The CLP Government will overhaul the public bus network in Darwin and Palmerston, including closing the Casuarina bus interchange by October, followed by staged closures of both the Darwin and Palmerston interchanges, which it said will make the system safer for the community.

The changes will come through the Bus Safety Reform Strategy to reduce anti-social behaviour and enhance the safety of passengers and drivers, with a review into the bus network currently underway.

“We want every Territorian to feel safe when they catch a bus,” Infrastructure and Logistics Minister Bill Yan said. “These reforms are about building a public transport system people can trust and use with confidence.”

Mr Yan said the reform strategy will be implemented in multiple stages, introducing significant changes to the Territory’s public transport system.

The bus network review will aim to reduce wait times, enhance routes, and replace some low-usage late-night services with on-demand options.

Key reforms include the closure of the Casuarina interchange by October 2025, followed by staged closures of the Darwin and Palmerston interchanges to reduce anti-social behaviour.

“By shutting down outdated interchanges, boosting surveillance, and improving real-time communications, we’re creating a network that’s safer and more reliable for everyone,” Mr Yan said.

He said more bus stops would be added around Casuarina shopping centre to replace the interchange, but did not offer an explanation as to what would replace the other bus interchanges.

It is also unclear what will be done with the land and infrastructure currently in place.

As part of the overhaul, safety measures will be upgraded with expanded CCTV, direct radio connections for drivers to police, and duress alarms on buses.

A new NT Bus Tracker App will also launch on August 1, allowing passengers to track buses in real-time and plan their journeys while considering walking and cycling times. Additionally, free bus travel will continue beyond July 1 to encourage increased public transport use and “improving behaviour”.

Mr Yan said that after introducing free travel, the Transit Safety Unit and bus drivers have reported reduced anti-social behaviour on bus services.

Recent statistics indicate that our initiatives to enhance bus safety are proving effective, as reported assaults on bus drivers have decreased by 75 per cent, he said.

“While this is a significant step forward, our work is far from over. Ongoing reforms will continue to strengthen safety measures and support all users of the public transport network.”