The state government has labelled as discriminatory a $20 fee to access disabled toilets at Sunshine Plaza and has vowed to take action.
Housing, Disability and Ageing Minister Martin Foley told Parliament last week that the fees, introduced last month, were an “outrage”.
“I would encourage the owners and operators of Sunshine Plaza shopping centre to do the right thing and to end this discriminatory practice forthwith, prior to governments and other agencies having to look at what tools we have to deal with this matter,” he said.
The fee issue was raised in Parliament by St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman following a report in Star Weekly earlier this month.
“Recently there have been local media reports that Sunshine Plaza management have begun charging disabled customers $20 to use the disabled toilets,” Ms Suleyman said in Parliament. “Centre management has fitted the toilets with a master locksmith access key after an alleged misuse of the toilets.
“This means that people with a disability now have to go to centre management, fill out a form and pay $20 to be given use of these basic facilities. This is simply not on, and in my view there may be a breach of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 and many others.
“I am seeking immediate action from the minister. I am absolutely outraged, and I will not rest until this outrageous discrimination has been rectified.
“Furthermore, I am calling on Sunshine Plaza management to immediately apologise to all those who have been offended by this action.
“There must be a better way to stop the alleged misuse of toilets from re-occurring that does not involve unfavourable and discriminatory treatment of disabled customers – the most vulnerable in our community.”
Mr Foley added: “I join the member in condemning here on the floor of the Parliament and in the Sunshine community the set of clearly discriminatory activities of Sunshine Plaza shopping centre.
“I will work with the honourable member for St Albans to make sure that this outrage is brought to account and that this blatant discrimination against people with disabilities is brought to an end as soon as possible.”
