From:	Andy Calder [Andy.Calder@victas.uca.org.au]
Sent:	Friday, 4 December 2009 11:45 AM
To:	disabdis 
Subject:	Exemption

To the Australian Human Rights Commission

I write on behalf of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and 
Tasmania to voice its 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.

This means that Australians who are Deaf, hard of hearing, legally blind and  
vision impaired, including older Australians, stand to 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 
(1182screens) owned by these four exhibitors.

If the exemption is granted, cinemas will only provide captioning and audio 
description for a minimum of three (3) screenings in 35 cinemas around 
Australia.

Of the total 41,370 screenings per week (1182 screens x 5 sessions per day x 
7 days), this means only 105 will be captioned and audio described. This is 
equal to 0.3% of all movies screened. This is hardly a fair outcome for such a 
large number of Australians affected by hearing and vision impairments, and 
not in keeping with moves towards universal access.

It is vitally important that individuals and families have equal access to enjoy 
Australia’s most popular form of arts and cultural engagement.
The Uniting Church opposes the application for exemption on the grounds 
that it shows no serious progress towards equal access 
The Uniting Church opposes this move which in effect removes the rights of 
deaf, hard of hearing, and vision impaired people to complain about 
discrimination. 
In conclusion, why is it that cinemas with the technology installed, will not 
screen fully accessible films at all times, which only further compounds the 
discrimination?
I urge you to reject the 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. 

Andy Calder  
  
Disability Inclusion 
Commission For Mission 
130 Little Collins St Melbourne 3000 
t  (03) 9251 5489  |  f  (03) 9251 5491  |  m 0417 562 
556 
e  Andy.Calder@victas.uca.org.au 
w  victas.uca.org.au 
  
 


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