From April, buses will run more frequently on Saturday afternoons, Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Transport, announced, after the ACT Government and Transport Canberra agreed on a new enterprise bargaining agreement for drivers and workshop staff.

The government will offer new incentives for permanent bus drivers working weekend shifts and for staff transitioning to work on the zero-emissions fleet. 

Permanent drivers who work six or more weekend shifts will receive a 15 per cent penalty on all hours from the seventh detail, beginning 1 July. An Electric Vehicle Technology Allowance will be paid to Transport Canberra maintenance staff who learn how to safely integrate, operate, and maintain electric fleet vehicles. 

A new clause also commits to explore rosters during the term of the agreement. 

Sixty-seven per cent of eligible staff voted on the new agreement, and 95 per cent voted in favour. 

The new agreement has been lodged with Fair Work Australia to formally ratify. 

“Transport Canberra’s extensive recruitment effort now mean bus operators are above establishment numbers,” Mr Steel said. “Combined with the new incentives in the agreement, we now have confidence that more weekend services on Saturdays can be delivered reliably.

“There has been a significant increase in the use of weekend public transport services by Canberrans.

“Transport Canberra will now prepare a new weekend timetable to begin in April of this year, focusing on more frequent route bus services on Saturday afternoons to meet the demand.

“I would like to thank all staff who participated in a constructive bargaining process, to ensure we can provide better working conditions for staff and deliver better transport services for the Canberra community.”