Labor is planning to establish a bus industry taskforce to combat the NSW Government’s failed privatisation agenda.

That’s according to Shadow Minister for Transport Jo Haylen, who met with local colleagues Sonia Hornery (Wallsend), Tim Crakanthorp (Newcastle), Jodie Harrison (Charlestown) and Yasmin Catley (Swansea) during a visit to the region on Wednesday 30 November.

The Summer Hill MP first mooted the proposal in September after a report from the NSW Legislative Council’s Transport Committee found the government’s privatisation of bus services across Sydney and the Hunter led to a decline in quality for passengers.

“Instead of seeing improvements to bus services, we’re seeing service quality going backwards,” she said.

“The government’s private model has led to less bus services, higher cost to passengers, reduced pay and conditions for the workforce as well as inconvenient changes to services, stops, routes and timetables with no consideration of community consultation.

“If elected, in March, we’ll of course honour existing contracts.

“But, the NSW Government is the economic employer and that it has options when it comes to improving routes, services and employment standards.  

“That’s why we’ll establish a taskforce involving the industry, trade unions and community stakeholders, which will assess the findings and recommendations so we can improve bus services for the Hunter and across NSW.”

And, she’s garnered support from local MPs.

“In 2016, the Liberal government privatised the bus networks in the Wallsend electorate,” Ms Hornery said.

“Since then, I frequently hear of poor network and route planning, buses continuously running late or not showing up at all, and a lack of consultation with passengers and the public.

“It is up to the government to provide a service that benefits the public and ensures people can access the services in the community that they need.

“A bus service run by a private operator incentivises profit making over delivery to the suburbs and regions that most need public transport.

“We should be improving bus services in the west with a growing population, instead we’ve steadily seen cuts to essential services that simply hurt people more.”

Mr Crakanthorp said it was time the community “was listened to”.

“We keep telling the Liberals that bus privatisation was a failure, however they just don’t care,” he stated.

“It won’t be easy to reverse the damage.

“But, Labor will start listening to people in Newcastle to make our services better.”

Ms Harrison agreed.

“Passengers in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have seen their bus services get cut and existing services decline,” she said.

“Then the government claims that it’s got nothing to do with them.

“Privatisation has failed… and we will need a change in government in NSW to clean up this mess.”

Ms Catley said the Liberals had reneged on their promise.

“When they announced they would privatise our buses, they said locals would get a better deal,” she explained.

“However, we’ve ended up getting an arrangement far worse.

“What happened to our bus services in Newcastle is a clear example of why privatisation doesn’t work.”

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