Linq Buslines fined following Hunter Valley bus crash

Linq Buslines and its directors, Christopher Terrence Fogg and Anthony John Royle, have been sentenced in Gosford Local Court following the Hunter Valley bus crash in Greta. The company pleaded guilty to heavy vehicle rule breaches, including inadequate recruitment processes, poor fatigue management, and failure to address speeding.

The company was fined $630,000 for one offence and $20,000 for a second. Investigations revealed that the company hired driver Brett Button, who was addicted to opioids, after conducting a reference check via a text exchange containing expletives and emojis. Judge Kirralee Perry described the recruitment process as “flippant at best” and “totally negligent,” noting that the company failed to require medical assessments or driving records.

The crash, which occurred on June 11, 2023, involved a coach carrying wedding guests and resulted in 10 deaths and 25 injuries.