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Adaptability of cashpoints for the disabled

Adaptability of cashpoints for the disabled

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4.2.4 AustraliaSince 1986 in Australia <strong>the</strong> Human Rights and Equal OpportunityCommission has been working. It is an independent national regulatorygovernmental body. It was established by a Federal Parliamentary Act, <strong>the</strong>Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Act.Regarding <strong>the</strong> legislation concerning <strong>the</strong> <strong>disabled</strong>, in 1992 <strong>the</strong> AustralianDisability Discrimination Act was passed, in order to protect <strong>the</strong> <strong>disabled</strong> andensure that <strong>the</strong>y have <strong>the</strong> same rights. 6Section 24 refers to Goods, Services and Facilities, stating that it is unlawful<strong>for</strong> anyone providing this type <strong>of</strong> service to discriminate against <strong>disabled</strong>people on <strong>the</strong> condition that it does not impose unjustifiable hardship on <strong>the</strong>person who provides <strong>the</strong> goods, services or makes <strong>the</strong> facilities available.In terms <strong>of</strong> standards, in 1990 Australia drew up a standard referring to accessand use <strong>of</strong> automatic cashpoint machines. It studied <strong>the</strong> main difficulties that<strong>the</strong> <strong>disabled</strong> encounter, and made a series <strong>of</strong> recommendations.In 2000 <strong>the</strong> Commission produced a report to detect accessibility problemsregarding e-commerce, which included automatic cashpoint machines,telephone banking, internet banking and PST (Point <strong>of</strong> Sale Terminals). Itshowed quite clearly that <strong>the</strong>re were serious problems with all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m.As a result <strong>the</strong> Accessible E-Commerce Forum was held, attended byrepresentatives <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> government, banks, manufacturers and many entitiesconnected to <strong>the</strong> question. The aim was to make people aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>situations and look <strong>for</strong> ways <strong>of</strong> improving it.The Australian Bankers Association confirmed its involvement andestablished a working team and a plan <strong>of</strong> action to develop standardsrelating to e-commerce. The work concluded in April 2002. 7From this initiative <strong>the</strong> standards have been taken on board by <strong>the</strong> majority<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> larger banks in Australia and <strong>the</strong> automatic cashpoint machines aregradually being replaced.In 2000 <strong>the</strong> HumanRights and EqualOpportunityCommission <strong>of</strong>Australia produceda report <strong>for</strong>detectingaccessibilityproblems in e-commerce, whichincludedautomaticcashpointmachines,telephonebanking, internetbanking and PST(Points <strong>of</strong> SaleTerminals).6 More in<strong>for</strong>mation at < http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/pasteact/0/311/top.htm>7 Available online at < http://www.bankers.asn.au/Default.aspx?ArticleID=344>ADAPTABILITY OF CASHPOINTS FOR THE DISABLED17

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