Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby has welcomed the NSW Government's $200 million commitment to support higher wages for the state's bus drivers, but says it also confirms what Northern Beaches commuters have known for years: privatisation of the bus network has failed local residents.
The funding, announced by the Minns Government on Saturday, is intended to help end industrial action and secure a wages agreement between bus operators and drivers, including on the Northern Beaches, where Keolis is currently in contract negotiations with its drivers.
Ms Scruby said the announcement was genuinely good news for drivers and commuters, but it was also an admission that the privatised model imposed on the Northern Beaches by the former Liberal Government was not working as promised.
"This is very positive news in one way. In another, it confirms the failure of yet another privatisation contract impacting Northern Beaches residents," Ms Scruby said.
"Our buses were privatised under the former Liberal Government. The whole point of privatisation was supposed to be saving taxpayers money, with private companies delivering more for less. Instead, we're now offering a private company that won a competitive tender further financial assistance, funded by taxpayers, just to deliver on the contract it signed up to.
"It's a bit rich, in one sense. But in another, it's a practical, partial solution to lift the pay of drivers who deserve it, and to reduce the disruption commuters have been putting up with. It was a key recommendation of the Bus Industry Taskforce to improve services for passengers.
"It's not simple. Private operators also need to chip in, and it's up to unions and operators to reach their own agreement. But hopefully this funding will help bring about a swifter resolution for drivers and for the passengers stuck waiting at cancelled stops."
Ms Scruby is calling on Keolis to take up the Government's offer and invest further in driver wages, to help end industrial action and meet both its contractual obligations and commuter expectations.
"Keolis's contract with the NSW Government runs until 2030 - Keolis needs to deliver on the contract it signed and at the moment it is failing Northern Beaches residents. We've seen huge investment in more buses, new electric buses and now driver wages but the elephant in the room is this contract.
Ms Scruby said she would continue to push for accountability from Keolis and the NSW Government to ensure Northern Beaches residents get the reliable bus services they are paying for.