Applications for the new transit officers have closed. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Act up on a Canberra bus and you might soon find yourself walking.
Transport Canberra and ACT Policing have been given new powers to remove unruly passengers from buses or interchanges under a law designed to curb a spike in violence against drivers.
The Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Amendment Bill allows officers to direct anyone displaying “aggressive or menacing behaviour” to leave the area around a bus, bus stop or interchange.
The change follows a series of assaults that saw bus drivers call a snap strike last year.
One driver had a bucket of fish heads poured over them. Another was showered in glass after a passenger headbutted the safety screen.
“We’re talking drivers getting beaten up, having cans of Coke thrown at them, being spat on, even receiving death threats – you name it, it happens,” Transport Workers Union ACT secretary Klaus Pinkas said in late 2024.
There are now about 40 reported cases of violence against Canberra bus drivers every month.
The latest ACT Budget has set aside $37.4 million for public transport safety upgrades (as well as 30 new electric buses), including larger driver safety screens, de-escalation training for drivers, and the new team of Transit Officers.
Transport Canberra is now finalising the recruitment process after applications closed last month.
Transport Minister Chris Steel said the new laws “draw a powerful line in the sand that makes it absolutely clear that anti-social and violent behaviour is not acceptable”.
“Everyone has the right to be safe at work, and our passengers have the right to be safe when using this critical service,” he said.
“Authorised officers will help deter violent behaviour and de-escalate situations before they become serious.”
Transit officers won’t be allowed to use force; instead, they must call the police if things turn violent.
“Once appropriately trained, authorised persons will be able to act as a measure between bus drivers and the police, helping to deter violent behaviour and de-escalate situations before they become serious,” Mr Steel said.
“The new laws also allow the police to remove a person if that person is failing to comply with the move-on direction.”
The Public Transport Association of Canberra (PTCBR) backed that approach, saying restraint was the right call.
“It’s a balancing act,” PTCBR chair Amy Jelacic told Region.
“Putting heavily uniformed – and potentially armed – officers onto a public transport vehicle or platform can have a powerful deterrent effect and encourage good behaviour, but it can also make people feel really uncomfortable and nervous to even use the system.”
She said most trips in Canberra were safe and uneventful.
“I know people have had bad experiences on public transport, including our drivers – which is horrible – but statistically, public transport in Canberra is super safe,” she said.
“It would be a bit bizarre in this city to see heavily armed officers, and it would send the wrong message to the thousands of people who are using public transport here every day with no incident whatsoever.”
Even so, Ms Jelacic urged the government to track whether the new measures actually work.
“We trust the government will monitor what effect these positions are having. We need that data to answer: is this worth it? Is it having the intended effect?”
