Latest / 360 with Katie Woolf / Transport Worker's Union Secretary Ian Smith joins Katie to discuss serious issues with antisocial behaviour on the NT's bus network

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Transport Worker's Union Secretary Ian Smith joins Katie to discuss serious issues with antisocial behaviour on the NT's bus network · 360 with Katie Woolf

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Now, if you were listening to the show yesterday, we
• 0:02
  Speaker 1: spoke about concerns that were being raised by bus drivers
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: and callers after what they said was a terrible weekend
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: on the public buses with anti social behavior. Now joining
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: us on the line to tell us a little bit
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: more about the situation is the Transport Workers Union's Northern
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: Territory Branch secretary Ian Smith.
• 0:20
  Speaker 2: Hi, Ian, good morning, Katie. How are you going?
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: Not too bad?
• 0:24
  Speaker 2: Ian?
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: Have you had concerns raised by drivers over the course
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: of the weekend.
• 0:30
  Speaker 2: Oh? Absolutely, Look, we've got a situation that's in crisis.
• 0:36
  Speaker 2: And look, let's speak quite frank, Modern cities Lock Darwen
• 0:40
  Speaker 2: need a very effective public transport system. We have to
• 0:45
  Speaker 2: make sure that the congestion is building up capital cities
• 0:49
  Speaker 2: is not there on public transports vital in that. But
• 0:52
  Speaker 2: it also needs to be safe. And we've been having
• 0:56
  Speaker 2: ongoing dramas for quite some time now with anti social
• 1:00
  Speaker 2: behavior in Hindawen itself and starting getting it out of hand.
• 1:05
  Speaker 2: It particularly seems to be more more of a problem Thursday, Friday,
• 1:11
  Speaker 2: Saturdays and Sundays. And you know, we've had some instance
• 1:14
  Speaker 2: accre over the weekend that are pretty unacceptable, and I
• 1:20
  Speaker 2: think every party in this, from our drivers right through
• 1:24
  Speaker 2: to the companies, right through to the government. I think
• 1:26
  Speaker 2: the general public we know it's unacceptable and we've got
• 1:30
  Speaker 2: to deal with it.
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: Ian. Can you take me through what some of those
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: examples were over the weekend or what had happened.
• 1:38
  Speaker 2: The one, the one that probably really raises my mic
• 1:43
  Speaker 2: and real concernsus a bus rather literally the afternoon on
• 1:49
  Speaker 2: a Sunday out in Parmiston. I think it might have
• 1:52
  Speaker 2: been round seventy's got some unruly passengers and inaviorated potentially
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: inebriated passengers out of control on the bus, and he
• 2:00
  Speaker 2: took the right step. He decided that the trip was
• 2:03
  Speaker 2: no longer safe to continue, so he called through to
• 2:08
  Speaker 2: the to the CDC operation step is my understanding, and said,
• 2:13
  Speaker 2: I'm returning the bus. This is not safe. I'm I'm
• 2:16
  Speaker 2: coming back to me that part, which is the right
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: plane of tact, expecting that. I think there might have
• 2:23
  Speaker 2: been some communication problems that CDC would call the appropriate
• 2:28
  Speaker 2: tsos and the police. And by the time he got there,
• 2:31
  Speaker 2: you know, I think it's fifteen to twenty minutes rice
• 2:33
  Speaker 2: from where he was to get back to their base
• 2:37
  Speaker 2: and they'd be able to either get you know, this
• 2:42
  Speaker 2: made sure the situation didn't evolve in anything else. And
• 2:46
  Speaker 2: he did that and he got back to the to
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: the to their base, and I didn't go into the
• 2:51
  Speaker 2: base and parked on the road. I was instructed, But
• 2:53
  Speaker 2: what was concerning that there was no TSO's police there.
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: But my understanding is I don't think they were notified.
• 3:00
  Speaker 2: Right the fleet controller and the driver managed to revert
• 3:04
  Speaker 2: the system and get the passengers off the bus well,
• 3:08
  Speaker 2: and I think that's just a breakdown lot. The driver
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: did the right thing. He's decided the trip wasn't safe
• 3:13
  Speaker 2: and he should have done what he did.
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: But so just a point like just to make it
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: really clear for our listeners. So he's essentially there's been
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: something go on the bus that he's felt unsafe and
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: it's been unsafe for passengers. He's tried to turn back,
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: he's tried to take the bus back and has but
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: then there was nobody there to be able to respond
• 3:32
  Speaker 1: to that incident when he got back.
• 3:34
  Speaker 2: There at the time. And look, the understanding I have
• 3:38
  Speaker 2: that that we might have failed not to report it
• 3:41
  Speaker 2: to the TSO's or the police until last of the
• 3:43
  Speaker 2: event had finished. I think maybe the fleet Control. I
• 3:46
  Speaker 2: thought they might have been out to fix it themselves
• 3:50
  Speaker 2: and make it which is lucky enough, but you know,
• 3:52
  Speaker 2: this is serious. When a driver makes that sort of decision,
• 3:57
  Speaker 2: we've got a serious incident. It needs to belt belt
• 4:00
  Speaker 2: were quickly and efficiently. Now, we've been working with the
• 4:05
  Speaker 2: anti government over the last couple of years, but more
• 4:09
  Speaker 2: or less in the last twelve months, and we've been
• 4:12
  Speaker 2: out and we've seen the problems, and so it's some
• 4:14
  Speaker 2: minis have been out ill with us and seen the
• 4:16
  Speaker 2: issues that we have ot a network and we've been
• 4:18
  Speaker 2: working to come up with solution and there's some promising things.
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  Speaker 2: But enough's enough. And I think we've got a real
• 4:24
  Speaker 2: issue now, especially on those nights, and I think we
• 4:28
  Speaker 2: need to get extra security in those designated areas. And
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  Speaker 2: I think it's pretty well understood where they are and
• 4:36
  Speaker 2: let's put a stop to it. And how starting to
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: make the decision that they're not going to continue trips
• 4:43
  Speaker 2: and that's probably for their own safety.
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  Speaker 1: Well it sounds way talk me through those some of
• 4:48
  Speaker 1: those safety concerns. I mean, you said obviously that there
• 4:51
  Speaker 1: was people engaged in anti social behavior in that instance,
• 4:54
  Speaker 1: for example, on the weekend on Sunday Avo, what are
• 4:58
  Speaker 1: people doing on the buses?
• 5:00
  Speaker 2: Well, well, people have apparent it's all allege that they're drunk,
• 5:05
  Speaker 2: some will be effected by the drugs and just generally
• 5:11
  Speaker 2: carrying on in an antisocial manner which is making it unsafe. Now,
• 5:15
  Speaker 2: we've got the security screens of the cages in in
• 5:19
  Speaker 2: most on all the buses and that gives some drivers
• 5:24
  Speaker 2: some protection but not enough. And we've been working with
• 5:28
  Speaker 2: the NT government and CDC to install full driver protection
• 5:34
  Speaker 2: safety screens but will give them better protection. And our
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: understanding is there's a couple of prototypes about to be
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: run out trial that's straight. But you know, those things
• 5:45
  Speaker 2: will help education. There's a whole range of things that
• 5:48
  Speaker 2: we need to to to to make this stop that
• 5:52
  Speaker 2: the first instance, we need to protect the drivers so
• 5:56
  Speaker 2: they can do their job safely. Extra TSO's extra police
• 6:00
  Speaker 2: and those problem areas is going to be an absolute
• 6:03
  Speaker 2: big help when we're calling on the Entry government to
• 6:06
  Speaker 2: do that and they know where they are, We know
• 6:08
  Speaker 2: the areas that problems are and prevention is better than
• 6:12
  Speaker 2: the cure. Yeah, so we're going to have a higher
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: presence of security, higher presence the police riding on the
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: odd bus or two that just you know, quells these
• 6:21
  Speaker 2: antisocial behavior problems. And we're going to see a marked difference.
• 6:27
  Speaker 2: And then the bigger picture is moving forward, we need
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: to put in full strains, We need to put in
• 6:33
  Speaker 2: proper education programs. It's not good enough. And as I said,
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: modern cities like daw are going to need to rely
• 6:40
  Speaker 2: on effective, safe public transport systems. And we've got an
• 6:44
  Speaker 2: effect this public transport system, but we have a safe
• 6:47
  Speaker 2: one and that's the concern, and people won't use it
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  Speaker 2: until they know it.
• 6:50
  Speaker 1: So yeah, well this is the thing. Ian are our
• 6:54
  Speaker 1: drivers how are they feeling right now? I mean, are
• 6:57
  Speaker 1: they feeling safe enough to go to work?
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: In some cases, No, they're not. They're not feeling safe. Look,
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: and we're working as close as we can. We're pulling
• 7:06
  Speaker 2: out another survey and that's happening this week to get
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: actual feeling of the fleet again and where the feeling
• 7:15
  Speaker 2: is that. We're planning a safety rally in the next
• 7:18
  Speaker 2: few weeks weeks where we can actually highlight to those
• 7:22
  Speaker 2: that are in control how serious this is and how
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: much the drivers care care about the situation, and we
• 7:29
  Speaker 2: hope the general public also participate that when that happens,
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: so that we need to get it. So when's that happening, Well,
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: it'll been the next few weeks. We haven't said a day,
• 7:39
  Speaker 2: but we're calling we'll we'll be calling it. It'll probably
• 7:41
  Speaker 2: a Sunday morning for a short while, and we'll have
• 7:44
  Speaker 2: it somewhere in the CVD where we can have a
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  Speaker 2: bit of a rally and show those that are empower
• 7:51
  Speaker 2: the empower and and the bus companies that the public cares,
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: that drivers care, and we need to take get this
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  Speaker 2: matter under control as for one and for good, because
• 8:02
  Speaker 2: it's not going to be too much down the track
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  Speaker 2: until we've got a serious incident where a driver's injured.
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  Speaker 2: We've got a bus that's running out of control down
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  Speaker 2: the road, smashing into buildings and houses and god notes
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  Speaker 2: whatever and something that we can't control. So we have
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: to take steps, that's our belief, to make sure that
• 8:22
  Speaker 2: we're listened to and the actions taken to alleviate these
• 8:27
  Speaker 2: sort of issues.
• 8:28
  Speaker 1: Yeah, gee, I hope it doesn't get to that point
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  Speaker 1: where there's a serious incident, you know, on one of
• 8:32
  Speaker 1: our buses. I just very quickly. Dave from Kaytown has
• 8:36
  Speaker 1: just asked, where are the transit officers?
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  Speaker 2: Well, that's I think it's like all industries out there,
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  Speaker 2: there's lack of numbers, but they have. We've had the
• 8:46
  Speaker 2: course that that they've got another couple about to come
• 8:49
  Speaker 2: straight on and it came from a letter that I
• 8:51
  Speaker 2: received yesterday. They're looking to put more on. Yeah, once
• 8:55
  Speaker 2: again the incident on Sunday. Our understanding is that they
• 8:59
  Speaker 2: weren't called until they incidents. I can't blame them from
• 9:02
  Speaker 2: this case on that particular incident, but they should be
• 9:05
  Speaker 2: out there. The drivers should be able to call them
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  Speaker 2: and expect that they get the response. That was quiet
• 9:12
  Speaker 2: and sometimes that could be rapid. And I'll give an
• 9:15
  Speaker 2: example when we did do the ride along back in March,
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  Speaker 2: when we all went out there, there was a call
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  Speaker 2: for a rapid response and the transit officer's response was wonderful.
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  Speaker 2: They came and they got on board, They alleviated the
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  Speaker 2: situation and got it under control. We don't have enough
• 9:31
  Speaker 2: of day and that's the problem at the moment, and
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  Speaker 2: we've got those Thursday, Friday and Saturday and Sunday nights
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  Speaker 2: that are the real problems at the moment, what we
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  Speaker 2: would see the best thing would be for the government
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  Speaker 2: to employee or get onto security companies to get some
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  Speaker 2: people immediately out there into the troubled areas so that
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  Speaker 2: we can start to put some see some of these
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  Speaker 2: incidents produced.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I'll be really interested to hear from our
• 9:57
  Speaker 1: listeners this morning. You know, if they do catch public
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: trainl sport and what it's been like for them. I
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: know that there's plenty of bus drivers that listen to
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: the show as well. And just very quickly before I
• 10:06
  Speaker 1: let you go, in terms of that incident on Sunday,
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  Speaker 1: how many people were involved in this anti social behavior
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  Speaker 1: on that bus.
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  Speaker 2: I don't know the exact numbers, but there was quite
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  Speaker 2: a few. Bus driver. This is what I'm for a
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  Speaker 2: bus driver to actually take the take make the decision
• 10:21
  Speaker 2: that the reason unsafe. It's not one person, there's quite
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  Speaker 2: a few. So he's got half a bus load of
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  Speaker 2: a busload of passengers that are out of control. It's
• 10:29
  Speaker 2: not good to continue. He's made the right call. Now,
• 10:32
  Speaker 2: he's made the right call that it can't be continue.
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  Speaker 2: It's not so I need number one protect myself, but
• 10:38
  Speaker 2: protect those that aren't involved in the rackers and get
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  Speaker 2: the bus back to the to the main depot.
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  Speaker 1: It's a big call. It's a big call for that driver.
• 10:47
  Speaker 1: I mean, does that happen very often?
• 10:50
  Speaker 2: That's the first occasion that we're aware of it that's
• 10:53
  Speaker 2: happened in this isn't But that's how that's how serious
• 10:58
  Speaker 2: drivers are starting to take it. And I'd probably like
• 11:00
  Speaker 2: to see more because they need to be they need
• 11:03
  Speaker 2: to be in a safe situation, they need to do
• 11:05
  Speaker 2: their job safely. And they said they need to support,
• 11:08
  Speaker 2: So what essence Once again, we're calling on you know
• 11:11
  Speaker 2: when these issues are wrong. We need to quick support.
• 11:14
  Speaker 2: When a driver is going to say a trip needs
• 11:16
  Speaker 2: to be a border, it's un say, we need a
• 11:18
  Speaker 2: quick response from those you know, the CSOs and the
• 11:22
  Speaker 2: Northern Territory Police, which I know are all under pressure.
• 11:25
  Speaker 1: Yes, and I'm.
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  Speaker 2: Sure if we stick, when we stick our heads together
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  Speaker 2: and work together, we can come up with a solution. I
• 11:31
  Speaker 2: want action quickly. We need to get these people that
• 11:35
  Speaker 2: don't wish to behave in a proper manner. Often after
• 11:38
  Speaker 2: buses are our the network and make sure that those
• 11:41
  Speaker 2: don't want to ride on it and use the network.
• 11:44
  Speaker 2: The great network that DA network we safely and be
• 11:49
  Speaker 2: confident to catch it at any time of the day.
• 11:51
  Speaker 1: Yeah, well your spot on there. Ian Smith, the Transport
• 11:55
  Speaker 1: Workers Union Branch secretary for the Northern Territory, always appreciate
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: your time. Thank you very much for having a chat
• 12:00
  Speaker 1: with me this morning. Thanks cherdy, Thank you, and that
• 12:04
  Speaker 1: number if you do want to call through today if
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: you do catch the bus network eight nine four one
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: one O four nine and you want to let us
• 12:11
  Speaker 1: know how it's tracking. Maybe you happened to be on
• 12:14
  Speaker 1: the bus on Sunday when this all unfolded and you
• 12:17
  Speaker 1: want to call through eight nine four one one O
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: four nine. You can also send me a message if
• 12:21
  Speaker 1: you'd like to zero four double nine seven double one
• 12:25
  Speaker 1: three six zero. But to hear that this is well
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: from what he has said there, it's the first time
• 12:29
  Speaker 1: that they've been in a situation where they've had to
• 12:31
  Speaker 1: turn that bus back to the depot based on anti
• 12:35
  Speaker 1: social behavior of people on board that bus, and obviously
• 12:39
  Speaker 1: then the driver feeling incredibly unsafe and worried about the
• 12:43
  Speaker 1: passengers see other passengers on there. I'm assuming as well
• 12:46
  Speaker 1: well take a really short break when we come back.
• 12:49
  Speaker 1: We are going to be talking a little bit more
• 12:50
  Speaker 1: about some of the strike action which is anticipated tomorrow.
• 12:53
  Speaker 1: Beverly Ratihi, who is the chair of one of the
• 12:56
  Speaker 1: Northern Territory schools, is going to have a bit of
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: a chat to me about some of their concerns.