Prosecutor argues Linq Buslines put public at risk while driver employed
A Gosford court heard that Linq Buslines may have exposed passengers to danger during the seven months its driver worked there, according to the prosecutor.
In a Gosford Local Court hearing, the prosecutor for the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator contended that Linq Buslines exposed the public to risk throughout the seven months Brett Andrew Button was employed as a casual driver. Button was behind the wheel when a wedding coach overturned at a roundabout in Greta in June 2023, resulting in ten fatalities and 25 injuries. He later acknowledged using excessive tramadol and speeding at the time of the crash.
Linq Buslines and its directors, Christopher Fogg and Anthony Royle, have pleaded guilty to two breaches of the National Heavy Vehicle Law covering the period from November 2022 to June 2023 and are awaiting sentencing. The company admitted it lacked medical assessments, driver-record checks, and other safety protocols. Families of victims, including the Junkeers and the Mullens, were present and hoped to deliver victim impact statements, though the judge has not yet ruled on that request.
Why it matters
The case highlights gaps in bus company hiring and safety checks that could affect passenger safety nationwide.
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