After extensive lobbying, the House Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee have agreed to pass a Premise Standards, which does not require existing buildings to become more access friendly.
The Premises Standards are intended to make public buildings more accessible for people with mobility, vision and hearing impairments, but could have required old venues to introduce new facilities to allow greater accessibility.
Instead, the Premises Standards will only require new buildings and buildings undergoing major up grades to adapt new regulations.
“This shows some balance between access and viability has been achieved,” said John Hart, CEO of Restaurant and Catering Australia.
“We have put in submissions over time to ensure there are no additional costs for existing businesses. Our position has always been that government needs to keep the regulation at a point that allows businesses to continue to operate.”
Under the Premise Standards, the changes to the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act would apply only to new buildings and new work, such as a renovations or extensions, on existing buildings. It does not suggest for there to be an automatic trigger for upgrade of existing buildings; the Premises Standards would apply to existing buildings only when an application for building approval for construction of new work is submitted.
Committee chair, Mark Dreyfus, said: “Although there is still some way to go, the committee supports the Premises Standards as a significant milestone on the path to equal access. The benefits of the Premises Standards would be widespread, immediate and real. The committee also expects the Premises Standards to provide intangible benefits such as dignity, social inclusion and respect.”
Once passed it is understood that the Premises Standards will provide greater certainty to building certifiers, developers and managers that they are complying with their obligations under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act.
A key recommendations by the committee in relation to Class 1b Buildings, such as bed and breakfast accommodation, was for the inclusion of a reference to ‘dignity’ in the objects of the Standards; and, for a thorough review process to be completed within five years of the commencement of the Standards.
An electronic version of the report, accessible by screen readers, is available on the Committee website: www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/laca/disabilitystandards/report.htm.
