Lara Alexander urges the state government to intervene in Metro dispute with mechanics

An independent MHA has criticised the government and Metro over the handing over the company’s dispute with its mechanics – ahead of a roll out of a fleet of electric buses, which would have to be maintained by FIFO mechanics.

Bus traffic in Elizabeth Street in Hobart. Picture: SAM ROSEWARN

Independent MHA Lara Alexander has weighed into the dispute between Metro Tasmania and its mechanics.

Metro is set to roll out electric buses in the coming days, but the union representing the company’s mechanics say its members have been offered no nationally accredited training.

Mrs Alexander said Transport Minister Michael Ferguson needed to stop hiding behind the excuse that the government cannot intervene in negotiations between a Government Business Enterprise (GBE) and its workforce.

However, Mr Ferguson declined to comment for that exact reason.

Mrs Alexander said Metro found itself in a situation where fly-in fly-out workers would be brought in to perform maintenance on the new electric buses.

Lara Alexander independent member for Bass. Question time in the Tasmanian parliament. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The deputy premier is always eager to brag that the Rockliff Government is creating jobs for Tasmanians, so Tasmanians don’t have to go to the mainland, yet here he is, happy that a Tasmanian GBE is bringing in workers from the mainland instead of training its own local workforce,” she said.

“If, after the trial, Metro decides to adopt Battery Electric vehicles, it stands to reason that the company will need a trained workforce to service its fleet.

“In any case, regardless of whether the trial proves successful, if the local workforce is being asked to provide day-to-day maintenance on the electric buses, at a bare minimum, Metro should ensure that nationally recognised accredited training is provided.”

A Metro spokesperson said it had not refused to provide electric bus maintenance training to its mechanics.

“Due to this relatively new technology, there are no formal qualifications available in Tasmania at this point in time.

“Therefore, training will be delivered by the manufacturer of the Battery Electric Bus as they are best placed to provide this training.

“Metro will provide training to approximately 40 staff to coincide with the commencement of the trial, and no one will be asked to perform work that they do not consider they are competent to perform.”