Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the World Blind Union estimates that currently only 5 per cent of all published books in the developed countries and less than 1 per cent in developing countries are ever produced in accessible formats for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled,

(ii) the Marrakesh Treaty, which facilitates access to published works for these persons, closes for signature on 26 June 2014,

(iii) the instrumental work Australia did during the Marrakesh Treaty negotiations, and

(iv) the Australian Government is yet to sign the treaty despite Australia's major trading partners, including China, the United States, the European Union and Indonesia having already signed; and

(b) calls on the Government to sign, and ratify the Marrakesh Treaty.

I seek leave to make a short statement.