Tasmania’s Metro transit security officers will be given ‘tougher powers to deal with troublemakers’ under a new $8.1 million support package for bus drivers across the state.
After months of cancellations due to driver shortages and an increase in anti-social behavior on board Metro buses, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson announced the multi-million dollar boost to ’employ more drivers’ and ‘restore full service delivery’ on Monday.
Minister Ferguson said the funding comes at the request of Metro, who say the “initiatives will best assist with its bus driver shortage”.
“The estimated $8.1 million package covers a range of initiatives including personal safety, a pay rise and more attractive rosters to recruit and retain bus drivers,” Ferguson said.
The package includes a $2 million pay rise, outside of the current enterprise agreement for Metro’s bus drivers, this financial year.
Ferguson said the increase was “subject to Metro reaching agreement with its bus operators that is reasonable and affordable.”
The plan also includes $2.1 million to introduce security screens for drivers, $2 million to employ more transit officers statewide and $2 million for a new IT system.
“Phase two of our transit officer deployment will now be accelerated, which will see individual officers authorised by the Transport Commissioner to have new, tougher powers including issuing infringement notices and removing disorderly passengers.”
The transit officer trial has been “met with positive feedback” since their introduction in early April, with body-worn cameras also helping deter passengers who may “do the wrong thing”.
Metro CEO Katie Cooper said the financial boost that will enable them to “pay a wage increase” to bus operators was “a great result”.
“It will go a long way to addressing the recruitment and retention issues that Metro has spoken publicly about previously,” Cooper said.
