Bus driver stabbed in neck at station: Cops
Emergency services were called to Caloundra Station, near Cooma Tce and Latona Ave, at about 11.30am on Saturday following reports of a fight between two men.
Police allege the altercation between a 44-year-old Parrearra man and the older man, a working bus driver, escalated into a stabbing, leaving the 67-year-old with serious injuries. A bus driver was allegedly stabbed in the neck by a 44-year-old Parrearra man in Caloundra on Saturday. Credit: Supplied The 67-year-old bus driver reportedly underwent surgery on Sunday. Credit: Supplied
He was assessed by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a serious but non-life-threatening condition.
According to the Transport Workers Union, he underwent surgery to close the laceration on his neck on Sunday and is now recovering.
The 44-year-old man was arrested and charged with serious assault of a person over 60, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, and possession of a knife in a public space.
He was due to face Caloundra Magistrates Court on Monday.
The attack has reignited calls for improved safety measures for Queensland bus drivers, with the TWU demanding the immediate reinstatement of the Bus Safety Forum, a statewide initiative scrapped by TransLink and the Queensland government.
In a statement released on Monday, the TWU said the incident was the latest in 'a string of violence' affecting public transport workers, claiming there had been 'countless incidents and five high-profile attacks on drivers and passengers in as many months'. A 44-year-old man was arrested and charged with serious assault of a person over 60, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, and possession of a knife in a public space. Credit: News Regional Media
TWU Queensland director of organising Josh Millroy said this latest assault was 'absolutely devastating'.
'TransLink and the state government's decision to scrap these safety forums, without any consultation with drivers or their union, is a disgrace,' Mr Millroy said.
'Five serious assaults since March and countless more incidents of aggression and verbal abuse shows the urgency of this issue.'
He said the forum had been the 'only structured platform' where drivers, unions, operators and government bodies came together to confront issues facing the public transport industry.
'Removing the forum removes transparency. It silences driver voices. It strips workers of a vital avenue to influence decisions that directly impact their safety,' Mr Millroy said.
The union said it had written to Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg more than a month ago, but hadn't received a response.
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News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
‘Absolutely devastating': Bus driver allegedly stabbed in neck during Sunshine Coast attack
A 67-year-old Sunshine Coast bus driver was allegedly stabbed in the neck during a violent altercation at a Caloundra bus station. Emergency services were called to Caloundra Station, near Cooma Tce and Latona Ave, at about 11.30am on Saturday following reports of a fight between two men. Police allege the altercation between a 44-year-old Parrearra man and the older man, a working bus driver, escalated into a stabbing, leaving the 67-year-old with serious injuries. He was assessed by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a serious but non-life-threatening condition. According to the Transport Workers Union, he underwent surgery to close the laceration on his neck on Sunday and is now recovering. The 44-year-old man was arrested and charged with serious assault of a person over 60, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, and possession of a knife in a public space. He was due to face Caloundra Magistrates Court on Monday. The attack has reignited calls for improved safety measures for Queensland bus drivers, with the TWU demanding the immediate reinstatement of the Bus Safety Forum, a statewide initiative scrapped by TransLink and the Queensland government. In a statement released on Monday, the TWU said the incident was the latest in 'a string of violence' affecting public transport workers, claiming there had been 'countless incidents and five high-profile attacks on drivers and passengers in as many months'. TWU Queensland director of organising Josh Millroy said this latest assault was 'absolutely devastating'. 'TransLink and the state government's decision to scrap these safety forums, without any consultation with drivers or their union, is a disgrace,' Mr Millroy said. 'Five serious assaults since March and countless more incidents of aggression and verbal abuse shows the urgency of this issue.' He said the forum had been the 'only structured platform' where drivers, unions, operators and government bodies came together to confront issues facing the public transport industry. 'Removing the forum removes transparency. It silences driver voices. It strips workers of a vital avenue to influence decisions that directly impact their safety,' Mr Millroy said. The union said it had written to Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg more than a month ago, but hadn't received a response.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
Bus driver stabbed in neck at station: Cops
A 67-year-old Sunshine Coast bus driver was allegedly stabbed in the neck during a violent altercation at a Caloundra bus station. Emergency services were called to Caloundra Station, near Cooma Tce and Latona Ave, at about 11.30am on Saturday following reports of a fight between two men. Police allege the altercation between a 44-year-old Parrearra man and the older man, a working bus driver, escalated into a stabbing, leaving the 67-year-old with serious injuries. A bus driver was allegedly stabbed in the neck by a 44-year-old Parrearra man in Caloundra on Saturday. Credit: Supplied The 67-year-old bus driver reportedly underwent surgery on Sunday. Credit: Supplied He was assessed by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a serious but non-life-threatening condition. According to the Transport Workers Union, he underwent surgery to close the laceration on his neck on Sunday and is now recovering. The 44-year-old man was arrested and charged with serious assault of a person over 60, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, and possession of a knife in a public space. He was due to face Caloundra Magistrates Court on Monday. The attack has reignited calls for improved safety measures for Queensland bus drivers, with the TWU demanding the immediate reinstatement of the Bus Safety Forum, a statewide initiative scrapped by TransLink and the Queensland government. In a statement released on Monday, the TWU said the incident was the latest in 'a string of violence' affecting public transport workers, claiming there had been 'countless incidents and five high-profile attacks on drivers and passengers in as many months'. A 44-year-old man was arrested and charged with serious assault of a person over 60, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, and possession of a knife in a public space. Credit: News Regional Media TWU Queensland director of organising Josh Millroy said this latest assault was 'absolutely devastating'. 'TransLink and the state government's decision to scrap these safety forums, without any consultation with drivers or their union, is a disgrace,' Mr Millroy said. 'Five serious assaults since March and countless more incidents of aggression and verbal abuse shows the urgency of this issue.' He said the forum had been the 'only structured platform' where drivers, unions, operators and government bodies came together to confront issues facing the public transport industry. 'Removing the forum removes transparency. It silences driver voices. It strips workers of a vital avenue to influence decisions that directly impact their safety,' Mr Millroy said. The union said it had written to Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg more than a month ago, but hadn't received a response.
ABC News
4 days ago
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Bus driver stabbed in neck on Sunshine Coast as union urges action
The stabbing of a Sunshine Coast bus driver's neck at the weekend has become the fifth high-profile attack on bus drivers and passengers in just four months, according to the industry's major union. Warning: This article contains graphic images The 67-year-old man was stabbed at Caloundra station. He has been recovering since having surgery. An alleged offender has been charged with serious assault, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife in a public place. Transport Workers' Union Queensland director of organising Josh Millroy said the government must resurrect the Bus Safety Forum, in which the industry, including drivers, unions and government bodies, worked together to protect drivers and passengers. Mr Millroy said he had written to Transport Minister and Sunshine Coast MP, Brent Mickelberg, but had not received a response. "We're working closely with the driver and his colleagues." "Translink and the state government's decision to scrap these safety forums, without any consultation with drivers or their union, is a disgrace. "Five serious assaults since March and countless more incidents of aggression and verbal abuse shows the urgency of this issue." The union said the incidents since March included an attack on a teenage girl on the Gold Coast, a Townsville driver being punched and spat on, a Brisbane driver left with facial injuries and possibly permanent ear damage, and four teenagers who were attacked while riding a bus in Cairns. Mr Mickelberg has been sought for comment.
