ABC #399

CANBERRA RALLY
Rod is the spokesperson for the Australian Family Owned Bus
Companies group that has led two rallies since September to
highlight the Covid-induced quandary these businesses find
themselves in through no fault of their own, and lobby for a federal
government rescue package.
The group led their first peaceful rally to NSW state parliament on
September 16, with more than 50 family owned and independent
buses - representing regional and city bus operators, their staff and
service providers - circling the Parliament building.
Their second rally, which included a 15-strong convoy of family
owned ‘mum and dad’ bus companies from across Australia, made
its way to Parliament House in Canberra on October 26. The convoy
circled the lawn in front of the Parliament building, in a display of
solidarity to highlight their cause.
The group is calling on state governments to share transport
work with all accredited operators rather than just large companies.
Williams also worries about the thousands of bus drivers, mechanics,
cleaning and other ancillary staff employed by the bus industry that
have been affected by the pandemic. The group is also demanding
extension of JobKeeper past March, 202,1 and industry-specific
mental health support.
Rod says small bus companies needed help in the form of a
federal government rescue package to manage fixed costs to keep
their head above the water and provide job security for employees.
“Many operators had been forced to deregister vehicles they could
not afford to register, which also axed their potential to work if
circumstances changed,” he explained.
The local communities will also feel the knock-on effect of the bus
industry’s distress as they could be “stripped off affordable transport
options when normal travel resumed if a lifeline was not thrown to
the small private bus industry now”, he added.
of our staff member. We paid
them for as long as we could
before we needed to stop and
recommend they seek JobSeeker
payments. It was a tough decision
for us. We also had to de-register
two of our vehicles.”
Things are coming back,
although Rod says it’s patchy.
“People are still concerned. A
lot of our seniors’ groups don’t
want to travel at the moment
because they are understandably
concerned about their health.”
“Schools are coming back in
a limited regard, but we don’t
know when things will get back to
normal on the charter side.”
For now, Rod and his small team
are keeping their chins up and
looking forward to better times.
Above:
The coach
fleet is made
up of Scanias,
accompanied
by a Volvo B10M
school bus.
Right:
Rod says
that during
the Covid
downturn, the
company has
used its time to
refurbish and
improve its fleet.
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
53