Page 551 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 February 2020
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Greens will support that amendment. For the record, that paragraph moves that the Assembly note that “significant changes to the bus network have disproportionately negatively impacted people with a disability”. Whilst Labor and the Greens may pat themselves on the back for a win, the removal of this paragraph from this motion means very little to those who are living these negative impacts. They know what impacts these shambolic changes to the bus network have had on them, and it is them that I represent.
The fact remains that my motion has been able to at least secure a commitment from the government to table a response to the action items outlined in paragraph 2 of my motion by the last sitting day in June. As they say, the devil is in the detail, and we look forward to reading the response. I commend my motion to the Assembly.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Advanced Technology and Space Industries, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (6.01): I want to thank Ms Lee for her motion today in relation to the provision of parking across the territory, and in particular the provision of parking for people with disabilities or mobility issues. Every person has the right to be as independent as they can be. The ACT government’s disability parking scheme helps to facilitate a level of access and independence for Canberrans with disabilities that they could not otherwise enjoy.
Take-up of the disability parking scheme is increasing at a much faster rate than the population growth, with the number of permits in the ACT having increased by approximately 27 per cent since 2016. Over this time the number of permits on issue has increased from 18,000 to almost 25,000, or almost six per cent of the ACT population. The government is monitoring growing demand for the scheme and is considering how to keep the scheme operating in line with its intended aims to preserve disability parking bays for those that need them most. We know now that approximately 2.3 per cent of Canberrans rely on some form of a mobility aid.
Managing disability parking space availability is a growing challenge in all Australian cities, particularly in CBDs and in other locations with high parking demand. Where possible, disability parking spaces are provided close to shops and offices to help disability parking permit holders to get a park close to their destination. However, we are seeing growing demand for these spaces.
The ACT mobility parking scheme operates in accordance with the Australian disability parking scheme framework. The national framework requires the provision of disability spaces and minimum standards for their design and size. However, it does not require the provision of free parking for mobility parking permit holders. Some governments, including the ACT government, choose to go over and above the minimum requirements in the national scheme. They provide free parking and additional time concessions for mobility parking permit holders within government parking to further support permit holders.
The ACT currently has one of the most generous disability permit schemes in Australia, as those with a valid permit can park free of charge in any government-operated parking area. Permit holders are also allowed extra time in
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