The Review of Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport looks at how well all forms of transport in all our states and territories are meeting transport standards for accessibility and what improvements are needed to make sure all Australians can use public transport safely and comfortably.

The review found that while all states and territories had made more effort to make public transport accessible since the standards were introduced in 2002, there is not enough reliable, consistent information to get a clear picture about progress.

The report also noted frustration from disability groups that recommendations made in the 2007 review to make community transport buses with more than 12 seats and all school buses comply with the standards had stalled.

It makes seven recommendations, calling for governments at all levels to work together:

• with the disability sector and transport industry to update transport standards by 30 June 2017 to include smartphone apps and other forms of communication that were not around a decade ago;
• to develop a national labelling scheme for mobility aids so that people know the aid they choose can be used comfortably on public transport;
• to develop accessibility guidelines for a whole of journey approach to public transport planning by 30 June 2016 – so people with disability can catch public transport that gets them all the way to their destination; and
• to come up with consistent national compliance milestones and response times for accessible taxis by 31 December 2016

This is the second review of the disability access transport standards required by law and has taken more than two years to complete.

Read all submissions and the full review report, as well as the Government’s response here.