Disability discrimination
Media and commentary about our test cases and policy work to secure equal access to services and public spaces for people with disability.
-
2SER: An appropriate cost model for Commonwealth discrimination cases
The Federal Government is looking at changing unfair laws that discourage people from taking a discrimination or sexual harassment complaint to court. Their review is in response to the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment and its Respect@Work report, which revealed that people aren’t taking those complaints to court because of the financial risk of having…
-
2SER interview: UN calls on Australia to act on TV accessibility
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has found Australia has breached the rights of people who are blind and vision impaired. The finding came after disability rights advocate Lauren Henley made a complaint to the UN Committee, represented by PIAC, when the Australian Government refused to mandate any ‘audio description’ on…
-
“It’s the system that’s the problem”. How airlines are failing people with disability
COVID closed off air travel for most Australians but you could argue that for people with disability, it’s never really been open. From wheelchair user limits, to inconsistent policies and inaccessible public transport, the disability community is increasingly isolated and unable to participate in society. This program explores how people with disability feel about flying…
-
UN recommends Australia legislate on audio descriptions
A seven+ year campaign to have Australian networks provide audio descriptions for the blind and vision impaired community has resulted in a United Nations committee finding Australia in breach of an international human rights treaty. The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has recommended that Australia take “the necessary legislative and policy…
-
Lack of audio descriptions on Australian TV a human rights breach, UN committee finds
A United Nations committee has found Australia breached an international human rights treaty by failing to provide audio descriptions on free-to-air television for the blind and vision impaired community. The finding from the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities comes after a long-standing human rights complaint from 36-year-old Melbourne disability advocate Lauren…
-
UN says Australia must ensure equal access to free-to-air TV for people who are blind or vision impaired
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has found Australia has breached the rights of people who are blind and vision impaired by failing to meet its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. PIAC supported disability rights advocate Lauren Henley to take a complaint to the UN…
-
Passenger kept from boarding after Jetstar’s refusal to assist with wheelchair makes discrimination complaint
Erin Turner Manners, a senior solicitor at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre – which is representing Jones – said he was “one of many passengers who have encountered poor treatment, including effective denial of service, trying to access air travel as airlines and airports continue to fail people with disability”.
-
Stranded: disability discrimination complaint highlights Jetstar failure to provide assistance to wheelchair user
Sydney man Tony Jones has lodged a disability discrimination complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission after Jetstar refused to help him transfer from his electric wheelchair to a Jetstar aisle chair, in contravention of Jetstar’s own policy. As a result, Mr Jones was left stranded at Sydney airport, unable to travel on the flight…
-
Voting rights for blind and vision impaired people: iVote complaint lodged with Australian Human Rights Commission
Blind Citizens Australia has lodged a discrimination complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission against the NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC) and NSW Electoral Commissioner to ensure blind and vision impaired people can cast a secret, independent and verifiable vote at the 2023 NSW State Election. The action follows the decommissioning of the iVote online voting…
-
Blind advocates allege NSW’s removal of online voting system is a breach of human rights
Ellen Tilbury, a senior solicitor at PIAC, said it was crucial to Australia’s democracy that all members of society were able to fully participate in the electoral process. “For people who are blind and vision impaired, iVote, the electronic assisted voting platform, enabled them to do that really for the first time independently and secretly,…