Safety and security issues, articles, discussion.

[ozbob]

Our newest safety campaign shows the hidden dangers of overhead power lines on the network, which carry 25,000 volts. You don't need to come into direct contact with them to suffer an electric shock or electrocution – high voltage can jump! More info: https://t.co/9yXLUxZ0NM pic.twitter.com/7Tn0lccmof

— Queensland Rail (@QueenslandRail) August 9, 2019

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Verbal and physical attacks on Brisbane bus drivers rise

Attacks on Brisbane bus drivers have risen 40 per cent this year, and the latest shock attack shows how offenders are circumventing security measures.

VERBAL and physical attacks on Brisbane bus drivers have risen by 41 per cent this year, despite $1.3 million expenditure on increased safety measures.

The Courier-Mail can reveal drivers endured 378 incidents of abuse or assault from January to July this year, up from 268 in the same period in 2018.

Serious physical contacts, like strikes and pushes, nearly doubled from seven last year to 13 this year, while swearing, derogatory comments and obscene gestures rose to 278 from 168.

Brisbane City Council allocated $1.3 million on bus safety measures in the June 2018 budget on top of other upgrades which began in July 2017.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union Queensland secretary Tom Brown said newly installed partial bus barriers were not deterring attacks and Brisbane City Council needed to install full encapsulation barriers.

He also called for more security guards, including senior network officers, which can only be provided by the state government, and a focus on tackling fare evasion.

"Politicians really have to take this problem more seriously; the state and city council need to take this more seriously," he said.

"The latest assault was they had a flammable aerosol sprayed at the driver, he (the offender) simply put his hand at the top of the screen and sprayed it at the driver's face."

Brisbane City Council public transport chairwoman Krista Adams said one assault on a bus driver was too many.

"Brisbane City Council takes the safety of bus drivers very seriously, and it is absolutely deplorable that anyone would want to abuse our drivers for doing their job by providing an essential public service," she said.

She repeated council's call on the State Government to provide more Senior Network Officers to keep bus drivers safe.

An earlier council trial of bus safety barriers found full encapsulation barriers presented safety issues and were expensive to retrofit into the fleet.

A TransLink spokeswoman said it was currently hiring up to 20 more senior network officers to patrol across the southeast Queensland network.

She said it was "well underway with rolling out a five-point safety package for bus drivers statewide" which included a 50-50 funding split with operators to install safety barriers.

"This comprehensive plan will tackle unacceptable violence against bus drivers, with long-term benefits for both public transport staff and passengers," she said.

Labor public transport spokesman Jared Cassidy said it was clear the measures "aren't working to keep drivers safe" and "both levels of government need to do more".

"Yes, TransLink as the service provider has a responsibility but we're running 1200 buses and employing 2500 bus drivers, we owe it to them to provide a safe work environment," he said.

BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL BUS DRIVER ABUSE/ASSAULT DATA
Moderate verbal abuse (derogatory remarks, swearing, obscene gestures)

Jan-Jul 2018: 168

Jan-Jul 2019: 278

Extreme verbal abuse (shouting, screaming at driver, punching bus)

Jan-Jul 2018: 54

Jan-Jul 2019: 55

Spitting

Jan-Jul 2018: 20

Jan-Jul 2019 14

Physical contact (striking and pushing)

Jan-Jul 2019: 13

Physical contact (low grade touching)

Jan-Jul 2018: 6

Jan-Jul 2019: 2

Object thrown

Jan-Jul 2018: 1

Jan-Jul 2019: 3

Theft

Jan-Jul 2018: 12

Jan-Jul 2019: 13

'Sprayed it at driver's face': Bus attacks surge https://t.co/1ZhntPuRHz #bnepol #qldpol
Drivers must be properly protected with full encapsulation barriers, and get the SNOs out on the buses @MarkBaileyMP @SteveMinnikinMP

— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) August 15, 2019

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Brisbane bus driver robbed, threatened by man armed with axe

A BUS driver has been robbed by a man armed with a axe on a route where the council employed and then removed extra security guards, according to the union.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman confirmed about 9.45pm on Wednesday a man walked onto a bus at Forest Lake and threatened the driver, who was standing in the aisle, with an axe.

The man was wearing a yellow hoodie and had something covering his face.

"He demanded money, to which the bus driver complied in terms of what was in the bus at the time," the spokesman said.

No-one was physically injured.

The offender fled down Forest Lake Boulevard.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union Queensland secretary Tom Brown said the bus driver was "putting on a brave face".

He said the bus was on the 100 route, where the chroming trend began earlier this year.

"After security issues we demanded extra security guards, which we got, but at the end of the financial year they (the council) took that security off," he said.

"This is the route we have been screaming about all year. They put on extra security then took it away. Now this happens."

He said Brisbane City Council should reinstate the security guards and install CCTV at the bus terminus.

"It is very concerning that this has happened and it's obviously pre-meditated - he had a balaclava and an axe," he said.

"It's concerning that this area is being targeted."

Labor public transport spokesman Jared Cassidy slammed Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner for cancelling the extra security guards on the 100 route.

"It's his responsibility to provide a safe workplace for Brisbane City Council employees," he said.

Brisbane City Council has been contacted for comment.

[techblitz]

i can confirm this......the security guards in/around forest lake/inala are gone.....fare evasion back to norm as a result......it was really good there for a while when evaders were blocked from boarding the bus...

[ozbob]

JUST IN: Police have released terrifying footage of a bus driver being robbed by a man armed with a tomahawk in Forest Lake last night. Anyone with any information which could assist or drivers with relevant dash cam vision, is asked to contact Policelink on 131 444 pic.twitter.com/vOF40Rd2Dp

— 10 News First Queensland (@10NewsFirstQLD) August 29, 2019

[techblitz]

Did the rounds around there today...cops cars everywhere still trying to find the perp.....asked a 100 bus driver if he had heard about the incident and he said no.....how could he not have known about it??.....doesn't say much for the communication at the depot....should there not have been warnings posted up telling bus drivers to be on the lookout for another attack??
Another case of 'she`ll be right mate' syndrome...

[ozbob]

Teenagers are putting bus drivers and their passengers' lives at risk, filling buses with toxic fumes while getting high. 7NEWS can reveal Brisbane is in the grip of a 'chroming epidemic' with paramedics called to three emergencies every day. #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/duY2ZD6GM3

— 7NEWS Brisbane (@7NewsBrisbane) September 4, 2019

[Otto]

Courier Mail, 4-9-19


"AN ELDERLY bus driver has allegedly been punched in the face and rushed to hospital this morning barely a week after another driver was robbed by a man armed with an axe.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman said police received a call about 8am that a male passenger had allegedly assaulted a bus driver and went to the scene at Stafford Rd, Stafford.

Police charged a 27-year-old man with drug possession, he will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 19.

Investigations into the assault are ongoing.

Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) Queensland secretary Tom Brown said he had known the bus driver, a 79-year-old man, for 30 years, and spoke to him shortly after the attack.

"What I know is the driver remained seated, behind what he believed was a protective screen and all of a sudden got a left-hook, around the screen, and busted his nose," he said.

Mr Brown said the driver was running the 369 service in the Stafford area when he had to break hard to avoid a collision, and had to pull up after a passenger reported an injury.

"While he was stopped, the allegedly injured passenger became more and more abusive and then violent."

Mr Brown held serious concerns on whether the partial protective barriers worked in violent incidents and called for the council to show him the CCTV immediately.

"I don't want to be premature but it looks like a fail for this screen," he said.

He said when Toowong Depot drivers heard of the attack, they reached "boiling point."

"They wanted the screens ripped out, they wanted a mass meeting, they wanted the Lord Mayor's head," he said.

"Council has hung their hat on these partial screens and we have warned them right from the start that they were not up to it."

Public and Active Transport chair Krista Adams did not address questions on whether the driver was seated behind a partial barrier when the assault occurred.

Cr Adams said it was horrible to hear a bus driver was assaulted "while simply doing his job this morning".

She praised the police for responding so quickly to the incident.

"The bus driver's actions during this challenging circumstance were admirable and I wish him a speedy recovery," she said.

Cr Adams also repeated, word-for-word, her response to last week's incident.

"For more than two years Brisbane City Council has been urgently calling on the State Government to step up and provide more Senior Network Officers to protect our bus drivers and passengers," she said.

Opposition Public and Active Transport spokesman Jared Cassidy said morale among drivers was "pretty low at the moment" as a result of performance pressure and "constant" assaults.

"It actually is a reality that there's an assault every week," he said.

"They're under an intense pressure to meet customer expectations in a city which is now the second most congested in Australia," he said.

"Added to that, they're faced with this increasing epidemic of assaults and it just points squarely to the fact that they need more protection and support from their employer – Council."

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Krista Adams proposes jail time be doubled for attacks on bus drivers

Jail time would be doubled for attacks on bus drivers under a proposal backed by Brisbane's deputy mayor and being considered by the State Government. But the union says the plan ignores one fact.

PRISON time would be doubled for attacks on bus drivers under a proposal backed by Brisbane deputy mayor and being considered by the State Government.

Deputy mayor Krista Adams has written to Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath to ask for jail time for those who assault a bus driver to increase from seven to 14 years.

It comes just weeks after The Courier-Mail revealed attacks on bus drivers had risen more than 40 per cent from January to July, compared with the same time last year.

Cr Adams, who holds the council's public transport portfolio, said it was clear some in the community had "zero respect" for drivers.

"They spit at them, hurl abuse, hit them, threaten them with all sorts of objects and our drivers need back up in their roles as public-facing transit officers," she said.

She said the legislation did nothing to deter those crimes, so the council was asking the State Government to step up and do its duty to protect bus drivers across the city.

"So that we've got a law that is serious enough that the next time someone thinks about hurling abuse at a bus driver or throwing a bottle in their face, they'll think twice when there's a 14-year penalty," she said.

A spokesperson for Ms D'Ath said: "This issue is already under consideration by the Attorney-General, and the letter by Brisbane City Council will be added to the body of material being assessed to inform her decision."

The Rail Tram and Bus Union plans to rally today at Cr Adams' ward office in Mt Gravatt to demand the council provide more ­security guards and full ­encapsulation protection barriers for drivers.

RTBU Queensland secretary Tom Brown supported the deputy mayor's call for ­increased sentencing and added that the laws were "clearly not working".

"The magistrates aren't applying the law as it stands, offenders basically get off, there's even often no conviction recorded," he said.

"It's heartbreaking for the drivers, it's heartbreaking for police."

Labor public transport spokesman Jared Cassidy said increased sentencing was not the solution to the "epidemic" of abuse against bus drivers.

"Someone who is high on ice is not going to stop and consider the sentencing implications of what they're about to do," he said.

He said the council needed to supply more security guards and full encapsulation safety barriers and the State Government needed to provide more Senior Network Officers.

Brisbane City Council has been calling for more Senior Network Officers for more than two years.

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1171448949141458944

[#Metro]

Is there any evidence that increased fines or penalties are a relatively effective deterrent??

Maybe other measures should be looked at, like pepper spray.

[SurfRail]

Properly encapsulating drivers is the only solution that I can see working.

[Cazza]

Exactly SurfRail. Stopping it at the source is the best way to eradicate something.

It's also been proven time and time again that incarceration is not an effective form of punishment.

[#Metro]

They also need to get rid of cash completely. Sydney already does this.

[SurfRail]

Most of Sydney anyway.  Curiously enough open payment is being slowly rolled out to each Opal operator (with new ones added nearly every day), but STA is probably going to be last.

I believe Regions 4 and 6 are currently the only ones which not only have no cash transactions but also open payment.  The 3 STA regions will join them very shortly, which will leave only the 9 outer regions and all of the Outer Metropolitan regions even further away still with cash (but every single one with open payment).

[ozbob]

Properly encapsulating drivers is the only solution that I can see working.

Yo! Why they just  didn't do that from the outset was surprising.

[#Metro]

BCC has been using soft techniques like customer service conversations to de-escalate situations. Barriers get between the baddies, but they also get between passengers who might want to chat with the driver.

Unfortunately, with drugs like ICE percolating through society, any approach that requires the alleged or potential offender to engage in rational-level thinking will not work.

This is why I'm skeptical of fines and longer sentences - does it work, and isn't it incredibly costly to put people in jail?

I agree with BCC that full barriers should be a last resort, and if required, put only on high risk routes such as those going via the Valley.

Hence pepper spray and possibly roving security.

[techblitz]

was ready to catch a 369 the other day at mitchy and the driver was mentioning the sharp increase in the number of assaults on drivers at his depot alone....so from what he was saying....it matches up pretty much with that 40% figure...
Also before we left he gave a quick demonstration on what actually happened on that 369 incident.....the perp grabbed a tight hold on the partial screen and layed into the bus driver with full force....there was literally nothing the bus driver could have done....not even so much as push back at the perp in the hope of the losing their balance.....because of the strong grip they held on that partial screen....these things need to be replaced asap....they are more dangerous than good...

[#Metro]

Who goes around on buses with axes etc?

BCC should look at pepper spray cans in a holder, that when removed from their holder trigger an automatic EPIRB like signal to network control and or emergency services.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane council calls for sentence increase for bus driver assaults

Brisbane bus drivers have staged a protest outside deputy mayor Krista Adam's ward office, claiming the council is not doing enough to protect drivers from assaults.

It follows three incidents in the past two weeks, including one incident in Forest Lake where a 66-year-old driver was threatened with a tomahawk.

In Tuesday's council meeting, Cr Adams said she had written to Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath urging a rethink of sentencing definitions to increase the maximum prison term for people who assault bus drivers.

The letter, seen by Brisbane Times, urges Ms D'Ath to expand the definition of "public officer" to include bus drivers, immediately changing the potential length of sentences for people convicted of assaulting a bus driver.

A spokesman for Ms D'Ath said the issue was "already under consideration by the Attorney-General".

"The letter by Brisbane City Council will be added to the body of material being assessed to inform her decision," the spokesman said.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union assistant secretary Tom Brown claimed a female bus driver had been assaulted twice in one month.

"Drivers are angry about the escalating violence against bus drivers and council aren't doing enough to keep drivers and the public safe," he said.

"We want answers, we want action, we want real protection. A delegation from the rally will seek a meeting with the deputy mayor."

Speaking in the council chamber on Tuesday night, Cr Adams said she wanted the state government to take more responsibility for protecting bus drivers in the course of their duties.

"We continue to see assaults from the community on bus drivers, which is absolutely unacceptable." Cr Adams said.

"However tomorrow I've got the union marching on my ward office when what they should be marching on is Minister Bailey's office."

In the past three months, council has noted 153 verbal assaults on bus drivers and 11 physical assaults on bus drivers while at work.

Cr Adams said the council had been lobbying for years for the state government to increase the number of senior network officers to protect bus drivers.

She said the council also provided security officers but the state needed to supply more than the current 70 senior network officers, who can issue fines and remove passengers from buses.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1178413350436294656

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Ad campaign to deter violence against bus drivers

A new television campaign will target violence against bus drivers in south-east Queensland, while the state government is promising more security officers for several routes in Brisbane's west.

More safety barriers will also be installed on buses, Transport Minister Mark Bailey announced on Monday afternoon at a safety forum for bus drivers, operators and unions in Brisbane.

Television adverts featuring "real-life" scenarios faced by drivers will carry the message that violence against them is unacceptable.

The announcements follow several serious alleged assaults on drivers, including one incident in which a Brisbane driver was allegedly robbed by a man wielding a tomahawk.

Forty-nine senior network officers with powers to remove aggressive customers and monitor drivers are currently working on certain routes, and Mr Bailey said eight new recruits began their final training last week.

He said that by June next year, driver safety barriers would be installed in more than half the buses in Queensland.

"Everybody should be able to go to work and do their job without facing the threat of being physically or verbally assaulted," he said.

"That's why we're also funding a 12-month trial with the Westside Bus Company to deploy eight customer service officers to ride on Ipswich services."

Buses operated by Caboolture Bus Lines will also have driver safety barriers and anti-shatter windows installed.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has been targeting Brisbane City Council in recent weeks demanding more be done to protect drivers, but the deputy mayor and public and active transport committee chair Krista Adams has insisted that was the state's responsibility.

Transport Workers' Union (Queensland Branch) Secretary Peter Biagini, however, welcomed the state government's announcement, saying it would have "tangible" results.

" ... "That's why we're also funding a 12-month trial with the Westside Bus Company to deploy eight customer service officers to ride on Ipswich services. ... "

CSOs ?  SNOs are needed, need some real authority ...

" Good Morning Passengers, welcome aboard Bertie. Sorry about the one hour wait. I am Rupert your Customer Service Officer.  Please ensure that you touch on or buy a ticket, but don't worry if you don't.  Please no eating, drinking, smoking or loud music on the bus, this is not a party bus despite what you think ...

"Get fuked Rupert !!! .. "   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1178768100352655360

[#Metro]

1. Get rid of all cash and ticketing on the bus. Sydney has this already and has open payment running.

2. Has anyone spoken to the alleged and convicted perpetrators? What were their motives and circumstances?

[SurfRail]

1. Get rid of all cash and ticketing on the bus. Sydney has this already and has open payment running.

2. Has anyone spoken to the alleged and convicted perpetrators? What were their motives and circumstances?

On point 1 - only 5 of the 15 Sydney regions and none of the outer metropolitan regions (Newcastle, Wollongong etc).  In those cases it is more an issue with timing and efficiency than safety although that definitely is part of it.  The 5 regions in question are the 5 busiest - Region 4 (Hillsbus), Region 6 (Transit Systems, formerly State Transit) and Regions 7-9 (State Transit).

The regions where it is more likely to be a safety concern are all still taking hard currency onboard.

Full encapsulation please.  Time to do it, whether the drivers like it or not - it is now a real safety issue.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1179894551625924609

[techblitz]

https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandRail/posts/2814027051948970

I am a long time traveller on QLD Rail Trains and have witnessed a lot of stuff. I recently witnessed a group of kids harassing and abusing an elderly couple after they were told to be quiet.
The 2 security guards that were in the carriage did basically nothing at all to intervene and the kids did get quite aggressive. I spoke to the guards afterwards and asked them why they did nothing and they said they were just contractors and weren't paid enough ($17-18 dollars an hr flat rate) to put themselves in harms way.
Does QLD Rail really support having these Security guards paid below the National Minimum Wage?

QR would just play dumb...like coles or woolies with their suppliers.........nevertheless the huge increase in sub-continental security has been blatantly obvious......comes off very 7-11ish.....only this time one of the underpaid workers gave away what they are actually earning to a commuter.
Flat rates in the security industry is downright bloody illegal..
Hopefully said commuter gives the FWO a buzz....security are to be paid to the award which is absolute minimum 21.90 per hour exc penalties...
These bigwig security companies like to brag how they can have security on-standby at extremely short notice.......I think we know how they achieve this......grab yourself an army of desperate permanent residency seekers or 'pay as you go' students who desperately need the cash to pay for their next term or module......and have them on 24h standby at less than market price.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RT_com/status/1185465607539642368

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> MP fires up over 'outrageous' bus safety officer cuts

A SUNSHINE Coast MP claims the government has cut the number of public transport safety officers while fare evasion and poor behaviour escalates.

Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson was reacting to Sunshine Coast Daily reports from drivers of drug taking, dealers using buses to make transactions, other poor behaviour and fare evasion on a regular basis.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey has outlined a series of measures including increased staff, media campaigns, safety barriers for drivers and a survey to determine the extent of the problem.

Drivers who received questionnaire forms from Kantar, the company hired to undertake the survey for the government, have told the Daily on some routes they carried more fare evaders than paying passengers as losses across southeast Queensland topped $25 million in the past year.

Ms Simpson said the government had cut the number of senior network officers who were supposed to police the problems.

"The cuts in the number of these officers on our buses is outrageous when they are vital to improving safety and compliance with the law to pay fares," Ms Simpson said.

"There are 11 fewer senior network officers policing the public transport network than three years ago and that's outrageous.

"The government claims they have eight new TransLink recruits coming on board later in the year which will bring the region's figures to 57 but that's still three fewer than three years ago.

"No wonder there is a problem with safety and fare evasion on Sunshine Coast buses and the government is still in denial."

Ms Simpson said that for the public transport network to truly be a public service that met the growing needs of the region it had to be safe for all ages and law-abiding commuters had to know their bus fares weren't subsidising those who were squibbing paying.

"It's time for a shake up with safety and fare compliance at the forefront.

"There are 8000 more people moving to the Coast every year and the public transport system needs to be safe and accessible."

[Otto]

From my own experience, On average  i have ONE cash fare paying passenger to roughly 10 to 13 non fare paying passengers. Or you could say for every $ 4.80 I receive, I lose an average $ 30 - $ 40 in lost revenue depending on age of pax.

[techblitz]

https://www.facebook.com/busissues/

links to the survey there..
Plenty of discussion on that page with some personal experiences of bus drivers and their dealings with anti-social behaviour/fare evasion.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/1186206602803564544

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 25th October 2019 page 2

Rail acts recipe for disaster

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast crime: Safety failures hurting Gold Coast drivers

BASHED bus drivers say their employers are being stingy by refusing to protect them with shields, even with a State Government initiative to pay half the costs.

They say they are being hit and spat on every week and it has become so bad on some Coast routes that private security companies have been hired to follow in case of violence.

The calls for immediate action follow two attacks on bus drivers in recent weeks.

A driver was attacked outside of his bus at Pacific Pines last week and another robbed at Harbour Town last month while behind the wheel.

Drivers wants bus company bosses to put up physical barriers between them and passengers.

Last year, the State Government offered to pay 50 per cent of the cost of installing the shields. However, drivers say only a handful of buses on the Coast have been fitted with the barriers.

Surfside Buslines, the Gold Coast's biggest provider, and the State Government declined to confirm how many local buses had been fitted out.

"We are being spat on and abused weekly," Bus and Coach Drivers Association boss Darren Dickson said. "Companies are telling us to be passive about these interactions.

"We are told we can't leave our seats. People expect us to do something, it gets very difficult when attacks happen.

"There are lots of talk and very little action, we find fare-paying passengers aren't the ones causing a problem."

Transport workers Union Secretary Peter Biagini said companies should be funding full barriers for drivers.

"Bus drivers in Queensland are being let down by a lack of security on buses, with drivers continually facing abuse and assaults," Mr Biagini said.

He said last week's attack on a man at a Helensvale bus stop was an example of the violence bus drivers faced daily.

"More and more drivers are telling us that violence and threats on buses are commonplace," he said.

"Bus drivers should be safe at work, just like you would expect in any other profession. They perform an incredibly vital job and deserve to come home safely each day.

"While we appreciate that there has been improvements on bus driver safety, there needs to be a greater emphasis on physical protection of drivers, especially on high-risk routes."

A driver who did not want to be named said companies were reluctant to add barriers to older models.

"Contractors are baulking at them, there are so many different types of buses. The question is how do you build them – nothing is really being done."

The driver said he believed more ticket inspectors would combat the issue.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the Government was not ignoring the issue of fare evasion and aggressive behaviour.

"From government to passengers, bus operators and unions – we all agree there's absolutely zero tolerance for violence against bus drivers," he said.

"It comes down to respect for others and people just doing their job."

Surfside Buslines, under new management, said it had a zero-tolerance policy on attacks, but could not specify how many safety barriers have been put in place for employees.

"All buses are equipped with multiple CCTV cameras and two-way radio communication between drivers and our operations team to notify relevant authorities if an incident occurs," a spokesman said.

"Surfside drivers also undertake our nationally recognised driver training program which encompasses periodic training to de-escalate violent behaviour from the public."

The spokesman said Surfside was committed to working with government and industry to review and implement the Government's five-point plan, including physical safety measures.

"Criminal behaviour on buses is reflective of anti-social behaviour across the community and we work with relevant authorities including TransLink and QPS to address these issues."

[#Metro]

Are people just being violent, or is this associated with being under the influence of a drug (e.g. alcohol, ice etc)?

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1188839965305782273

[techblitz]

Are people just being violent, or is this associated with being under the influence of a drug (e.g. alcohol, ice etc)?

both.....I think its pretty obvious isn't it?? Most are just p%ssed  off with the world in general and unfortunately bus drivers and ambos etc have to deal with it...
We need to address the increasing social decline in this state/country..

The ones commiting the violence need jobs and a decent income to change their outlook on life.....but with underemployment/unemployment/youth disadvantage showing little to no improvement...things will get worse before they get better..

[STB]

Are people just being violent, or is this associated with being under the influence of a drug (e.g. alcohol, ice etc)?

both.....I think its pretty obvious isn't it?? Most are just p%ssed  off with the world in general and unfortunately bus drivers and ambos etc have to deal with it...
We need to address the increasing social decline in this state/country..

The ones commiting the violence need jobs and a decent income to change their outlook on life.....but with underemployment/unemployment/youth disadvantage showing little to no improvement...things will get worse before they get better..

I don't think it's a simple as getting jobs.

I'm unemployed, disabled and would never lash out at anyone.  Generally there are more complex reasons behind the violence, normally mental health related that can be biological, and giving them a job isn't necessarily going to solve the problem

[techblitz]

obviously mental health cant be fixed with a job alone......extra funding will do more on that front...
I'm talking about the ones who aren't yet at the mental decline stage but are potentially entering it due to being on the unemployment queue for so long....and out of sheer boredom end up turning to drugs......

I'm unemployed, disabled and would never lash out at anyone

Ok....you have avoided the mental stage decline...good for you.....but there are many young aussies out there who will enter that stage if they don't get on the right path.......a decent paying form of income is the first way this can happen.

[STB]

obviously mental health cant be fixed with a job alone......extra funding will do more on that front...
I'm talking about the ones who aren't yet at the mental decline stage but are potentially entering it due to being on the unemployment queue for so long....and out of sheer boredom end up turning to drugs......

I'm unemployed, disabled and would never lash out at anyone

Ok....you have avoided the mental stage decline...good for you.....but there are many young aussies out there who will enter that stage if they don't get on the right path.......a decent paying form of income is the first way this can happen.

Actually no, I've got PTSD and Bipolar.

Mental health issues don't always lead to drug use and violence.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> &utm_medium=['email']&utm_source=['Sunshine+Coast+Daily']]Bus drivers demand support as violence, dealers take over

DRUG deals, violence, fare evasion and constant danger are late-week travel staples on Sunshine Coast public transport according to employees whose safety fears are growing.

The claims come a week after a Sunbus driver stepped forward to detail rising numbers of fare evasions, dope deals and poor behaviour ranging from noise, bad language and shooting up, to simulated sex.

They said drug deals were taking place at and around the Maroochydore interchange, in front of Maroochydore Police Station and on buses.

Those who have written to or spoken with the Sunshine Coast Daily said more police were needed at the Maroochydore interchange and others in the network and have called for four senior network officers to be immediately assigned to the region.

They have also called for Sunshine Coast Council to follow Brisbane City Council's lead and install monitored security cameras.

It has been alleged that in four separate incidents this year a female driver was assaulted, a guard had his head stomped on resulting in post traumatic stress disorder, a driver was punched during a meal break in the Big Top Shopping Centre carpark and another driver on his first night on the job had his nose broken after a brawl erupted.

"We want permanent senior network officers day and night," one driver said.

The peak times for trouble were Thursday night, Friday and Saturday nights and the worst runs were the 610, 612 and 620 through Nambour and the 622 through Coolum.

A driver said Thursday late-night shopping at Sunshine Plaza acted as a magnet for trouble makers with weekend prime time delivering the drunks and druggos.

The driver said fare evasion was a constant across all routes and fare evaders were the most likely to litter, spit, swear and engage in unruly behaviour and violence.

Sunshine Coast police relieving district officer, Acting Superintendent Rob Graham, said police were aware fare evasion was occurring however Sunbus internal policy dictated no young person would be refused a ride.

"Sadly, drug dealing is a problem right across the community," he said.

Acting Superintendent Graham said some more targeted operations and patrols would be considered.

"The police prioritise patrols of the transit centre against other calls for service.

"Proactive presence at the transit centre is undertaken whenever police resources permit.

He said police had drug operations across the Sunshine Coast.

"Specific operations have been conducted between police and TransLink senior network officers on numerous occasions, and there is a constant police attendance through the transit centre all hours of the day and night."

Acting Superintendent Graham said regular plain clothes patrols of the transit centre also occurred.

"The Queensland Police Service encourages any drivers, guards or passengers to report unlawful behaviour and provide the relevant CCTV/footage to assist any subsequent investigation/prosecution," he said.

One transport worker described a recent Saturday night when central Maroochydore was packed with young people out for a good time.

The worker said a drug dealer was doing a roaring trade near the transit centre toilet while people made their way to Hungry Jacks for a late-night burger.

"Drug-affected individuals loiter around the area and there is a constant stream of persons coming and going including teenagers who can be no older than 18 toting their bewildered young child around like baggage," the transport worker wrote.

"Nearby one of the Saturday night guards keeps an eye on the platform however he is powerless to do anything except to call the police - and there's no guarantee they will come.

"The drug dealer is free to peddle his wares as he and his customers know that there are never any police patrols or presence on the platform with the ultimate laughable irony being that the station backs onto the Maroochydore Police Station.

The worker said it was an "open secret" that TransLink buses and also the stations such as Maroochydore, Nambour and Noosa were the preferred distribution network for the Sunshine Coast drug dealers who were able to act with impunity on a daily basis due to lack of police and network office presence.

"TransLink buses are obviously the transport of choice not just for the dealers but also individuals using the system as a taxi service to and from their dealers - of course none of them ever paying."

The Kinetic Group in August took over the operation of buses on the Sunshine Coast for the State Government's TransLink public transport network.

It has been contacted for comment.