Union demands bus driver safety cages
The Transport Workers' Union has demanded the State Government urgently install security cages on all buses in the Greater Bunbury region, fearing a driver could be killed or seriously injured.
Public buses in Bunbury do not have security cages or closed circuit television, unlike in the metropolitan area, and there is not a permanent security presence at Bunbury bus station.
The union has demanded a meeting with Transport Minister Dean Nalder to discuss the situation.
"We have told the Minister that there is no Transperth security in Bunbury and this is an unacceptable situation that needs to be address as a matter of urgency," the union said in a statement.
This comes after three recent attacks on bus drivers including an alleged stabbing of a bus driver on April 2
During a Budget Estimates hearing earlier this month, Public Transport Authority managing director Mark Burgess described the stabbing incident as "unfortunate".
But he said it was unpredictable because a child was allegedly involved.
"I do not think cages are a great look and we do not think they are a great look," Mr Burgess said.
"I think if a tourist got on board a bus and saw a cage, that would not be ideal, but it is where we have got to, I guess, as a society.
"Certainly it all evolved from the incident with the bus driver who lost his eye in 2009.
"If we can avoid putting them into the country areas, where, I will be frank, the level of incidents generally are very, very low, we would, but it is something we would obviously keep our eye on and if it is needed, we will do it."
During the same hearing, Mr Nalder said he would consider a request for greater security on Bunbury buses.
"I grew up in the country and we like to think the country remains a safer place, but our regional cities are growing and the incidents and issues they have in some of those regional towns or cities are similar to what we see in the metropolitan area," he said.
The Public Transport Authority has been contacted for comment.
