On 2 December 2008, draft Disability (Access to Premises - Buildings) Standards, together with a number of associated documents, were tabled in the House of Representatives
The Government proposes to refer the draft Premises Standards to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs and to ask the Committee to conduct consultations on the draft Premises Standards and to report to Parliament in the first half of 2009
The Premises Standards are intended to achieve more consistent, systemic and widespread improvements in non-discriminatory access for people with disability to publicly accessible buildings.
The Premises Standards will specify the type of access that will comply with Australia's disability discrimination system. They will help reduce red tape - by harmonising the requirements with the Building Code of Australia, which in turn, is adopted by State and Territory building law. This will mean a building constructed in compliance with the Building Code will also be compliant with the non-discrimination requirements in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. This will provide certainty to building owners, managers and developers.
The Premises Standards recognise practical realities of what can reasonably be required and enforced. They will apply to new buildings and existing buildings only to the extent that they are undergoing significant upgrade work. They will not apply at all to private residences. They also contain an exemption to cover situations where meeting the Standards would cause unjustifiable hardship for the persons undertaking the upgrade.
The Standards and documents can be accessed at: www.ag.gov.au/premisesstandards