Written by John Wolk
I was reminded recently of a trip I took to Australia a few years ago accompanied by mother. I had won a weekend away to Sydney to see a stage show. The flight was fine but as I recall, there was a delay in getting me off the plane and that was only the beginning of my problems. I don’t recall what the delay was with my disembarking the plane but by the time I got off there was nobody around in the arrivals area and being a Sunday afternoon it was very quiet so I should have got through the customs clearance quickly.
But no.
I presented my passport and supporting paperwork and was asked where my visa was. “I’m A New Zealander”, I said, “and I’m travelling on a New Zealand passport, I don’t need a visa”. An argument ensued between me and the Customs Officer who was insisting I needed a visa to enter Australia and me telling him I didn’t.
So from that point forward, disabled people visit Australia visa free.
The issue was that the Customs Officer was partly right because there was a time when disabled people travelling to Australia from New Zealand needed a visa to enter the country. What he didn’t know - which I did - was that the rule had been dropped. So I told him to go and check his rule book and come back to me! My poor mother in the meantime had been standing aside observing me challenging the Customs Officer. So from that point forward, disabled people visit Australia visa free.
Recent changes to Australian immigration rules have further improved travel to Australia including for people with disabilities. For Kiwis living in Australia they can now seek citizenship and enjoy the same privileges as all citizens do, including access to benefits, healthcare and disability support services.
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