Bus driver assaults have spiked in Brisbane, with January 2022 recording the highest number of attacks in more than two years despite the Covid pandemic and a reduction in passengers.
Council bus drivers were assaulted physically and verbally 82 times in January, that’s almost 3 times per day.
The attacks vary from swearing, threatening and harassing to kicking, punching and spiting on drivers.
The Leader of the Labor Opposition team in Brisbane City Council, Councillor Jared Cassidy, believes there’s a serious health and safety issue being ignored.
“These bus drivers are council employees, and as the leader of this Council, the LNP Lord Mayor is responsible for their safety at work, yet he refuses to take action,” Cr Cassidy said.
“Adrian Schrinner spends $6.5 million on advertising himself and $2.6 million on a new bonsai tree house without batting an eyelid, yet refuses to invest in the safety of Brisbane workers.”
Both Cr Cassidy and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) have called for full physical protection barriers and more security on buses and at interchanges.
