The NSW Government has announced it will work with Keolis to address ongoing bus driver shortages, including supporting the recruitment of additional drivers from New Zealand. The initiative is aimed at reducing cancellations and improving service reliability across affected routes, including on the Northern Beaches. 

Attributable to Ms Scruby:

People of the Northern Beaches want better bus services - less cancellations, buses running on time and restoration of services, particularly the 190X timetable. After significant investment into the fleet, with bendy buses returned, new electric buses and new 10 new B1s about to arrive, the limiting factor is bus driver shortages. 

I debated this issue in parliament and it’s encouraging to see steps being taken to address the bus driver shortage that has been impacting services across the Northern Beaches. (See my speech here)

Our community needs a bus network that is reliable, consistent. It must also be staffed by a workforce that is properly supported whether they are local or newly arrived and accountability for positive working conditions must remain clear. 

While the NSW Government stepping in to support recruitment is welcome, the responsibility ultimately sits with Keolis as the operator of our local network. This is an example of the NSW Government stepping in to assist and financially support a private operator over and above their contract requirements. 

Like the Northern Beaches Hospital, this highlights the pitfalls of privatisation of core, essential services that was the decision of the former Liberal government who engaged in contracts in theory designed to save the taxpayer with the reality being the operator unable to deliver, letting residents down and requiring the NSW Government to assist them. 

I’ve debated this issue in parliament making it clear that residents want the bus system to work. For that to be addressed properly more needs to be done to back our local bus drivers, make these jobs more attractive locally, through better pay, conditions, and more innovative recruitment and retention strategies. 

With contracts up for renewal in 2030, the NSW Government and Keolis are on notice that the situation must deliver the services expected and deserved by people of the Northern Beaches now and in the long term.