Disability parking permit scheme goes national
The introduction of the new national disability parking permit scheme, which will roll out over the next few months, will unify over 100 different disability parking schemes across Australia.
It first came into operation in New South Wales (NSW) on 20 September.
New NSW applicants can now apply for the parking permit, and around 328,000 existing NSW permit holders will be mailed the new permit from 7 October to replace their current permit.
The NSW Minister for Disability Services, Peter Primrose, said that current users of the system should be aware the existing disabled parking concessions will continue to apply in NSW.
“The NSW government has been in consultation with the Disability Council of NSW and local councils and will work with them through the roll out.”
The NSW Minister for Roads, David Borger, said local councils and the NSW Police Force, who are responsible for enforcement of disability parking, were aware of the introduction of the new permits and said that the new permits must be displayed correctly.
“To validate the new Australian Disability Parking permit, the NSW Mobility Parking Scheme photo permit must be inserted in the plastic sleeve,” he said.
“If you do not insert the NSW photo permit, your permit is invalid, so please ensure this is done to avoid penalties.
“It is also important to note the white plastic holder previously issued by the RTA can no longer be used.”
The next step in harmonising state and territory disability parking schemes will be agreement on a revised set of eligibility criteria for the permit, which is expected to be introduced in NSW in 2011.
Mr Borger said breaching any conditions of use could result in the new permit and the NSW photo permit being confiscated and/or revoked by the RTA.
The fine for displaying a permit in contravention of the conditions of use was more than $500.
“If you think someone is fraudulently using a permit or misusing a disability parking permit, you can report it to the Mobility Parking Scheme Hotline either by phoning 1300 884 899 or emailing Customer_Service_Centre@rta.nsw.gov.au,” he said.
