Transit Officer Trial for Buses

Media release – Michael Ferguson, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, 21 March 2023

Taking additional action to safeguard public transport

The Rockliff Liberal Government is taking additional actions to protect our bus drivers and public transport passengers from aggressive and offensive behaviour.

The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson, announced the Government will pilot the use of transit officers on public transport services.

“The safety of the Tasmanian community is paramount and the Rockliff Liberal Government is taking action to ensure our public transport system is as safe as possible, for users and staff,” the Minister said.

“Although the vast of majority of trips on our buses are incident-free, we are all sick and tired of the thuggery that has been occurring on and around buses.

“Our bus drivers and passengers deserve better, and we will progress an increased and visible presence of transit officers on buses who can respond to incidents when they occur, deter would-be offenders and fare evasion, direct passengers to leave if necessary, and issue infringement notices.

“The transit officers will be equipped with body-worn cameras which can be valuable as a deterrence, as well as de-escalating incidents and evidence-gathering.

“We will also work with Tasmania Police and State Growth to investigate a new mechanism for easy reporting, allowing commuters to report non-urgent incidents of antisocial behaviour.

“This gives passengers the ability to take action in a safe way if they experience or witness antisocial behaviour on and around public transport, while giving us a greater understanding of “hot spots” to assist in targeting resources.

“These actions to target antisocial behaviour on public transport will bring comfort to our drivers and the majority of our passengers who enjoy using public transport.”

The initiatives will initially be trialled in the south, and come after two meetings of the Safe Public Transport Working Group convened by the Minister.

These measures will be subject to further development including an operating model and detailed implementation plan.

Media release – David O’Byrne MP, Member for Franklin, 21 March 2023

Transit Officer trial welcomed but far too slow

The State Government’s announcement to trial transit officers on public transport to crack down on antisocial behaviour has occurred far too slow, with the latest figures revealing that 108* Metro employees have already resigned in just seven months.

Franklin MP David O’Byrne questioned why Transport Minister Michael Ferguson had ignored concerns and waited over 12 months to commit to introducing transit officers, after an earlier two-week trial of security officers over a year ago proved successful.

“Bus operators and passengers have been calling for this for over a year. Transport Minister Michael Ferguson deliberately chose to ignore these concerns for way too long, and now he’s only announced a vague commitment for a ‘trial’,” said Mr O’Byrne.

“The Minister needs to provide certainty that the scheme will operate long term. We’ve already had a trial which proved successful, so now is the time for permanent solutions.

“Well over 70 bus services were cancelled again today. For the sake of the travelling public and our hard-working bus operators, these transit officers must be rolled out immediately and permanently.

“I raised this matter with the Transport Minister in Parliament twice this year, which he dismissed on both occasions, but I am glad that he’s changed his position.”

Media release – David O’Byrne MP, Member for Franklin, 22 March 2023

Minister refuses to make transit officer trial permanent

Transport Minister Michael Ferguson has today refused to commit to permanent transit officers on public transport, sparking fears that antisocial behaviour on buses will return once the limited ‘pilot trial’ ends.

Franklin MP David O’Byrne says bus drivers and the wider community have been calling for permanent solutions for over a year, but they have been let down yet again by a lack of commitment.

“The Minister trialed security guards on Metro buses over a year ago, which proved highly successful at reducing antisocial behaviour, but the trial was shelved after just two weeks,” said Mr O’Byrne.

“After a year of sitting on his hands and letting this antisocial behaviour on public transport fester, the best Michael Ferguson could offer concerned commuters is yet another limited trial.

“Today in Parliament I asked the Minister to commit to a permanent solution, but instead of taking the opportunity to do what is right, he instead took the time to list a range of his other temporary initiatives which have clearly failed to address this worsening problem.

“How difficult would it be for the Minister to just commit to a permanent solution and categorically rule out shelving this trial after just a few weeks?

“There are genuine fears among bus operators and commuters that the antisocial behaviour will return once this limited trial ends.”