Paul Hoolihan MP, Member for Keppel, the first Member of Parliament to sign the pledge, with Gerrard Gosens ans his Seeing Eye Dog Chief.
Blind champion Gerrard Gosens can climb Mount Everest, compete and do well in a national celebrity dance competition, and pick up an Order of Australia Medal, but he won't be able to vote independently or in secret at the upcoming Queensland election.
Today at Parliament, Gerrard Gosens welcomed the first Government MP who signed a Pledge to Queenslanders who are blind or have low vision to take action that would benefit 64,000 people - allowing them to do things like vote and travel independently.
Vision Australia Special Projects Manager Mr Gerrard Gosens OAM welcomed Paul Hoolihan MP, Member for Keppel, as the first Member of Parliament to pledge.
"Government MPs signing the Pledge today means we're getting closer to the right to secret voting which is nearly 100 years overdue for Queenslanders who are blind or have low vision - thank you Paul Hoolihan for being the first MP to step up," Mr Gosens said.
"Vision Australia wants all candidates to sign the Pledge which would benefit more than 500 people in each and every state electorate.
"Despite having been successfully introduced in other states, accessible voting won't be available to Queenslanders who are blind or have low vision at the upcoming election. We think it's fair to ask candidates at this election to make it a priority in the next parliament.
In addition to being able to vote like anyone else in Queensland, the Pledge includes independent travel, unemployment, visual information, isolation particularly in rural and regional areas, sport and recreation, and increased opportunities for indigenous and young people dealing with blindness.
"The Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme was introduced in 1987 to assist people who cannot drive, to get to where they need to be, but it hasn't increased in more than two decades," Mr Gosens said.
Vision Australia has taken the step of asking Members of Parliament and candidates to sign a pledge that would see issues addressed within the next Parliament.
Candidates that have already signed include Greens and Katter Australian Party representatives.