Transport Legislation (Disability Parking Permit Scheme) 2019

Overview

This bill was discharged and did not become law. It would have allowed people who are blind or have severe vision impairment to apply for disability parking permits in Queensland. Currently, only people with impaired walking ability qualify, even though four other Australian jurisdictions already include vision impairment as an eligible condition.

Who it affects

People who are blind or have low vision, along with their carers and sighted guides, would have gained access to disability parking spaces, making it significantly safer for them to access buildings without navigating through busy carpark traffic.

Key changes

• Would have allowed people with total loss of vision or severe visual impairment to apply for disability parking permits
• Temporary severe vision impairment would have qualified if lasting at least 6 months, as certified by a doctor
• Would have aligned Queensland with NSW, the ACT, the Northern Territory and Tasmania, which already include vision impairment
• Addressed serious safety concerns - a 2019 Guide Dogs Queensland survey found 64% of vision-impaired respondents had been hit or nearly hit by vehicles in carparks over the past five years