In a recent submission about this year’s Federal Budget, BIC is focusing on two pressing issues that was discussed at this year’s Bus Industry Summit.
On December 5, 2022, assistant treasurer and minister for financial services Stephen Jones called for submissions from individuals, businesses and community groups on their views regarding priorities for the 2023‐24 Federal Budget. Submissions were open from that day to January 27, 2023. The Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) put forward a submission focusing on two pressing industry topics: the transition to zero initiatives and the skills shortages.
The bus and coach industry in Australia is ideally placed to transition to zero-emissions operation. Lack of enabling policy, charging and refuelling infrastructure and uncertainty around the supply and cost of green energy from the grid pose significant challenges. BIC’s recommendations include co-developing a National Zero Emission Bus Roadmap, implementing a 10-year national bus procurement plan, prioritising investment in heavy vehicle recharging and refuelling infrastructure, funding a campaign to encourage people to use public transport and investing in high-capacity bus service infrastructure.
Skill shortages have been increasing in the bus and coach industry. There has been a sustained fall in the nation’s unemployment rate, exacerbating an already existing nationwide shortage of bus and coach drivers. BIC is advocating for a national approach to address this crisis and has made several recommendations to the government, including recognising passenger transport as essential services such as bus and coach drivers on the ANZSCO level 3 skills list, temporarily waiving the requirement for drivers to have a valid Australian license for 12 months before being eligible for a bus drivers authority, extending the $4000 income bank credit for pensioners and contributing $4 million to support an industry-wide advertising campaign, as well as designing and implementing industrial relations laws to accommodate the industry’s needs, particularly related to school bus drivers.
Behind employment in construction and mining, the transport industry is the third most male dominated sector in Australia. According to the federal government’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, women account for around 27.4 per cent of the transport industry workforce. This disparity is even more pronounced in senior leadership positions, where only 4.5 per cent of chief executive roles are held by women and amongst drivers, while only 14 per cent of bus and coach drivers are female.
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There is a growing recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the bus and coach industry and attracting, retaining and promoting women. BIC executive director Roz Chivers facilitated a Women’s Panel on attraction, retention and promotion of women in the industry at the Bus Industry Summit 2023. The Women’s Panel was an important step towards identifying ways to addressing the challenge.
The panel featured a diverse range of women including Managing Director at Transdev John Holland, Rachel Spencer, Director of eMobility, Connected Services and Partnerships at Volvo Busses APAC, Sarah Forbes, General Manager at QLD CDC, Anna Tyben and Manager of Business Services at Red Bus Services, Leanne Griffiths.
These influential women in the industry came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing women in the sector. The panel shed light on the current state of women in the industry and increased the representation and advancement of women in the field.
The Bus Industry Summit 2023 provided an exciting opportunity for BIC members, government representatives and the greater industry with a platform to network, discuss current industry issues and explore solutions.