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5. Issues for consideration 5.1 Submissions on the application 5.2 What should be done to make Melbourne trams accessible? 5.3 The question of heritage values

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission gives notice of a decision made on 27 June 2000 under section 57 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 ("DDA") concerning accessible buses during the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The Federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) provides protection for everyone in Australia against discrimination based on disability.

D.D.A. guide: What areas of life does the D.D.A. cover? The DDA makes it against the law to discriminate against someone if they have a disability in the following areas of life : Employment. For example, when someone is trying to get a job, equal pay or promotion. Education. For example, when enrolling in a school, TAFE, university or other colleges. Access to premises used by the public…

The DDA also protects people who have some form of personal connection with a person with a disability like relatives, friends, carers and co-workers if they are discriminated against because of that connection or relationship. For example, it is unlawful discrimination if:

Employers must offer equal employment opportunities to everyone. This means that if a person with a disability can do the essential activities or "inherent requirements" of a job, he or she should have just as much chance to do that job as anyone else.

This includes all public and private educational institutions, primary and secondary schools, and tertiary institutions such as TAFE, private colleges and universities.

A person with a disability has a right to obtain goods and use services and facilities in the same way as people without a disability. This includes goods, services and facilities from:

A person with a disability should also not be excluded from any administrative or coaching activities associated with the sport. For example, if a person with a disability has the necessary skills to play cricket or swim competitively, he or she cannot be excluded because of asthma or a hearing loss.

A person with a disability has a right to obtain accommodation in the same way as people without a disability. This includes renting a flat, house, unit, a room in a boarding house, hotel or motel.

This applies to existing places as well as places under construction. To comply with the DDA existing places may need to be modified to be accessible (except where this would involve "unjustifiable hardship").

This includes provision of services of a kind provided by government. All governments in Australia - Commonwealth, State, Territory and local government - have responsibilities under the D.D.A.