O'Farrell cost cutting targets transit officers
Posted: Tuesday, 29 May 2012 | By: Penny Sharpe
The O'Farrell Government's cost cutting agenda is compromising commuter safety – with transit officers removed from overnight train and station patrols, years before the police who are supposed to be replacing them are fully rolled out.
"The O'Farrell Government's cost cutting is forcing passengers to travel on late night trains without security patrols," Shadow Transport Minister, Penny Sharpe said today.
"The O'Farrell Government promised to improve public transport, but instead we are seeing transit officers no longer patrolling trains and stations on weeknights.
"Commuters leaving work late, shift workers and people returning home from a night out are all being forced to travel on trains without security under the O'Farrell Government.
"The O'Farrell Government has mismanaged the State Budget and is now looking for cuts like these to make up for its mistakes. The Premier has borrowed, not built, and now commuters are being forced to pay the price.
"Transit officers are being removed from overnight patrols now to save money, but they won't be replaced in full until 2014 when the government's police unit is rolled out.
"The O'Farrell Government is giving anti social passengers the green light to cause trouble on our rail network with this decision.
"With no possibility of having tickets checked on late night services, fare evaders will also have a free ride.
"If commuters know they will be travelling on late night trains without any security presence, they will be less likely to use our rail network.
"The ink on the so called 'reforms' of public transport security is not even dry and the Transport Minister is already cutting frontline services.
"People travelling to and from work late at night have a right to know that if something goes wrong, there is going to be security there to assist them.
"Commuters are already being forced to pay up to $156 extra per year for their rail fares under the O'Farrell Government, and now their safety is being compromised in return.
"The O'Farrell Government should immediately reinstate full security patrols on all late night services to provide commuters with the protections they deserve.
"Commuters also deserve a guarantee that no further frontline services will be cut by the O'Farrell Government in the upcoming Budget."
Tags: community, Penny Sharpe, public transport, trains, transit officers, transport