Workers at Bus Queensland feel betrayed by the company for passing on government-funded wage increase. Image source: Andrew Owens via Wikimedia Commons.
Leaked documents show Bus Queensland — one of Australia’s largest privately owned bus companies — has refused to accept a government-funded wage increase to its bus drivers.
Bus Queensland is a private company contracted by TransLink to run public transport routes. They operate a fleet of 414 buses and employ about 450 staff across four depots in Sout-East Queensland.
The state-subsided wage deal would have increased drivers’ wages from about $30 to $35 per hour.
A vast majority of other bus companies have already agreed to implement a wage increase for their bus drivers, starting from July 2025.
The leaked document, signed off by Chief Operating Officer Paul Davies, shows the company refused the deal because it predicted they would lose $3 million over three years if they implemented the wage boost.
In the document, Officer Davies also rejects the condition to send their drivers to a driver’s forum, including the involvement of Transport Workers Union (TWU) in the forum, and any costs it would involve.
Bus Queensland employees told ABC Radio Brisbane that it felt like a “kick in the guts” on the company’s part.
“It’s really disappointing that we won’t be getting this pay rise, and times are especially tough at the moment,” they said. “With cost of living, groceries, bills, this raise would have gone a long way.”
“I’m definitely feeling a bit betrayed by Bus Queensland, after working for them for many years.”
Many workers said they were planning to look for work elsewhere.
TWU Director of Organising Josh Millroy said they fought hard for the $35 per hour deal and is expecting to see an even bigger shortage of drivers in light of Bus Queensland’s refusal to increase wages.
“This company is refusing to pass on this increase to its employees who are struggling during a cost-of-living crisis,” Millroy said.
“These drivers are frontline workers who deliver a vital service for the community.
“It’s time they got the pay, respect, and conditions they deserve from dodgy operators like Bus Queensland.”
Asides from pushing for wage rises, the Queensland government have also introduced an initiative to reduce public transport fares to 50 cents for all commuters in an effort to ease the cost-of-living pressures.
