A fed up premier today launched urgent legal action to try get the train network running normally again. Chris Minns says Sydney has been smashed, leaving the public transport system next to useless. The Fair Work Commission has made a temporary ruling ordering the unions to end all industrial action for now.
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00:00Another day of mass cancellations and repeated delays.
00:07Passenger numbers on heavy rail were down 40% as commuters heeded warnings to stay at
00:12home.
00:13Those who didn't have that luxury also had to contend with wind and driving rain.
00:18From Parramatta to Lidcombe, it's meant to be like a 5 minute trip, it took about an
00:22hour and a half.
00:23It's taking ages to go to work, it's really hard for me today.
00:26I think it's about time something got done about it.
00:29The Premier agrees.
00:30He was watching the chaos unfold while on a short break and says he's dismayed.
00:35That's a joke.
00:36It's a mess.
00:37The situation's intolerable.
00:38A major international city's public transport system next to rendered useless.
00:43The government's pay offer is 15% over four years, including a super increase.
00:48Chris Minns says it could take weeks for workers to vote on that proposal and he's not prepared
00:53to wait.
00:54So the government's asked the Fair Work Commission to end the industrial action and settle the
00:58pay dispute once and for all.
01:00Endless industrial action that smashes the New South Wales economy and makes life unbearable
01:06for families in New South Wales is intolerable and cannot go on.
01:10Why did the chaos happen yesterday?
01:12Because of the ruthless bastardry of the union and the failure of the Premier to take any
01:17action until now.
01:19The rail, tram and bus union has described the government's legal action as desperate,
01:24accusing it of failing to negotiate properly.
01:27I support the union.
01:28It's not just about them, it's about the community.
01:30We need to get to work.
01:32The Premier says he respects the Fair Work Commission and wants to wait for the final
01:36outcome.
01:37But he hasn't ruled out asking the federal government to use its powers to end the industrial
01:41action.
01:42I can completely acknowledge the frustration of Sydney commuters with this ongoing dispute
01:48and the disruption to the travelling public.
01:50I know that if I was in Sydney I'd be feeling pretty pissed off.
01:53The government says it will consider offering refunds as compensation for the chaos.
01:58What would the refund even look like, a couple of dollars per person?
02:01Maximum like what, ten bucks?
02:03I don't think it's worth it.
02:05There's a higher priority for most commuters, trains and timetables they can trust.