You won't believe what this Australia Post worker did: Queensland woman outraged by 'unacceptable' parking act
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How many times have you seen a car parked in a disabled parking space without a valid permit and without any regard for people with disabilities? A local woman from Queensland has come forward and shared her experience, hoping to raise awareness and enforcement of disabled parking spaces.
In a Facebook post, Lisa Callahan exposed an Australia Post driver who was captured parking in a disabled space at a chemist in the Ipswich suburb of Karalee, southwest of Brisbane.
The Australia Post driver had no disability permit displayed on their car, and to make matters even worse, Lisa Callahan even witnessed an older woman with a disabled permit struggling to find a parking space elsewhere.
She wrote on Facebook: '(The) driver’s laziness led to (an) elderly lady WITH a permit having to park opposite and hobble across the road.' As a result, Lisa decided to lodge a complaint with Australia Post.
An Australia Post spokesperson spoke to 7NEWS.com.au about the incident: 'We sincerely apologise for the actions of this delivery contractor and any inconvenience caused. This lapse in judgement falls well below the high standards we expect of our team members.'
'It’s especially disappointing given Australia Post prides itself on its commitment to inclusion and diversity, both across our workforce and within our communities. We’ve spoken to the contractor and taken steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.'
The post sparked outrage from the online community, and rightly so, with many people pointing out that disability parking spaces are for disabled people only.
‘There are NO excuses or policies to say otherwise. If they are not disabled, displaying a permit, they can (f*** off),’ one person said.
Another Facebook user said parking in the spaces reserved for those with a disability permit ‘is wrong and this is definitely inexcusable.’
According to regulatory standards legislated in 2011, the parking spaces are there: 'To ensure that dignified, equitable, cost-effective and reasonably achievable access to buildings, and facilities and services within buildings, is provided for people with disability.'
Unfortunately, it’s not the first time Ms Callahan has reported a car illegally parked in a disability space. Back in 2021, Lisa caught another driver parking in a disability space without a permit. She shared that a Queensland Police officer also saw the driver illegally parked in the spot and the officer asked if she would be willing to take the offender to court.
After much deliberation, the offender was given a fine of several thousand dollars, which included court costs and a higher fine for taking it to court.
‘(He) asked if I would be prepared to go to court? Of course, I said I would and started to tell him how frustrating it was.’
‘He said: “It’s OK, you don’t have to justify it”.’
Ms Callahan explained that Queensland Police attended the man’s residence to issue a fine, which was later disputed and escalated to court.
‘I had to wait outside with the officer involved while the alleged offender was in the courtroom. The prosecutor came out and told us he finally admitted to the charge, after using every excuse in the book.’
Thankfully, the judge reprimanded the man.
‘Instead of the original fine of several hundred dollars, he ended up with (a fine of) several thousand, which included court costs and a higher fine for taking it to court,’ Ms Callahan said.
‘Justice well and truly prevailed.’
With all of this in mind, members, it is important for us to educate ourselves and our loved ones about the crucial importance of disabled parking spaces. Please make sure you abide by the laws and respect the rights of those who truly need them.
If you have any thoughts, opinions, or stories of your own to share about disabled parking space laws, please let us know in the comments below!
Should the misuse of disabled parking be reprimanded more? Image source: Shutterstock.
In a Facebook post, Lisa Callahan exposed an Australia Post driver who was captured parking in a disabled space at a chemist in the Ipswich suburb of Karalee, southwest of Brisbane.
The Australia Post driver had no disability permit displayed on their car, and to make matters even worse, Lisa Callahan even witnessed an older woman with a disabled permit struggling to find a parking space elsewhere.
She wrote on Facebook: '(The) driver’s laziness led to (an) elderly lady WITH a permit having to park opposite and hobble across the road.' As a result, Lisa decided to lodge a complaint with Australia Post.
An Australia Post spokesperson spoke to 7NEWS.com.au about the incident: 'We sincerely apologise for the actions of this delivery contractor and any inconvenience caused. This lapse in judgement falls well below the high standards we expect of our team members.'
'It’s especially disappointing given Australia Post prides itself on its commitment to inclusion and diversity, both across our workforce and within our communities. We’ve spoken to the contractor and taken steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.'
The post sparked outrage from the online community, and rightly so, with many people pointing out that disability parking spaces are for disabled people only.
‘There are NO excuses or policies to say otherwise. If they are not disabled, displaying a permit, they can (f*** off),’ one person said.
Another Facebook user said parking in the spaces reserved for those with a disability permit ‘is wrong and this is definitely inexcusable.’
According to regulatory standards legislated in 2011, the parking spaces are there: 'To ensure that dignified, equitable, cost-effective and reasonably achievable access to buildings, and facilities and services within buildings, is provided for people with disability.'
Unfortunately, it’s not the first time Ms Callahan has reported a car illegally parked in a disability space. Back in 2021, Lisa caught another driver parking in a disability space without a permit. She shared that a Queensland Police officer also saw the driver illegally parked in the spot and the officer asked if she would be willing to take the offender to court.
After much deliberation, the offender was given a fine of several thousand dollars, which included court costs and a higher fine for taking it to court.
‘(He) asked if I would be prepared to go to court? Of course, I said I would and started to tell him how frustrating it was.’
‘He said: “It’s OK, you don’t have to justify it”.’
Ms Callahan explained that Queensland Police attended the man’s residence to issue a fine, which was later disputed and escalated to court.
‘I had to wait outside with the officer involved while the alleged offender was in the courtroom. The prosecutor came out and told us he finally admitted to the charge, after using every excuse in the book.’
Thankfully, the judge reprimanded the man.
‘Instead of the original fine of several hundred dollars, he ended up with (a fine of) several thousand, which included court costs and a higher fine for taking it to court,’ Ms Callahan said.
‘Justice well and truly prevailed.’
With all of this in mind, members, it is important for us to educate ourselves and our loved ones about the crucial importance of disabled parking spaces. Please make sure you abide by the laws and respect the rights of those who truly need them.
If you have any thoughts, opinions, or stories of your own to share about disabled parking space laws, please let us know in the comments below!
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