Nov2010_HANDLER IDENTITY CARD
Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers, asked a question in Parliament of the Minister for Disability Services, the Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk, about the benefits of the Handler Identity Card and how it assists people with a disability.
Carolyn Male MP was informed that in July 2009, the Government introduced new, tougher legislation that protects the rights of people with a disability who rely on appropriately trained guide, hearing or assistance dogs.
“The handler identity cards were issued under the new Guide Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 and ensures that a person with a disability can be accompanied by a certified guide, hearing or assistance dog in public places and public passenger vehicles throughout Queensland,” Carolyn Male MP said.
“The card works in two ways: it ensures the rights of the person with a disability and it also gives those people in control of public places a simple mechanism to identify people who are being supported by a dog that has been appropriately trained and certified.
This new legislation replaced the Guide Dogs Act 1972. The previous Act had a penalty of $100 for refusing access. The new Act provides for substantially higher penalties – up to $10,000 for individuals and $50,000 for corporations.
The Guide Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act not only makes it an offence to refuse access or service to a person with a vision or hearing impairment, it also makes it an offence to refuse access to a person with physical, sensory or psychiatric disabilities who is accompanied by a certified guide, hearing or assistance dog.
The Queensland Government is committed to improving the lives of people with a disability and increasing their participation in all aspects of community life.”
“The handler identity cards were issued under the new Guide Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 and ensures that a person with a disability can be accompanied by a certified guide, hearing or assistance dog in public places and public passenger vehicles throughout Queensland,” Carolyn Male MP said.
“The card works in two ways: it ensures the rights of the person with a disability and it also gives those people in control of public places a simple mechanism to identify people who are being supported by a dog that has been appropriately trained and certified.
This new legislation replaced the Guide Dogs Act 1972. The previous Act had a penalty of $100 for refusing access. The new Act provides for substantially higher penalties – up to $10,000 for individuals and $50,000 for corporations.
The Guide Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act not only makes it an offence to refuse access or service to a person with a vision or hearing impairment, it also makes it an offence to refuse access to a person with physical, sensory or psychiatric disabilities who is accompanied by a certified guide, hearing or assistance dog.
The Queensland Government is committed to improving the lives of people with a disability and increasing their participation in all aspects of community life.”
