Assistance animals are a vital and clinically-proven support for people with disability, providing independence, confidence and safety. However, through our casework, we are aware of significant barriers faced by people with assistance animals, which deny them access to public spaces and services. Many barriers faced by our clients stem from inconsistencies in the current regulation, which enables private and public organisations to create their own rules and approaches towards assistance animals.
The Australian Government is considering introducing National Principles as guidance for states and territories to regulate assistance animals. However, as the National Principles will not be legally binding and it is unclear how states and territories will implement them, we express the view that the National Principles will continue to embed fragmented approaches among states and territories. To achieve national consistency, we recommend the Government redevelop the Principles into a comprehensive, national, legislated and enforceable framework. Such a framework should be developed through a co-design group which is representative of the diversity of people who use assistance animals.
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