Media Release: Public transport bodies call for increased penalties for assault on staff

Key bodies representing Australian public transport operators and employees are seeking increases in penalties for assaulting public transport staff so that the penalties are equal to the assault of emergency personnel.

“Like emergency personnel, public transport staff provide a vital service for our communities, assisting millions of Australians to travel around our cities and regions daily. These workers deserve to go to work and do their job without threat or harm so that they can return home safely,” said Bob Nanva, National Secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union.

“Anti-social and violent behaviour towards public transport staff is simply unacceptable”, said Mr Nanva.

As patronage on public transport continues to grow, so too do incidents of anti-social behaviour and violence towards transport staff.

“We need stronger measures to deter these assaults, and we know that stronger penalties work,” said Danny Broad, CEO of the Australasian Railway Association.

“Elevating penalties to align with assaults on emergency services staff will reinforce the message that abusing and assaulting transport staff whilst they are simply doing their job will not be tolerated,” said Mr Broad.

In 2009 the Western Australian Government introduced mandatory jail sentences for assaults against public officers (police, ambulance officers, transit guards, court security officers, prison officers and youth custodial officers).

Laws were further strengthened in 2014, introducing a minimum jail term of 12 months for grievous bodily harm to public officers; nine months for bodily harm (in circumstances of aggravation); and six months for assault causing bodily harm.
By 2016, the Western Australian Government reported a 26 per cent reduction in assaults against public officers and a 35 per cent reduction in incidents obstructing public officers since amending the legislation in 2009.

In March 2016, the South Australian Government increased penalties for assault on transport staff to equal that of assaulting emergency services personnel.

Michael Apps, Executive Director of the Bus Industry Confederation said “Public transport operators currently undertake a range of measures to assist employees such as training in effective communication techniques, and de-escalation methods, while at the same time providing security support technologies such as body-worn cameras, CCTV, security screens and duress alarms. These alone aren’t enough.”

“We have written to Transport Ministers in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and Tasmania calling on them to adopt a similar approach to Western Australia and South Australia by increasing penalties for those who assault public transport staff,” said Mr Apps.

“Assaults to public transport staff can cause severe and lasting physical, emotional and psychological trauma,” said Naomi Frauenfelder, Executive Director of the TrackSAFE Foundation. TrackSAFE is a registered charity dedicated to reducing injuries and fatalities on the rail network and improving the workplace for rail employees.

“The rail industry invests heavily in trauma support resources for staff, including the Rail Industry Trauma Management Framework, trauma and resilience staff training, and other measures to support employees.”

“That said, appropriate penalties for those that choose to threaten or assault staff is also a critical component in trying to reduce these incidents,” concluded Ms Frauenfelder.