General News

Arts Access Australia: 11 am local time Saturday 13 February 2010 in capital cities around Australia

ACTION ON CINEMA ACCESS is a newly-formed community group of concerned citizens who are working together to improve access to cinema for people with a disability. ACTION ON CINEMA ACCESS is supported by a number of community organizations including Arts Access Australia.

Millions of Australians are being denied the opportunity to go to the cinema with more than 99% of screenings being inaccessible because the cinemas do not provide captioning or audio description.

Recently, Village, Greater Union, Hoyts and Reading cinemas applied for exemption from the Disability Discrimination Act for two and a half years. If the exemption is granted, these cinemas will provide a minimal amount of captioning and

audio description for only 105 of 41,370 film screenings per week. Over 450 people and community organisations responded in opposition to the application for Disability Discrimination Act exemption by the cinema chains.

Federal legislation requires cinemas not to discriminate against people with a disability. The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) has been law for 18 years. Why has the cinema industry done so little in 18 years?

People with a disability want; audio description and captioning, accessible websites, accessible ticketing and physical access to all films, all cinemas, all sessions.

People with a disability do not wish to be marginalised by being offered screenings at times when nobody else wants to go to the cinema. Everyone wants to go to the cinema with friends or family at convenient times. We all expect freedom of choice, spontaneity, convenience and flexibility when we go to the cinema. The federal government last year ratified the UN Declaration of the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, released a National Arts and Disability Strategy and is working on a National Disability Strategy but what do they mean in practice?

Media Access Australia estimate that the potential market for captioning (English subtitles) is 3.5 million people and for audio description over 500,000 people. With cinemas enjoying 2009 Box Office takings of $1.09 billion, a 15% increase from the previous year, cost should not be a reason for failing to provide access.

For further information about the campaign, contact spokesperson Dean Barton-Smith at dbartonsmith@optusnet.com.au,, Paul Madden on 0419 313 518 or call Arts Access Victoria on (03) 9699 8299

Protest Locations for 11 am Saturday 13 February

Make a placard and come along to attend your local protest in each of the following cities on Saturday 13 February at 11 am local time:

Melbourne

Meet on the street in front of 131 Russell St

Contact: Dean Barton-Smith

Sydney

Meet on the street in front of 525 George St

Contacts: Gareth Wreford, Naomi Malone, Todd Wright

Brisbane

Meet at 167 Queen St Mall (outside David Jones)

Contacts: Brett Casey and Emma Bennison

Adelaide

Meet on the street in front of 181 Oโ€™Connell St North Adelaide

Contact: Katrina Parker

Perth

Meet on the street in front of 8 William Street Fremantle

Contact: Geoff Manton

Hobart

Meet on the street in front of 181 Collins St

Contact: Grant Roberts

Rules for a Peaceful Protest

Send a Message to Parliament

If you feel that all Australians have a right to access the cinema, then email the messages below to the Hon. Robert McLelland, Attorney General; Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities; Senator Stephen Conroy MP, Minister for Communications; Peter Garrett MP, Minister for the Arts, and; Justine Elliott MP Minister for Ageing

* To: Hon. Robert McLelland, Attorney General attorney@ag.gov.au Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

Mail from: Arts Access Australia

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