Department of Logistics and Infrastructure

Have Your Say opens for community feedback on Bus Safety Reform Strategy

27 June 2025

Community safety is the Northern Territory Government’s number one priority.

Every Territorian deserves to feel safe, whether they’re at home, at work, or catching a bus.

That’s why the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure is today releasing the Bus Safety Reform Strategy for public feedback.

The Bus Safety Reform Strategy is a multi-stage plan to reduce anti-social behaviour, improve safety, and enhance service delivery for passengers and drivers.

Under the strategy, a range of initiatives are proposed to be progressively rolled out, including:

· Continuation of free bus travel beyond 1 July 2025: This will support increased patronage of the public bus network while reducing incidences of poor behaviour across the network.

Launch of the new and improved NT Bus Tracker App on 1 August 2025: This will give passengers the ability to track their bus in real-time, receive arrival notifications, and plan their journeys; factoring in walking and cycling times to their destination.
Closure of interchanges:
- The Casuarina Bus Interchange will be closed by October 2025. Alternate bus stops will be available on Trower Road at the Woolworths carpark, Scaturchio Street and Bradshaw Terrace. Bus services will loop around Casuarina, providing access to all three bus stops to ensure passengers maintain access to their usual routes without being required to walk between stops.
- The Darwin Bus Interchange will be closed by October 2025. Darwin Bus Interchange will continue to act as a bus stop and layover bay for drivers.
- The Palmerston Bus Interchange requires further consideration considering its connections to the Palmerston suburbs and rural areas. A more comprehensive update will be provided once a broader review has been undertaken.
Initial bus network review: This will be undertaken by October 2025 to consider route and timetable changes to accommodate the removal of the Casuarina Bus Interchange. This will include a review of late-night bus services with low patronage.
Broader network review: A broader review for the entire bus network to achieve efficiencies, better connections and frequencies. This review will also consider school bus routes and how they intersect with the broader urban network.
Infrastructure improvements: An infrastructure review will be undertaken to evaluate current bus stop and bus shelter placements and design to create a safer environment for passengers.
Upgraded safety measures: This includes expanded CCTV at known hotspots, direct radio connections between drivers and Transit Officers, and enhanced duress alarms on board buses.

The Northern Territory Government is seeking community feedback on the Bus Safety Reform Strategy to ensure our initiatives will create a safer, more efficient public transport system.

Cindy McDonald, Executive Director Transport and Safety Services, Department of Logistics and Infrastructure, said the Have Your Say allowed the community a platform to provide feedback on the strategy.

“The community can offer feedback on the Bus Safety Reform Strategy and how they would like to improve bus services in Darwin and Palmerston,” she said.

“Community feedback is welcome on all aspects of the Strategy including bus safety, improvements to bus stops and shelters and the broader bus network.”

All Territorians have the right to feel safe as they go about their day, including while they travel on the public bus network.

To view the strategy or provide feedback visit haveyoursay.nt.gov.au

Consultation closes Friday, July 11.

ENDS

Media contact: media.dli@nt.gov.au | 0437 868 115