ACT Fines for Aggressive Behaviour at Bus Stops and Power for Police to Remove People

Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Amendment Bill 2025

12 Nov 2025: Passed by Parliament and signed off by the governor.

This bill kicks in: TBA

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Topics

bus stop safety criminal penalties police powers public order public safety public transport road transport

Introduced by: The Hon Chris Steel MLA (ALP) — Minister       , Minister for Heritage, Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development, Minister for Transport, Treasurer

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

People commit an offence if they behave in an aggressive or menacing way in a bus stop area; the maximum penalty is 10 penalty units (2026: $1,600).
People commit an offence if they unreasonably interfere with another person's safety in a bus stop area; the maximum penalty is 10 penalty units (2026: $1,600).
Police officers or authorised people can order a person to leave a bus stop area if they believe the person is committing, or has just committed, a safety offence.
People commit a strict liability offence if they fail to comply with a direction to leave a bus stop area; the maximum penalty is 5 penalty units (2026: $800).
Police officers can physically remove a person from a bus stop area if they refuse to leave when told.
A bus stop area is defined as public unleased land within 20 metres of a bus stop sign.
The government can make further regulations to manage safety, how people behave at bus stops, and police powers in and around bus stops.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Chris Steel ALP

“I move: That this bill be agreed to in principle. I am pleased to introduce the Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Amendment Bill 2025 into the Assembly today.”

Official source →

Andrew Braddock GRN

“This bill made me nervous when I first saw it. Move-on powers are laws that can be useful and productive in enhancing public safety when applied correctly, but around the world they do have a history of being poorly designed or misapplied.”

Official source →

Leanne Castley IND

“I rise today to speak to the public passenger services bill. This bill is part of the government’s response to the very real safety concerns raised by Canberra bus drivers. Over the last few years, our bus drivers havebeen subject to someincrediblyconcerningbehaviour.They havebeen abused, they have been assaulted and they have been genuinely afraid for their safety.”

Official source →

Marisa Paterson ALP

“I rise today to highlight the importance of this legislation in making our public transport system safer and therefore more accessible, particularly for women, girls and gender-diversepeople.I thankMinisterSteelforprogressingthisveryimportantreform.”

Official source →