I would like to make another couple of observations that will demonstrate more reasons for rejecting the application:

1. There are many examples of lasting contributions that the Olympic games will make to the future of Sydney-siders, NSW, and Australia: A number of fine sporting venues, improved road and rail, an Olympic village, not to mention John Clarke's terrific TV series "the Games". The NSW Government, through ORTA had the chance to make a major contribution through making all bus transport fully accessible throughout Sydney and environs. It would have been an impressive statement to say that: "NSW, Sydney, and the Olympic Movement believe that all people have equal rights, and have a strong commitment to Equal Access." It would have impressed many: those with permanent disabilities, and those with temporary disabilities, like sports injuries, or ladies with prams, shopping carts, little children, or all of the above, and frail aged people. It would have impressed local people, throughout NSW, from interstate and from overseas. Instead it will be seen as another disaster to be added to all the others.

2. The Queensland government subsidises the purchase of accessible buses, to make them competitive in price with ordinary buses. By allowing Queensland buses to go interstate not only will Queenslanders with disabilities be disadvantaged, but the benefit of the subsidy, paid for by Queensland tax payers will be reaped by people in NSW. This is remarkably similar to Queensland's subsidised petrol being sold interstate.

The DDA is an act based on morality, fairness, and protecting the weak from the strong. If there are provisions in the act that will allow an application for exemption to succeed when it is so blatantly morally wrong, then we are really in big trouble.

John Homan,