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,