I move:
That this House:
(1) Notes the reliance of northern beaches residents on buses for public transport.
(2) Acknowledges the persistent unreliability of bus services on the northern beaches, with cut timetables, daily cancellations of scheduled routes and buses often driving past bus stops already full or overcrowded.
(3) Notes the former Coalition Government signed poorly drafted contracts for the former Sydney bus regions that do not sufficiently penalise underperformance.
(4) Welcomes the Labor Government's order of 50 articulated buses and 10 decker buses in the last budget, as a direct result of advocacy by local Independent members—one of many wins for Independent members over the past three years.
(5) Calls on the New South Wales Government to implement the recommendations from the 2024 NSW Bus Industry Taskforce.
(6) Acknowledges there is more to do and urges the New South Wales Government to keep working with the member for Wakehurst to restore bus capacity and reliability on the northern beaches.
At the 2023 State election, as I shifted my focus from local government issues in my role as mayor to the responsibilities of State government, there was one issue that stood out clearly for the people of Wakehurst—the capacity and reliability of bus services on the northern beaches. Since then, it has remained one of the most consistent issues raised with my electorate office. Tens of thousands of people rely on buses every single day on the northern beaches. It is not a marginal service; it is the backbone of how our community gets around. From day one as the member for Wakehurst, I have been raising this directly with the transport Minister and the local operator, Keolis.
From my regular queries to the Minister's office, I know that the number of daily cancellations fluctuates depending on driver availability. However, on most days, at least 30 services are cancelled and often between 30 and 100 services that are cancelled at short notice. This is despite the fact that timetabled services have already been reduced from the originally agreed service levels. People plan their days around these buses—getting to work, school, medical appointments and child care—only to wake up and find that the service they depend on has been cancelled. Plans fall apart and stress builds. It is like whack‑a‑mole—improving one route often comes at the expense of another. The underlying issue is clear: There are simply not enough drivers, and something has to give.
Most recently, I have been hearing from residents in Allambie Heights. Their message is clear and consistent: The northern beaches relies on buses as its primary form of public transport. There is no rail line, no tram network and limited parking options for those commuting to the CBD. As one constituent put it, "Bus services are not supplementary—they are the only practical option for many residents". I would say most residents. They continued, "When services are reduced or unreliable, there is no alternative to absorb the impact." Residents have told me that services such as the 174X and 142 have become less frequent, less reliable and significantly more crowded. People are being left behind at bus stops because buses are already full. Others are forced to endure long, uncomfortable commutes just to get to work—like me this morning. Their experience is backed by the data.
There was some improvement for region 8 between March 2023 and March 2024, with reductions in cancellations and driver vacancies. However, over the past two years the driver shortages have remained persistent, ranging from 18 to 39. At the same time, cancelled and incomplete services have increased from 1.18 per cent in March 2024 to 4.29 per cent in December 2025. Bus unreliability on the northern beaches has been ongoing since the former Government privatised the Sydney bus regions, including region 8 in October 2021. The Bus Industry Taskforce, which is made up of experienced transport experts, found that during this process the former Government accepted low‑cost bids that undermined the sustainability of the industry and damaged its reputation.
The contracts themselves are flawed. By prioritising on‑time running key performance indicators, they created a perverse incentive: It can be better for an operator to cancel a service than to run late. At the same time, the contracts failed to properly address workforce planning, even though driver availability is the key risk in maintaining service reliability. The former Coalition Government locked in those contracts and the people of the northern beaches are now living with the consequences. As we look ahead to the expiry and renewal of the contracts in 2029, there are important lessons to be learned. But right now the priority must be restoring service capacity and reliability.
This is particularly urgent given the population growth expected in our area through low‑ and mid‑rise housing reforms and new developments proposed under the Housing Delivery Authority. How can we accommodate this growth when our only form of public transport is already stretched and unreliable? Since being elected, I have consistently raised this issue—and we have made some progress. Fleet capacity is no longer the primary constraint. The new zero‑emissions buses operating out of Brookvale and the return of repaired bendy buses mean that we now have the physical capacity to run more services. The procurement of 10 new double‑deckers for the B‑Line and 50 additional articulated buses for across the region mean there is additional capacity on the horizon. But buses do not drive themselves.
The single biggest constraint on service reliability today is the chronic shortage of bus drivers. The local operator has not been able to recruit and retain the workforce needed to meet demand. We need to be clear about this: Bus drivers need to be paid more. New South Wales drivers are among the lowest paid in the country, despite Sydney being the most expensive city to live in. Wages growth has not kept pace with inflation, making the job less attractive over time. The taskforce identified that a wage subsidy could play an important role in recognising the value of bus drivers and improving recruitment and retention. I strongly support this and believe it should be included in the Government's workforce strategy. But pay alone is not enough. Bus drivers also need somewhere to live, and on the northern beaches that is a major challenge.
Housing is expensive, and we need targeted solutions to ensure that drivers can live and work in the communities they serve. I have been consistently raising with the Government the fact that bus drivers must be included—and prioritised—in affordable and essential worker housing programs. I am also advocating for a large percentage of dedicated essential worker housing as part of the development of the new Frenchs Forest Town Centre. This is a work in progress. The Bus Industry Taskforce delivered 58 recommendations across three reports, with its final report handed to the Government in May 2024. The central recommendation was the development of a funded statewide Medium Term Bus Service Plan to guide investment in services and infrastructure. For the northern beaches, a key priority must be the Dee Why to Chatswood rapid bus corridor.
The taskforce also recommended a comprehensive workforce strategy to support the plan. Recommendation 17 is particularly important because it calls on the Government to lift the reputation and remuneration of drivers. We need immediate and targeted interventions for routes that are under the most pressure right now, including, but not limited to, those serving Allambie Heights. I have also raised these issues directly with Keolis and Transport for NSW. At the same time, we need a clear and comprehensive plan to restore, maintain, and grow bus services over the medium and long term. That means implementing the recommendations of the taskforce in full.
A reliable and effective bus network is essential for keeping the northern beaches moving and connected. I say to the people of the northern beaches that I want them to know this issue is always front of mind for me. Whether I am actually on the B‑Line, catching the 160X or meeting with the Minister or the operator, it is front of mind. I commend the motion to the House.
You can read the rest of the debate here
25 March 2026, 17:01.