Bus drivers with Tasmania's public transport operator claim dysfunctional management is behind cancelled trips and an increase in crashes and driver resignations.
Drivers employed by government-owned Metro Tasmania said staff were quitting because management had not responded to concerns, including rising antisocial and violent behaviour.
A recent Tas Rail and Bus Union survey revealed almost all respondents reported having been spat on, threatened, assaulted or abused during work.
Drivers said management opted to accelerate and slim down training to keep trips running, and for those who take issue, "would rather show them the door than resolve any issue".
One Metro driver, who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of losing their job, said they had been told being spat on "was part of the job".
"Every day I hear something happen on the (UHF) radio, like someone spitting in someone's face, someone hitting someone, trying to grab the money, whatever," another driver said.
Metro's website states drivers have the right to refuse to carry any person who is considered a security or safety risk.
However, drivers who spoke to the ABC said they were "explicitly" told to let anyone on the bus whatever the issue may be, "because it isn't worth having a fight".
'Left out there on your own'
Drivers also claimed they were not trained or supported to de-escalate potentially violent situations.
Drivers said "no leadership" and a lack of support was the crux of why many drivers were quitting or not showing up for their shifts.
"[Management] would rather show them the door than resolve any issue," one driver said.
"You're anxious enough anyway in the big vehicle, passengers where you don't know who is going to get on the bus, and if you can't get help, there is anxiety.
"Then, if you're new, you leave because you're not being supported, not being led. You're just left out there on your own."
Many fear issues "will continue as long as Metro keeps turning staff over".
"We need rules, we need managers, but we also need leaders to hold the organisation together," a driver said.
Metro to begin anti-social behaviour management workshops
In 2021 and 2022, more Metro drivers quit than were recruited and trained.
A driver said this year, resignations were in double figures.
Bus cancellations due to a lack of staff are also increasing.
Last year, almost 3,500 trips were cancelled across March and April alone. This week, 45 trips were cancelled.
Metro chief executive Katie Cooper said recent cancellations had been exacerbated by illness.
"Like many employers in the transport industry, Metro has had a shortage of bus operators, which has been exacerbated this week due to sickness," she said.
Ms Cooper said Metro was listening to drivers' concerns.
"We want all our employees, customers and visitors to be treated with respect and be free from harassment," she said.
In the survey conducted by the union, COVID-19 was highlighted in just 8 per cent of bus driver concerns.
"We understand the difficulties that anti-social behaviour causes for bus operators and our customers," Ms Cooper said.
"We are set to start a pilot workshop session for managing anti-social behaviour. Bus operators contributed to the design of the program that we will roll out to the wider business in the coming months."
Driver crash rates rising
Statistics from parliament scrutiny show crashes at the fault of drivers have also risen since 2020, with 296 crashes in 2020, 412 in 2021 and 396 in 2022.
Tas Rail and Bus Union president Mark Dunsby, who has been a bus driver for 14 years, believed changes to Metro's bus driver training to speed up the recruitment process was the reason behind the rising crash numbers.
Mr Dunsby said the support driving role in training was left to "fresh" drivers because experienced drivers "saw how it was going, could see the changes, didn't want to be a part of it and left".
"Then they had 'Operation 40'. They said, 'We need to put 40 drivers on and push them through real quick'," Mr Dunsby said.
In one incident, reported to the ABC by multiple drivers, a driver missed his turn-off on a highway. Unsure of what to do, he proceeded to ask an underage passenger to wear a hi-vis jacket, step off the bus and help direct him through a three-point turn.
"We've got more new drivers than ever before, that's why our crash rate is going up," a driver said.
Drivers said many do not immediately report incidents because they were either embarrassed or worried they were at fault.
Metro said it had no information about the previously mentioned highway incident and would investigate.
Opposition Minister for Transport Josh Willie said the state should look at using transit officers to patrol services.
"All Tasmanians deserve public transport that's safe, affordable and reliable — on some routes, that's just not happening," Mr Willie said.
"They need to have another look at the driver training, how metro as an organisation can support the drivers to feel safe and valued at work and to listen to their concerns and act on them."
A driver said: "If you asked 100 drivers, 98 would say they have no faith in things improving.
"Because we're not looked upon by our names, we're looked at as 'driver 3114' or '3116'; they just want to put bums on seats."
On Thursday, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it "concerned" him that drivers did not feel safe.
"[The government is] working with Metro to ensure safety continues to be our number one priority," he said.
"The government provides Metro with tens of millions of dollars every single year … the government provides that service and expects it to be delivered in a reliable, frequent and very safe manner."
