About 100 concerned local residents joined a rally to support the ongoing campaign for accessible tram stops of Sydney Road in Naarm/Melbourne, on July 18. The rally was called by the Sydney Road Accessible Tram Stops campaign to mark the third anniversary of the campaign.
Organisers, residents, community organisations and public transport users with mobility issues were all hoping they might be able to stay home on the anniversary.
While the May Victorian budget did include a commitment to “development funding” for accessible tram stops on Sydney Road, campaigners said history shows this type of funding has never led to the construction of a single accessible tram stop.
Similar projects that have received development funding have never received “delivery funding” to follow through on plans.
Emilio Salve, a wheelchair user and public transport advocate, emceed the event. They said the Jacinta Allan Labor government “will spend more money on the upgrade to the Brunswick tram depot than on our request for accessible tram stops on Sydney Road”.
Christian Astourian, Brunswick resident and founder of the SATS campaign, said: “We can’t achieve equality in society for everyone without universal access to public transport.”
Sean Tyrrell, guide dog user, disability rights advocate and Victorian Associate Director for Physical Disability Australia highlighted the issues for people with mobility issues on public transport and suggested a fight in the courts might be a way to continue the campaign.
He said the federal Disability Discrimination Act, which legislates fully accessible public transport, came into effect in 2002 and is a long way from being fulfilled.
The rally also heard from Sue Bolton, Socialist Alliance Merri-bek councillor and founding member of SATS, and Greens Senator Anasina Gray-Barberio.
Protesters then marched to Brunswick Town Hall where wheelchair users and people with mobility issues demonstrated the obvious — they can’t get on a tram without an accessible tram stop.
The cost of building accessible tram stops could come out of the petty cash budget for the level crossing removals and there is no reason not to make tram stops accessible before closing down the Upfield line and ensuring there is accessible public transport for all at all times.
[Follow Sydney Road Accessible Tram Stops Campaign on Facebook for updates.]
