Hunter Valley bus crash investigation reveals Brett Button complaints were never shared with new employer

An investigation into the deadly Hunter Valley wedding bus crash has uncovered concerning gaps in a system that allowed a drug-addled man to be employed as a bus driver.

The Office of Transport Safety Investigations’ three-year independent inquiry into the crash at Greta found bus driver Brett Button had dozens of complaints and a history of heavy opioid use, which was not flagged by his employer, Linq Buslines.

Button failed to make a turn, causing the bus to roll over at Greta, killing 10 wedding guests and injuring 25 others.

In Button’s previous employment with CDC NSW before the fatal crash, he had received 27 driving complaints and been involved in 11 traffic incidents over six years.

They included failures such as dangerous driving – including erratic manoeuvres, pulling out in front of other vehicles, near misses with cyclists, tailgating, harsh acceleration, and excessive speed in wet conditions – one collision causing damage to the bus, and teaching children to swear.

The investigation found CDC NSW removed him from duties after they became aware of the driver’s medical conditions and likely substance misuse through a worker compensation claim.

“(In his reference check) there was no discussion of the driver’s driving record and performance, customer complaints, incident history, health or reasons for leaving CDC,” the report stated.

CDC NSW told Nine News they were barred from disclosing his history to new employer Linq Buslines due to privacy laws.

The investigation also found Transport for NSW was not made aware of Button’s likely drug misuse, which standard drug testing could not detect.

“The driver’s likely substance misuse (tramadol) was identified by pain management specialists but was not disclosed to Transport for NSW (TfNSW) by the driver, their general practitioner or a previous employer,” the report stated.

OTSI chief investigator Jim Modrouvanos said there were glaring issues with the current safety system.

“The investigation identified gaps in the system that did not prevent the driver being behind the wheel and, once the rollover occurred, did not offer sufficient protection for passengers from injury and death,” he said.

“The driver should not have been behind the wheel that night, given a history of likely misuse of the opioid prescription painkiller tramadol, including likely impairment at the time of the crash.

“The applicable system of driver health oversight and standard drug testing did not appropriately identify this issue or escalate it to the driver licensing authority.”

Button is currently serving a 32-year sentence for causing the crash after a court found he was accelerating too fast and under the influence of painkillers.

The investigation studied multiple cases of rollovers and found broken window glazings and seatbelt noncompliance contributed to the risk of passenger ejections, partial ejections and significant injuries during the rollover.

The 300-page report issued 34 recommendations to multiple related organisations including seven specific recommendations to the bus and coach industry addressing seatbelt safety, driver health, training and performance, and emergency preparedness.

All 34 recommendations have been accepted, or accepted in principle, by the relevant organisations including 21 recommendations made to Transport NSW.

“We can’t undo the immense loss and trauma caused by this crash, but we learn and change from it – and we are doing that,” Transport Minister John Graham said.

“The recommendations in OTSI’s report provide a clear path to strengthening safety across our bus network, and the NSW Government is committed to acting on them for our communities.”

Transport for NSW assured sweeping reforms including a new set of safety duties for industry workers, strengthened compliance and enforcement frameworks, and the establishment of a new regulator in consultation with the bus industry.

The Minns government also noted they would continue to work through recommendations made by the NSW Bus Industry Taskforce, with a strong emphasis on seatbelt safety.

“This tragedy deeply affected families and communities right across Australia, but particularly NSW and the Hunter, where its impact continues to be felt every day,” Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison said.

“Having spoken with family members who lost their loved ones, I know that no amount of time that passes can reduce the devastation and loss they feel.

“The grief and trauma of this loss will last a lifetime.

“That’s why safety must always remain at the centre of every decision we make across our road and transport network, to ensure that other families do not have to share this trauma and loss.”