Smith v Transport for New South Wales
[2024] NSWCATOD 103
At a glance
Source factsCourt
NCAT Occupational
Decision date
2024-04-17
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Judgment (25 paragraphs)
REASONS FOR DECISION
- The Applicant, Mr Smith, seeks a review of a decision by the Respondent, Transport for NSW, made on 21 November 2023 to refuse him an application for a bus driver authority under the Passenger Transport Act 1990 (NSW), s 12.
- The refusal to issue Mr Smith with a bus driver authority was subsequently confirmed on an internal review notified to Mr Smith on 19 December 2023.
- The Respondent's reason for the refusal was that it was not satisfied that Mr Smith was a person of good repute and, in all other aspects, a fit and proper person. This was based on the fact that in the period between December 2018 and May 2023, Mr Smith had been issued eleven traffic infringements for various offences including speeding and failing to obey traffic lights and the use of a mobile phone while driving. Arising from the number of infringements and his failure to attend and pass a driver knowledge course and a knowledge test, Mr Smith's licence had also been suspended three times in that same period.
- Despite this record, Mr Smith sought and was conditionally offered employment with an accredited bus operator. He explained to the Tribunal in the hearing that he expected to be rostered to convey workers undertaking maintenance work on the railways to and from their base in shuttle buses as well as providing rail replacement bus services. Until he is given a bus driver authority, he is unable to take up the position.