To whom it may concern,   I wish to express my concern regarding the recent application made by Village Roadshow, Greater Union, Hoyts and Reading Cinemas, requesting exemption from the Disability Discrimination Act for a period of two and a half years. I firmly object to their application, on the grounds of equality and its direct oppostition to the Government's National Arts and Disability Strategy. A key element of which is to:   Explore opportunities to enhance accessibility and inclusive practices in the film, television and broadcast industry. This may include programs in Auslan and efforts to increase captioning and audio-description services, particularly for government funded films, and promoting international best practice models which support casting artists with a disability. (Focus area 4. Strategic development, 9. Film, television and broadcast industry) www.cmc.gov.au/publications/nationalartsanddisabilitystrategy   If the exemption were to be granted, Australians who are Deaf, hard of hearing, legally blind and vision impaired, including older Australians would lose their right to complain to the Human Rights Commission about the lack of provision of captioning and audio description services at ANY of the 125 cinemas (1182 screens) owned by these four exhibitors.   As expressed by Arts Access Victoria (http://www.artsaccess.com.au/news/index.cfm?id=572) and The Other Film Festival (http://www.otherfilmfestival.com/), I agree that this exemption should not be granted.   Yours sincerely, Albertine Michael     Albertine Michael Coordinator Community Friend Program Melbourne Citymission   123 Albion St Brunswick, 3056 Email: cfp@mcm.org.au   Volunteers: Everday people, extraordinary contribution.