Stage 2 Reforms

On 15 March 2022, the Department published the Stage  2 Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (Consultation RIS) for Reform of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards). The Consultation RIS includes regulatory and non-regulatory reform options for 54 areas of the Transport Standards, outlined in 60 chapters, including major reforms and minor updates. The Consultation RIS was open for public feedback from 15 March to 9 August 2022.

Ministers considered Stage 2 reform areas and implementation arrangements for the full package of reforms on 9 June 2023. The reforms will now proceed to an Australian Government approval process. Details of the reforms and implementation arrangements, including the Decision Regulation Impact Statement, will be made publicly available following this process

Supporting documents, translations and more information about each area of reform is available below.

Public consultation

Public submissions to the Stage 2 Consultation RIS can be viewed at the Stage 2 Reforms Have Your Say page.

Public consultation events on Stage 2 reforms of the Transport Standards were held from 17 June 2022 to 21 July 2022. Events held included webinars, online workshops, round tables, focus groups and written discussion boards. People with disability, their families and carers, disability organisations, public transport operators and providers, and government representatives participated in the consultation sessions to share their experiences.

A summary consultation report outlining the key findings of public consultation activities is available below:

An introductory webinar was held on 17 June 2022 and provided an overview of the reforms. Watch the video recording below:

A final webinar was held on Thursday 21 July to reflect on the engagement activities and provide an overview of the findings and common themes that were raised through consultation. Watch the video recording below:

Supporting documents and translations

The Stage 2 Consultation Regulation Impact Statement is available here:

A summary of the Stage 2 Consultation Regulation Impact Statement is available here:

Easy Read is sometimes called Easy English or simple English. Easy Read format presents information in a way that is very easy to understand.

A summary of the Consultation RIS is available in Easy Read here:

A summary of the Consultation RIS is available in Auslan here:

A summary of the Consultation RIS has been translated and is available in the following languages:

Fact sheets

The table below includes links to fact sheets for each reform area.

Reform area

Factsheet

Reporting

Reporting DOCX: 170 KB
Reporting PDF: 750 KB

Equivalent access

Equivalent access DOCX: 150 KB
Equivalent access PDF: 696 KB

Rideshare

Rideshare DOCX: 170 KB
Rideshare PDF: 750 KB

Dedicated school buses

Dedicated school buses DOCX: 142 KB
Dedicated school buses PDF: 695 KB

Better communication of accessibility features

Better communication of accessibility features DOCX: 149 KB
Better communication of accessibility features PDF: 586 KB

Timely provision of information

Timely provision of information DOCX: 170 KB
Timely provision of information PDF: 750 KB

Real time communication

Real time communication DOCX: 170 KB
Real time communication PDF: 750 KB

Passenger location during journey

Passenger location during journey DOCX: 170 KB
Passenger location during journey PDF: 750 KB

Hearing augmentation on conveyances

Hearing augmentation on conveyances DOCX: 153 KB
Hearing augmentation on conveyances PDF: 705 KB

Print size and format

Print size and format DOCX: 170 KB
Print size and format PDF: 750 KB

International symbol for access and deafness

International symbol for access and deafness DOCX: 153 KB
International symbol for access and deafness PDF: 685 KB

Letter heights and luminance contrast of signs

Letter heights and luminance contrast of signs DOCX: 154 KB
Letter heights and luminance contrast of signs PDF: 771 KB

Location of signs

Location of signs DOCX: 160 KB
Location of signs PDF: 750 KB

Braille specifications

Braille specifications DOCX: 153 KB
Braille specifications PDF: 686 KB

Braille and tactile lettering for signage

Braille and tactile lettering for signage DOCX: 153 KB
Braille and tactile lettering for signage PDF: 672 KB

Hearing augmentation: infrastructure and premises

Hearing augmentation: infrastructure and premises DOCX: 152 KB
Hearing augmentation: infrastructure and premises PDF: 695 KB

Lifts: Braille and tactile information at lift landings

Lifts: Braille and tactile information at lift landings DOCX: 160 KB
Lifts: Braille and tactile information at lift landings PDF: 750 KB

Lifts: Audible wayfinding

Lifts: Audible wayfinding DOCX: 160 KB
Lifts: Audible wayfinding PDF: 750 KB

Lifts: Emergency communication systems in lift cars

Lifts: Emergency communication systems in lift cars DOCX: 160 KB
Lifts: Emergency communication systems in lift cars PDF: 750 KB

Lifts: Reference for lift car communication and information systems

Lifts: Reference for lift car communication and information systems DOCX: 160 KB
Lifts: Reference for lift car communication and information systems PDF: 750 KB

Information and communication technologies (ICT) procurement

Information and communication technologies (ICT) procurement DOCX: 153 KB
Information and communication technologies (ICT) procurement PDF: 562 KB

Mobile web systems

Mobile web systems DOCX: 160 KB
Mobile web systems PDF: 750 KB

Accessible fare system elements

Accessible fare system elements DOCX: 155 KB
Accessible fare system elements PDF: 705 KB

Doors on access paths

Doors on access paths DOCX: 166 KB
Doors on access paths PDF: 696 KB

Continuous accessibility on access paths

Continuous accessibility on access paths DOCX: 154 KB
Continuous accessibility on access paths PDF: 577 KB

Flange Gaps

Flange Gaps DOCX: 165 KB
Flange Gaps PDF: 677 KB

Resting points

Resting points DOCX: 170 KB
Resting points PDF: 750 KB

Requirement for handrails in overbridges and subways

Requirement for handrails in overbridges and subways DOCX: 170 KB
Requirement for handrails in overbridges and subways PDF: 750 KB

Location of Fare System Elements

Location of Fare System ElementsDOCX: 160 KB
Location of Fare System Elements PDF: 750 KB

Allocated Spaces and priority seating in waiting areas

Allocated Spaces and priority seating in waiting areas DOCX: 147 KB
Allocated Spaces and priority seating in waiting areas PDF: 681 KB

Accessible toilets with equal proportion of left and right hand configurations

Accessible toilets with equal proportion of left and right hand configurations DOCX: 149 KB
Accessible toilets with equal proportion of left and right hand configurations PDF: 693 KB

Emergency call buttons in accessible toilets

Emergency call buttons in accessible toilets DOCX: 150 KB
Emergency call buttons in accessible toilets PDF: 588 KB

Ambulant toilets

Ambulant toilets DOCX: 149 KB
Ambulant toilets PDF: 707 KB

Lift specifications and enhancements

Lift specifications and enhancements DOCX: 160 KB
Lift specifications and enhancements PDF: 750 KB

Specifications for escalators and inclined travelators

Specifications for escalators and inclined travelators DOCX: 170 KB
Specifications for escalators and inclined travelators PDF: 750 KB

Poles, objects and luminance contrast

Poles, objects and luminance contrast DOCX: 164 KB
Poles, objects and luminance contrast PDF: 750 KB

Lighting

Lighting DOCX: 160 KB
Lighting PDF: 750 KB

Signals and process for requesting boarding devices

Signals and process for requesting boarding devices DOCX: 170 KB
Signals and process for requesting boarding devices PDF: 750 KB

Notification by passenger of need for boarding device

Notification by passenger of need for boarding device DOCX: 170 KB
Notification by passenger of need for boarding device PDF: 750 KB

Portable boarding ramp edge barriers

Portable boarding ramp edge barriers DOCX: 7 MB
Portable boarding ramp edge barriers PDF: 792 KB

Boarding ramp and removable gangway definitions

Boarding ramp and removable gangway definitions DOCX: 164 KB
Boarding ramp and removable gangway definitions PDF: 559 KB

Removable gangway design—ferries

Removable gangway design—ferries DOCX: 170 KB
Removable gangway design—ferries PDF: 750 KB

Nominated assistance boarding points

Nominated assistance boarding points DOCX: 170 KB
Nominated assistance boarding points PDF: 750 KB

Mobility boarding points—identification of lead stops

Mobility boarding points—identification of lead stops DOCX: 170 KB
Mobility boarding points—identification of lead stops PDF: 750 KB

Pontoon boarding points on infrastructure

Pontoon boarding points on infrastructure DOCX: 166 KB
Pontoon boarding points on infrastructure PDF: 750 KB

Bus, tram and light rail boarding points on infrastructure

Bus, tram and light rail boarding points on infrastructure DOCX: 166 KB
Bus, tram and light rail boarding points on infrastructure PDF: 687 KB

Hail-and-ride boarding points on infrastructure

Hail-and-ride boarding points on infrastructure DOCX: 165 KB
Hail-and-ride boarding points on infrastructure PDF: 685 KB

Accessible taxi ranks

Accessible taxi ranks DOCX: 150 KB
Accessible taxi ranks PDF: 716 KB

Accessible passenger loading zones on-street

Accessible passenger loading zones on-street DOCX: 150 KB
Accessible passenger loading zones on-street PDF: 722 KB

Accessible parking spaces in infrastructure off-street carparks

Accessible parking spaces in infrastructure off-street carparks DOCX: 150 KB
Accessible parking spaces in infrastructure off-street carparks PDF: 609 KB

Grab-rails on access paths

Grab-rails on access paths DOCX: 165 KB
Grab-rails on access paths PDF: 694 KB

Grab-rails in allocated spaces

Grab-rails in allocated spaces DOCX: 156 KB
Grab-rails in allocated spaces PDF: 221 KB

Mobility aid movement in allocated spaces: Passive restraints

Mobility aid movement in allocated spaces: Passive restraints DOCX: 170 KB
Mobility aid movement in allocated spaces: Passive restraints PDF: 750 KB

Mobility aid movement in allocated spaces: Active restraints

Mobility aid movement in allocated spaces: Active restraints DOCX: 160 KB
Mobility aid movement in allocated spaces: Active restraints PDF: 750 KB

Appropriate seats on booked services

Appropriate seats on booked services DOCX: 149 KB
Appropriate seats on booked services PDF: 696 KB

Conveyance dwell times at stops

Conveyance dwell times at stops DOCX: 142 KB
Conveyance dwell times at stops PDF: 577 KB

Stairs on trains

Stairs on trains DOCX: 170 KB
Stairs on trains PDF: 750 KB

Stairs on ferries

Stairs on ferries DOCX: 170 KB
Stairs on ferries PDF: 750 KB

Stairs on buses

Stairs on buses DOCX: 168 KB
Stairs on buses PDF: 227 KB

Doorway contrast and height

Doorway contrast and height DOCX: 166 KB
Doorway contrast and height PDF: 699 KB

Implementation approach

Implementation approach DOCX: 150 KB
Implementation approach PDF: 592 KB

The Department has sought to ensure documents provided are accessible. Should a document not meet a reader's accessibly needs, please contact us at DisabilityTransport@infrastructure.gov.au.