Outdated laws put vulnerable in danger

LEGALLY blind people in Townsville are being rejected for disability parking permits because of lagging Queensland laws.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads bases its criteria for the Australian Disability Parking Permit Scheme on an applicant’s ability to walk.

It does not recognise people living with vision, cognitive or intellectual impairments as eligible.

But other states such as Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales do.

For a Townsville family with two children born with albinism, this means sisters Arliyah and Mackenzie Brown, who both need canes to move around, have to navigate busy carparks, school crossings and shopping centres from a greater distance because their mother or father can’t park close to where they need to be.

Their mum Hailey Brown has described their situation as “an accident waiting to happen”, as she manoeuvres three young children under the age of eight, two blind, while juggling bags and paying attention to cars.

She said other Townsville families had also been rejected for not being “disabled enough”.

It is ridiculous that a legally blind Queenslander can’t be as close to their destination as they need to be.

All these laws do is place a person in more danger as they have to find their way through hazardous areas such as carparks or road crossings. This is even truer for young children.

These risks could be eliminated if the criteria were expanded to include the vision-impaired.

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said his party was working to change the laws in Queensland and was looking to introduce a bill to parliament.

Mr Dametto cites morality as his drive, “it’s the right thing to do”, he said.

It’s unfair that the blind living in our community are further marginalised by draconian laws.

Minister Mark Bailey should place himself in their shoes.