From: Felicity Maddison [flicka@powerup.com.au]
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2000 8:20
To: disabdis@hreoc.gov.au
Subject: ORTA application for exemption
Dear Sir,
I have previously endorsed the Queensland Disability Council's submission and stand by that endorsement.  I have also read the other informed submissions that have been sent to you and am appalled at the gall of ORTA to expect special treatment and conditions for circumstances that have arisen out of their own incompetence as an organisation and created by a singular lack of foresight or understanding of a) the number of Australian citizens with mobility difficulties and b) the impact on the daily lives of these citizens if their access to appropriate transport is withdrawn. It is simply not good enough to state that "it is only for nine weeks".  Nine weeks could mean nine weeks without pay as you are unable to go to work;nine weeks could mean nine weeks confined to your home; nine weeks could mean nine weeks of being unable to access any other form of transport due to the heavy demands on other disability accessible transport;nine weeks could mean nine weeks of not being able to access your doctor, your physio,your hospital, your friends, your family; nine weeks could mean, for some, nine weeks of house arrest.  And ORTA has the gall to apply for exemptions under the DDA(Legislation designed to protect the rights of people with a disability) in order to protect bus operators and themselves from actions which will effectively violate the Human Rights of Australian citizens with a disability Australia wide.
Financial inducements have been offered to bus operators to supply accessible buses, Bus 2000 and ORTA are all no doubt handsomely financially rewarded for their roles and no doubt bonuses will apply if they are successful - so where is the offer of compensation to people with a disability? Who will replace lost wages? Who will compensate for loss of amenity?  Who will guarantee that if this despicable request is granted that it will not be used as a precendent for future applications? Whilst it has been suggested in the ORTA application that they wish to highlight Sydney and provide a lasting impression to visitors of an abundance of accesible transport why didn't they years ago, seek corporate sponship to buy a fleet of accessible buses which could then have been left to Australian citizens with a disability as a lasting and concrete example of goodwill and a commitment to accessible transport not only in Sydney but Australia wide?  They are the ones who have blown it! They are the ones who have not prepared properly, they are the ones who are seeking to disadvantage a large segment of Australian society in order to appear competent. If this application is granted will it open the way for special exemptions when it is discovered that there really aren't enough wheelchairs, support staff, batteries or hoists to accommodate the needs of visitors with disabilities? Will there be large scale "secondment" of such equipment and personnel - only for nine weeks of course- to cater to visitor's needs? Australian with a disability are not commodities. Let your ruling reflect their value as Australian citizens whose Human Rights WILL BE VIOLATED if the exemption is granted.
Felicity Maddison
Queensland