Notice of application for temporary exemption: Queensland and Western Australian Taxi Councils

See now submissions in response

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has received an application (attached in MS Word format) together with a supporting affidavit (MS Word format) from the Taxi Council of Queensland and the Taxi Council of Western Australia on behalf of their respective members, for exemption from the operation of Part 1.2 of Schedule 1 of the Disability Standards for Accessible Transport 2002 and from the operation of section 24 of the Disability Discrimination Act (“the DDA”) so far as it would have the same effect as this provision of the Standards.

Part 1.2 of Schedule 1 of the Disability Standards for Accessible Transport provides that response times for wheelchair accessible taxis are to be the same as for non-wheelchair accessible taxis and places responsibility for this requirement on taxi radio networks and co-operatives. The application argues that radio networks and co-operatives do not have the ability to ensure compliance.

The exemption is sought for five (5) years .

Request for submissions

In accordance with its policy on exemption applications, the Commission seeks to give interested parties an opportunity to participate in the process of considering this application.

Accordingly, the Commission seeks submissions by 1 February 2008, preferably by email to disabdis@humanrights.gov.au. The period for comments in this case has been extended from the six weeks generally provided by the Commission to an eight week period in view of the likely difficulty for some interested parties in responding over the holiday period. Submissions may also be addressed by mail to Disability Rights Unit, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, GPO Box 5218, Sydney 2001.

To promote open public discussion and exchange of views, the Commission intends to posting submissions made electronically on its Internet site. Any requests for material to be treated as confidential should be clearly indicated.

David Mason
Director Disability Rights policy, HREOC
14 December 2007