On 13 October 2026, the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards) were amended to introduce new requirements to improve the accessibility of public transport for people with disability. The amendments are the outcome of the Transport Standards reform process which started in 2019.
This webpage provides background information about the reform process.
Background
At the August 2019 Infrastructure and Transport Ministers Meeting (ITMM), ministers agreed to commence a reform process to modernise the Transport Standards. The National Accessible Transport Taskforce was established to identify reform areas and develop policy options for public consultation. 76 reform areas were identified, released for consultation in two stages in 2021 and 2022. In June 2023, ITMM considered policy options and implementation approaches for each reform area. The final reform package was announced by the Australian Government in March 2024, with legislative changes to implement the reforms taking effect on 13 October 2026.
Impact analysis process
The reform process involved extensive consultation with people with disability, disability representative organisations, public transport operators and providers, and other levels of government. The department developed Decision Regulation Impact Statements (Decision RIS) for both stages of reform. The Decision RIS documents outline the options for each reform area, findings from public consultation, the costs and benefits for each option, and a preferred option. The chosen option can be different from the preferred option. The Decision RIS identifies where this has happened.
The Stage 1 and Stage 2 Decision RIS' are available here:
- Stage 1 Decision RIS—Reform of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002
- Stage 2 Decision RIS—Reform of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002
Agreed reform package
The Australian Government announced the final reform package on 20 March 2024. The decision summary document below lists the chosen option for each reform area:
- Decision summary—Reform of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport
- Easy Read Decision Summary Reform of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport
The decision summary is available in languages other than English:
Outcomes of working groups
As part of the reform package, the government agreed to convene five working groups to finalise some reform areas. The outcome of each working group is available below:
- Point-to-point transport—tasked with conducting a holistic review of the point-to-point transport industry to ensure Transport Standards requirements for taxis are fit for purpose and identify whether further reforms are required to include rideshare within the Transport Standards. Further information about next steps is available on the Reforms to improve the accessibility of rideshare and taxi services webpage.
Point-to-point transport working group report (670.43 KB) - Reporting—tasked with developing a non-mandatory reporting framework to encourage public transport operators and providers to develop and publish reports on their compliance with the Transport Standards. Further information is available on the Transport Standards compliance reporting webpage.
Transport Standards Compliance Reporting Framework (598.75 KB) - Hearing augmentation—tasked with developing new guidance related to the feasibility of installing hearing augmentation systems in public transport environments and the viability of emerging digital solutions. The findings of the working group will be included in the updated Whole Journey Guide.
Hearing augmentation working group paper (494.01 KB) - Braille—tasked with finalising regulatory reforms for the provision of braille in embossed formats and on signage. The recommendations of the working group were incorporated in the amended Transport Standards.
Braille working group paper (242.15 KB) - Removable gangways—tasked with finalising regulatory reforms for the design of removable gangways for ferries. The recommendations of the working group were incorporated in the amended Transport Standards.
Removable gangways working group paper (322.58 KB)
Contact us
Further supporting documentation can be requested via email at DisabilityTransport@infrastructure.gov.au or telephone on 1800 621 372.