Metro to cut services in Hobart as shortage of drivers causes chaos across network

After weeks of instability and daily cancellations, Metro Tasmania will soon announce cuts to public bus services in Hobart. While they say the move will improve service reliability, local MPs have raised their concerns.

Metro Bus in Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

Metro Tasmania will announce cuts to public bus services on Thursday to improve reliability amid a driver shortage.

Metro CEO Katie Cooper will brief partons and the media on the temporary reductions to timetabled services across the bus network in Hobart.

Local public bus services has been hit by dozens of daily cancellations in recent weeks — peaking at 190 services cut in a single day on Tuesday.

Member for Franklin David O’Byrne has been highlighting shortfalls in service and security on public transport for the last 18 months.

He says the government has failed to invest the money needed to keep buses running.

Labor's Josh Willie speaks to the media on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.

“The two key things missing in the public transport system in Tasmania is transport and the public,” he said.

“This was the government who said the answer to traffic congestion is increased investment in public transport.

“Instead of the government saying ‘we’re investing’ we’re actually cutting our losses and acknowledging that they have no plan for traffic congestion.”

Labor’s Josh Willie said cuts were not good enough.

“The Labor Party will strongly oppose any cuts to service,” he said.

“Hobart is already poorly served when it comes to public transport and there are many “Hobartians who rely on public transport to get to work, get their kids to school, or to participate in the community, including going to health appointments.

“So we know that this will disproportionately impact people who only have public transport as a transport option.”

Greens MP Vica Bayley speaks to the media on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.

Greens MP Vica Bayley said “very short term” adjustments could be understood but it was clear a funding increase was needed to improve services.

“Permanent cuts to services are completely unacceptable,” he said.

Mr Bayley said service disruptions were creating knock-on effects.

“We have to understand that this is a circular problem: as frustrations increase, as services are cut, anti-social and other behaviour impacts are exacerbated.”

Federal Labor member for Franklin Julie Collins said she was concerned at the effect on the travelling public.

“These are critical services to get Tasmanians to jobs on time and to employment and education on time,” she said.

“It’s really important. I think it is important that the state government does work as constructively as it can to make sure that it can deliver the services that Tasmanians rely on.

“We’re all dealing with staff shortages right across the country in every field.”

Liberal minister Felix Ellis said it was hard to find workers in a range of fields at the moment.

“We have record low unemployment in Tasmania at the moment, that’s a good problem," he said.

“We don’t we don’t have a huge supply of qualified bus drivers just sitting on their couch. “But of course, we’ll continue to work hard to make sure that people can get the training that they need, so that we can deliver those services.”