We need mandatory accessibility standards for electric vehicle charging stations

Today Abigail gave notice of a motion calling for action to ensure EV charging stations are accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Abigail said:

(1) That this House notes that:

there is currently no specific standard addressing accessibility requirements for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, in NSW or nationwide;
the lack of consistent and mandatory accessibility standards concerning EV charging infrastructure has resulted in the construction of charging bays which are not fully accessible and oftentimes concerningly inaccessible to people with disability;
proactively designing and building fully accessible EV charging infrastructure would ensure that it can be readily used by people with disability and those with mobility needs, which would also ensure that such infrastructure does not need to be retrofitted to make it accessible further down the track;
there are various elements of accessible EV charging infrastructure, including circulation space around the vehicle, having displays that are at a readable height when seated, having supported cables that can be handled easily, and ensuring information is available and accessible;
currently, grant programs funded by the NSW government have inconsistent accessibility considerations, pointing to different guidelines and standards with little accountability over project design and roll out and no specific ongoing requirements for monitoring and maintaining site accessibility;
speaking to the ABC in 2023, Spinal Life Australia chief executive John Mayo said the design process for electric car charging bays needed to be overhauled, arguing that “we need a co-design process, so that in fact, nobody will end up being left out”;
in 2023, the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (RAA) developed Design Guidelines for Accessible EV Charging Stations (RADGs) following an extensive accessibility trial, which has been supported by disability advocates and the Australian EV Association which recommended that charging networks follow the RAA’s guidelines until such time as an Australian standard exists;
jurisdictions outside Australia have begun developing guidelines and standards for accessible EV charging infrastructure, including in the United Kingdom where draft specifications are being developed and the United States where a technical assistance document has been developed to assist in the accessible design and construction of EV charging stations; and
the NSW government is currently working with Austroads and stakeholders across the disability and EV sectors to develop ‘Accessibility Guidelines for EV charging’, a process which has identified the importance of inclusive design principles.

(2) That this House recognises the importance of ensuring that all public infrastructure is inclusive and accessible for everyone in our community, including people with disability and individuals with mobility limitations.

(3) That this House calls on the NSW government to:

develop and implement mandatory accessibility standards for all public electric vehicle charging station infrastructure;
undertake an audit of all existing public EV charging stations to determine their level of accessibility; and
advocate to the Commonwealth government to introduce nationally consistent, mandatory accessibility standards for all electric vehicle charging station infrastructure, in consultation and co-design with people with disability, their representatives and advocates, and industry representatives.

16 September 2025

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

No matter who you are or what you do, everyone has the right to share in the wellbeing of our country.

But at the moment the essentials so many of us need – a place to call home, food on the table, and everyday essentials like electricity, internet, medicine and water – are simply out of reach.

Instead of supporting us, our government is choosing to prop up huge corporations with massive subsidies, and to give away our collective wealth through record tax cuts for the wealthy. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left to live paycheck to paycheck or trapped in the dehumanising bureaucracy of our existing welfare system.

Now, in the midst of a pandemic, and following quickly on the heels of the bushfire crisis, more of us than ever before are experiencing what it’s like to lose our jobs, be without a home, or worry about where the food for our next meal will come from.

It’s time for us to choose to prioritise the wellbeing of everyone.

And that’s exactly what the Universal Wellbeing Payment will do.

It’s a regular payment made to each of us to ensure our minimum standard of wellbeing. No means testing, no bureaucracy, no strings attached.

It’s the amount you’re owed simply for being a participant in our society.

It means you are free to live your life and contribute to society as you see fit, whether you’re a carer, an artist, a student, a parent, an entrepreneur – you can get on with what you need to do, knowing that you will always be supported regardless of your income.

It means that we’re choosing to structure our economy for the benefit of all of us, not using our collective wealth to prop up the interests of big business and the wealthy few.

It means you will always have what you need to live a good life, no matter what.

The Universal Wellbeing Payment is for everyone. Help us make it happen.

For more information, head to universalwellbeingpayment.com.au

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We need mandatory accessibility standards for electric vehicle charging stations

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

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