Disability Protest Against Vic Public Transport

Disability advocates protest on the steps of Victorian Parliament. Photo: Tyson Armstrong

More than 60 people from Victorian disability support groups have protested on the steps of Parliament House today calling for better accessibility to the state’s public transport system.

The Victorian Council of Social Service and disability advocacy group All Aboard say that Victoria’s inaccessible public transport system is failing people every day.

Disability advocates claim the system is unsafe and leaves people stranded and unable to get to the places they need.

Organiser of the rally, Brandon Ah Tong-Pereira from All Aboard, said that people with disabilities are “sick and tired” of the government not listening to their needs.

“Victoria is already lagging behind in its legal obligations to increase public transport accessibility,” Ah Tong-Pereira said.

Ah Tong-Pereira says that the low-floors and differing heights to platform stops are the worst of the problem.

“There are solutions for these issues but it means that in the next State Budget the Government needs to start spending to fix the problems,” he said.

More than 60 people protested at Victorian Parliament today. Photo: Tyson Armstrong

All Aboard says it has produced a plan that outlines a system that is better designed to enable independent access for all passengers regardless of their mobility requirements.

“Public transport that is inaccessible lets down far too many public transport users around Victoria,” accessibility campaigner, James Carter said this morning.

“In parts of regional Victoria the transport is rudimentary at best and discriminatory at its worst and has a significant impact on the choices people can make.

“Everyone has places they need to get to: parents with prams, older people, business travellers with luggage – even people with sporting injuries. We have a right to demand a transport system that works for everybody,” Carter said.