Media Release: New poll shows Sydney commuters strongly against bus privatisation
Commuters in areas at risk of their bus service being privatised are strongly opposed to the move and believe privatisation will result in fewer services in their area, polling released today has found.
A ReachTEL poll of residents in the electorates of Coogee, Ryde, the Northern Beaches and Drummoyne – all areas bus drivers believe could be next on the NSW Government’s privatisation hit list – reveals commuters are by and large happy with their current bus services and believe the only people set to benefit from privatisation are the private companies themselves and the government – not commuters.
The NSW Government has already announced the privatisation of ‘region 6’ buses in Sydney’s inner-west and Transport Minister, Andrew Constance, has suggested further privatisation could be on the cards.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) Tram and Bus Divisional Secretary, Chris Preston said the poll findings highlight serious commuter concerns about privatisation and show NSW residents aren’t buying the Government’s rhetoric.
“The overwhelming majority of people do not want buses in their area sold off to private companies,” Mr Preston said.
“This should act as a real wake up call to the NSW Government. Commuters are making it very clear that they do not want their services privatised.
“Commuters simply aren’t buying the rubbish the Transport Minister is sprouting about privatisation being good for us. Everyone can see right through the spin. They know that the only people set to benefit from privatisation are the private companies themselves and the NSW Government.
“Commuters are very rightly concerned that if private companies take the reins of our bus networks, services will be axed.
“Minister Constance should get over his fixation with privatisation and start focussing on what really matters to Sydney’s commuters – providing Sydney with a world-class transport network.”
Download this media release with all the polling results here.