From: Dave Davis [d3com@home.com]

Sent: Saturday, 20 May 2000 14:23

To: disabdis@hreoc.gov.au

Subject: No subject was specified.

 

Re: Notice of application for temporary exemption under Disability

Discrimination Act section 55: Olympic Roads and Transport Authority

 

To whom it may concern:

 

As a soon-to-be Australian resident (moving to QLD from Canada in

August), and having followed accessibility issues (I use a power

wheelchair) in Australia since prior to our visit (my wife's an

Australian) in 1997, I would like to express my views on the above

application for exemption.

 

I'd like to place the following points on record to support why I feel

this temporary exemption should NOT be granted:

1. The powers in Sydney have known since 1994 that the Olympics was

coming their way.

2. Many of the powers in Sydney, and NSW, have been instrumental in

fighting the implementation of the Transportation Standards.

3. Some of the physical roadblocks to accessible transit, such as narrow

sidewalks, kerb height, etc., that have been used to put off accessible

transport in Sydney are still in existance. Now everything would be ok,

if the more progressive states would allow the loan of the needed

low-floor buses.

4. There was an almost total lack of accessible public transport when I

visited in 1997, 3 years after the Olympic Committee decision to hold

the games in Sydney, and 3 years prior to their pressing need now.

5. What was offered in 1997, the monorail and taxis, were woefully

inadequate, especially the access cabs, as we were stood up numerous

times during our 7 days there (Sydney). Sydney, a world-class city of 4

million, is where Victoria, BC, pop. 250,000 now, was in 1991 prior to

implementing the accessible bus only program, where it is now at least

60% accessible, including 11 new double decker, low-floors buses from

Dennis of the UK. It–BC Transit-Victoria–has twice won the best transit

service award in Canada, and this will continue until 100% access is

achieved by around 2003.

6. Hard-won gains by persons with disabilities in the more progressive

states should NOT be compromised by pandering to Sydney's need, real or

otherwise, to "borrow" from these fleets their newest and most

accessible buses, just so Sydney can look good in the eyes of the

international community at the expense of others throughout Australia.

7. Sydney has had plently of time to make accessible the majority of its

fleet, had it made the decision to do so. Sydney, and NSW, will be the

major beneficiaries of the windfall that follows the Olympics, and

should have planned accordingly, not to fall back on the gains made by others.

8. Sydney has made great strides in making public transport inclusive to

ALL its citizens since I visited in 1997, but it was too little, too

late, thus their need to borrow from others to overcome their shortage.

9. I realize that the Olympics would place an extraordinary strain on

the most accessible of transit systems, but seeing as accessible transit

is very much in its infancy in most parts of Australia, I would find it

incomprehinsible to take from those needing accessible, inexpensive

transport to get to work, attend classes, and participate in their

communities. I'm sorry, but Sydney should live with its own

shortcomings, with the hope that someday these shortcoming will no

longer be valid.

 

In agreement with my collegue, Maurice Corcoran, who's statement below I

adopt 100%.

 

"The only way that I could be persuaded to support the exemption would

be for a real commitment by the NSW and Commonwealth governments to

accessible transport. That commitment could be demonstrated by the

immediate promulgation of the Accessible Transport Standards in Federal

parliament as they were approved by the Australian Transport Council

(ATC) on April 30, 1999."

 

Maurice Corcoran

 

IN SUMMARY:

 

I don't believe Sydney should receive this temporary exemption for all

the reasons stated above. There has been sufficient time to ready itself

for the Olympics, and the fact that much of this time has been wasted in

the politics of the situation, rather than providing access as has

happened in other jurisdictions, should not be ignored in allowing

Australia's largest and most powerful city to borrow from the rights of

its fellow citizens.

 

Thank you for listening.

 

Yours truly,

 

Dave Davis

Canadian citizen, soon to be an Australian resident

former board member of the Victoria Accessible Transportation Advisory

Committee–BC Transit-Victoria

former board member of the Victoria Independent Living Centre

Member of the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. of Canada (MDAC)

Member of Physical Disability Council of Australia

 

and

 

Jeanette Hollier

Australian citizen

 

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