In opposition, NSW聽Labor聽campaigned against bus privatisation. But, the new minister now says聽鈥渢he options available are limited鈥. Jim McIlroy reports.
Transport privatisation
As if to dispel any doubts that her privatisation spree was ending,聽Jim McIlroy writes that the NSW Premier has moved to reassure private corporations that it is聽not.
The ICAC inquiry has shown that NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian knew enough to know she should not completely know something. Jim McIlroy聽 and Pip Hinman argue she should stand down.
Bus drivers held a four hour聽stop-work聽on August 24 to demand improved conditions and COVID-19 safety measures, reports Jim McIlroy.
A car convoy in Sydney's CBD, as well as聽protests at Liberal MLA聽electoral offices, were聽held on June 18 in opposition to the NSW government鈥檚 plans to privatise bus services, reports Jim McIlroy.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union is opposing the state government鈥檚 moves to fully privatise Sydney鈥檚 buses, saying it will hurt commuters and transport workers, reports Jim McIlroy.
Peter Boyle reports that bus drivers and their supporters turned their backs on NSW transport minister Andrew Constance on March 5, in protest at the government's privatisation of bus services.
The NSW Coalition government has brought down a budget designed to bedazzle NSW voters ahead of the 2019 March state election.
The Coalition鈥檚 is made up of a massive surplus from increases in revenue from Commonwealth grants, rising land taxes and the proceeds from the sale of state assets 鈥 boosted by the federal government鈥檚 Asset Recycling Scheme.
Any one of the 1000 people who attended a rally at Belmont on February 19 could have told their own horror story of bus privatisation.
Speaking on behalf of many, several community members exposed the lie that privatised bus services make it easier for people to get around.
New mother Kimberley Anderson described how she and her three-month-old baby, on the way to a medical appointment, waited in the rain for a bus that never showed.
For another parent, Bec Cassidy, the new timetable and service cuts meant she had to change her daughter鈥檚 primary school.
The NSW bus drivers鈥 union has warned the public that services in the Ryde area could be next in line for privatisation, as the campaign against the sell-off of inner-western Sydney bus operations continues.
In May, the state Coalition government put services from four bus depots 鈥 Tempe, Kingsgrove, Burwood and Leichhardt 鈥 out to private tender, provoking widespread outrage from workers and the community.
Newcastle鈥檚 bus drivers have been repeatedly underpaid since the city鈥檚 public transport system was privatised on July 1.
About 70 workers have been underpaid between $200 and $600 since then.
The NSW government awarded Keolis Downer a 10-year contract to operate Newcastle鈥檚 public transport system of buses, ferries and the new light rail last year.
It was the first time in Australia that one company was awarded a contract to operate a city鈥檚 entire transport system.
More than 300 unionists and local residents protested outside the electorate office of Liberal MP for Drummoyne John Sidoti on August 4.
Chanting 鈥淛ohn Sidoti鈥檚 got to go!鈥 and waving placards opposing the NSW government鈥檚 planned privatisation of public buses in the Inner West, the protest elicited much support from passing motorists and pedestrians. There was no response, however, from Sidoti鈥檚 office.
Flags from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Australian Services Union (ASU) were prominent.
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