The President,
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
By email disabdis@humanrights.gov.au
Dear Sir,

I write to record my objection to the request for exemption from the DDA Transport Standard by the ARA and urge HREOC to reject this request. I am a blind person and my ability to travel safely, independently and with dignity will be prejudiced by the granting of this application. In particular, I am concerned at the ARA's proposal to lessen obligations of the railway industry with regard to the installation of tactile ground surface indicators and accessible signage.

ARA are not asking for temporary relief from the Standards so as to improve capability to comply in the future but is asking to be exempted until it can get the Standard changed. Any changes that the ARA might be asking for should be addressed thoroughly when the Standards are reviewed in 2007. Many years were spent in the development of these Standards and exemptions should not be granted on an ad hoc basis at the whim of a particular business.
Yours sincerely
Robert Altamore