Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has called on the premier to “sit down with these bastards” and resolve the rail dispute, saying the Rail, Tram and Bus Union’s “blackmail and terrorism” is showing “complete contempt” for the public.

As the state government scrambles to solve the threat of industrial chaos over New Year’s Eve, Speakman accused Premier Chris Minns of kowtowing to the RTBU, saying he was now paying for overpromising to unions ahead of the election.

“Chris Minns created this mess. He needs to work it out. Sit down with these bastards and solve the problem. This has all come about because they sense weakness on the part of Chris Minns,” Speakman said on Thursday afternoon.

Asked whether the public should be critical of the union or government for the debacle, Speakman replied: “Well, they should blame both”.

“It’s the union’s thuggery and complete contempt for the travelling public to say that ‘this afternoon, we’re going to re-impose industrial action, even though people have arrived in the CBD or their other place of work this morning’, is out of contempt for the travelling public,” he said.

He called on Minns to make an application to the Fair Work Commission to stop the industrial action.