By Rachel Wells
DISABLED Australians are forced to pay thousands of dollars more than their overseas counterparts for equipment such as wheelchairs and walking aids because overseas websites, which sell the same products much cheaper, are being prevented from shipping them to Australia.
Disability advocacy groups and frustrated Australian families want an inquiry into why disability equipment vendors are charging up to five times more for some equipment, and whether they are breaching competition laws by trying to stop websites from shipping here.
George Taleporos.Credit: Rebecca Geddes
They say millions of dollars in government funding are being wasted on overpriced equipment while disabled Australians wait a year or more for equipment because of funding shortages.
''If we were paying less for our equipment then we could afford more of it and the government subsidies such as that provided to SWEP [State-wide Equipment Program] in Victoria would be able to reach more people,'' says Women with Disabilities Victoria executive director Keran Howe. ''I would like to see an inquiry into the large price discrepancies.''
Calls for an inquiry were echoed by Youth Disability Advocacy Service manager George Taleporos, who advocates for young people with disabilities and is awaiting funding approval for a new wheelchair.
''I think there is a lot of profiteering that goes on and you can't help but feel the distributors here are taking advantage of people who have no choice but to buy this equipment.''
The Age believes some local distributors are pressuring overseas suppliers to stop selling to Australians.
Tony Mason, from Dejay Medical and Scientific, sells several overseas brands and admits trying to prevent international competition.
''I would like to see it [overseas shipping to Australia] stopped and sometimes we've been able to do that,'' he said.
Chris Sparks, from Assistive Technology Suppliers Australasia, which represents local manufacturers and sellers, says Australian distributors are reaching agreements with international suppliers to stop shipping here to protect the brands' reputation. ''I think it's to protect the brand because these international companies are not set up to provide that one-on-one customer service that the local distributors can.''
He said the main reason Australians were paying more for equipment was because distributors here had lower volumes and had to factor service fees into their margins.
Families argue that while fitting and servicing is required for some more complex equipment, it does not explain the huge mark-ups on equipment such as hoists, support seats, shower chairs, basic wheelchairs and wheelchair accessories, such as cushions and travel cases.
Families have told The Age of a Hippocampe beach wheelchair that cost $3000 on a French website compared with $6000 here; a Height Right chair for $160 in the US compared with $1200; and a walking aid that cost $1700 in the US compared with $3000.
''We're talking about differences of up to $3000 … It's appalling,'' says Donna Economidis, who uses forwarding companies that purchase products on behalf of consumers from overseas websites that don't ship to Australia so she can save money on her son's equipment.
''Even with the cost of shipping you're still saving thousands of dollars,'' says Ms Economidis, whose 10-year-old son has cerebral palsy.
Individuals who cannot wait months for funding and purchase equipment themselves are not eligible for government subsidies.
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