A report's laid bare the issues plaguing the state's bus system, with a lack of funding and driver shortages to blame. The NSW state government is now looking at how to make services more reliable and attract new drivers, but it's unclear what the price tag will be.
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00:00 When it comes to public transport, nearly half of the state's commuters opt for a bus.
00:07 Although it doesn't necessarily mean they're happy with the service.
00:11 In the app it was showing that it's going to be here pretty soon but it didn't turn
00:14 up.
00:15 It's quite okay at some times but it just needs maybe a little bit more improvement
00:19 with the timing.
00:20 It's a system that a government appointed task force has found is riddled with problems.
00:25 We don't want to be a third world international city when it comes to bus transport.
00:30 So there's a lot of work to do.
00:32 A key factor in just about all the issues is a shortage of drivers.
00:36 While the focus has been on Sydney's new metro services, buses have become the poor cousin.
00:42 They do nearly half the work and get one fiftieth of the funding.
00:47 The report calls for more staff and a boost in funding.
00:51 We have accepted in principle all seven recommendations of this report and I have asked Transport
00:57 for NSW to develop a plan to implement them.
01:02 Just how much money will be needed to bring bus services up to scratch is unclear.
01:06 The government's working through the details of its upcoming budget and it'll be under
01:11 pressure to find new solutions to the perennial problem.
01:14 The opposition says the money used for the task force could have been better spent recruiting
01:19 drivers.
01:20 Our taxpayer dollars have been spent, $440,000 for a part time job for someone who lives
01:26 in Queensland to tell us that there are not enough bus drivers.
01:30 It's just embarrassing.
01:31 The task force will deliver a second report in October.
01:34 [BLANK_AUDIO]