Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) — My question is for the Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing. A statewide disabled persons parking scheme currently operates in Victoria. The permits are available for persons with an ambulatory disability, an acute or chronic illness in which minimal walking may endanger health, or a disability or illness requiring rest breaks when walking, as is the case with one of my constituents.
Some permit-holders need to park as close as possible. Others will need a larger bay allowing access for walkers or wheelchairs. Currently we only see one type of disability bay signpost in my region, with no differentiation based on need. This means that some people with high needs may be displaced from bays by persons with lower needs.
Will the minister review and upgrade the disability parking and signpost scheme to provide for a variety of parking bay categories?
Question asked by: Ms Patten
Directed to: Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing
Asked on: 9 March 2017
ANSWER: The Absolutely everyone: state disability plan 2017-2020 was released by the Andrews Labor Government in December last year. Absolutely everyone outlines how we will work to create an inclusive Victoria which supports people with a disability to live satisfying everyday lives.
However, in Victoria responsibility for the Disabled Persons Parking Scheme Code sits with the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. VicRoads has carriage of the Code, with Victoria’s 79 local councils individually administering the scheme on behalf of the Minister.
Any consideration of the need for a review should therefore be directed to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, the Hon Luke Donellan MP.
