* 13 February 2012 – Celebrating the National Apology to Indigenous Australians

On 13 February 2008, the Federal Government apologised ‘for the laws and policies… that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians’. Redfern Legal Centre issues an invitation to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Federal Government of Australia’s Apology with us on 13 February 2012 from 10:30am-12:00pm.

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* News Release

31 October 2011 

JETSTAR DISCRIMINATION CASE GOES TO FEDERAL COURT

Australia - In a matter before the federal court this week, Sheila King is

seeking a declaration that Jetstar's 'two wheelchair policy' is

discriminatory. In 2008 Jetstar denied Ms King access to a flight on the

basis that the flight already had two passengers requiring wheelchair

assistance. Ms King has alleged that Jetstar's policy contravenes the

Disability Discrimination Act.

Ms King is 75 years old and has post-polio syndrome, and crushed vertebrae

as a result of a motor accident.

Australia is the only country where airlines seek to limit the number of

passenger with disabilities - and by doing so, seriously limits the ability

of people with a disability to participate fully in society.

Ms King is not seeking financial compensation; rather her hope is to change

the Jetstar policy so that this incident does not happen to others in the

future.

Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes AM has raised serious

concerns about Jetstar's policy at a Senate Estimates Hearing on 18 October

and has called for stronger regulation.

Joanna Shulman, CEO of the Redfern Legal Centre says "People with

Disabilities are entitled to enjoy equality of access to air travel, in

order to ensure they are able to participate fully in society".

Shiela King says "I deserve to be treated the same as any other Australian,

not made to be felt like a second class citizen. This fight is for all

Australians living with a disability".

The case will be heard from 10am Monday 31 October and is expected to run

all week.

For more relevant details, please go to our "TV & Radio" and "Newspaper & Journals" sections.