The Australian bus industry is facing an imminent workforce crisis, with an aging driver and maintenance workforce presenting a major challenge to the sustainability of public transport services.
The recent Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) National Conference highlighted this urgent issue, bringing to the forefront the need for immediate action. The Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) has been proactively engaged in discussions on workforce recruitment, training initiatives and immigration policy reforms. While there have been some encouraging moves to streamline licensing processes for new drivers, a comprehensive and multi-tiered response is needed from both state and federal governments.
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A key solution that should be implemented at the state level –particularly in Queensland – is the establishment of a Transport Skills Organisation. This initiative would allocate a small percentage of heavy vehicle registration fees towards industry-led programs that promote, identify and engage a broader cross-section of the community in transport careers.
To effectively address the workforce gap, this initiative must target underrepresented groups, including culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) individuals, women and First Nations Australians. These demographics represent untapped potential in the transport sector and should be actively recruited and supported through dedicated training programs.
QBIC, in partnership with TAFE Queensland TMR and other stakeholders, is already working to address the barriers that prevent young apprentices and trainees from entering the industry. However, without a sustainable funding model, these initiatives will struggle to have a lasting impact. By diverting a modest percentage of heavy vehicle registration revenue, the Transport Skills Organisation would ensure ongoing investment in skills recognition, employer incentives and industry training.
At the federal level, two major policy changes are essential to securing the long-term viability of Australia’s bus industry workforce. Firstly, the government must allow aged pensioners to continue receiving their full pension while paying a marginal tax rate on any additional income they earn. Many experienced and capable retirees are willing to work part-time as bus drivers, yet current pension income thresholds discourage them from re-entering the workforce. By reforming pension rules, the government could harness the experience and reliability of older Australians to fill critical vacancies in the passenger transport industry.
Secondly, the federal government must reclassify Passenger Transport as qualifying for skilled migration to streamline overseas pathways for skilled workers in the industry. The current visa system does not adequately reflect the need for skilled bus drivers and some maintenance staff, making it difficult for operators to recruit experienced workers from overseas. Recognising Passenger Transport as qualifying for skilled migration would help alleviate chronic driver shortages, ensuring that Australia’s public transport systems remain operational and reliable particularly in rural and remote areas.
Public transport is the backbone of Australia’s urban and regional mobility, and the consequences of workforce shortages will be severe if immediate action is not taken. Delays, service cancellations and reduced accessibility to transport services will disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, including the elderly, students and those in rural areas. Without a sufficient workforce, Australia’s ability to provide sustainable and efficient public transport is under threat.
The actions needed to build solutions are clear: an industry-led Transport Skills Organisation, federal pension reform and skilled migration policy adjustments. These measures, combined with industry-driven recruitment and training initiatives, will help build a resilient and diverse transport workforce capable of meeting future demands.
The time for discussion is over; action is required now. Our industry is ready to collaborate, innovate and implement solutions – but we need government policy change to turn these strategies into reality. A failure to act will not only jeopardise the future of the bus industry but also undermine the essential transport services that millions of Australians rely upon daily.