6 August 2026
Blind Citizens Australia welcomes Government reforms that will deliver a major accessibility win for Australians who are blind or vision impaired by mandating Audio Description and increasing captioning across television and streaming services.
The Government has announced today it is developing legislation to mandate Audio Description and increase captioning across free-to-air television, subscription television and broadcasting video-on-demand services, ensuring more people can enjoy programs across the platforms they use every day.
Australians who are blind or vision impaired want to enjoy television with their families, participate in conversations about the latest series everyone is talking about, and share in the cultural moments that shape our national identity.
Today’s announcement signals a genuine commitment from the Government to ensuring that blind and vision impaired Australians are included in the shared cultural experiences that media provides.
Audio Description provides important verbal narration of visual elements, including facial expressions, actions, costumes or the weather, so that people who are blind or vision impaired have equal access.
It is not just a technical feature, but an essential accessibility measure that allows our community to participate fully and equally.
BCA CEO Deb Deshayes welcomes the announcement as a landmark moment for accessibility after years of sustained advocacy.
“Today is a huge win for Australians who are blind or vision impaired,” Deshayes said.
“Mandating audio description across broadcast and streaming services is a major milestone. It recognises that access to information, entertainment and shared cultural experiences should not depend on whether you can see the screen.”
The announcement follows years of advocacy by Blind Citizens Australia and the wider disability sector for nationally mandated Audio Description.
In 2023, following a complaint brought by Lauren Henley, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities found Australia was failing to meet its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities because Audio Description was not consistently available on television.
At the time, Blind Citizens Australia called on the Australian Government to strengthen the law by introducing mandatory minimum accessibility requirements – a goal that today’s announcement represents a significant step towards achieving.
“Blind Citizens Australia has fought for mandatory Audio Description for decades, and today we’re seeing that advocacy translate into real change,” BCA Systemic Advocacy Lead Francois Jacobs said.
“These reforms will help ensure Australians who are blind or vision impaired participate more fully in everyday conversations, enjoy the same entertainment as family and friends, and experience the stories that bring our communities together.”
Media Contact:
Amila Dedovic – Communications Coordinator
amila.dedovic@bca.org.au
0403 967 406