From:	PJ Rose [nostrings@ozemail.com.au]
Sent:	Friday, 4 December 2009 3:47 PM
To:	disabdis 
Subject:	Cinema Access 

Dear Friends,
I write to voice my objection to the current 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. 

Think of your own aging, of the accidental theft of your own mobility or sensory freedom.

If accepted by the Australian Human Rights Commission the exemption means that Australians 
who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and vision impaired will lose their right to complain about 
the lack of provision of captioning and audio description at any of the 125 cinemas (1182 
screens) owned by these four exhibitors.  
 
If the exemption is granted, cinemas will provide captioning and audio description for a 
minimum of three screenings a week in 35 cinemas. That equates to .3 % of the estimated 40,000 
films these four exhibitors screen each week.  
 
The proposed exemption is out of touch with the demographic reality of an ageing population 
reflected in the Department of Health and Ageing’s 2009 decision to fund audio description 
access equipment and promotional support for 12 independent cinemas around the country.  
 
The proposed exemption is also out of step with International comparisons and the wishes of 
people with a disability, their families, friends and carers expressed through recent consultation, 
the success of The Other Film Festival and current government policies.  
 
With Arts Access Australia, I urge the Australian Government and Cinemas to listen and support 
the right of people with disabilities to enjoy visiting their local cinema. 
 
"We all expect the choice to be able to go and enjoy any film, at any session, at any cinema. 
Offering anything less than this to people just because they have a disability is simply unfair and 
unacceptable.."  Adam Elliot Academy and AFI Award winning Filmmaker and Patron of The 
Other Film Festival 
 
Please be just.
Respectfully,
PJ
 
PJ Rose, Artistic Director
No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability
Patron Rolf De Heer
66 Nelson Street
Stepney, South Australia 5069
AUSTRALIA
phone    61 8 8363 5970
mobile   61439 811 200
email     nostrings@ozemail.com.au
 
To the organisations and individuals who support our diverse range of 
programs, thank you! 
... transforming lives through theatre ...