Government failure on tram access breaking the law
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‘The Auditor General’s report released today confirms that the Victorian Government is breaching its legislative obligation to provide access to trams,’ says Cath Smith, VCOSS CEO.
By the end of 2012 only 23% of the tram fleet will be accessible, far short of the 55% target, and only 32% of tram stops will be accessible, compared to the same target of 55%.
‘The Report also identified that many capital works undertaken to achieve access have not met the legislative standards – for example, 20 per cent of platform tram stops built so far fail to meet the minimum requirements.’
‘To remedy this and other expensive mistakes, such as MYKI readers being too high for many people in wheelchairs to reach, the Auditor-General’s recommendation that DoT governance processes need to be improved must be urgently implemented.
‘However the major issue for achieving full accessibility is the willingness to invest in the cost of new infrastructure. Full accessibility will cost approximately $1 billion - far more than the $150 million over 10 years allocated under the Victorian Transport Plan.
‘VCOSS calls on the Victorian Government to make a major new commitment to accessible transport in the 2010-11 State Budget to at a minimum meet its legislative obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act.’
For more information, or to arrange an interview
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VCOSS
Level 8, 128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
T: 03 9654 5050 F: 03 9654 5749 W: vcoss@vcoss.org.au E: vcoss@vcoss.org.au