21 April 2020

Airport promotes marriage equality as pollies fly in

| Charlotte
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Stephen Byron and Tom Snow.

Our Federal politicians were welcomed upon their arrival at Canberra Airport for the first sitting week of the year yesterday by a sustained campaign supporting marriage equality.

It’s the second year in which Canberra Airport has run such a campaign, which will this year feature electronic signage from the Equality Campaign’s new national advertising campaign throughout the airport until February 17 (the signs were posted on Sunday with most politicians arriving yesterday ahead of sitting today).

In addition, the entire terminal will be lit in rainbow lighting on February 12 and 13.
The Airport’s statement is timed to coincide with the Senate Select Committee’s report on the Government’s draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same Sex Marriage) Bill.

Managing director of Canberra Airport Stephen Byron said the right to marry was pivotal for the wellbeing and happiness of LGBTI Australians, their families, their friends and their colleagues.

“Marriage equality is the law in 21 countries, and it is simply unfair to expect hardworking Australians, like my brother Tom [Snow], to travel to these countries to marry the person they love,” he said.

“Now is the time for our Federal politicians to show leadership. We will be reminding them every time they travel through the airport that marriage equality is a straightforward reform that allows every Australian the same opportunities in life.”

Australians for Equality Co-Chair and Canberra Airport Director Tom Snow said the campaign was directed specifically towards Federal politicians.

“The Equality Campaign reflects the overwhelming desire of two-thirds of Australians who want to see their politicians do the right thing by doing their job.

“Our politicians have the opportunity to make all Australians equal under the law this year and we will continue to remind them of this.”

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Chris Mordd Richards6:05 pm 14 Feb 17

dungfungus said :

Chris Mordd Richards said :

dungfungus said :

Chris Mordd Richards said :

dungfungus said :

It’s all here including who you should phone etc. Lots of airports don’t allow vehicles withing 100 metres of the passenger entrance :

http://www.canberraairport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CA_DisabilityAccessPlan_FINAL_20May2013.pdf

What a dense and complicated document that is. I called a few people with mobility movement restrictions and their helpers to dig into this a bit more, and I am hearing the following from them:

1. Other airports do NOT require this kind of access to be arranged in advance;
2. That document outlines an onerous and overly complex procedure for handling disability access at Canberra Airport;
3. Canberra Airport may actually be in breach of national disability discrimination legislation by how they have structured this (other person’s opinon – not mine, yet).

So I have called Canberra Airport and left a message with their parking operations for someone to call me back who can speak on the record in regards to this and answer a few questions to me as a freelance journalist, they were very helpful and said someone would get back to me either this afternoon or tomorrow.

I am also looking into various federal legislation right now that covers this to understand better the discrimination provisions of the legislation and how they might impact on this situation at canberra airport too. Will let you know what I can find out either in reply again here or in a new stand alone article on here addressing this topic area.

Thanks for the PDF link though!

Thanks -no problem with the PDF link but I didn’t say that other airports require advance notification.

What I did say was other airports don’t what vehicles within 100 metres of the passenger terminal entrance and this is why:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK7N7lQn0qg

You mean like at JFK for example: https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-99dac6c1215d8810fdbd5ec85ce60c04?convert_to_webp=true

Exactly, and JFK International have details about making prior arrangements for special requirements like Canberra Airport, here:

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk-accessibility-services.html

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk-accessibility-services.html

Ok, there is obviously more to be looked into here, how many major airports have this requirement, how many don’t, etc…. Will do my research properly then re-engage on this topic in my own piece I am planning around this issue at Canberra Airport now. Thanks for the info you have provided on this.

John Moulis said :

dungfungus said :

Mysteryman said :

I’m not interested in having a business or a company’s ideology pushed in my face – left leaning or right leaning.

What about government ideology then?

I don’t like this “sister city” stuff that Canberra advertises everywhere.

And why “sister city”, where is the gender balance in that?

How about “sibling city” instead?

How about “bro city”? Does that refer to our new relationship with Wellington?

Hard to argue with that logic John or should I say “right on, John”.

dungfungus said :

Mysteryman said :

I’m not interested in having a business or a company’s ideology pushed in my face – left leaning or right leaning.

What about government ideology then?

I don’t like this “sister city” stuff that Canberra advertises everywhere.

And why “sister city”, where is the gender balance in that?

How about “sibling city” instead?

How about “bro city”? Does that refer to our new relationship with Wellington?

Mysteryman said :

I’m not interested in having a business or a company’s ideology pushed in my face – left leaning or right leaning.

What about government ideology then?

I don’t like this “sister city” stuff that Canberra advertises everywhere.

And why “sister city”, where is the gender balance in that?

How about “sibling city” instead?

Chris Mordd Richards said :

dungfungus said :

Chris Mordd Richards said :

dungfungus said :

It’s all here including who you should phone etc. Lots of airports don’t allow vehicles withing 100 metres of the passenger entrance :

http://www.canberraairport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CA_DisabilityAccessPlan_FINAL_20May2013.pdf

What a dense and complicated document that is. I called a few people with mobility movement restrictions and their helpers to dig into this a bit more, and I am hearing the following from them:

1. Other airports do NOT require this kind of access to be arranged in advance;
2. That document outlines an onerous and overly complex procedure for handling disability access at Canberra Airport;
3. Canberra Airport may actually be in breach of national disability discrimination legislation by how they have structured this (other person’s opinon – not mine, yet).

So I have called Canberra Airport and left a message with their parking operations for someone to call me back who can speak on the record in regards to this and answer a few questions to me as a freelance journalist, they were very helpful and said someone would get back to me either this afternoon or tomorrow.

I am also looking into various federal legislation right now that covers this to understand better the discrimination provisions of the legislation and how they might impact on this situation at canberra airport too. Will let you know what I can find out either in reply again here or in a new stand alone article on here addressing this topic area.

Thanks for the PDF link though!

Thanks -no problem with the PDF link but I didn’t say that other airports require advance notification.

What I did say was other airports don’t what vehicles within 100 metres of the passenger terminal entrance and this is why:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK7N7lQn0qg

You mean like at JFK for example: https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-99dac6c1215d8810fdbd5ec85ce60c04?convert_to_webp=true

Exactly, and JFK International have details about making prior arrangements for special requirements like Canberra Airport, here:

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk-accessibility-services.html

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk-accessibility-services.html

Mysteryman said :

I’m not interested in having a business or a company’s ideology pushed in my face – left leaning or right leaning.

The good thing about the free market is that we have the freedom to give our business to whomever we choose.

So anybody who disagrees with the Canberra Airport using its business to promote the political ideology of its owners can simply go with the competing airport that we have access to.

After all, it’s not like the free-market ideologues’ imposition of privatisation upon us would cause consumers to be locked-in to a monopoly provider of essential commercial activity, is it?

Chris Mordd Richards1:56 pm 13 Feb 17

dungfungus said :

Chris Mordd Richards said :

dungfungus said :

It’s all here including who you should phone etc. Lots of airports don’t allow vehicles withing 100 metres of the passenger entrance :

http://www.canberraairport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CA_DisabilityAccessPlan_FINAL_20May2013.pdf

What a dense and complicated document that is. I called a few people with mobility movement restrictions and their helpers to dig into this a bit more, and I am hearing the following from them:

1. Other airports do NOT require this kind of access to be arranged in advance;
2. That document outlines an onerous and overly complex procedure for handling disability access at Canberra Airport;
3. Canberra Airport may actually be in breach of national disability discrimination legislation by how they have structured this (other person’s opinon – not mine, yet).

So I have called Canberra Airport and left a message with their parking operations for someone to call me back who can speak on the record in regards to this and answer a few questions to me as a freelance journalist, they were very helpful and said someone would get back to me either this afternoon or tomorrow.

I am also looking into various federal legislation right now that covers this to understand better the discrimination provisions of the legislation and how they might impact on this situation at canberra airport too. Will let you know what I can find out either in reply again here or in a new stand alone article on here addressing this topic area.

Thanks for the PDF link though!

Thanks -no problem with the PDF link but I didn’t say that other airports require advance notification.

What I did say was other airports don’t what vehicles within 100 metres of the passenger terminal entrance and this is why:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK7N7lQn0qg

You mean like at JFK for example: https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-99dac6c1215d8810fdbd5ec85ce60c04?convert_to_webp=true

Chris Mordd Richards1:54 pm 13 Feb 17

Mysteryman said :

I’m not interested in having a business or a company’s ideology pushed in my face – left leaning or right leaning.

Then stop living in a democratic society and move to a dictatorship and see how your complaining goes down there!!!

I’m not interested in having a business or a company’s ideology pushed in my face – left leaning or right leaning.

Chris Mordd Richards said :

dungfungus said :

It’s all here including who you should phone etc. Lots of airports don’t allow vehicles withing 100 metres of the passenger entrance :

http://www.canberraairport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CA_DisabilityAccessPlan_FINAL_20May2013.pdf

What a dense and complicated document that is. I called a few people with mobility movement restrictions and their helpers to dig into this a bit more, and I am hearing the following from them:

1. Other airports do NOT require this kind of access to be arranged in advance;
2. That document outlines an onerous and overly complex procedure for handling disability access at Canberra Airport;
3. Canberra Airport may actually be in breach of national disability discrimination legislation by how they have structured this (other person’s opinon – not mine, yet).

So I have called Canberra Airport and left a message with their parking operations for someone to call me back who can speak on the record in regards to this and answer a few questions to me as a freelance journalist, they were very helpful and said someone would get back to me either this afternoon or tomorrow.

I am also looking into various federal legislation right now that covers this to understand better the discrimination provisions of the legislation and how they might impact on this situation at canberra airport too. Will let you know what I can find out either in reply again here or in a new stand alone article on here addressing this topic area.

Thanks for the PDF link though!

Thanks -no problem with the PDF link but I didn’t say that other airports require advance notification.

What I did say was other airports don’t what vehicles within 100 metres of the passenger terminal entrance and this is why:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK7N7lQn0qg

Chris Mordd Richards11:51 pm 12 Feb 17

Another RA regular reader reached out to me privately after seeing my comments on here, and gave me some interesting background information and pointed me towards a Twitter user who has been looking into this for a while, and it seems there is a lot more meat on this bone than it appeared initially. I have organised some meetings and will be researching this next week or two now, so I won’t keep commenting on here about it but expect to see 1 or 2+ articles (there seems to be enough here for a series already) on this around the end of the month, either on here or on my own socials.

Chris Mordd Richards1:58 pm 12 Feb 17

dungfungus said :

It’s all here including who you should phone etc. Lots of airports don’t allow vehicles withing 100 metres of the passenger entrance :

http://www.canberraairport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CA_DisabilityAccessPlan_FINAL_20May2013.pdf

What a dense and complicated document that is. I called a few people with mobility movement restrictions and their helpers to dig into this a bit more, and I am hearing the following from them:

1. Other airports do NOT require this kind of access to be arranged in advance;
2. That document outlines an onerous and overly complex procedure for handling disability access at Canberra Airport;
3. Canberra Airport may actually be in breach of national disability discrimination legislation by how they have structured this (other person’s opinon – not mine, yet).

So I have called Canberra Airport and left a message with their parking operations for someone to call me back who can speak on the record in regards to this and answer a few questions to me as a freelance journalist, they were very helpful and said someone would get back to me either this afternoon or tomorrow.

I am also looking into various federal legislation right now that covers this to understand better the discrimination provisions of the legislation and how they might impact on this situation at canberra airport too. Will let you know what I can find out either in reply again here or in a new stand alone article on here addressing this topic area.

Thanks for the PDF link though!

dungfungus said :

I think this incident was reported on in the Canberra Times in 2014.

The Canberra Airport appears to have really addressed disability issues however and

It’s all here including who you should phone etc. Lots of airports don’t allow vehicles withing 100 metres of the passenger entrance :

http://www.canberraairport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CA_DisabilityAccessPlan_FINAL_20May2013.pdf%5B/quote>

Thank you for taking the time to find this. I guess it probably ticked the boxes at the time but could do with review now that international and low cost flights have arrived. Also, the consultation was not that wide reaching when you look more closely. The nature of disability varies significantly between groups.

Chris Mordd Richards said :

dungfungus said :

bigred said :

dungfungus said :

bigred said :

Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets. Good on them for promoting marriage equality – I would have enjoyed seeing George Christianson’s face as he emerged.

However, has anyone noticed that mobility challenged folk will have a lot of trouble when kerbside due to the lack of accessible public transport. Rumour around town is the airport has blocked ACTION from servicing the terminal to bolster car parking and taxi levy revenue. Cruel if true!

“Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets”

Could you provide some examples, please?

Disability discrimination is what I refer to. Tried to find a way to get a fellow in a wheelchair out there on the little red van they call a shuttle. No ACTION bus to the terminal. Couldn’t use Uber, and he refuses to use taxis since a bad experience. Ended up finding someone to leave work and drive him out there.

I think this incident was reported on in the Canberra Times in 2014.

The Canberra Airport appears to have really addressed disability issues however and their policy is clearly stated on the internet.

One of the first things that is requested is prior advice from the disabled person and his/her helpers so special arrangements can be put in place to allocate the arrival area of the vehicle and egress of the passenger.

The airport owners have to observe the high standards in security to prevent this sort of thing happening:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/12141363/Wheelchair-bound-suicide-bomber-responsible-for-attack-on-Somali-airline.html?sf20341445=1

So when I was picking up Adam Richards sister from the airport last week, I or she should have known to call them in and advance to arrange special kerb side access to pick her up from? Are you kidding me? Why can’t they just have a disabled pick up zone like every other Airport, Train Station, Bus Station, Light Rail Station, Tram Station, Government building…. etc everywhere else in the world. That is beyond a joke honestly.

It’s all here including who you should phone etc. Lots of airports don’t allow vehicles withing 100 metres of the passenger entrance :

http://www.canberraairport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CA_DisabilityAccessPlan_FINAL_20May2013.pdf

Chris Mordd Richards11:07 pm 11 Feb 17

dungfungus said :

bigred said :

dungfungus said :

bigred said :

Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets. Good on them for promoting marriage equality – I would have enjoyed seeing George Christianson’s face as he emerged.

However, has anyone noticed that mobility challenged folk will have a lot of trouble when kerbside due to the lack of accessible public transport. Rumour around town is the airport has blocked ACTION from servicing the terminal to bolster car parking and taxi levy revenue. Cruel if true!

“Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets”

Could you provide some examples, please?

Disability discrimination is what I refer to. Tried to find a way to get a fellow in a wheelchair out there on the little red van they call a shuttle. No ACTION bus to the terminal. Couldn’t use Uber, and he refuses to use taxis since a bad experience. Ended up finding someone to leave work and drive him out there.

I think this incident was reported on in the Canberra Times in 2014.

The Canberra Airport appears to have really addressed disability issues however and their policy is clearly stated on the internet.

One of the first things that is requested is prior advice from the disabled person and his/her helpers so special arrangements can be put in place to allocate the arrival area of the vehicle and egress of the passenger.

The airport owners have to observe the high standards in security to prevent this sort of thing happening:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/12141363/Wheelchair-bound-suicide-bomber-responsible-for-attack-on-Somali-airline.html?sf20341445=1

So when I was picking up Adam Richards sister from the airport last week, I or she should have known to call them in and advance to arrange special kerb side access to pick her up from? Are you kidding me? Why can’t they just have a disabled pick up zone like every other Airport, Train Station, Bus Station, Light Rail Station, Tram Station, Government building…. etc everywhere else in the world. That is beyond a joke honestly.

bigred said :

dungfungus said :

bigred said :

Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets. Good on them for promoting marriage equality – I would have enjoyed seeing George Christianson’s face as he emerged.

However, has anyone noticed that mobility challenged folk will have a lot of trouble when kerbside due to the lack of accessible public transport. Rumour around town is the airport has blocked ACTION from servicing the terminal to bolster car parking and taxi levy revenue. Cruel if true!

“Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets”

Could you provide some examples, please?

Disability discrimination is what I refer to. Tried to find a way to get a fellow in a wheelchair out there on the little red van they call a shuttle. No ACTION bus to the terminal. Couldn’t use Uber, and he refuses to use taxis since a bad experience. Ended up finding someone to leave work and drive him out there.

I think this incident was reported on in the Canberra Times in 2014.

The Canberra Airport appears to have really addressed disability issues however and their policy is clearly stated on the internet.

One of the first things that is requested is prior advice from the disabled person and his/her helpers so special arrangements can be put in place to allocate the arrival area of the vehicle and egress of the passenger.

The airport owners have to observe the high standards in security to prevent this sort of thing happening:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/12141363/Wheelchair-bound-suicide-bomber-responsible-for-attack-on-Somali-airline.html?sf20341445=1

dungfungus said :

bigred said :

Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets. Good on them for promoting marriage equality – I would have enjoyed seeing George Christianson’s face as he emerged.

However, has anyone noticed that mobility challenged folk will have a lot of trouble when kerbside due to the lack of accessible public transport. Rumour around town is the airport has blocked ACTION from servicing the terminal to bolster car parking and taxi levy revenue. Cruel if true!

“Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets”

Could you provide some examples, please?

Disability discrimination is what I refer to. Tried to find a way to get a fellow in a wheelchair out there on the little red van they call a shuttle. No ACTION bus to the terminal. Couldn’t use Uber, and he refuses to use taxis since a bad experience. Ended up finding someone to leave work and drive him out there.

Chris Mordd Richards12:10 am 09 Feb 17

bigred said :

Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets. Good on them for promoting marriage equality – I would have enjoyed seeing George Christianson’s face as he emerged.

Hehehe wish I’d had time to stalk the airport instead of being at Parliament to cover Ned meeting Senator Nick McKim with his and Adam’s petition, oh well always next time. That would have been a great photo for sure!

I picked up Adam Richards family from the airport on the 3rd, and dropped Adam’s son Ned Thorn back off there on the 7th. The signs were VERY prominent, you would be well pressed to miss them coming out of the Arrivals exit to the baggage claim especially. I wondered at the time how a sign like that ends up in the Airport with approval, I did not know Canberra Airport Owners/Management were so progressive like this, kudos to them for that.

bigred said :

However, has anyone noticed that mobility challenged folk will have a lot of trouble when kerbside due to the lack of accessible public transport. Rumour around town is the airport has blocked ACTION from servicing the terminal to bolster car parking and taxi levy revenue. Cruel if true!

Interesting you mention disabled curb side access. The U-shaped road running up to quite close to the doors right outside the Arrivals baggage claim exit – has road cones on it, but space in the middle for 1 vehicle, and a big sign (or 2?) saying NO ENTRY.

Now 1 of Adam’s sisters uses a wheelchair, and they naturally wanted me to be able to drive up the U section of road to close to the doors so she could get in the car. I had seen the signs and cones driving in to the parking structure, so I approached the airport official at the taxi rank right there and asked if I could drive up because I had someone in a wheelchair and pointed her out waiting 10m away by the curb.

He told me in a paraphrased quote “I can’t give you permission myself, I don’t know who can”. My reply was along the lines of “what now, are you serious?”. I talked with him for a good couple of minutes and eventually got a “Ok just do it it’s fine but I didn’t give you permission to do it ok?”. I wasn’t entirely happy with that as an outcome, especially considering the AFP car parked 6m into the start of the U although un-occupied at the time.

So I went into the garage, drove out, drove through the narrow gap between the cones past the No Entry sign(s?), waiting for someone to start yelling and gesticulating at me any moment. However my anxiety was just that, and I drove round slowly, parked at the head of the U section in the stopping area, loaded Adam’s sisters and luggage into the car, and headed off without anyone questioning it.

I would have been laughing at the comedy of the situation… except it wasn’t funny, it was sad and stupid and nonsensical. The airport security official could not give me permission formally, and had no idea who could, and was the only airport official in sight. What are you meant to do? What a joke. I’m sure if the AFP officers had walked out and stopped and asked me why I was driving in that bit it would have been fine once I explained and pointed out my waiting wheelchair passenger.

That’s beside the point though, the whole signage and security / traffic warden aspects were a complete joke. If this is what people in wheelchairs regularly have to put up with then wow, consider my eyes opened now.

bigred said :

Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets. Good on them for promoting marriage equality – I would have enjoyed seeing George Christianson’s face as he emerged.

However, has anyone noticed that mobility challenged folk will have a lot of trouble when kerbside due to the lack of accessible public transport. Rumour around town is the airport has blocked ACTION from servicing the terminal to bolster car parking and taxi levy revenue. Cruel if true!

“Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets”

Could you provide some examples, please?

Given that same sex marriage is banned in Qatar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Qatar
and Qatar Airways is state owned, isn’t the Canberra Airport management worried that someone may be offended by the billboard advocating marriage equality?

Canberra Airport is quite selective in the types of discrimination it targets. Good on them for promoting marriage equality – I would have enjoyed seeing George Christianson’s face as he emerged.

However, has anyone noticed that mobility challenged folk will have a lot of trouble when kerbside due to the lack of accessible public transport. Rumour around town is the airport has blocked ACTION from servicing the terminal to bolster car parking and taxi levy revenue. Cruel if true!

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