Why is there provision for exemptions from the Transport Standards?
Amendments to the DDA in 2002, allowing the Commission to grant temporary exemptions from the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport in the same way that it can grant exemptions from the existing DDA provisions, were passed prior to the tabling of these Standards. Provision for this exemption power was one of the conditions of agreement by Transport Ministers for the Standards to proceed. The Commission supported these amendments. The Standards are intended to provide certainty for transport providers and for consumers in the very substantial process of transition now under way to accessible public transport systems for Australia. It is also important however that there be sufficient flexibility in this process to ensure that operators are able to make the transition effectively. This includes a need for a process to consider unforeseen technical issues which arise, and other exceptional issues whcih may face some operators. The exemption process enables the Standards to
