Stage 2 Reform of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002

Listen

We are seeking feedback on proposed reforms to the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 to ensure they remain efficient and effective, are fit for purpose and meet the current needs of Australians.

Why we want your input

The consultation is seeking public feedback on proposed policy options to reform the Transport Standards.

How you can voice your opinion

Review the Stage 2 Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) and tell us what you think by making a submission or attending a public consultation event by 9 August 2022. Supporting documents and alternative consultation methods are provided below.

What will be the outcome of this consultation?

Feedback collected during consultation will inform the development of a Decision RIS for Stage 2 of the reform process. This will be provided to Transport Ministers for consideration, and will include a list of stakeholders consulted, a summary of views, and analysis of the costs and benefits of each reform.

The Issue

Access to public transport is critical for people with disability to fully participate in the community and the economy. That is why the Australian Government has partnered with the Queensland Government to reform the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards). The reform process is looking at ways to improve the Transport Standards to ensure they meet their objectives of removing discrimination for people with disability in accessing public transport.

In early 2021, we began the first of the 2-stage process, consulting with the Australian public on 16 reform areas of the Transport Standards. This feedback informed a Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for Stage 1, which was considered by Transport Ministers in February 2022. Information on the Stage 1 reforms can be found on our Transport Accessibility webpage.

This was a valuable process and the Australian Government is now seeking your feedback to support Stage 2 of the reform process. National consultation on the Stage 2 Consultation RIS is open from 15 March to 9 August 2022. Stage 2 includes 54 reform areas, including major reforms and minor updates.

We are seeking feedback on:

The extent of current issues faced by people with disability who use public transport and any situations where discrimination may occur.
Your story, or those of others (who may be unable to speak for themselves), including what could be done to improve public transport services to remove discrimination.
How much each policy option would eliminate discrimination for people with disability.
The extent to which each policy option provides greater certainty to operators and providers regarding their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
Any associated impacts, costs and benefits of each policy option.
Your preferred policy options.
Any other relevant views or information.

You can provide feedback on individual reform areas or the whole Consultation RIS and can read the entire document, or just the sections relevant to your industry, interest area, or individual circumstance.

Relevant documentation

Further information, including translations, reform area fact sheets, individual surveys, and links to Australian Standards are available on the Transport Accessibility webpage.

Summary documents, surveys, and event registration

Further information, including summary documents, translations, fact sheets, individual surveys, event registration and links to Australian Standards are available on the Stage 2 Reforms webpage.

Participate

15 Mar 2022 16:00 AEDT

09 Aug 2022 23:59 AEST

Closed

This consultation is closed.

Privacy notice

Your submission, including any personal information supplied, is being collected by the department in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (the Privacy Act), for the purpose of public consultation on the Reform of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002—Stage 2 Consultation Regulation Impact Statement, and as authorised under the Privacy Act.

The department will use this information to inform the development of a Decision Regulation Impact Statement for Stage 2 reforms of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002.

Your personal information will be stored securely by the department. It may be used by the department to make further contact with you about the consultation process. Your personal information will not be disclosed to any other third parties, except in the circumstances outlined below.

Submissions, in part or full, including the name of the author may be published on the department's website unless the submission is confidential. Confidential submissions (including the author's name) will not be published. Private addresses and contact details will not be published or disclosed to any third parties unless required by law.

Submissions will only be treated as confidential if they are expressly stated to be confidential. Automatically generated confidentiality statements or disclaimers appended to an email do not suffice for this purpose. If you wish you make a confidential submission, you should indicate this by ensuring your submission is marked confidential.

Confidential submissions will be kept securely and will only be disclosed in the following circumstances:

in response to a request by a Commonwealth Minister
where required by a House or a Committee of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia
where required by law.

The department may also disclose confidential submissions within the Commonwealth of Australia, including with other Commonwealth agencies, where necessary in the public interest.

Please note that in order to protect the personal privacy of individuals in accordance with the Privacy Act any submissions containing sensitive information, personal information or information which may reasonably be used to identify a person or group of people may not be published, even if not marked as confidential.

The department's Privacy Policy contains information regarding complaint handling processes and how to access and / or seek correction of personal information held by the department. The Privacy Officer can be contact at privacy@infrastructure.gov.au.