From:	Avril McQueen 
Sent:	Monday, 7 December 2009 2:28 PM
To:	disabdis
Subject:	Preserve right to protection under the Disability Discrimination Act!

Importance:	High

To whom it may concern,
 
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 should 
not be countenanced. 
 
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. 
 
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. 
 
"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. I 
hope you will also voice your concerns regarding this application." 
Adam Elliot Academy and AFI Award winning Filmmaker and Patron of The Other Film Festival

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. 
 
I urge the Australian Government and Cinemas to listen and support the right of people with disabilities 
to enjoy visiting their local cinema.
 
Let us come out of the dark ages, which still obviously exist for some of us!
 
Yours very sincerely
Avril
Avril McQueen | Cultural Development and Engagement Arts Grant Program Manager | Arts and Culture
 
City of Melbourne | Council House 2, 240 Little Collins Street Melbourne 3000 | GPO Box 1603 Melbourne 3001