Re: Notice of application for temporary exemption under Disability Discrimination Act section 55 - Olympic Roads and Transport Authority

PWD(WA) does not support the exemption application by the Olympic Roads and Transport Authority (ORTA). In addition to endorsing previous comments and submissions entered by other individuals and organisations PWD(WA) wishes to make the following comments.

The proposed action of the NSW government to "second" accessible busses from other Australian states will create chaos in those states and will not address the long-term issue of accessible public transport in NSW or Australia as a whole.

The NSW government became aware of its successful bid to host the 2000 Olympics in September 1993. Why is it then that ORTA, under the auspices of the NSW government has waited until only four months before the Games to act on the very real problem of the lack of accessible transport in the Olympic City? Such a delay is due either to a serious lack of foresight by the organisers or is simply a well-disguised cost-saving exercise. Either way the reality is that the rights of people with disabilities have been totally overlooked and ignored once again.

In line with the current government's way of thinking, thousands of tax-payers dollars have once more been spent to establish another mini-bureaucracy which has failed to deliver the best possible outcome for the people. The opportunity to showcase Australia to the world as a nation that is willing and able to cater for the transport needs of people with disabilities has been missed. The best solution that ORTA can provide is a band-aid for one state and a gaping wound in the transport systems of other states. How are daily commuters going to get to work in the other states that have had their public transport fleet decimated? How are daily commuters with disabilities going to get to work? The entire nation is not stopping for the Olympic Games. The average worker does not get nine weeks annual leave a year. There will also be overseas visitors who, having paid to get to Australia will no doubt have planned to visit other parts of Australia. In all likelihood accessible public transport will benefit our visitors, but not if it is all in Sydney. ORTA barely acknowledges that residents of other states will be affected let alone overseas guests. What cost will this be to the tourism industry of Australia as a nation? What cost has Australian tourism already suffered due to the numbers of people who have declined to attend the Games due to an inability to confidently plan their holiday around accessible transport?

It should also be highlighted that there it is a strong possibility that if the exemption is not granted, ORTA and thus the NSW government will shift the blame to HREOC. In section nine of the ORTA application it is requested that the Commission advise ORTA of its decision as soon as possible. Suddenly after six years ORTA has realised that "the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games require enormous transport planning and organisation", so HREOC must quickly decide if there are grounds for exemption. If HREOC doesn't provide a response soon ORTA will be unable to implement strategies to address the need for accessible public transport. The sole purpose of establishing ORTA was to avoid problems of inadequate accessible public transport for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, not create more far-reaching problems. It is an absolute scandal that such a well-funded authority has failed to even begin to fulfil its obligations.

Additionally, if the exemption is granted then ORTA passes all responsibility for local transport nightmares onto the local bus operators who have very little choice in this matter. Will buck-passing become an Olympic and Paralympic event yet?

 

Systemic Advocate

People With Disabilities(WA) Inc.