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Volume 14, Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Vicki Mason and Jenny Hanson from Roxby Taxis are concerned about taxi drivers’ safety following an attack on one of their drivers recently.
Taxi driver attacked
A
local taxi driver recently had a full can of beer thrown at his head while driving some of Olympic Dam’s contracted shutdown workers back to the Olympic Dam accommodation village.
According to Roxby Taxis, the incident on Sunday 29 October is the latest of a number of issues that have occurred since the mine shutdown commenced in August. Taxi driver Vicki Mason said her colleague was called to the Roxby Tavern to pick up some patrons, who were shutdown workers, and take them back to their accommodation camps. Both the Tavern and Roxby Downs Community Club had closed early due to poor behaviour from some of its patrons. “Some of them were going back to the makeshift camp at the racecourse, but the majority were going back to Olympic Dam,” Mrs Mason said. “[The driver] took some of them out to the racecourse first, then he had another phone call from the Tavern saying there were more to pick up. “He was in the bus which carries 11 people, so he went to the racecourse first to make some extra room, then went back via the Tavern.”
Some of the people in the taxi were unhappy about the detour back to the Roxby Tavern, but Mrs Mason said her colleague went back there to help “stop the ruckus”. “He proceeded out to camp, and they were singing discriminatory songs to him and calling him vulgar names,” she said. “You’re not allowed to drink in the taxi, and they obviously had cans and bottles that they were drinking. “[The driver] told them they weren’t allowed in the cab with him, but of course they told him where to go and brought them in.” Mrs Mason’s colleague stopped seven times while driving to Olympic Dam due to his passengers’ behaviour. “He was getting a bit upset, annoyed, intimidated, and in fear for his safety,” she said. “Then one of the [passengers] threw a can and it hit him in the back of the head. “The driver’s words were that they were being animals.” In a statement to The Monitor, a spokesperson from BHP said they were aware of the incident involving the local taxi driver and a group of contractors working at Olympic Dam. “BHP is assisting with an investigation by the South Australian Police. “BHP sets the highest standards of behav-
iour for both employees and contractors and any breach is unacceptable. “Everyone is expected to adhere to our code of conduct and where misconduct occurs we will enforce disciplinary action, including termination of employment.” According to Mrs Mason, this isn’t an isolated incident. “If [the driver] resigns, he will be driver number three that I’ve had resign since this shutdown started,” she said. “The other two were females, and that was due to the disrespect shown to [them] and the taxi when you’re driving the workers back late at night. “One of the day drivers a couple of Saturdays ago had a gentleman who was [acting strangely], and he actually threatened the driver. “And there was one night when I had to ring 000 and I hadn’t even left the [Roxby Downs Community Club’s] carpark.” Roxby Taxis have now installed cameras in their vehicles, but according to Mrs Mason they are considering taking things further to protect drivers’ safety. “They’re getting to the stage where the owner of the taxi will withdraw that service to the camp,” she said. “We’ve had cameras put in, but if we’re con-
cerned about our safety, that will be an option. “After a certain time, the taxi will not go out to pick up anybody, and it will certainly not drop off anybody.” Mrs Mason has been communicating with BHP and police about what’s happened. She’s angry that the shutdown workers aren’t showing her or her colleagues respect. “We are doing them a service,” she said. “They are lucky that they’ve got a town this close to camp that they can actually go into and have a drink at. “It’s terrible, but the sad thing is that those people who use the taxi service properly are then going to miss out if we stop going out to camp.” Mrs Mason hopes having cameras in the taxis will improve things, but in the meantime she pleaded with shutdown workers to behave more appropriately. “Be respectful; we are providing a service and we are doing a job just like they are with BHP. “I am sure some of these people would not act like that in their own town or in major cities. “How would they like it if their mother, wife, sister, aunt, or daughter was treated like this?”