State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, yesterday moved a Notice of Motion in the NSW Parliament, calling on the Government to ensure bus drivers have the safest possible work environment.
Ms Hornery expressed her disappointment after the Government moved to vote down the Notice of Motion.
The Notice of Motion noted the great work that bus drivers do in providing public transport to the community of Wallsend, and raised concerns about the level of assaults on drivers increasing. It also noted the impending privatisation of the Hunter Public Transport Network and the concerns that private bus fleets have shown to have even less safety measures in place in their vehicles.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“This Notice of Motion was an opportunity for the Government to show their support for our bus drivers and ensure that they have the safest workplace possible.”
“But instead they chose to vote against workplace safety for bus drivers.”
“This is another example of a Government that is out of touch with the community, showing their contempt for the safety of workers in Wallsend, the Hunter and right across NSW.”
“The Government is just about to privatise and sell off Newcastle Buses and this was an opportunity for them to show support for our drivers by ensuring that the new bus fleet is as safe as possible.”
“Drivers are concerned for their safety and assaults have increased dramatically in the last few years.”
“It’s such a shame that this Government has allowed security to slacken so noticeably in recent years.”
“The Government has shown how little it cares for the bus drivers in our community.”