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 StContacts: 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 OโConnell St North AdelaideContact: Katrina Parker
Perth
Meet on the street in front of 8 William Street FremantleContact: Geoff Manton
Hobart
Meet on the street in front of 181 Collins StContact: Grant Roberts
Rules for a Peaceful Protest
- No offensive language
- Please do not interfere or disturb patrons entering or leaving the cinema
- Please refer all media to the protest leader or spokesperson
- This is a Stay-Put Protest which will occur at the gathering point
- Do not block sidewalks & streets with your bodies or signs
- Do not leave any trash, except in receptacles
- SIGNS: no offensive words or symbols; wording must pertain to demonstration theme
- No violence, no racism, no law-breaking
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