Greens Senators support audio description

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Thursday, 22 November 2012 12:37pm

Senator Scott Ludlam, Greens spokesperson for communications, and Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens spokesperson for disability, have urged the Government to follow through on its commitment to working towards a permanent audio description service on Australian television.

Following the 13-week trial of AD on ABC1, which ended on 4 November, we are now waiting on the ABC to release its report on the technical aspects of delivering the service.

Speaking in the Senate yesterday, Senator Ludlam moved a motion that requested the Senate to officially note:

  • The strong popularity of audio described TV during the trial
  • The technical issues identified by the ABC will be reported to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy by the end of 2012
  • The Minister has indicated that he will work with all parties to resolve the technical issues involved in providing a permanent service.

In addition, Senator Ludlam called on the Government to make the ABC’s technical report available to the public and, subject to the report’s findings, to consider including funding for audio description in the ABC’s triennial funding process taking place next year.

Once the ABC's report released, Media Access Australia, along with blind and vision impaired member organisations, will work with the ABC and the Minister to help resolve any technical issues it raises.


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