What is your organisation’s name? - Organisation name
What best describes you? - Interest in making a submission
I am an access consultant or an Australian Standards specialist
How familiar are you with the Disability (Access to Premises – Building) Standards 2010? - How familiar are you with the Disability (Access to Premises – Building) Standards 2010?
I am very aware of the Standard and am very familiar with the details in them
What has been your experience of access to and within public buildings? - Put your answer in the box
Compliance varies. Older buildings are frequently with access problems and even some newer buildings are not fully accessible
What do you think the Premises Standards Review should focus on? - Put your answer in the box
Consistency with NCC.
Consistency with Australian Standards (or bring the Standards up to the Premises Standards requirements)
Ensure coverage of all access issues including some access to all class 1 buildings.
Enable performance solutions as is permitted with NCC.
Being updated quickly after reviews rather than taking years.
Consistency with DSAPT (or ensure DSAPT is brought up to the Premises Standards requirements)
If you have a problem with access to public buildings do you know what options there are to make a complaint? - Put your answer in the box
There are access difficulties with numerous public buildings.
Options to make them compliant are to amend them to make them comply unless unjustifiable hardship applies.
Complaints appear to be rarely made or this appears to be the case
What has been your experience of complying with the Premises Standards via the National Construction Code? - Put your answer in the box
Not Answered
Where do you see opportunities for improvements in the Premises Standards? - Put your answer in the box
Not Answered
Do you have any general comments? - Put your comments in the box
The comments made above are the general ones about consistency across all required legislation that applies to buildings and speedy implementation of changes. Also some basic access to and within class 1 buildings should be included.
There could be value in an access panel to assist in resolving difficult issue or approving alternative proposals or dealing with issues that may come under unjustifiable hardship such as access to heritage buildings.
There would be value if outlining what may constitute unjustifiable hardship by case studies rather than assuming a design is acceptable due to unjustifiable hardship and then having a complaint made and testing the scenario through the Human Rights Office or the courts.