ࡱ> CEB%` %bjbj"x"x 42@@&)*BBBV84&V8NNdL$hjBxxxBB4xBBxsBBB Ьr*j08,BV|8xxxxVVVdVVVVVVBBBBBB Commissioner Graeme Innes Disability Discrimination Commissioner 鱨վ GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2000 Dear Commissioner Innes, I am writing on behalf of the National Union of Students (NUS) Ethno-Cultural Office in response to the Hoyts Corporation, Greater Union Organisation, Village Cinemas and Reading Cinemas (the applicants) application for a Temporary Exemption under section 55 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) from complaints in relation to the provision of captions and audio description in cinemas operated by the applicants. Overview The NUS Ethno-Cultural Office does not believe that the applicants have provided adequate reasons for an exemption under the DDA. The applicants refer to no particular sections of the DDA which would support granting a temporary exemption from the Acts provisions. The actions proposed by the applicants, to be taken during the term of the exemption, will not remove or remedy the discriminatory practice of limiting the screenings of open caption films, nor do they further the objects of the DDA. The Victorian Deaf Society estimates that 1 in 6 Australians is affected by hearing loss. RPH Australia estimates that over 300,000 Australians suffer partial to total loss of sight. Under the DDA s6 2(c), cinema distributors are required to make reasonable adjustments in order to avoid disadvantaging persons with such disabilities. The NUS Ethno-Cultural Office believes that the applicants have failed to adequately provide open caption films to people with hearing and vision impairments. Applicant proposals In response to the four summary points listed in the applicants proposal: Increase the number of screens in cinemas operated by the applicants capable of delivering captions to 35 over the next 2 years This proposal fails explicitly to eliminate, as far as possible, discrimination against persons on the ground of disability in the area of film distribution. 2008 statistics from Screen Australia show that Hoyts, Greater Union (and its subsidiary Birch Carroll & Coyle), Village and Reading exhibit films on 1164 screens. The applicants proposed screen capacity for delivering captions is 35, or 3% of the total screens operated by the applicants. This figure is completely inadequate and does not succeed in fulfilling the broad terms of the DDA, which aim to eliminate discrimination such as this as far as possible. Increasing the number of screens in cinemas operated by the applicants capable of delivering captions beyond 3% would not impose unjustifiable hardship on the applicants as set out in DDA s11. The applicants comprise the five largest film exhibitors in Australia, with a dominant market share that is capable of meeting any financial circumstances required to deliver caption cinemas beyond the 3% proposal. Provide audio description capability in all those 35 screens, including a retro-fit of the current 12 cinemas offering captioning The applicants propose a phased rollout of providing audio description capability in 3 month blocks. Again, this rollout does not reflect the capability for the applicants to comprehensively eliminate their discriminatory practices. Commit to a review of the current program in consultation with representatives from key stakeholders starting 9 months before the end of the Temporary Exemption period This proposed review fails to indicate whether disability organisations are among the key stakeholders that would be consulted. Ensure accessible information on captioned and audio described film schedules. The applicants do not list any representatives of disability organisations that they would work with to ensure the availability of accessible information on captioned and audio described films. Recommendation The applicants have failed to illustrate that reasonable adjustments will be made during an exemption phase in order to avoid discriminating against persons with hearing and vision impairments in their cinemas. It is the strong recommendation from the NUS Ethno-Cultural Office that the 鱨վ does not accept the application made by Hoyts Corporation, Greater Union Organisation, Village Cinemas and Reading Cinemas for a Temporary Exemption under the DDA. Regards, Matt Incerti National Union of Students National Ethno-Cultural Officer, 2009.  See  HYPERLINK "http://www.vicdeaf.com.au/statistics-on-deafness-amp-hearing-loss" http://www.vicdeaf.com.au/statistics-on-deafness-amp-hearing-loss  See  HYPERLINK "http://www.rph.org.au/html/vision_impairment.html" http://www.rph.org.au/html/vision_impairment.html  See  HYPERLINK "http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/wcstxexhibit.html" http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/wcstxexhibit.html  See  HYPERLINK "http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/wcessaystructure.html" http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/wcessaystructure.html     National Union of Students, Ethno-Cultural Office:  HYPERLINK "mailto:ethno-cultural@nus.asn.au" ethno-cultural@nus.asn.au Suite 64, Trades Hall, 54 Victoria St Carlton Sth VIC 3053, 03 9650 8908 X i G O P Q Z [  C D F ݼpgXgjhRh< l0JCJUhRh< lCJjhRhj 0JCJUhRhj CJhRh>CJhRhCJhRh1{CJhRh mCJ hRCJhRhR5CJ hR5CJhRhCJmH sH hRh1{CJmH sH hRh mCJmH sH hRh:YCJhRh mCJnH tH  AdqyF G P Q E F 8MN_`gd>^gd> & Fgdgd m&O$ +79LMN*QU%&ŷ}}pcV}VLVLhRCJmH sH hRhdCJmH sH hRhRCJmH sH hRhj CJmH sH hRh7CJmH sH %jhRhId0JCJUmH sH hRhIdCJmH sH hRh>CJmH sH hRh6CJmH sH hRhCJhRhR5CJ hR5CJ hRCJhRhj CJhRh< lCJhRhQCJ&Pl')[k?E+RgzQٹهه~xrkre\e\e\erehRh^CJ h^CJ hR5CJ hRCJ hCJhRhCJhRCJmH sH hRhIdCJmH sH hRh6CJmH sH hRh>CJmH sH hRhj CJmH sH %jhRhQ0JCJUmH sH hRhQCJmH sH hRh7CJmH sH hRhdCJmH sH $()?@&gd m  ^` gdRgd> & Fgd^gd>>%&'(,-989:;<@̵{n{d`XhIdmH sH hIdjhId0JUhh< l0JmH sH h< lh< lmH sH jh< lUmH sH h< lmH sH h< ljh< l0JUhhj 0JmH sH hj hj mH sH jhj UmH sH hj mH sH hj jhj 0JUhRh^CJ hRCJ h^CJh^h^CJ&:NOQRTUWXZ["#$%gd m$a$gd1{$a$gdIdgd1{gdj @AMLMNOPRSUVXY[nŽ}qfqh1{h1{CJaJjh1{CJUaJhIdCJaJh1{CJaJjheUhehhQ0JmH sH hQhQmH sH jhQUmH sH hQmH sH hQjhQ0JUhhId0JmH sH hIdhIdmH sH hIdmH sH jhIdUmH sH #"#$%hRh^CJhehaLh1{h1{CJaJh1{CJaJjh1{CJUaJhh1{0JCJaJ 21h:p:Y/ =!"#$% 666666666vvvvvvvvv666666>6666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666hH666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666L@L  mNormal$CJOJPJQJ_HaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRiR 0 Table Normal4 l4a (k( 0No List 44 1{0Header  H$NN 1{0 Char Char2 OJPJQJ^JaJmH sH tH 4 @4 1{0Footer  H$N!N 1{0 Char Char1 OJPJQJ^JaJmH sH tH 6U@16 1{0 Hyperlink >*B*phDOBD > List Paragraph ^m$>@R> Id0 Footnote TextCJaJPaP Id0 Char Char$CJOJPJQJ^JaJmH sH tH @&@q@ Id0Footnote ReferenceH* %(+%2AdqyFGPQEF8MN_`( ) ? @ &:NOQRTUWXZ["#&X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0X0 0000 0000 00000000000000X00X00X00X0000(@0X00@0X00@0X00@0X00@0@0X00$;X00  &Q@%&%$?nXV`&+XXXX@  @ 0(  B S  ?H0(   \L\\\ ]L]]] ^L^^^ _L__hhqq88 &     kpww?? &   9 *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace;*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsaddress:*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsStreet8 *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsCityB *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagscountry-region T  $%&,9@MNOOQQRRTUWXZ[#&%&OOQQRRTUWXZ[#&3\lU|)dh^`OJQJo(hHh^`OJQJ^Jo(hHohpp^p`OJQJo(hHh@ @ ^@ `OJQJo(hHh^`OJQJ^Jo(hHoh^`OJQJo(hHh^`OJQJo(hHh^`OJQJ^Jo(hHohPP^P`OJQJo(hH\lU         c'`.6`j IEdIdv ,2-=) @M@NEorG2QIaLQQ:YBWf*k< l mE+m1{q|a~7RT>v*LPRTe^(vezi.A3q>by%&@%`@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial7&{ @Calibri_&  Futura Lt BTCentury Gothic?5 z Courier New;Wingdings"1h1f1fm #!4E2QHX $P m2Commissioner Graeme Innes Reception David Mason Oh+'0 ( H T `lt|Commissioner Graeme Innes Reception Normal.dot David Mason2Microsoft Office Word@F#@N.r@N.r՜.+,D՜.+,D hp|  ' Commissioner Graeme Innes Titled 8@ _PID_HLINKSAy  <http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/wcessaystructure.html&b/8http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/gtp/wcstxexhibit.html&J02http://www.rph.org.au/html/vision_impairment.html&GJBhttp://www.vicdeaf.com.au/statistics-on-deafness-amp-hearing-loss&(!mailto:ethno-cultural@nus.asn.au&  !#$%&'()*+,-./013456789;<=>?@ADRoot Entry FrFData 1Table"WordDocument42SummaryInformation(2DocumentSummaryInformation8:CompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q