From: Sue Egan 
Sent: Friday, 9 September 2005 10:05 AM
To: disabdis
Subject: exemption ARA

Dear Hreoc

In response to the call for comments I do not support the request for exemption under the DDA Transport Standard by the ARA and urge HREOC to reject this request.  I have a disability and use a manual wheelchair and believe we have waited long enough for equal rights and access to the community. 
 
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 because a business is finding the Standards too difficult.  All stakeholders had the opportunity to have input into the development of the Standard over a long period of time.  
To now say they want an exemption in order that the Standard can be changed in 2007, is not acceptable.  This is a community responsibility of ARA to include all citizens of Australia.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Susan Egan