Disability rights
Media and commentary related to our work to make society more accessible, supportive and fair for people with disability.
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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…
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How government is tracking on NDIS recommendations
Our NDIS Tracker helps advocates hold government to account in relation to NDIS policy and law reform recommendations. Developed with our colleagues at Gilbert + Tobin, the Tracker allows advocates to view all recommendations that have been made across various NDIS inquiries, as well as what action has been taken in response. View the Tracker…
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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”.
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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We should all be able to fly, by Heike Fabig
PIAC represented Heike Fabig in a disability discrimination complaint against Jetstar.
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What were the original intentions of the National Disability Insurance Scheme?
In 2009, the Productivity Commission considered how to fund a national long-term disability care and support scheme. From the inquiry, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was born. This Explainer considers the Productivity Commission’s original vision and design for the NDIS. Who was the NDIS for? The NDIS was intended to bring specialist disability services…
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Public statement
Air travel can be challenging for customers travelling with electric wheelchairs. When flying with Jetstar in 2019, a customer, Bodhi, communicated his need to remain in his electric wheelchair up until the departure gate and to receive his electric wheelchair at the arrival gate. Instead, Bodhi was required to transfer to a Jetstar wheelchair at…
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Disability discrimination case highlights challenges faced by airline customers travelling with electric wheelchairs
A legal claim against Jetstar relating to the accessibility of airline travel for customers who use electric wheelchairs has recently resolved in the Federal Court. Bodhi Boele relies on his customised electric wheelchair for independence and safety. When flying with Jetstar in 2019, Bodhi communicated his need to remain in his electric wheelchair up until…