Silent protest against Stockdale

Silent protest against Stockdale

By Alex Cooper

MELBOURNE — A group of 60 people with disabilities and supporters of public transport gathered outside the Equal Opportunities Commission on April 23 to protest against the arrival of state treasurer Allan Stockdale as a witness in the case brought by 21 disabled people against the cuts to public transport.

Protesters wearing black formed two lines from the footpath to the lift well, forcing Stockdale to walk between them. The protesters maintained silence to counteract suggestions by the government lawyer Frank Costigan, QC, that they were engaged in a guerilla campaign against the transport changes.

In particular the case has focused on the removal of conductors from Melbourne's trams and the effect this would have on people with disabilities as well as elderly people and tourists.

Many people rely on conductors for information on where to get off the tram as well as help with disembarking as in the case of mothers with prams and people with shopping trolleys. The scrapping of tram conductors will affect people with sight impairment particularly badly as there will be no one to help them find a seat or get off the tram safely.

From GLW issue 97