Media Release 

The peak body for Queensland’s bus industry has condemned the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) for making outrageous accusations about bus safety in the Sunshine State. 

A television report this week aired unfounded and damaging claims from the TWU about the mechanical safety of Queensland buses. 

Queensland Bus Industry Council Executive Director David Tape has vehemently denied the baseless claims and demanded the facts be made public. 

Mr Tape says the vehicle safety was paramount to all bus operations in Queensland and that the ‘bus age profile’ and the State Government's six monthly inspection checks were the best in Australia. 

"Bus operators work with the Government to inject tens of millions of dollars annually into the continuous upgrading and ongoing maintenance of the bus fleet in Queensland" Mr Tape said. 

"That has resulted in a modern, well presented and most importantly safe fleet across the state”. 

“Bus transport, by any measure, is the safest form of travel so for the TWU to make outrageous and unsubstantiated claims in relation to bus safety is simply irresponsible" he said. 

Mr Tape says accidents involving buses were unfortunate but sadly inevitable. 

“When you’re on the road and clock up as many kilometres as our fleet does, our buses are right in the midst of the normal traffic mix”.

Furthermore, every single bus incident, whether it be a collision or fire, is fully investigated by police and transport authorities. 

“Let me state this vital point, the cause of the incident is rarely linked to the mechanical failure or safety of the vehicle “Mr Tape argued. 

"We are immensely proud of our excellent safety and record and the public should rely on facts and not baseless propaganda spread by the TWU.”

Media Contacts: Lyall Mercer – 0413 749 830 // Barbara Gorogh – 0435 909 608