The government estimates that scrapping fares for public transport would cost $127 million a month, a demand that has been made by the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU) in the past. However, the government has expressed concerns about the effectiveness of such a move, citing previous instances where the union went back to taking industrial action despite concessions. In response to the RTBU’s demands, major hospitality and entertainment groups have been urged to withdraw their submissions outlining how their businesses would be affected by the industrial action planned by the union, particularly on New Year’s Eve.
The impact of the planned industrial action on New Year’s Eve has become a major point of contention in the ongoing dispute between the RTBU and the government. The union has proposed a way forward to minimize disruption during the festive season, with an offer that will remain open until 1pm on Monday. However, Transport for NSW analysis shows that the rail network in Sydney could be 200 drivers short on New Year’s Eve if the action goes ahead, as the RTBU has imposed restrictions on the distance each driver or guard can travel.
The government has filed an application with Fair Work seeking orders for the industrial action to be suspended, citing concerns about potential deadly crowd crushes and a spike in antisocial behavior if major train delays were to occur on New Year’s Eve. Police Commissioner Karen Webb has expressed grave concerns for the safety of Sydneysiders during the festive season, indicating that she may recommend the cancellation of fireworks if the industrial action persists. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed support for the actions taken by the state government in handling the dispute, urging the RTBU to act responsibly and recognize the potential consequences of disrupting public transport services during a critical time like Christmas and New Year’s.
In a letter sent late Sunday night, the RTBU also demanded that large hospitality and entertainment groups including Laundy Hotels, Merivale, Ryan’s Hotel Group, and Luna Park withdraw their submissions outlining the hurt caused to their businesses. The impact of rolling industrial action on New Year’s Eve has become a major flashpoint in the dispute. The hoteliers’ submissions are part of a separate application by the government to Fair Work seeking orders for industrial action to be suspended. The RTBU said it was making an offer for a “way forward which would enable there to be minimal disruption on New Year’s Eve and throughout the remainder of the festive season”. The union said its offer to the government would remain open until 1pm on Monday.
According to Transport for NSW analysis, Sydney’s rail network will be 200 drivers short on New Year’s Eve if workers proceed with planned industrial action. As part of its action, the RTBU has instituted restrictions on the distance each driver or guard can travel. In its application to Fair Work, the government has said major train delays on New Year’s Eve due to industrial action risk causing deadly crowd crushes and a spike in antisocial behavior among large numbers of revelers frustrated by disrupted services. Police Commissioner Karen Webb has said she had “grave concerns” for Sydneysiders’ safety on New Year’s Eve and may recommend fireworks be cancelled if the industrial action continues. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had spoken to Minns about the dispute and believed the state government was being reasonable. “This is a dispute that … should be settled, and common sense should prevail,” he said on Monday morning. “We support the actions which the Minns government are taking. “The RTBU need to be responsible, and common sense needs to apply here. And they need to understand that they will lose public support if they engage in activity that disrupts the public during at time like this, over Christmas and New Year’s.”
