Jane Wardlaw 1 July 2011 David Mason Director Disability Rights Policy Australian Human Rights Commission disability@humanrights.gov.au Dear Mr Mason SUBMISSION TO REDLINE COACHES’ APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION The purpose of this letter is to provide context of transport options for wheelchair users in Tasmania and outline personal experiences of Redline Coaches, Tasmania. Tasmanians living with disability are chronically marginalised in the state of Tasmania. Many people living with disability and their families, carers are living in crisis due to unfunded, inequitable, under-resourced disability sector. For example, as at 1 July 2011, 285 disabled families continue on waiting lists for critical ‘Individualised Support Packages‘ which enable individuals with disability, to live independently and in their communities. Tasmania, has the highest rate of disability at 23%, compared to 21% nationally. The current state government budget released on 16 June 2011, is yet to itemise its expenditure and budget forecast for 2011-12, however, service providers have already been told they will receive less indexation than previous years. This places disability service providers under financial hardship, thus impacting on service delivery for people living with disability. Transport options for people living with disability further marginalises and isolates us from our communities particularly wheelchair reliant individuals. For example, those disabled families living away from the cities of Launceston and Hobart have very few options, if any. From personal experience, limited transport options hinder employment opportunities which require intra state travel. As a permanent wheelchair user, I have family across the state but in order to get to visit them and or my friends, is extremely expensive. To visit the popular east coast, costs me approximately $300 with the maxi taxi service, Hobart $600, Devonport $240. There are limited or no wheelchair accessible bus services across the state. Recently, I have used the Redline Coaches to travel to Hobart. The customer service has been very good. Since 2009, they have a new bus which has a hydrolic lift to take me and my wheelchair. In order to fit me and my wheelchair, the company has to remove up to four seats. The driver secures my wheelchair with appropriate tie down belts, including a safety belt across my lap. The journey in this bus is a comfortable ride. There is quite some planning involved in planning a trip to Hobart if I choose to catch the bus. I must ensure my booking is placed at least a week prior to the trip to ensure the bus will be available for that trip. Further, although the service from Hobart to Launceston has multiple trips, I am limited by choices of times to depart. Once you are on the bus, you are unable to access the amenities, or bother the driver to let you off and on for any stops at towns during the journey. Prior to the purchase of the new bus, there was a much older coach on route between Launceston and Hobart, however, it was an extremely uncomfortable coach. There were times too, when the wheelchair access coach has been previously booked for a specialised tour, and therefore, on one occasion, I was unable to spend Christmas with my family in Hobart. Until this financial year, the state government rolled out a Cars for Community initiative to address transport options for marginalised Tasmanians. Unfortunately, this did not include people who are wheelchair reliant users. Whilst the new cars are people movers, they are not modified to take wheelchair reliant people like myself. Hence, I miss out. The state government also offers a Taxi Assistance Scheme which is like a subsidy for permanent wheelchair users. Unfortunately, wheelchair reliant users are charged higher flagfall rates, higher kilometer charges and higher waiting times than non-wheelchair reliant users. Therefore intrastate transport options are cost prohibitive. I did take the time to meet with Redline Coaches prior to making this submission to gain a perspective from them. They inform me that a wheelchair reliant individual can access a bus service from the North West of the state to the very southern area. They also tell me, they are meeting the targets of being 25% compliant with the DDA, and on track to reach their requirements by December 2012. Yours sincerely Jane Wardlaw