Chief Minister Andrew Barr has been called out for parking in a disabled bay (which had been reserved for him) at a private event in Canberra. Photo: Facebook / Supplied.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr has apologised for using a designated disability car parking space reserved for him at a private event.
Organisers of Geocaching MEGA invited Mr Barr to open the event in March and placed a sign in the disabled spot for his vehicle.
A member of the public snapped the sign and his car, later posting it on the ‘Australian Disability Parking Wall of Shame’ Facebook page.
“In Canberra for the Geocaching MEGA event, and this is how the Chief Minister treats disabled parking spaces,” the person wrote.
“There’s undercover parking nearby for a start, they would just have to go through a boom gate! Not on, no permit, and as per the ACT rules, the signs say display permit!
“So surely a sign does not give them an exemption? And even if it did, it’s shameful behaviour anyhow!”
Mr Barr was questioned about this by the Canberra Liberals during Question Time on Thursday (6 June).
Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee noted his actions had been “blasted by some with a disability attending the event as shameful and inconsiderate” and questioned why he parked there in the first place.
“Chief Minister, why did you think you were entitled to park in a disability parking spot, depriving those with a disability who were attending the event from parking in accessible spots?” she asked.
Mr Barr said the car space had been reserved for him by the event organisers. Photo: Facebook / Supplied.
Mr Barr said he was simply “following the instructions” of the event organiser, and noted it was 7 pm on Good Friday at a private, invitation-only event.
“I apologise if the directions that were provided to me, and the sign that was put in that spot, meant that anyone else was not able to park there,” he said.
Mr Barr said he was parked in the spot for about 25 to 30 minutes and didn’t believe anyone else had been deprived of the space.
It is unclear if a person with a disability needed the space while it was occupied by the Chief Minister, nor if there were able-bodied parking spots available at the time.
Mr Barr said he had instructed his office to inform event organisers to reserve an appropriate car space.
“Future instructions will be given to any organisation that invites me to attend an event that if they do intend to set aside a car park, that it be one that does not disrupt any other person from being able to park to attend the event,” he said.
Parking in a disabled parking spot without a permit is illegal in the ACT.
Mr Barr has not been issued a fine.
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