On January 21, 2025, the Australian federal government announced new regulations aimed at improving bus safety following the tragic Hunter Valley bus crash that resulted in 10 fatalities and 25 injuries.

As part of these reforms, all buses and coaches in Australia will be required to have seatbelts, addressing a significant safety concern.

New bus and coach models must comply with these regulations by November 1, 2026, while existing models have until November 1, 2027, to implement the changes.

The government has also closed a loophole that previously exempted some buses with seats under 1 meter high from requiring seatbelts.

Additionally, all buses and coaches with seatbelts will need to include audio and visual announcements reminding passengers to buckle up, similar to in-flight safety instructions.

This measure is particularly important given that current seatbelt usage on some bus services is as low as 7 percent, highlighting the necessity for reminders.

Tony Hopkins, chair of the Bus Industry Confederation, welcomed these changes, noting they represent a significant improvement in bus safety regulations.

Despite these advancements, John Gaffney emphasized that these changes are just a starting point, calling for further safety reforms to meet international standards.

Federal Assistant Minister Anthony Chisholm reiterated the government's commitment to passenger safety and preventing future tragedies, acknowledging the ongoing pain experienced by victims' families.

In response to the Hunter Valley crash, the Australian Buses Preventative Safety Taskforce was established to advocate for enhanced safety measures.

Gaffney also highlighted the need for additional safety monitoring systems to address issues such as speed, distraction, and fatigue in order to further enhance bus safety.

The Hunter Valley bus tragedy, which occurred on June 11, 2023, involved a bus transporting wedding guests and led to significant legal consequences for the driver, who was sentenced to 32 years in prison for dangerous driving.