Changes aim to eliminate discrimination against people with disability
The federal government has emphasised that significant reforms to the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 have taken effect as of 13 October 2026, aimed at making journeys via public transport safer and more accessible for people with disability.
The joint media release calling attention to the reforms came from Michelle Rowland, federal attorney-general, and Catherine King, federal infrastructure, transport, regional development, and local government minister.
“In partnership with industry and other levels of government, we’re working to improve the whole-of-journey experience on public transport for people with disability,” Rowland said in the joint media release.
Australia’s government expects bus, tram, train, light rail, ferry, taxi, and aviation operators and providers to comply with the changes, which include:
According to the joint media release, the reforms seek to help eliminate discrimination against people with disability and to meet the needs of those with different types of disability.
“Having safe, accessible and easy-to-use public transport systems shouldn’t be an aspiration, it should be a requirement, and that’s exactly what these changes are about,” King said.
The joint media release explained that five-year or 10-year implementation timeframes apply to some new requirements, while other changes will become necessary after buying new assets or substantially upgrading existing ones.
“These new standards come with clear expectations and guidance to uplift the safety and accessibility of public transport for people with disability – with some of them due to be met within the next five years,” King said.
The joint media release noted that operators and providers can consult the updated guidance material in the Transport Standards Guidelines and on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport, and the Arts’ website to comprehend the changes.
According to the joint media release, the reforms reflect input from consultation with people with disability, the public transport industry, and state, territory, and local governments.
“People with disability have called for more to be done to ensure our public transport systems are safe and accessible – we have listened and we are acting,” Rowland said in the joint media release.
“I thank everyone that helped inform these changes and look forward to seeing them make a real difference for people with disability,” King added.
The joint media release clarified that these reforms are distinct from but complementary to the federal government’s ongoing efforts to co-develop new aviation-specific disability standards, intending to clarify airlines’ and airports’ obligations to eliminate discrimination in their services.
Here are some other recent news stories relating to disability.
In a disability insurance matter, the Federal Court of Australia made a 28 August 2026 decision referring to a proposed pleading as “AI slop” and stating that it fell short of its expectations in [1.3], [1.4], and [2.1] in its Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence Practice Note (GPN-AI).
Upon considering an independent lawyer’s opinion and other evidence in proceedings alleging disability discrimination, the Federal Court issued a 21 August 2026 ruling finding that a settlement agreement would serve the best interests of a 12-year-old person under legal incapacity.
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