Productivity Commission-Public Hearings PERTH
Disability Discrimination Act
Submission
Theme: that the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) has not been effective in eliminating discrimination on the grounds of disability, especially for those suffering from the Medical condition known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
•	MCS is not officially recognised in Australia – it is overseas
•	Lack of recognition => chemical free rooms in emergency not available despite request
•	Staff continue to wear fragranced products – even when treating an MCS sufferer.
•	Many MCS sufferers cannot go into hospitals and many other public spaces/buildings because of toxins.
•	Many doctors claim MCS does not exist!
•	Wrong diagnosis => wrong drugs and/or harmful treatment which can be life threatening.
•	If there is no ramp for people in wheelchairs then that discrimination is obvious. But if a building or room has toxins at a level which cannot be tolerated by an MCS sufferer then nothing is done
•	How many people with MCS qualify for a disability support pension from Social Security? If not why not?
•	Hospital protocols for MCS sufferers do exist and are not examples of unjustifiable hardship

…p2
•	Discrimination could be eliminated by
-	surveys interviews focus group discussions with people with disabilities esp particular disabilities eg. MCS sufferers
NB: many MCS sufferers may not know of above because cannot handle newsprint, may be in remote areas eg. mountains, forests, may also be sensitive to electro magnetic radiation and cannot tolerate phones.
-	media stories on people with particular disabilities including the heading to the article of photographs
-	Info kit states that the DDA requires a complaint. Reality is it’s not just a complaint but also legal action. To undertake effective legal action need legal representation who knows this area of the law => needs funding =>needs financial and other support resources.
-	Most MCS sufferers cannot work: cannot earn an income: cannot pay legal fees
Agnes Misztal
23/6/03