Murrays Bus Company Faces Discrimination Complaint - Australia Disability News
Author: Public Interest Advocacy Center
Published: 18 Aug 2010
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Related Publications
Synopsis: Public transport providers have a legal obligation to ensure all new vehicles comply with national Disability Standards.
Introduction
Mr Ron Murray AM owns and operates a fleet of express coaches that carry hundreds of people each day around Australia.Main Content
But some people are not welcome on board the Murrays Australia Ltd fleet, and Sydney resident Julie Haraksin is one of them.
Ms Haraksin has brittle bone disease. She claims that when she tried to book a seat with Murrays last year to attend a work conference in Canberra, the bus company told her none of its coaches could take her because she uses a wheelchair.
Ms Haraksin believes Murrays Australia Ltd's response is discriminatory. The Public Interest Advocacy Center (PIAC) agrees.
Acting on behalf of Ms Haraksin, PIAC Solicitor Gemma Namey has lodged a disability discrimination complaint against Murrays Australia Ltd in the Federal Court.
The complaint will be heard for the first time tomorrow, in Sydney.
Ms Namey said Ms Haraksin is not seeking financial compensation from Murrays. 'Instead, Ms Haraksin is asking the Court to order the bus company to modify its vehicles so that they are wheelchair- accessible.'
Ms Namey said Murrays and other public transport providers have a legal obligation to ensure that all new vehicles comply with the national Disability Standards, and that at least 25% of existing vehicles are modified to accommodate wheelchair passengers.