Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1036, standing in my name and the name of Senator Siewert for today, relating to the audio description trial for ABC programming before asking that it be taken as a formal motion.

Leave granted.

Thank you. I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) strong support and popularity has been expressed by the blind and visual impaired community for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) 13 week trial of audio description of scenes during television programs,

(ii) that technical issues identified during the trial will be reported to the Minister by the ABC by the end of 2012, and

(iii) the 5 November 2012 statement by the Minister indicating that the Government will work with all parties to address the technical difficulties towards establishing a permanent service; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) make the ABC report on the audio description trial public, and

(ii) subject to the findings of the report, consider including funding for the Audio Description trial in the ABC's triennial funding process.

Question agreed to.