MEDIA ALERT
Taxi Inquiry: Public forum
10 September 2001
A public forum will
be held in Blacktown, Western Sydney, tomorrow to hear from interested
parties about wheelchair accessible taxi services as part of a national
Taxi Inquiry.
The Taxi Inquiry was prompted by the number of formal complaints and informal
representations to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission regarding
delays or unreliability in taxis services for people with disabilities
who require taxis to be wheelchair accessible. Written submissions to
the "taxi inquiry" closed on 3 July 2001 and the Commission
is now conducting public meetings to gather further information.
The issues on which the Commission is seeking comment include response
times for passengers requiring wheelchair accessible taxis; the current
proportion of wheelchair accessible taxis; measures taken by transport
authorities to ensure that a sufficient proportion of taxi fleets is accessible;
whether a "universal taxi" approach is necessary or desirable;
whether a dedicated taxi service is necessary or desirable; economic disincentives
to provision of wheelchair accessible taxi services; effective use of
accessible fleets; and a range of other issues.
Wheelchair Accessible
Taxis - Public Meeting
When: Tuesday 11 September 2001, 1-3.30pm
Where: Nirimba Room
5th floor, Blacktown City Council chambers
Blacktown
Further information is available on the Commission's website at http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/inquiries/taxi/noi.htm
Submissions can be found at http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/inquiries/taxi/subs.htm
Media contact: Janine MacDonald (02) 9284 9880 or 0408 469 347
