Media Contact: Ben Ruse
0407 030 808
Media Statement
BILL SHORTEN MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services
Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction
GRAEME INNES
Disability Discrimination Commissioner
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
JETSTAR CALLED ON TO GIVE BETTER SERVICE TO
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Parliamentary Secretary for disabilities, Bill Shorten has called for Jetstar to meet
with him and the Disability Discrimination Commissioner as a matter of urgency after
reports that a visually-impaired man was turned away from a Jetstar Flight because
of his guide dog.
Mr Shorten said this was the second serious incident to have been reported in two
weeks, following the airline's treatment of paralympic champion Kurt Fearnley.
"If reports of these incidents are correct, then I am extremely concerned about
Jetstar's approach to customers with disabilities," Mr Shorten said.
"People with disability have the same right to travel by air as the rest of the
population. They should not be treated like children or as an inconvenience.”
"They should not face the humiliation of being turned away when they have
purchased a ticket."
"While I understand that Jetstar has apologised in both cases, it would have been far
better if the incidents had never happened."
"I can not understand why any company would treat its potential customers with such
a lack of respect. Many Australians rely on a guide dog to get around, and they
should be able to catch planes as easily as the rest of the community.”
"It is also a concern that incidents like these could damage Australia's reputation as a
tourist destination."
Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes, called on Jetstar to joint the
positive work being done by other airlines, government regulators and the disability
sector.
“This work contributed to the Virgin Blue Airlines access policy for people with
disability, which is far more positive,” said Commissioner Innes.
Commissioner Innes said that, on this International Day of People with Disabilities, it
was clearly time for Jetstar to meet with Parliamentary Secretary Shorten and himself
with a view to providing equal services to all Australians, including Australians with a
disability.
Media Contact: Ben Ruse
0407 030 808
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