The Transport Workers’ Union of Australia SA/NT Branch has welcomed the announcement from the NT Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure, Bill Yan, that improved driver protection screens have been installed on all buses on the Darwin and Alice Springs bus networks.

The Union had been calling for the rollout of protection screens to be expedited after a spate of attacks on bus drivers, including an attempted stabbing of a driver and a passenger climbing over a screen and kicking a bus driver in the head.

TWU SA/NT Branch Secretary Sam McIntosh says that completing the rollout of protection screens was vital for the safety of drivers. “Drivers must be safe in their workplace and our community should expect to be safe when travelling on our public transport network,” said McIntosh. “Today’s announcement that there is now an improved protection screen on every bus marks an essential step towards making that happen.”

A petition, signed by over 100 Darwin bus drivers, calling for the rollout of protection screens to be expedited and for a safer network was recently tabled in Parliament by Minister Yan.

“Recent events on our network have been extremely serious and the installation of protection screens could prevent a catastrophe,” said McIntosh. “In addition, the commitment to keeping cash off buses until June 2025 is another important step that has been taken to keep our drivers and the travelling public safe on our bus network.”

“Congratulations to our members, who provide an essential service for our community every day, on their relentless commitment to campaigning for improved driver protection screens.”