulted by a man just before 9am on Sunday. Police say they were verbally abused, spat on, punched, slapped and pushed.

The Transport Minister has called for Transport Department powers to be expanded after four women reported being attacked on a train. Picture: Nine News

The four women were travelling separately and did not know the man.

Police believe the incident took place between Kilburn and Adelaide.

He has been charged with four counts of assault and was granted bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in August.

Police issued the man from Salisbury with a three-month transport barring order, which only impacts train use.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis wants powers to ban public transport patrons for anti-social behaviour to be expanded. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Currently only police can issue public transport bans for anti-social behaviour but Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said he would ask the Transport Department to draft regulations to “give us the ability to ban people from all forms of public transport”.

In a jab at the alleged offender, Mr Koutsantonis said he was “not a man” and would be banned pending his trial once regulations are passed.

Once a verdict is reached over the alleged assault, the department will consider further public transport restrictions.

“This gentleman, once these regulations are passed, will be banned,” he said. Asked if the accused would be banned for life, Mr Koutsantonis reiterated “he will be banned”.

However, Mr Koutsantonis defended current security measures, such as closed-circuit TV monitoring, and said it would be impractical to have guards on all trains.

He said bans could be monitored by “metro cards, EFTPOS cards and photographs we can give people”.

“It’s the same way we police any ban,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

Originally published as Koutsantonis’ jab at alleged offender on Adelaide train as he pushes expanded powers to ban transport patrons