Ms Paywee was in tears when she was told the news. Source: news.com.au
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- They told her to choose between her wheelchair...
- And a load of clothes for her impoverished family
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THE Federal Government said it was "disgusting" that a disabled grandmother was forced to choose between her wheelchair or clothing for her children when boarding a plane this month, and will demand an explanation from the airliner involved.
Sarah Paywee was flying from Perth to Bangkok with Thai Airways, and then Kenya Airways from Bangkok to Liberia. It is alleged she was told by a Thai Airways clerk that under Kenya Airways rules passengers were only permitted a baggage allowance of 40kg, and if a passenger did not appear confined to their wheelchair it counted as part of their baggage allowance.
Ms Paywee, who can barely walk without her wheelchair, was reduced to tears at Perth International Airport when she was allegedly forced to discard her gifts at the Thai Airways check-in. The clerk allegedly told her the wheelchair exceeded her baggage allowance.
The new federal parliamentary secretary for disabilities appointed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard in the Cabinet reshuffle this week, Amanda Rishworth, said she found news.com.au's report disturbing.
"I will be asking Thai Airways for an explanation," Ms Rishworth said. "This is a serious barrier for people with a disability."
"It's not luggage. That's the important point. I think it's quite frankly disgusting."
Ms Paywee fled to Australia after her husband was murdered by assailants and she was violently assaulted. She believed her children had been killed during the war, but later discovered that they had survived.
"An expression of love she had waited 20 years to experience"... Sarah Paywee and her friend and supporter Michelle Mattys.
She was determined to save the money to one day return to her family, who live in one of the poorest countries in the world, and wanted to bring gifts of clothing they desperately needed. She was forced to leave the gifts behind as she could not afford the $700 excess baggage fee.
Thai Airways has launched an investigation into all aspects of the incident and Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graham Innes said the airlines' rules were not on.
He also said the Government's track record with this issue had been disappointing since Bill Shorten was parliamentary secretary in this area from 2007 to 2011.
The Government set up the Accessible Airlines Working Group to deal with these problems in 2008. A spokeswoman for Transport and Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese said the group allowed people to have a detailed discussion about ways to improve access to aviation for people with disabilities.
Mr Innes resigned from the working group in February. He wrote in an open letter to Mr Albanese that the group had achieved little significance in the past three to four years.
"This is partly due to a lack of preparedness by airlines and airport operators to accept the gaps in the current provision of access, and take any significant action to improve in these areas," he said.
The new parliamentary secretary for disabilities, Amanda Rishworth, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Picture: Kelly Barnes
"It is mainly due to the government's lack of preparedness to regulate for, or actively encourage improvement in, areas where access is lacking. There has been much talking at the group, but little else."
Ms Rishworth said she would work with Mr Albanese to discourage airlines from putting these disability barriers in place.
She said there had been a number of high profile incidents and she would like airlines to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to airlines. "They really should be doing something about this," she said.
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