Baird heckled at anti-privatisation rally in Newcastle

Hundreds of union and community members protested the privatisation of Newcastle’s buses, ferries and future light rail service at a lunchtime rally in Civic Park on 1 December.

Thousands of union members affected by the proposal heard about the Baird government’s plans through the media. Many stand to lose their jobs if public transport is sold to a private operator.

Maritime Union of Australia members marched to Newcastle Town Hall and, along with members from several other unions, tried to speak with NSW Liberal premier Mike Baird, who was there having lunch.

Rail, Tram and Bus union officials attended from Sydney to support their Newcastle members.

The RTBU Bus Division president, Dave Woollams, told the rally: “Newcastle’s public transport system – and the Newcastle community – are being sold down the river in a grubby deal by a grubby government.

“You’d think that after all the revelations in ICAC about the Liberal Party’s grubby relationship with property developers and big business, especially here in the Hunter, that Mike Baird might at least try to ease back on the cosy deals for a while.

“In fact, you’d think a government with even a skerrick of respect for the community, and the most basic sense of decency and integrity, would stop making cosy deals altogether.”

Woollams said the privatisation of local public transport services would mean job cuts. “The lucky ones who get to keep working for the new company will undoubtedly see their pay and conditions slashed. We’re going to fight this one all the way”, he vowed.

Premier Baird spoke briefly to the rally and offered an apology for the lack of “consultation”and delivered a few empty promises. He was widely heckled and had to be removed by a posse of police and security officers.