Page 555 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 February 2020
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sometimes have to go from one side of Canberra to another, and the flexible bus service is not adequate for that use.
That is the reason why hospitals in particular need to ensure that they have greater than the average three per cent of availability for mobility parking, in particular at the University of Canberra Hospital, because, as a rehab hospital it is more likely to have older patients, which means that its visitors are likely to be mobility impaired. We should make sure that all our hospitals are located on good bus routes for this reason. Another issue aside from car parking spots is ensuring that there are sufficient and appropriate drop-off and pick-up sites adjacent to buildings such as hospitals, clinics, aged-care facilities, nursing homes, schools and so forth.
As always, the Greens support the call of disability advocacy groups to understand their needs in the supply and use of disability car spaces because they are best placed and informed to provide such advice. Equally, we agree that consultation needs to occur with private car park operators to ensure that they are meeting the three per cent minimum of mobility spaces and to ensure that the way the permits are used and monitored is consistent. Updated public information for permit holders, their carers and the community on the use of accessible spaces is also welcome.
Of course we also support close monitoring of inappropriate use of disability care spaces and the issuing of fines because it is very important that we do our best to ensure that the right people are given an opportunity to use these spots. It is also important that members of the public who regularly use these spots illegally understand that there are consequences. There are consequences, both for the people who should be using them and potentially a fine for the person who should not be.
One of the suggestions I would make, which I have made before, is for what you might call a second tier of accessible parking. This would be not unlike the current provisions in some private car parks for parents with prams. This would be for people who are still mobile but really have limitations on the distance they are able to traverse or who may have a disability which is not obviously seen but nonetheless exists, such as a psychosocial disability or even just because they are older and frailer and less agile, and pushing a trolley from the supermarket up and down a couple of pram ramps and things is actually just getting in the too-hard basket, literally.
In closing, I again thank Ms Lee for highlighting the issue of insufficient provision and regulation of mobility parking spaces because it is an issue that the Greens have long focused on and will continue to advocate for. On this issue we are united, and I think that the whole of the Assembly is united on this. I support Ms Lee’s motion.
MS ORR (Yerrabi—Minister for Community Services and Facilities, Minister for Disability, Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety and Minister for Government Services and Procurement) (6.19): I thank Ms Lee for raising this important topic for discussion today. In my capacity as Minister for Disability I always advocate for improvements to the supports and services for people with disability. That includes improving transport access and mobility parking arrangements in the ACT. Parking can become a daunting task if you are a disability parking permit holder, also known as a mobility parking permit holder. Difficulties in
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