Newcastle bus passenger assaulted in latest attack on public transport
A Newcastle bus passenger was reportedly threatened with a knife and struck with a bottle in latest public transport assault.
A passenger told a bus driver in Newcastle he had reportedly been threatened with a knife just after 10pm on Wednesday. When the bus stopped at Islington, he was allegedly struck in the head with a bottle and dragged off.
The Rail Tram and Bus Union confirmed the incident was reported to police. The assault came just weeks after a 14-year-old girl was seriously assaulted at East Maitland when three teenagers attacked her on a bus and dragged her off at Victoria Street.
She was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition. Union division president Peter Grech said the pattern affects driver recruitment.
Drivers are paid about $29 an hour and face difficult shifts with violent behaviour. Grech said drivers have raised concerns but are given little authority to respond.
Bus operator Keolis Australia says it prioritises team safety and has robust procedures in place.
Why it mattersEscalating violence on public transport puts drivers and passengers at risk and threatens reliable bus service if drivers continue to leave the job.
AustraliaNewcastle residents using buses face safety concerns; the bus network's ability to operate depends on retaining drivers in increasingly difficult conditions.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 d ago
