Public transport operators and providers must comply with the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards). While compliance data is collected through 5-yearly statutory reviews of the Transport Standards, national data is often inconsistent and incomplete.
Compliance reporting framework
To improve the completeness of national data, the Australian Government has published a non-mandatory compliance reporting framework to assist operators and providers to improve their data collection and reporting processes.
Operators and providers are encouraged to consider the guidance in the framework and undertake work to begin reporting on their compliance with the Transport Standards.
Purpose of compliance reporting
Publishing information about compliance helps operators and providers demonstrate their progress towards meeting their obligations under the Transport Standards and their ongoing commitment to providing accessible services for people with disability. The publication of compliance data will also assist the Australian Government to assess the effectiveness of the Transport Standards and support disability representative organisations to target their advocacy work. Implementing the framework will assist all levels of government to fulfill their commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and their commitment to report on percentage compliance with the Transport Standards, agreed by First Ministers under Australia's Disability Strategy 2021–2031.
Evaluation of the reporting framework
The Australian Government will continue to work with stakeholders to share resources that support the improvement of auditing and reporting processes. An evaluation of the efficacy of the framework will be undertaken through the next statutory review of the Transport Standards in 2027.
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