From: Sue Egan [pdca@ozemail.com.au]

Sent: Friday, June 02, 2000 11:58

To: disabdis@hreoc.gov.au

Subject: application for Exemption from ORTA

 

The Physical Disability Council of Australia (PDCA) is the national peak

organisation representing the interests and views of people with a

physical disability across Australia.  PDCA has been a long time

supporter and major player in the development of DDA Standards and in

particular a DDA Transport Standard.

 

We are dismayed to read that ORTA has made an application for an

exemption to HREOC to allow  transfer of accessible buses from areas of

Australia to meet the transport needs of people with disabilities during

the Olympic and Paralympic Games period.

 

This application has come at a time when there is a delay to the DDA

Transport Standards, a delay that has no information attached for the

sector to understand, and a delay that angers the community because of

the length of time it is taking, and in light of the efforts of the

disability community to get the Standards this far.

 

Now we are expected  to accept that all the problems and "put offs" that

have held up the Standard development, no longer exist for the 8/9 week

period of the games!  For instance the infrastructure, the 'hilly

terrain', the cost to the industry, to name a few!  Now ORTA in

conjunction with many industry players want to show off to the rest of

the world how great our transport system is!  This phase has come with

no consultation within the sector (Certainly not with PDCA) and no

consideration of how this will inconvenience the rest of the community!

Obviously people with disabilities who will not be going to the games

because they cannot afford it, don't matter!

 

PDCA does not support the application for exemption.  We are

disappointed that it is even being considered at this late stage and so

close to the actual Games themselves.

 

This was supposed to be a celebration for Australia, not just for

Sydney, and whilst we support the games themselves and hope they are

successful, they should not be at the expense of Australian citizens who

also have rights!  A little consideration here, would have gone a long

way - this will only leave a sour taste in the mouths of people with

disabilities who will have have to do without!

 

Will our taxis be next?

 

Physical Disability Council of Australia Ltd