The Tasmanian Greens stand in solidarity with Tasmania’s bus drivers who are so concerned for their welfare they will stop taking fares from Friday. There is nothing more important in a workplace than safety.
The Rockliff government must immediately acknowledge the concern of Metro drivers across the state and act swiftly to install protective screens for bus drivers, and to deploy transit officers. It is not good enough for Ministers to say they are coming, when they have been saying that for years.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Byron Cubit said “No bus driver should have to go to work fearing for their life” – we agree with him wholeheartedly.
It’s disgraceful that the Liberals kick these concerns down the road while bus drivers are being assaulted and intimidated on the roads. The Liberals committed to action two years ago but have delivered nothing. A hallmark of their tenure.
While the Rockliff government spends its time and our money on vanity projects Tasmanian workers suffer worsening conditions and have the spectre of hiring freezes hanging over them in a misguided attempt to arrest the state’s spiralling debt problems.
The Greens will take the drivers’ concerns into parliament and support their endeavours to have safe and secure working conditions.
