2016-05-16
The Australian Greens are calling for ABC iView audio description trials to be made permanent, launching a package that would ensure the continued rollout of the important service for people who are blind or vision impaired.
“At the moment Australia is lagging behind other countries when it comes to providing audio descriptions on television programs for people with disability.
“The ABC iView audio description trial provides narration of visual elements of programs for people who are blind or vision impaired and has proven to be a very worthwhile component of ABC iView.
“Costing by the Parliamentary Budget Office shows that for $800,000 a year, the trial can be made permanent. It is these sort of services that increase accessibility and a better quality of life for people living with disability in Australia.
“As part of the package, the Greens will also review the provision of audio description by government and commercial broadcasters and legislative requirements, to develop an action plan as the next step to making audio description more widely available.
“Countries including the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Spain and New Zealand all provide varying levels of audio description on television programs. It is time for Australia to catch up”.