Hobart Respects All

Helping people move in and around the city is a key priority of the City of Hobart. This includes helping all customers reach City of Hobart businesses safely and comfortably.

When footpaths and walkways are clear and unobstructed, it allows everyone, including people with disability, parents with prams, older people, and people with mobility devices to move freely.

We are currently working with businesses across the city to help educate them about the importance of clear walkways and the importance of ensuring any street signage meets the requirements set out in the relevant City by-law.

Businesses that meet the requirements need to obtain a permit for their signage.

If you're a business and have signage please get in touch with us to discuss whether it meets requirements and possible alternatives.

This campaign is supported by our Access Advisory Committee.

One of our members has created these helpful videos that demonstrate the experience of walking through our Elizabeth Street Mall from the view of someone who with double vision. You can view the videos below.

If you're a business owner or someone who likes to frequent our city, please consider these simple steps to help make the lives of your fellow Hobartians that little bit easier:

• If you're dining in a café, please tuck your chair back into the table when you leave.
• Visiting with your little one in a pram? When parked, ensure someone is always standing with the pram so you can advise a person with vision impairment of your presence.
• Business owners, please don't leave any temporary items like delivery crates, boxes or similar unattended outside your premise.

Respect the space - experience it through the view of someone else

Background

In 2019 the City of Hobart became a signatory to the Welcoming Cities network. This is a national network of local governments who are committed to an Australia where everyone can belong and participate in social, cultural, economic and civic life. As a Welcoming City, the City of Hobart strongly believes that migrants, refugees and international students should feel that they are valued and welcomed here. As such, feedback from multicultural communities that racism is on the rise cannot be ignored. It is well known that racism has serious consequences for the health and wellbeing of those who experience it, as well as negative impacts on the community as a whole.

Hobart Respects All messages

The campaign was a call to action to stand against racist behaviour. Practical measures are outlined as follows:

• As a bystander, you can send a clear message that racist behaviour is not okay. Depending on the situation, there are lots of ways to help.

Be there

• Speak to, sit or stand next to the person being harassed to show you support them. You do not have to respond directly to the perpetrator, if that feels safer.

Report it

• You can report racism or discrimination, wherever it happens, to Equal Opportunity Tasmania via their website.
• If you're travelling on public transport, call on the driver to assist.
• If the situation feels threatening, call for police assistance on 131 444. In life threatening or emergency situations call 000.
• If you wish to remain anonymous you can alternatively call Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 in non-emergency situations.

Call it out

• If you feel it won't endanger you, tell the person who is being racist that they're out of line. Sometimes they'll back off. Or perhaps they'll reflect on what you've said later.

Use your power

• If you take action, others may too. You'll never know how much your intervention could mean to someone who's being harassed.

Your contribution matters.