The Queensland Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is undertaking a review of the Disability Parking Permit Scheme to identify opportunities to improve safe access to community facilities and services.

The survey does not automatically collect personal details (such as your name and email address) unless you provide it yourself.

We understand just how overwhelming and stressful this period is for people with disabilities. Seeing the issue constantly highlighted in the news and across social media can make it feel even more intense and isolating.

At Physical Disability Australia we are acutely aware that this can be traumatizing, so we are being careful to ensure that we keep you updated with the facts, while we spend our energy being as involved as we possibly can in the process, keeping abreast of the facts and sharing them as soon as we can, making sure your voices are heard, and protecting your rights. At the moment it is like having a shadow in your room you can’t quite identify – every fibre in your body feels like you are being threatened, but you don’t know what that threat looks like, what it is capable of doing, or what you need to do to banish it. It may be as simple as moonlight making you aware of a chair that needs to be moved so you don’t fall over it, or as complex as a league of ogres that are just waiting for you to make the wrong move. In this particular circumstance it will be something in between.

Our goal is to learn about this threat, find what parts are going to benefit you and what parts pose a risk. Then we will ensure you are aware of both: give you the tools the use the benefits, and gather your stories as our weapon to overcome the risks. Through this, we will be walking with you – not in front of you so that you can’t see where you are going, not behind you where it is safer, but beside you, with roadmap in hand, to guide you through it.

The journey begins. This is the speech from Minister Butler [Minister Butler speech at the National Press Club – 22 April 2026 | Health, Disability and Ageing Ministers | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing] and a fact sheet [Securing the NDIS for future generations | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing].

PDA will be meeting with the Minister in two weeks to learn about the rollout plan, and we will be sharing those details with you. in the interim, we will shortly have a section on our website for you to share your thoughts so that we can ensure you are heard. The link will be posted here as soon as it is up.

Kind Regards,

Suzanne Gearing
CEO

At last night’s AGM, the PDA Board farewelled one of its most valued and dedicated members, Nick Schumi.

Nick took on the role of SA Director in April 2017 and, over the years, has made a lasting and meaningful contribution to Physical Disability Australia.

During his time on the Board, he played a key role in strengthening and elevating PDA’s reputation, recognition, and national presence.

We farewell Nick with deep gratitude and respect. He leaves the organisation in a strong position, having mentored Krystal Matthews, who now steps into the roles of SA Director and Vice President.

We have no doubt that Nick will continue to make a significant impact, both professionally and personally, within the disability sector and beyond.

We wish him every success in his future endeavours.

Thank you Nick.

We look forward to seeing what lies ahead for you.

Last night, we successfully held our deferred AGM, and we offer our sincere gratitude to the many members who chose to join us.

Following the meeting, elections were conducted for the Executive Board.

We are thrilled to announce the newly appointed PDA Executive Team, whose energy and vision promise to lead us forward with renewed enthusiasm:

Paul Williamson – President
Krystal Matthews – Vice President
Tammy Milne – Treasurer

This provides us with a robust and energised leadership team, equipped with the skills and dedication needed to guide our organisation through this pivotal period.

We are confident that, together, we will continue to protect the rights of people with physical disability and seize new opportunities to make lasting, positive change.

Physical Disability Australia has chosen not to contribute separately to the commentary at this stage, recognising that there is already much information to digest. We are aligned with the comments made by the disability organisations we work closely with, and as an overview direct your attention to the government resource found here:

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/securing-the-ndis-for-future-generations

Today, we will join several other peak organisations to meet with Ministers Butler and McAllister to gain insights into how they envision this process rolling out. Our focus will be on ensuring that the voices of people with disabilities are heard and on collaborating with government to uphold their rights.

Once we have a clearer understanding of the transition and its impact, we will issue a statement to share this information. Additionally, we will establish a process for people with disability to share their concerns and stories with us, ensuring that their voices are represented throughout this process.

We will work closely with the government and other disability peak organisations to ensure your voice is heard, sharing fact-based information as it becomes available, and working tirelessly to protect your rights. For those interested in staying up to date on our activities, we will be sending out regular updates to our membership.

You can apply for membership here: https://www.pda.org.au/membership-application/.

Written by Sean Tyrell, PDA Associate Director Victoria

Many PDA members are aware that the Parliament has passed legislative amendments intended to make it easier for victims of sexual harassment, discrimination and victimisation to enforce our rights in the Federal Court. The law has been changed so that the payment of legal costs no longer follows the outcome of a case.

For many decades, the prospect of paying the other side’s legal costs if I lost a disability discrimination case deterred me from going any further than alternative dispute resolution. But over the past few months, I have gone forward with an application to the Federal Court for an Order declaring that the National Disability Insurance Agency contravened the Disability Discrimination Act by failing to make the reasonable adjustment of providing correspondence in accessible format. The PDA membership is perhaps one of the few audiences who won’t be surprised that I’m one of many blind NDIS Participants who gets sent his Plans and other vital information in print – despite my years of asking for it in a format I can actually read.

My reflections on how the cost protection amendments have changed things are mixed.

First, I’ve certainly found it true that Parliament limiting the other side’s threat to seek a costs order against me has significantly levelled the playing field. It has both made me a lot bolder in advocating for fair treatment while simultaneously focussing the other side on the need to resolve matters without a trial.

Second, it is early days and the impact of the costs protections amendments is still filtering through legal professionals. I’ve been advised that so far no one has asked a Judge to apply the new laws, and everyone is therefore waiting for someone else to go first. As a result, barristers are taking a careful line and advising clients to proceed with caution.

Third, as good as the cost protection amendments are they are not a silver bullet for overcoming the deeper problems with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and Australia’s other rights protection statutes. This might mean that all the Parliament has really done is make it easier for people with a disability to lose test cases that our community might assume we would win. While for many years I’ve listened to lawyers warn me about the dangers of an adverse costs order, I’m now hearing warnings that the definitions of direct and indirect disability discrimination are so narrow that it makes it virtually impossible to win.

Fourth and final – and somewhat contrary to all the above – the Court itself does give off a strong vibe that it wants to get more active in protecting the rights of Australians with a disability. To my utter amazement, within just a few weeks of me lodging my application I got a call from the Judge’s office advising he wanted to start hearing the case as soon as possible. A month or two after that the Court doubled down by connecting me with pro bono lawyers from a large and formidable firm. I’m also hearing reports that some Judges and Court employees have been undertaking disability confidence training.

In the end, the proof will be in the pudding. While there’s certainly been useful cases since Parliament passed the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, I think it’s fair to say physical disability is still waiting for our Mabo or Richardson v Oracle. Let’s see which member of our PDA community will be first to pick up a hammer and swing it with all her might.

PDA is entering an exciting new phase, with a re-energised board and a new CEO, and we are thrilled to introduce, as our new CEO, Suzanne Gearing.

Suzanne brings outstanding nonprofit leadership, advocacy expertise, and a passion for turning vision into action – the ideal formula to support PDA as we enter a new chapter in our mission to enable every Australian living with a physical disability to realise their full potential.

Suzanne has a strong commitment to sustainable growth, and a people-first culture rooted in equity and inclusion. With lived experience, boundless energy, and a drive to remove barriers, she deeply believes that everyone should have the opportunity to be fully included in all social, economic, and political aspects of life.

Suzanne also chairs the Board for Women with Disabilities ACT, serves on the Advisory Board of Dial-a-Mate Mental Health Support Services, and is an award-winning mentor and leader.

Please join us in welcoming Suzanne as we move towards a more inclusive, empowered future!

PDA Members are invited to attend our Deferred AGM (financial year 2024/25) scheduled for Thursday 23rd April at 6:30pm AEST – to be held via MS Teams.

To register your planned attendance (outlining any accessibility requirements):

* email promotion@pda.org.au, OR
* call 1800 732 674 (1800 PDA ORG).

Once you have registered, and a few days prior to the meeting, you will receive login details and meeting papers.

We look forward to seeing you at this meeting.

Created in 1948, World Health Day was established on April 7th and dates the establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Recognised annually, this anniversary prioritises a global health issue.

The theme for 2026 is “Together for health. Stand with science” – and focuses on scientific collaboration, achievements, multilateral cooperation and action to tackle health threats, and the need for inclusion and fairness across all facets of healthcare.

For more information go to:

https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day

#WorldHealthDay