RAILWAY PASSENGER BEHAVIOUR

Mr McBRIDE (The Entrance) [5.49]: I alert the House to one of the most disgusting and offensive episodes I have encountered during my time as a member of Parliament. A 70-year-old woman - who wishes to remain anonymous for reasons that will become obvious - rang my office recently in a state of extreme distress. The elderly lady and her daughter spent an enjoyable day in Sydney with relatives on Sunday, 5 March. They boarded the third carriage from the front of the 6.47 p.m. train from Central to the Central Coast. On arriving at Hornsby the couple noted a scruffy-looking young man board the train and promptly lie down to sleep across a three-berth seat. The elderly lady also settled in for a sleep given the time she had until her train was due to arrive at Gosford. However, as the train began the descent down to Hawkesbury River the lady was woken by her daughter. She was confronted by the sight of the young man masturbating, with full knowledge that other passengers in the carriage could see his perverse actions.

As one could imagine, the lady and her daughter were both shocked and distressed by the experience. The daughter immediately proceeded to search the train for assistance. She first headed to the back of the train where she presumed the guard's carriage would be. She found no one. She then proceeded through all carriages to the front of the train searching for help. To her dismay, she again found no one. The only person the lady came across was the train's driver, and naturally she chose not to bother him. The daughter returned to her mother and by that time the man had finished masturbating. The train stopped next at Woy Woy and it was there that the young man left the train. As members of the House could no doubt understand, the elderly lady and her daughter were extremely reluctant to follow the man from the train so they could report his actions.

Obviously the young man is a person with no regard for standards of decency. Such blatant displays of obscene sexual behaviour are beyond explanation or excuse. However, my chief concern today is the fact that passengers confronted by such perversion were not able to seek assistance from City Rail staff. It is absolutely reprehensible that the passengers were left stranded and forced to endure such behaviour. This is not some minor offence of a young man putting his feet on the seat. In fact, public masturbation is a criminal offence, yet no help was available from the State Rail Authority.

I have written recently to the Minister for Transport seeking an investigation into the lack of available help on this occasion. Knowing the Minister, I am confident he will share my outrage at this incident and act accordingly. However, on the broader sweep, it raises the question of guard staff on inter-urban journeys. It is unlikely such an incident would occur on peak computer services, but should it happen no doubt the passengers would be able to seek assistance from fellow travellers or railway staff. However, on inter-urban journeys in off-peak periods where trains stop only occasionally, the need for guards to be placed on trains is clear. People cannot rely on the support of a large number of fellow passengers should trouble arise, nor is assistance available from railway staff.

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This incident clearly demonstrates why the SRA is losing out to private transport. There is a real need for increased policing of anti-social behaviour on public transport. There is a need for Premier Fahey to direct City Rail to use more guards particularly on off-peak train services. Members of the community should be confident of their safety while using public transport systems. Such displays as encountered by my constituent should never be allowed to go unchecked. Congestion on the Newcastle Freeway is quickly reaching a critical stage. It is important to encourage the public on the Central Coast to use rail transport. But while incidents like the one I raised today go unpunished, passengers will not patronise rail transport.

I have previously raised the problem of public safety on the Central Coast. A person was brutally bashed at Ourimbah railway station where no one was available to help. At the time the Opposition made the point that rail staff were not available after hours. We need police, we need rail staff, and we need guards after hours, not during peak hours. It is important that the Government realise the mistake it has made in its priorities in policing the rail system. Railway police should not be chasing fare evaders; they should be ensuring that people using our rail system feel safe and confident when they travel on our trains.