1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: Three sixty with Katie Wolf. 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 2: Join the conversation with Katie Wolf. You are our eyes 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 2: and ears in the territory Mixed one oh four point nine. 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 2: There has been some reports and we've certainly received some 5 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 2: emails in recent times. So the last couple of weeks, 6 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 2: i'd have to say about some concerns that people have 7 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,639 Speaker 2: had while on public buses. Now joining me on the 8 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 2: line is the Queensland and Tie Secretary of the Bus 9 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 2: and Coach Drivers Association. It is Darren Dixon. Good morning 10 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 2: to you, Darren, Morning Joy Darren. I understand that there 11 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,959 Speaker 2: has been some concerns when we talk about drivers safety 12 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 2: on our public bus system. What has been reported to 13 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 2: you guys in recent times. 14 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: From our perspective, we've zeen an increase. We're getting a 15 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: spike at this time in time, we would like to 16 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: be conservative in our estimates. Estimation in the process. We're 17 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: saying that, you know, we're getting three a week. The 18 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: driver is a bit more focused on saying they're getting 19 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: one every second day. They're saying that there's an increase 20 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: in the assaults for them, they're feeling a lot more 21 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: traumatized by the assaults. They're saying the assaults are a 22 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: lot more violent than they've experienced before, and there's a 23 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: lot of heightened awareness about that rise in assaults. 24 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 2: Darren, what kind of assaults are we talking? Are we 25 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: talking verbal? Are we talking physical? 26 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 1: Yeah? The driver is, unfortunately or are you driving around 27 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: in cages now? And I'm sure that's no surprise to 28 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: the territory residents as they see the buses and travel 29 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: on the buses. But even those cages aren't stopping the 30 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: drivers from being spat on, having fluids thrown on. A 31 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: One poor driver I spoke to in the weee how 32 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: as of last week, thought he'd had lighter feels thrown 33 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: on him. It turns out that when we had that analyzed, 34 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 1: it was an alcoholic mouth flash. But that's beside the point, 35 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: because the smell for the driver triggered a whole lot 36 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: of insecurity that come by the smell of it not 37 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: being like a softrin that they're normally having to wear. 38 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 1: They're concerned that they're raising these matters, they're asking to 39 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: be taken off the road. The shortages of drivers mean 40 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: that the companies aren't able to take the drivers off 41 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: the day, so they're left being forced to drive with 42 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: essentially still wearing the trauma that last asst. 43 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 2: And Darren, sorry, just getting my breath there. What is 44 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 2: the response that you're receiving from the government at this 45 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 2: point in time when those drivers are really raising some 46 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,239 Speaker 2: of the concerns that they've got about about their safety. 47 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: The disheartening thing is is that the non territory government 48 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: essentially saying to us that they don't have to take 49 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: on the responsibility of driver or passenger safety. Yeah, they're 50 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: saying that, yeah, and I'm quite happy to send you 51 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: this response from entry tegment that says that I'm just 52 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: fund It goes on to say that the anxiety and 53 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: stress are not injuries that would entitle a driver or 54 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,359 Speaker 1: a passenger to cover compensation from an incident on a bus, 55 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: that a reasonable for seable incident is not sufficient to 56 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: establish a claim and negligent on behalf of the employer, 57 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: and the negligence doesn't require the existence of a breach 58 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: of legally enforceable duty of care. Whilst the apartment treats 59 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: are transport take you with the utmost seriousness, the territory 60 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: does not owe a due to your care to take 61 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: reasonable steps to the even harm to drivers or passengers 62 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: on buses. 63 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 2: So I don't understand how they don't have a duty 64 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 2: of care here, because I mean, if we're talking about 65 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: our public bus network, surely they do to some degree. 66 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 1: And that's what we've been arguing since twenty twenty with 67 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory government, with the Department of Infrastructure, with 68 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: the minister. But we go around in circles. It's the 69 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 1: old story of the chicken. In the end, the contractor 70 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: says that he's not responsible because it's a territory government, 71 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: and the territory government says it's not responsible because it's 72 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: a contractor. The problem is that drivers and the passengers 73 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: are the ones we're in the brunt of. 74 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 2: This process, and how I mean, what kind of impact 75 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: does it have on some of those people that are 76 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 2: on our bus network, because it is obviously it's the drivers, 77 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 2: but it is also the those passengers and presumably you know, 78 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 2: in some cases it makes people quite scared. 79 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: And unnually they should be. Drivers are locked in the cage, 80 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: they're told they're not allowed to get out to assist 81 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 1: a passingly because in doing so they expose themselves to 82 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: more harm. The drivers and the tos are reporting that 83 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: powers are being reduced. They're not allowed to move people on. 84 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: Now there was a new ruleg just recently passed that 85 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: they can't ask people who are causing trouble to move on. 86 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: The bus drivers are saying they're calling to the toos, 87 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,559 Speaker 1: but the toos are already too busy and they can't 88 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: get there, and the police are struggling to get there 89 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: as well, and they're calling the toos to try to 90 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: give them more flexibilities. So it's a circle of potential failure. 91 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 2: What is the answer here, because you know, I just 92 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:00,359 Speaker 2: think our bus drivers deserve to be safe in their jobs. 93 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 2: There is no doubt about that, as do all of 94 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 2: those passengers. So what is the answer here do you think, Darren? 95 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: Well, it needs to be a bigger approach on accountability 96 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: right now. We would argue that there needs to be 97 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,919 Speaker 1: a mandatory reporting in this contract, so every incident report 98 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 1: goes into the Department of Infrastructure that they're required to 99 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: put out a quarterly report on the number of assaults 100 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: and incidences that are reported across the networks for the 101 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: Northern Territory. By getting that data, we can then stuff 102 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:42,040 Speaker 1: analyze the potential issues that need to be addressed right 103 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: now to bid. The companies are obligated to provide that 104 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: for the government. The government's obligated to share that with 105 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 1: the public. So we're relying on the stats to come 106 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 1: out of the teos, but that's not indicative of the 107 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: reports the drivers are providing. The drivers are asking that 108 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: they know that there's which runs are potentially threatening to them, 109 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: and they know what times they are, and they're asking 110 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 1: for the government to put in the money to put 111 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: the toos on the buses or pay for private beyond 112 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: the buses to protect. 113 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: The pump yep to give them that additional support, which really, 114 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 2: you know, I know it would be tough to have 115 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 2: to have them on all of those routes. However, they 116 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 2: need to ensure that our drivers and passengers are kept safe. 117 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:37,239 Speaker 1: Yes, it's a universal duty of care. No one should 118 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: have to work in a cage, no one should lose 119 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: their job for trying to protect another person, and everybody 120 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: should have the right to trouble freely without being the 121 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: opportunity for being assaulted or abused or threatened. 122 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, Darren, it sounds like a really it sounds 123 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 2: like a difficult situation. We might see whether we're able 124 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 2: to get the department on about this and get a 125 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: bit further detail, because, like I say, I think it's 126 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 2: really important that everybody gets to work safely and is 127 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 2: able to stay save while they are at work. But 128 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 2: this is also about that passenger safety. 129 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. And the bus drivers will tell you they're focused 130 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: on their passengers. Yeah, and the passenger safety that's what 131 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: they really want to care about. Yeah, but they become 132 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: the drunt of course social behavior. 133 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, I really appreciate your time this morning. Darren Dixon, 134 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 2: Queensland NT, Secretary of the Bus and Coach Drivers Association, 135 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for having a chat with me. Thank 136 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 2: thank you. Tell you what you know, we have got 137 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 2: so many wonderful bus drivers around the territory. I think 138 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 2: anybody you know that that has been on Look, I 139 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,079 Speaker 2: haven't been on a public bus for quite some time, 140 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 2: but when you talk about those buses that are driving 141 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 2: our kids to and from school and that kind of thing, 142 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 2: they do a fantastic job and wonderful people. And I 143 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 2: think that it is really important that whether you are 144 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 2: driving a bus for you know, privately, or whether you're 145 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 2: driving one that is a public bus network and on 146 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:17,320 Speaker 2: that network, we've got to keep those drivers safe. It 147 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 2: is so important, and it's also so important to keep 148 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 2: our passengers safe on the public bus network.