Labor has lashed out at Police Minister Rene Hidding, blaming him for Metro’s decision to allow a violent bus driver to pick up and drop off his stepson at school everyday, despite him threatening the child’s wellbeing.
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The man, whose identity and location cannot be revealed, is involved in a nasty family violence ordeal with the boy’s mother, after the stepfather assaulted the woman and her new boyfriend last March.
Despite being convicted over the incident and levelling a threat of harm towards the boy via text message on February 8, Metro continued to allow the man to drive the school bus route.
No action was taken until Fairfax Media reported on the issue on Thursday.
Mr Hidding confirmed on Thursday night the man had been removed from the route.
On Friday, opposition transport spokesman Chris Farrell said he was baffled it took so long for someone to act.
“It defies belief that in a modern Tasmania the stringent checks and balances are obviously not in place to give the utmost protection to passengers on our public transport network,” he said.
“What also defies belief is that Rene Hidding allowed this situation to go on and acted only once it was exposed in the media.”
A government spokesman said Mr Hidding kept regular contact with Metro’s board of management, but said the organisation made its own decisions.
“Metro is a state-owned company with its own board of management and all Metro operational matters for that company are delegated to the CEO,” he said.
“Metro is very aware of its shareholder’s policies and expectations of it as a company and the minister is in regular contact with the Board of management.
“The minister became aware yesterday that the driver in question was not on that route. It is very disappointing that Mr Farrell has chosen to politicise both this highly sensitive matter.”
Metro declined to comment on Friday, but a spokesman for the organisation said last week:
“All Metro operational employees are subject to background investigation including a police check, and are required to hold and maintain a valid Working with Vulnerable People registration.
"In situations where we are formally advised of restrictions on a driver, Metro takes all necessary steps to ensure the conditions of those restrictions are met.”