Tasmanians with disabilities want better transport services that cater to their needs and not another tokenistic gesture by the minority Liberal Government that their concerns have been heard.
Today’s by Infrastructure Minister and Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson is nothing more than PR and spin to try to rehabilitate his image ahead of a leadership tilt.
It is deeply concerning that members living with disability in our community, who are trying to live as self-sufficiently as possible, are unable to secure wheelchair-accessible transport at a time convenient to them.
Extending the retirement age of wheelchair-accessible vehicles does little to address the concerns that have been raised around safety or around consistent disability support training for operators of these taxis.
The government has ignored the reality that there are not enough disability support services to meet the community’s needs and has effectively hamstrung any new operators from entering the market.
People with disabilities need the certainty of knowing they can get from Point A to Point B in safe and reliable transport at the time they need it.
After 10 years of this minority Liberal Government, if they haven’t addressed the issue of accessible transport options for all Tasmanians, they never will.
Luke Edmunds MLC
Shadow Minister for Disability
Janie Finlay MP
Labor member for Bass
