Nationals raise concerns of School bus contractors, Holt
Author: Colin Holt
Published on: 20-January-2011
The Parliamentary National Party today made a submission to the Review of School Bus Services (Orange Bus) Contracts detailing the issues faced by bus contractors in regional WA.
Colin Holt Member for the South West Region said the School Bus Services (Orange Bus) Contracts: Issues for Resolution paper provided a good opportunity for bus contractors to raise issues and concerns.
“Orange school buses transport more than 25,000 students across Western Australia to school every day,” Mr Holt said.
“School buses provide a vital service for students and families in regional areas, travelling 28.3 million kilometres in 2009 alone.
“The contractors that operate these services face a range of issues, including fuel costs, cash flow and the process for contract renewals.”
Mr Holt said he had spoken to many bus contractors who were taking the opportunity to comment on the School Bus Services (Orange Bus) Contracts: Issues for Resolution paper, published by the Public Transport Authority in December 2010
“The Nationals have also made a submission, based on the concerns raised by local bus operators in regional areas.
“Our submission asks the Review Panel to consider a number of changes to simplify the current system and increase certainty for bus contactors,” Mr Holt said.
The key issues identified include more flexible contract negotiations to better meet the needs of individual operators, the creation of an independent arbitrator to hear disputes and changes to the contract renewal system for existing bus contractors.
“Hopefully this review will make it easier for bus contractors to do their job, while ensuring orange school buses maintain the highest level of service and safety.”
