A Cairns bus attack has been added to a long list of assaults the transport union wants quelled
June 18, 2013
Queensland’s ongoing bus violence woes have rocked Cairns after a projectile allegedly smashed through both sides of a bus, leaving Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) members scratching their heads about the government’s failure to prevent attacks.
A TWU statement today says during a recent attack on a Cairns bus, youths allegedly fired projectiles with a suspected sling-shot so fast it smashed through windows on both sides of the bus.
Police
reportedly cautioned the youths, but the union has again called for the State Government to do more to protect bus drivers.
TWU Cairns Regional Organiser Janine Aitken says public transport is no longer a safe option for drivers and the travelling public.
“The lives of our drivers and the travelling public are at risk and more has to be done by this government to stamp out this life threatening behaviour,” Aitken says.
“This government needs to enforce harsher penalties to any offender who assaults a bus driver, a member of the travelling public or damages a bus.”
“If someone had been hit by the projectile, which was travelling so fast it smashed through both sides of the bus’ windows, they would have been killed.”
Aitken says on average there are 50 assaults on bus drivers across Queensland every month.
She says the attacks are a state-wide problem that needs to be addressed now.
“For too long offenders have been let off with a slap on the wrist,” she says.