The Minns Labor Government is investing $200 million in more than 8,000 bus drivers who keep our suburbs moving.
The funding boost will be tied to increases in pay that will keep more bus drivers behind the wheel after years of driver shortages across Sydney and outer metropolitan areas that has resulted in regular service cancellations for passengers.
This is the latest part of the planned boom in new bus services and the generational transformation to electric buses.
Of the latest recruits, nine out ten bus drivers who are trained and start working leave the industry within six months.
Bus drivers are paid an average $33 an hour.
This will address the persistent bus driver shortage that blew out past 500 drivers under the former Liberal-National government.
The Minns Labor Government’s Bus Industry Taskforce identified bus driver recruitment and retention as the single biggest challenge to delivering reliable bus services.
Bus services in parts of Sydney like the Northern Beaches are regularly let down by last-minute cancellations because many drivers can’t afford to live and work in the area due to rampant housing costs.
As of last week, the overall bus driver shortage was down to 168.
Under the privatised model inherited from the Liberals, the NSW Government is not party to ongoing enterprise agreements between private bus operators, drivers and unions, but the funding will be made available and will be tied directly to the wage rise outcome.
Today, just six per cent of Sydney bus drivers are women and this funding will also be tied to improved access to part-time work for drivers, as well as better training opportunities and workplace improvements like more practical meal breaks.
The NSW Government expects bus operators to also contribute to the pay rise, with government funding contingent on unions and operators reaching an agreement.
The NSW Government respects the right of workers to bargain, but urges all parties to avoid industrial action that unfairly disrupts commuters and the millions of people who rely on public transport to get to work, school and appointments.
Since coming to office, the Minns Labor Government has:
- Added 5,910 new bus services in Greater Sydney.
- Restored the popular M52 Parramatta to CBD via Ryde service and the 301 Roseberry to Eastgardens service.
- Introduced five new permanent bus routes connecting Campbelltown, Leppington, Oran Park, Penrith, Mount Druitt to each other and the new Western Sydney International Airport.
- Reduced the bus driver shortage down from over 500 to 168.
- Ordered 1089 new buses, including 50 new articulated (bendy) buses and 10 new double decker buses.
- Increased local content to over 50% of over half the buses ordered
Upgraded more than 30 bus driver facilities such as meal rooms and bathrooms, including the first ever female bathroom facilities in Parramatta.
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
“We value our bus drivers who get millions of passengers safely to their destination each week, often in the challenging conditions of our most traffic-congested parts of Sydney.
“Tieing funding to better wages will send an unequivocal message that we respect your work, and we want to retain drivers for the long-term.
“The former government privatised bus services, cut routes, created the driver shortage, failed to order new buses and sent bus manufacturing jobs offshore.
“This investment is part of the ongoing U-turn we are doing on their entire approach. Including new routes to suburbs that have never seen a bus and almost 6,000 new bus services in the schedule.”
Transport Secretary Josh Murray said:
“This agreement brings fairness and consistency to the bus network by recognising drivers as skilled professionals, no matter where they work across Greater Sydney and the outer metropolitan areas.
“When drivers feel safe, supported and fairly paid, they stay in the industry and that stability is critical to reducing cancellations and improving day to day reliability for passengers.
“This funding assistance provides certainty for drivers and operators alike, supporting long-term workforce planning and a more sustainable bus system overall.
“By helping to lift pay, and making the job safer, the NSW Government is making bus driving a career where people can confidently build their lives around, not just a job, but a profession. We encourage operators and the transport unions to dive into negotiations and bring about a fast and fair deal.”
