28 May 2012
In 2011, Mr Duncan Gay, Minister for Roads & Ports announced a review of the current NSW Mobility Parking Scheme. The review is being conducted by an Independent Advisory Committee chaired by Mr Richard Bull, and supported by Transport for NSW. NCOSS has been invited to sit on the Committee along with NRMA, the Australian Medical Association, and the Disability Council of NSW.

Consultation Process

Stakeholders can provide input to the review by:

• Making a submission to the discussion paper. Due Friday 20 July 2012.
• Filling out the online survey
• Attending one of the public consultation meetings. Participants should register their interest in by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phoning 13 22 13. The proposed locations and timetable for these consultations are:

• NCOSS will be making a written submission to the Review. If there are issues you think we should cover in our review, please contact Rhiannon Cook by phoning (02) 9211 2599 emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

What is likely to change?

The Discussion Paper raises a number of issues around the scheme’s eligibility, concessions for time limited parking, record-keeping requirements for holders of organisational permits and changes to the penalties for permit misuse. More information on each of these issues is below.

Eligibility Criteria

Since 2008 the State and Commonwealth Governments have been working to harmonise the disability parking schemes. For NSW, adopting the national eligibility criteria would mean:

• A greater focus on an applicant’s functional ability to walk.
• The removal of the automatic qualification for certain clinically recognised disabilities.
• That temporary permits would only be issued for conditions that severely restrict walking for more than six months, whereas the current scheme allows for temporary permits to be granted to people who may have a short-term acute need.

Parking Concessions

Adopting the nationally agreed minimum parking concessions would mean reducing the current time concessions available to permit holders. For example, the current concessions for time limited parking enable a permit holder unlimited parking in spots where the limit is more than 30-minutes. The Australian scheme allows permit holders to park for twice the period indicated on the sign in spots where the limit is more than 1 hour.

Organisational Permits

Organisations are currently advised but not required to keep log books recording their use of the permit at all times. The discussion paper asks whether the current arrangement is appropriate (Question 14). Record-keeping may become increasingly important if the enforcement mechanisms are to be strengthened.

Permit Misuse

Enforcement of the current scheme poses a number of challenges, and there is considerable anecdotal evidence that some people are misusing the scheme, making it is less effective for those people the scheme is designed to help. The Discussion Paper asks for input on:

• Whether permit holders should be liable for misuse of the permit issued to them
• Whether a suspension program should be considered
• What penalties should apply
• Whether empowering enforcement officers to write to registered vehicle operators displaying cancelled, expired or revoked permits seeking return of the permit and / or the name of the driver at the time to be nominated would be appropriate.

Other Issues

The Discussion Paper also asks for input on other potential changes tincluding the introduction of multiple permits for carers (Question 23), an online application process (Question 24), and a two-tiered parking scheme (Questions 25 and 26).

Resources

• Statistics on the Mobility Parking Scheme including quarterly trends, and permits issued by age group, by LGA and by postcode.
• Information on the current NSW Mobility Parking Scheme
• Information on the Australian Disability Parking Schem e including a Summary Report on the consultations about the harmonisation of disability parking permit schemes in Australia.

Information

For more information on the review, or to discuss an issue you think NCOSS should raise in our response, please contact:

• Rhiannon Cook, NCOSS Senior Policy Officer
  ph: 02 9211 2599 ext 128
  email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it