ࡱ> 685@ bjbjFF 7,, ````h h h 8  2  " q q q CEEEEEE$RHi O "q i`` C~ (`8  C C `C>h (C0,````Dq L 6 , q q q iih (h  12th September 2005 81 Cowper Street, Footscray 3011 Ph. 9687 7066 Fax: 9687 5621 Email: helen.adams@annecto.org.au HREOC Email:  HYPERLINK "mailto:disabdis@humanrights.gov.au" disabdis@humanrights.gov.au To Whom It May Concern: I write on behalf of the membership of the Western Region Disability Network in reference to the Application for temporary Exemption from a number of provisions of the Disability Standards for accessible Public Transport by the Australian Railway Association. The Western Region Disability Network (WRDN) is a network of people with disabilities, their carers/families and the service providers who support them. The WRDN covers the entire Western Metropolitan region of Melbourne i.e. from Melbourne CBD to the outer suburbs of Melton and Werribee. The WRDN has a membership in excess of 500 people. It is acknowledged as the voice of people with a disability in the WMR. The WRDN membership is very concerned about the level of and accessibility of public transport and categorically objects to this application on the basis that it will prolong the period of disadvantage experienced by people with a disability, many of whom are reliant on the various forms of public transport. The WRDN in fact advocates that, rather than granting this exemption, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission insist that the Australian Railway Association (and all other transport providers) immediately meets its social obligation and provides transport that is accessible to all citizens regardless of age or disability. Access to fully accessible transport is a right. Many people with a disability are socially and economically disadvantaged. Many people with disabilities rely on public transport as they do not/cannot drive. When public transport is available (and often it is not but thats an issue for another discussion) but not accessible that leaves potential transport users reliant on costly taxis or in social isolation. Rather than seeking a 5 year exemption the ARA and other transport service providers should be actively pursuing policies that progress the achievement of fully accessible transport. They should not be allowed to negate this obligation. The membership of the WRDN urges HREOC to reject this application. If you would like to discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact me on 03 9687 7066 or mobile 0422 3044 25 Yours sincerely, Helen Adams, E.O. WRDN PAGE  PAGE 2   $Lj) , ] " # ;Tÿÿ㟿㿑|hy[0JmHnHuhc^ hc^0Jjhc^0JUhy[h/hqQh"0Jjh"Ujh"Uh"h_CrhIhX95hIhI5hX9h_Crh2H*h2 hX95\"jhX9UmHnHsH tH u0Ej    + , ,-$a$gd2 $^a$gd2gdIgd2 -gdL U-uvh]hgdc^ &`#$gdc^$a$gd2h"hX9jhIUhy[hc^ hc^0Jjhc^0JU5 01h:p2. 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