October 22nd 2024.
The Northern Territory government has recently released footage of a disturbing attack on a bus driver, prompting authorities to take immediate action in installing new protective screens on all buses. The incident, which occurred in September, involved a passenger climbing over the protective screen and violently kicking the driver in the head, causing him to hit the brakes. The attacker quickly left the scene, but the impact of the attack lasted for about 10 seconds.
Logistics and Infrastructure Minister, Bill Yan, expressed his shock and disgust at the incident, stating that such acts have the potential to cause immense harm to the community. He emphasized that no worker should have to fear becoming a victim of such a crime while simply doing their job. Unfortunately, this has become a harsh reality for many workers in the Territory, and it is simply unacceptable.
In a separate and unrelated attack, another driver was the target of an alleged stabbing attempt when a passenger jumped over the security screen. The police are currently investigating the matter. In response to these events, legislation is being proposed to ensure that cowardly assaults on frontline workers carry mandatory minimum sentences. This includes a mandatory community corrections order for first-time offenders and a mandatory minimum sentencing for those with a prior conviction for a violent offense.
These changes are aimed at protecting a wide range of occupations, including police, paramedics, nurses, doctors, teachers, corrections officers, retail and hospitality workers, and of course, bus and taxi drivers. This comes after six years of campaigning by bus drivers in Darwin, who have been calling for full-length protective screens to be installed in their buses to shield them from repeated attacks. Currently, half of the urban fleet in Darwin has been equipped with improved driver protection measures.
In response to the petition filed by the Transport Workers' Union, Minister Yan has assured that they are already well underway in implementing these changes, so that bus drivers can do their job without fear and ensure the safety of Territorians. In addition, the government has also launched a WhatsApp channel to keep the public informed about the latest developments in breaking news, celebrity, and sports, without any interference from comments or algorithms. This ensures the privacy of the viewers and keeps their personal information safe.
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