RailCorp spent more than $400,000 in its unsuccessful defence against blind campaigner Graeme Innes’ calls for it to improve station announcements on Sydney’s trains, Fairfax Media has reported.
Mr Innes, the Disability Discrimination Commissioner, took his case to the Federal Magistrates Court after RailCorp refused to commit to a timetable to improve train announcements.
Mr Innes won the case, and $10,000 damages in February. But not before RailCorp had spent $420,000 on its own legal fees, it has emerged. ”I’m appalled that any corporation running public transport would think that it is appropriate to spend money of that size fighting a person with a disability rather than fixing the problem,” Mr Innes said.
Related content: Federal Magistrate Kenneth Raphael orders RailCorp to pay $10,000 in compensation to PIAC client, Graeme Innes.