1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,600 Speaker 1: Later social ill we have to crack down on appears 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,199 Speaker 1: to be the business of our behavior. On public transport. 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: We have what the Justice Minister calls a worrying increase 4 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: in the tax and buses and taxi drivers as well 5 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: as trains. Of course, so the offense will become an 6 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:17,280 Speaker 1: aggravating factor in court. Other safety measures will also receive funding. 7 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: Apparently the Bus and Coach Association BOS Delaney Myers is 8 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: with us. Good morning to you. 9 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 2: Good morning, Mike. 10 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: I'm very well. Indeed, how would outside of what I've 11 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: just described by way of an intro, how would you 12 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 1: describe the vibe on a bus or a train at 13 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: the moment in terms of interacting with the public, better, worse, 14 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: no different that. 15 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 2: We're certainly seeing problems, Mike. And it's not just violence, 16 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:40,160 Speaker 2: you know, we've got threats, aggression and a particular racial 17 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 2: salus going on and it's just unacceptable. No one should 18 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 2: be abused in their workplace. 19 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: Quite correct? And is this getting worse than the sense 20 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: that because there's seemingly a no consequences, people just take 21 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: the mickey. 22 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 2: Look, it is getting worse. And look, we know many 23 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 2: of these incidents involve people who are in fringes of 24 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 2: society with mental health and drug and alcohol shoes. So 25 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 2: you know, for us, we're not seeing this as just 26 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 2: a public transport problem. It's a complex societal issue. But 27 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 2: you know, the ramifications on us at the end of 28 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,680 Speaker 2: it delivering public transport services are significant and we do 29 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 2: need more help to keep people safe. 30 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 1: In making it an aggravating factor in court, it would 31 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: need to go to court, which would mean something would 32 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 1: need to happen when the event, does anything ever happen? 33 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: Look, it does tend to vary. All of the buses 34 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 2: are equipped with CCTV, so any incidents that do occur 35 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 2: are court on camera. And you know, of course, like 36 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 2: anything else, this comes down to relative priority for police. 37 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 2: But we have been experiencing good support from police when 38 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 2: incidents occur. 39 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,759 Speaker 1: Okay, I'm when we talk about these safety measures being funded, 40 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: What are these safety measures and what do you need? 41 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: So one of the things that are being funded and 42 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 2: we support our moves to install safety screens for drivers. 43 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: It is unfortunate things have come to this because most 44 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 2: of our passengers love engaging you know, most of the 45 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 2: drivers love engaging with the passengers, but we do need 46 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 2: to keep them safe. And a physical barrier is part 47 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 2: of that, but it doesn't help stop the thark, the 48 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 2: threats and the racial abuse or keep passengers safe. So 49 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 2: really what we'd like to see in addition is increased 50 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 2: personnel support on buses because we know that the presence 51 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 2: of authority figures helps to moderate behavior. 52 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: And that's all about cost, and the moment you do cost, 53 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: you got trouble, don't you. 54 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 2: Absolutely, you know, without a doubt, increased personnel is increased money, 55 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 2: and really it comes down to the investment priorities. But 56 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 2: we think it's critical to keep that workplace safe and 57 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,239 Speaker 2: to keep users of public transport safe. 58 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: Well see Delanney, appreciate your time to Loney Myers, who's 59 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 1: the Bus and Coach Association boss. 60 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 2: With us for more from the my Asking Breakfast Listen 61 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: live to news talks that'd be from six am weekdays, 62 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 2: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.