Improving public transport access

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Transport Accessibility

Stage 2 Reforms—Public Consultations

Attend a public consultation event

You can have your say about proposed reforms to the Transport Standards by registering for one of the following consultation events. Public consultations on Stage 2 reforms of the Transport Standards will be held from 17 June 2022 to mid-July 2022 and are open to everyone. We encourage people with disability, their families and carers, disability organisations, public transport operators and providers and government representatives to tell us their experiences through our open consultation events.

>>> https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/transport-accessibility/stage-2-reforms-public-consultations

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https://twitter.com/bonditransit/status/1583020615421730816

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ABC News --> Australia misses 20-year public transport accessibilty target as many train and tram networks fail people with disabilities

Key points:

. All of Australia's train and tram stations should have been fully compliant with accessibility standards by the end of 2022

. Only 50 per cent of the country's network is accessible, according to Sterling Infrastructure's Susie Pascoe

. The federal government is working on reforms to the 2002 legislation, set to be released later this year

... It's 'unachievable' to make all stations accessible
The federal government is working on reforms to the 2002 legislation, set to be released later this year.

A spokesperson for federal Infrastructure Minister, Catherine King, said the government was "fully committed to further removing discrimination for people with disability".

"The most recent review ... in 2021, found that there have been major improvements and investment in accessible public transport," the spokesperson said.

Some in the sector are calling for changes to make the accessibility requirements more flexible.

Ms Pascoe works with operators to achieve the targets. She said the issue with meeting the requirements came down to cost.

"It is unrealistic to expect that every station across the country can be made fully compliant in every part. The cost of doing so is unachievable," she said.

"[It's] really important to understand ... what the prioritisation looks like. What does good look like, not what does perfect look like."...

 

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https://twitter.com/PWDAustralia/status/1640833263198691330

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https://twitter.com/TMRQld/status/1664474460001546241

https://twitter.com/TMRQld/status/1664474465483501568

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https://twitter.com/AusGovInfra/status/1669559607277109248

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Queensland's Disability Plan 2022-27

https://www.dsdsatsip.qld.gov.au/campaign/queenslands-disability-plan/home

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ABC News --> Wheelchair users often face abandonment on station platforms as buses replace V/Line trains

Kim Lee is no stranger to being left behind, with the south-east Victorian woman forced to wait alone on a train platform for up to three hours when V/Line's replacement coach services have been unable to accommodate her wheelchair.

On each occasion she arrived at the station only to be informed that the wheelchair lift fitted to the bus was not in operation.

"It should be a simple trip," Ms Lee said.

"The lift works, you hop on the bus and off you go. But the lifts have never ever worked." ...

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Webinar (7 March 2023) – 2022 Review of Transport Standards

The Department held a Webinar on 7 March 2023 to provide an opportunity for people to hear more about the Transport Standards and key aspects of the Review. There was a panel discussion with a number of key stakeholders from the disability sector to stimulate feedback from participants. It was an interactive session with a series of questions for participants to consider and respond to. Panellists included Sophia Rinaldis (Director, Disability Rights at the Australian Human Rights Commission), Dr Lisa Stafford (ARC DECRA Senior Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer, School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences), Tricia Malowney (Chief Accessibility Officer, Victorian Department of Transport) and Andrew Fairbairn (President, Physical Disability Australia). Further information about the Review is available at www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport-standards-review .

https://vimeo.com/808940410/fa246e55a3

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https://x.com/AusGovInfra/status/1770607636548890820?s=20

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SBS --> 'Travelling is so hard': Changes to legislation could make a change for people with disability

Australia's public transport standards are set to undergo their first major reform in 20 years, to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Advocates say the changes are on the right track, but want assurances they will be adopted efficiently and effectively.