The Disability Discrimination Commissioner has broadly supported reform initiatives by the federal government to improve the aviation industry, but warned the proposed changes may not be enough to fully address the discrimination and undignified treatment of persons with disabilities.
The Aviation White Paper: Towards 2050, published this week, sets out 56 long-term changes to improve the industry in relation to its safety, productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability. Eleven initiatives relate to disability access.
Among them, the government will establish new aviation-specific minimum standards under the Disability Discrimination Act to make services accessible to people with disability. Those standards will define the responsibilities of both airports and airlines for a passenger’s entire journey.
Disability Discrimination Commissioner Rosemary Kayess said: “The Aviation White Paper is a good start to reforming an industry which has for generations discriminated against people with disability. It is a long-awaited recognition that we are a cohort of people who fly for many reasons, including for business and pleasure, and that we are not always treated with dignity when we do.
“From the design of aircrafts, to airline carriers, airport operators, and airline and airport staff, the current system discriminates against people with disability. Reform is a necessity, and I am pleased to see disability access as a priority area in the White Paper.
“The aviation sector needs a strong regulatory framework. To ensure accountability, the White Paper initiatives need to happen alongside a strengthening of the Disability Discrimination Act, by placing a Positive Duty obligation on the industry to take proactive and meaningful steps to prevent unlawful discrimination from occurring in the first place.
“I hope the White Paper’s initiatives lead to major change. However, if they are insufficient, a national inquiry, led by the Australian Human Rights Commission, will be the only way forward to remedy the failures in this sector for people with disability. I look forward to working with government and the industry to ensuring the voices of people with disability are heard, and their rights are respected throughout their flying experience.”
