The Greens are calling for $1 billion to be spent making buildings and public spaces more accessible to disabled people, concerned too many are being segregated from mainstream life by physical barriers.

Key points: The $1 billion would form an Accessible Infrastructure Fund to remove physical barriers for disabled people

The $1 billion would form an Accessible Infrastructure Fund to remove physical barriers for disabled people Jordon Steele-John is also pushing for $400 million to upgrade public transport

Jordon Steele-John is also pushing for $400 million to upgrade public transport The Greens would rely on either or both of the major parties adopting their policies

It is part of a broader policy being launched by the minor party, aimed at improving the integration of disabled people in education, employment and housing.

Four million Australians are disabled and almost half live at or below the poverty line, which is part of the gap Greens disability spokesman and acting leader Jordan Steele-John wants to close.

"The reality for disabled people in Australia today is very different to people who do not journey with a disability," he said.

Senator Steele-John is putting forward a wide-ranging, long-term plan to address gaps between disabled and able-bodied Australians in everything from education and housing to health care and justice.

But one of the immediate steps Senator Steele-John wants to see is the removal of physical barriers for the disabled, through:

$1 billion for an Accessible Infrastructure Fund targeting public buildings and spaces;

$1 billion for an Accessible Infrastructure Fund targeting public buildings and spaces; $400 million to upgrade public transport infrastructure over the next four years; and

$400 million to upgrade public transport infrastructure over the next four years; and $5 million for an Accessible Nature Fund to increase access to nature and tourism activities.

"Imagine if we swapped out a building without a ramp for a sign that says 'whites only'," Senator Steele-John said.

"Now if that was the case in Australia in 2019, people would be rightly outraged, yet that is the reality of an inaccessible community to a disabled person.

"It says: 'Only able-bodied people past this point'. And that is simply not OK."

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) points to trams in Melbourne that can only be entered via stairs, as well as train stations in Sydney that can only be accessed via steep ramps or staircases, as examples of barriers that prevent disabled and elderly Australians from using public transport.

"It's a significant problem and it's a growing problem as the population ages," said the PTUA's Daniel Bowen, from Melbourne.

"Those of us who are able-bodied probably don't give it a second thought … [but] everybody should be able to get around using public transport.

"There's a significant amount of infrastructure that needs upgrading to bring the whole network up to scratch.

"We're probably talking about billions of dollars … really needed to complete the job. A good pledge like that is obviously welcome."

The Greens has to rely on one, or both, of the major parties adopting some of their policies, which also include:

More funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme;

More funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme; Building 500,000 public and community houses that are accessible and low-rent;

Building 500,000 public and community houses that are accessible and low-rent; $100 million over four years to re-train teachers with the aim of getting more disabled children educated in mainstream schools; and

$100 million over four years to re-train teachers with the aim of getting more disabled children educated in mainstream schools; and About $60 million for improved communications services and technology.

Senator Steele-John is also maintaining his campaign for a royal commission into abuse and neglect of disabled people in institutional and residential care.

In all, the policies would cost billions, with the Greens proposing it be funded by revenue raised from increasing taxation of multi-national corporations.