Bus drivers on the Gold Coast are demanding safety partitions to protect them from violent passengers after the latest attack on a driver working tourist strip.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says 14 drivers were attacked last year and three have been assaulted already this year.
With the population increasing and the city due to host the Commonwealth Games in 2018, the TWU says the threat to drivers will only become worse unless action is taken immediately.
In the latest incident on Saturday night a driver on the route from Nerang to Pacific Fair at Broadbeach was dragged from his bus and beaten on the footpath after he ejected a young man who had been scratching a window.
Police say after the man was told to get off three his mates demanded their fares be refunded, and when the driver refused one spat in his face, dragged him out of the bus and attacked him.
"The bus driver luckily has managed to get away, get back into the bus, close the door and drive away," Acting Superintendent Glenn Allen told reporters.
Supt Allen said the attack was being treated as a very serious assault.
He did not know if the driver was being tested for AIDS and other diseases transmitted through bodily fluids.
TWU Gold Coast Organiser Troy Fernandez said drivers want security partitions and alarms installed on all buses.
"This is another terrible incident where these guys are just trying to come to work, earn a living for their family, and pay their mortgages and rent," he said.
"This community is moving into a world event with the Commonwealth Games coming on board (in 2018). The buses are only going to get busier, and that's going to put our members at further risk."
Mr Fernandez said it was good to see police maintaining an operation where uniformed officers ride buses to prevent attacks on drivers.
"It's just unfortunate we can't have a police officer on every bus, making our members safe," he said.
"Nobody gets paid to be assaulted, spat at, robbed, beaten - nobody gets paid enough to do that."
Front page
RSS Feed