This week, we conclude five weeks of coverage of the NCDA’s Systemic Advocacy Insight Report with a focus on transport. When it comes to point-to-point transport, people with disability continue to face a range of barriers. We need both government and industry peak bodies to be willing to engage with advocates to discuss these issues.  

Point-to-point transport barriers: 

• Discrimination against assistance animals: People with assistance animals report discrimination, with drivers refusing to transport them. This occurs despite disability discrimination legislation and training provided by transport companies, with individual drivers still refusing to accommodate assistance animals.

• Lack of driver training: There is insufficient training for drivers on safely securing wheelchairs in wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs). In some cases, passengers have not been secured at all, leading to wheelchairs rolling to the back of the vehicle and causing injury.

• Reduction in WAV availability: Following the deregulation of the taxi industry in several states, the availability of WAVs has decreased, especially in regional areas. Some communities report no WAV services, while others have only one vehicle available. These vehicles are often unavailable during peak times, such as school pick-up hours, and cease service by 5 pm, leaving no accessible transport options in the evening.

• Inadequate customer service: Customer service standards are subpar, with the wrong-size WAV sometimes being sent despite specific requests. Data from NSW indicate that only 30% of calls to the official call centre are being responded to.

The connection between the housing crisis and transport  

The NCDA’s Systemic Advocacy Insight Report also reported on how the housing crisis is impacting people with disability and their access to transport. In outer suburbs and regional areas where public transport infrastructure is more limited, this means people with disability experience more difficulty establishing social networks and getting to medical and allied health appointments.  

Australian Government’s Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 

The report also commented on the Australian Government’s Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002. At the time of a dedicated systemic advocacy forum held in March 2024, these standards were still under review and part of a two-year modernisation process. The final report on this review was published on 28 November 2024. 

For all the details on transport: