Disability Access News

Daily Advertiser 08 April 2008

If Rex is successful, intellectually disabled people, who are unable to understand safety procedures, will be required to travel with a carer.

The proposal will also affect wheelchair users, who may need physical assistance while travelling.

The application has been lodged with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, asking for an exemption to anti-discrimination laws.

“We’ve been carrying disabled people for years,” acting managing director of Rex Jim Davies said.

“We’ve been consulting with community groups for some time, and this proposed change is our way of trying to make things as easy as possible for disabled people.”

The application has proved to be controversial, with the federal

parliamentary secretary for disabilities and children’s services,

Bill Shorten, speaking out against it.

“People with disabilities are being treated as second-class citizens,” he said.

However, Davies called for calm.

“It is only an application. No decision has been made yet.”

Rex’s justification for its application is the airline’s use of 33 Saab aircraft, which are only large enough for one attendant.

According to Rex, it is too much for the attendant to maintain an appropriate duty of care to a disabled person who may need physical assistance.

The airline also claims three crew members have been injured from lifting passengers.

Rex maintains that the fares for carers would remain as low as possible, regardless of demand.