The NSW Department of Transport and Infrastructure has been named alongside two of NSW’s largest taxi networks in a disability discrimination claim lodged with the Federal Court. 

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), acting on behalf of Mr Greg Killeen, claims the taxi networks and the Department of Transport are in breach of the national Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport.

The taxi companies named in the complaint are Combined Communications Network and the Austaxi Group. They control a large number of wheelchair accessible taxis in NSW.

According to PIAC and Mr Killeen, many taxis licensed by the Department of Transport as wheelchair accessible fail to comply with the Disability Standards. This makes them unsafe, uncomfortable and in some cases unusable.

‘We are not seeking financial compensation for Mr Killeen,’ said PIAC Chief Executive Officer, Ms Robin Banks.

‘But we are asking the Federal Court to stop the Department of Transport from issuing licenses to wheelchair accessible taxis that fail to meet the Disability Standards.

‘PIAC is also asking the Federal Court to order the taxi companies named in this complaint to modify any existing wheelchair accessible taxis that don’t meet the Standards.

‘We have taken this up as a public interest matter because there is absolutely no point in having wheelchair accessible taxis if people who need them can not use them,’ Ms Banks said.

The disability discrimination complaint will be before the Federal Court on 21 July 2010, when a hearing date will be set.

MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic O’Grady, Media and Communications Officer,
Public Interest Advocacy Centre. Ph: 02 8898 6532 or 0400 110 169