The new NSW transport minister says certain people are to blame for the mammoth bus delays seen in Sydney in the past year
The new New South Wales transport minister has directed their blame at former politicians for the current Sydney bus delays being felt by passengers.
NSW transport minister Jo Haylen, who was handed the portfolio following last month’s state election, says the former NSW government had contracts with private bus companies that caused severe delays.
Haylen says the contracts incentivised bus drivers to cancel trips by not penalising them for this, instead only punishing them for late trips.
Reports say nearly a million passengers were left waiting at Sydney bus stops in August last year, with 20,000 bus services being cancelled.
Haylen is one of many in the new Minns’ government blaming the previous government for privatising Sydney bus contracts.
“This system that’s been established means that private operators are incentivised to cancel buses rather than deliver the services passengers need,” Haylen says.
“Not only is our workforce demoralised, but we’re losing drivers in droves.”