25 June 2008
HREOC welcomes announcement to improve captioning and audio description for local cinemas
Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes AM, today congratulated the Minister for Ageing, The Hon Justine Elliot MP, on announcing funding to assist 12 cinemas to provide access features for the many thousands of Australians who are currently not able to fully enjoy the cinema experience.
Minister Elliot is providing funding for 12 independent cinemas to purchase the technology to allow for captioning and audio description of films. Captioning provides access to films for more than one in six Australians and audio description, which provides background information on what is taking place on the screen, will benefit the more than 600,000 Australians who are blind or have a vision impairment.
“The Minister’s announcement recognises the fact that as our population gets older more and more of us will need captioning and audio description to continue to enjoy things we take for granted, like TV and cinema,” said Commissioner Innes.
“This announcement will be welcomed by the community as it will increase the current availability of cinema access by more than 100%,” said Commissioner Innes. “In the longer term, I would like to see all cinemas provide access for every Australian and look forward to the outcomes of the government’s investigation into media access, currently underway.”
Captioned films are only available in 10 cinemas throughout Australia at the moment following an agreement made 5 years ago between the three major exhibitors; Greater Union, Hoyts and Village and organisations representing deaf people and people with vision impairment.
“This announcement will not only significantly improve the availability of captions in cinemas but will also introduce audio description for the first time,” said Commissioner Innes. “It will also extend the service beyond the major exhibitor chains to include independents, making it more likely that Australians with a disability will at last be able to access Australian-produced films.”
The announcement also includes funding to be allocated to the promotion of the new services in local communities.
For more information on cinema and general media access issues see www.mediaaccess.org.au
Click here for Minister's announcement
Media contact: Brinsley Marlay (02) 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
