A decision of the future of some Metro routes plagued by cancellations is expected from the state-owned bus operator today as hundreds of cancellations become a daily occurrence.
135 services have already been scrapped today, down from 170 yesterday and 190 on Monday as the company struggles to get people in the driver’s seat.
Speaking at a media conference yesterday, Minister Felix Ellis said “we’ll work through this”.
“We have record low employment in Tasmania at the moment. That’s a good problem,” he said.
“We don’t have a huge supply of qualified bus drivers just sitting on their couch, but of course we’ll continue to work hard and make sure that people can get the training that they need.”
Labor’s Josh Willie was less than convinced, saying the state government ‘need to do more to address pay and conditions’ to help retain drivers.
“This plan does nothing for the countless Tasmanians who rely on public transport – many of whom have no other mode of transport available to them,” Willie said.
“Will the remaining services become overcrowded in peak hour, leaving Tasmanians on the curb or standing in the aisle?”
The Greens say the decision “should be reversed” and are pushing for public transport to be made free.
“We need to be doing all we can to be making public transport accessible, safe, efficient and reliable and cutting services goes nowhere near that,” Greens MP Vica Bayley said.
“This is unacceptable for drivers and a terrible outcome for the community.”
“Making bus services free would not only deliver a great benefit to the community, it would also help drivers by reducing the anti-social behaviour associated with fares.”
A Metro spokesperson says adjustments will be implemented across the Greater Hobart Network and will not be permanent.
