1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: Now, as you may or may not have heard, bus 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: drivers held a rally at the weekend pushing for urgent 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: safety measures across the Darwin bus network. It is all 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:11,319 Speaker 1: in an effort to protect drivers and passengers from anti 5 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: social behavior as well as verbal abuse and physical violence, 6 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: which we have been hearing all too much of in 7 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:20,920 Speaker 1: recent weeks. Now joining me on the line right now 8 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: is Ian Smith from the Transport Workers Union to tell 9 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:25,799 Speaker 1: us more. Good morning to you, Ian. 10 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 2: Good morning Cartie. How are you not too bad? Ian? 11 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: We know that obviously this rally was held over the weekend. 12 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,559 Speaker 1: Have safety concerns reached a tipping point? 13 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 2: Oh? Look, look, I think you get quite right there, lot. 14 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 2: How members are expecting some action? You are they please 15 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 2: with the fact that the anti governments introduced tougher laws 16 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,959 Speaker 2: and we're looking at safety screens, and we're looking at 17 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 2: getting extra TFOs, extra security guards on board. But you 18 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 2: know that's all well and good, but we need to 19 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: see some action on the ground. And in saying that, 20 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 2: where I'm on the understanding under the new laws, the 21 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 2: tsos last week arrested some perpetrators for this sort of behavior. 22 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 2: Now that's a bad step, but it's a great set 23 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 2: there's seen. There's actually a consequence to things that are happening. 24 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 2: So look, this is going to be a complete team effort. 25 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 2: All players in this industry, from the government to the drivers, 26 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,639 Speaker 2: to the companies, to the passengers, to the anti social 27 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,119 Speaker 2: behavior people need to take need to take some action 28 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 2: around this to stop this happening now, and it's going 29 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 2: to take some time, you know, but we're going to 30 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 2: continue to work extremely hard with the anti government to 31 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 2: make sure things do change. And yes, drivers are at 32 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: a tipping point. It is getting pretty unsociable to work. 33 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 2: But you know, the first thing probably for us is 34 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 2: protect the driver, so an advocate safety screen where they 35 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 2: can actually do their job. Probably are fear of favor 36 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: in the current bus fuite fantastic. What we need to 37 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 2: do is a national position is changed the design of 38 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 2: the buses so that the driver's cabin is a cabin, 39 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 2: it's a compartment's completely separate to the public now so 40 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 2: they can do their job safely. 41 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: Now, are those safety screens, as I understand it, were 42 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: they being with some of them being trialed to die. 43 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 2: We're going later on today we're going to have a 44 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 2: look at some as to whether they're it's all I'm 45 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 2: not sure. Hopefully I are a couple of buses. But 46 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 2: there is some designs across the country that have been 47 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 2: installed in Victoria and a lot of other states that 48 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 2: are that have been solved with great success that has 49 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 2: actually protected the driver, you know, and that becomes the 50 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 2: first instance. If we can do that, then what happens 51 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 2: behind the driver, Yes, we need to deal with that, 52 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 2: and yes, by giving the tsos, the security personnel extra powers, 53 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,959 Speaker 2: that's going to be a great thing that you know, 54 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 2: let's be quite frank, intervention is the best form of 55 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 2: attack situation if we can intervene before these events occur, 56 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 2: and that invites from an early age education having all 57 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 2: that this is just unacceptable behavior, you know. You Darwin 58 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: is one of the most you know, it's another sophisticated 59 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 2: city in Australia and in the world. You have all 60 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 2: the same issues that we're dealing with with congestion, you know. 61 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 2: So we need to have an effective public service, that 62 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 2: public transport system and you do have that now, it's 63 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 2: probably one of the better public transport systems in the country. 64 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 2: But the problem that we have is it's not safe 65 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: at times. 66 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, it's a big concern for a lot of people. 67 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: There is no doubt about that. And I think that 68 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: we've seen it sort of time and time again. We 69 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: know that even last week the Watch commander had certainly 70 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: told us about those transit offices that were actually assaulted 71 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: spat on while they were going through the process of, 72 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: you know, of trying to arrest someone with those additional 73 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: powers that they'd been given. I mean, you touched on 74 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: that before. But what was your reaction there to finding 75 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: out that they'd been assaulted. 76 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, well totally totally unsatisfactory. So you know, the 77 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,839 Speaker 2: bottom line is that's why we need more and this 78 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 2: sort of bargain has to be stamped out. It's unacceptable 79 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 2: and there's no society that accepts it, so we need 80 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 2: to stamp it out and more action needs to be taken. 81 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 2: And you know, look, I was it was very pleasing 82 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 2: yesterday the Minister attended the rally and furthermore, she did 83 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 2: do a walk for the crowd and listened to one 84 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 2: on one some of the concerns that the drivers happened. 85 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 2: So I have and that's a great thing. 86 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 1: Was that the Minister for Transport that attended, yes yep, yes, 87 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:38,679 Speaker 1: and did you get a few people there. 88 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 2: Well, we had account of about forty two totals. So 89 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 2: for a Sunday afternoon when you've got to understand half 90 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 2: the fleet's probably working, as as the drivers because they've 91 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 2: still got to run a service. Some community turned up. 92 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 2: So there's some real feel out there that this needs 93 00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 2: to be addressed. That for the people that were at 94 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 2: the rally clapped the minister when she gave her speech 95 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 2: as to what they were planning. And you know, this 96 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 2: first stage is just a step. Certainly, if it's not working, 97 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: we need to go further. But as I said, the 98 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 2: only way we're going to address this industry is everybody, 99 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 2: all players that are involved in the public transport system 100 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 2: in the territory will need to stand up and be 101 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: counted and come up with solutions. Now we're going to 102 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 2: be doing We're doing everything we can to protect the 103 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 2: driver and the NT governments. It's also assisting of that 104 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: that there's there's some responsibility from all parties to stand 105 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 2: up and say this is not good enough. We need 106 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 2: to make it safe. We need to make sure this 107 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: system safe and efficient so that the people in the 108 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 2: in Darlan in particular can have the choice to jump 109 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 2: on the bus, get to where they're go safely and 110 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: get home in a reasonable time and less. 111 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 1: More con one hundred percent. So and where to from here? 112 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: Obviously that rally was held yesterday, good news that the 113 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: Minister attended and that people were certainly pretty open to 114 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: what she had to say. But where to from here? 115 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 2: Well, well, first software sitting down again with the Minister 116 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 2: this morning in the next hour, and then we're going 117 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 2: out later this morning to inspect the new safety screen 118 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 2: hopefully that's installed in the bus, but in the very 119 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: in the very instance, the design of it or having 120 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 2: a look at one before they've installed it. But you know, 121 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 2: there's been a fair amount of work done on these 122 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 2: screens and the buses in the Northern Territory are not 123 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,040 Speaker 2: much different than that we have in South Australia, Victoria 124 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,119 Speaker 2: and New South Wales, so there's a well trodden path 125 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 2: where there's protective screens that can be fitted into buses. 126 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 2: But the bigger picture is we need to change the 127 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 2: design of the buses overall, so when our governments companies 128 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 2: are buying new buses, it's a proper purpose built cabin 129 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,559 Speaker 2: or safety screen is developed that this just can't occur 130 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,039 Speaker 2: if the're driving the new his job properly, that's the 131 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 2: first set second step. If there's anti social behavior going 132 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,279 Speaker 2: in the back of the bus, he can call someone 133 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 2: and we need quick action to have that stamp out. 134 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 2: And that's the biggest aim now. And you know, we 135 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 2: need to understand that this is completely unacceptable. It's not 136 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 2: going to be tolerated. Perpetrators are going to be held 137 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 2: to account and but furd of all, everybody who is 138 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 2: understand it's unacceptable. It's the only that we don't in 139 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 2: a modern world and a modern society. It's not good enough. 140 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 2: And we're going to continue to work to do that. 141 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 2: And more paths to the CSOs and security. Yes, that's 142 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 2: a great thing, but we really don't want them to use. 143 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 2: That's what we want is the public. The public than 144 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 2: to behave in a correct manner. So we'll put in 145 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 2: work with the government in other ways that we can 146 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 2: come up and educate. We can work with communities to 147 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 2: understand this, this isn't acceptable. And some of the stories 148 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 2: I hear from some of the communities, some of the 149 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 2: work they do out there in the world is fantastic 150 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 2: and they and they make sure that this behavior doesn't occur. 151 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: You know, people, the bus system's there for people when 152 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 2: they've had too much to drink, so they don't get 153 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 2: behind the wheel. If they had a bit of fun 154 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 2: inze on, let's get on the bus to get home. 155 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: You got to do it, so yeah, absolutely do the 156 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: right thing. Ian Smith from the Transport Workers Union really 157 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: appreciate your time this morning. Thanks so much for having 158 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: a chat with us. 159 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 2: Thanks Adie, thank you.