Media Release 2004: Election 2004 Information Available in Alternative Formats

6 September 2004

Many thousands of Australians who cannot read standard print will have access to important information on the 2004 federal election in a wide variety of formats in the lead-up to voting day on 9 October.

The production and distribution of Election 2004 information in alternative formats has been funded by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and prepared by the National Information and Library Service (NILS), a joint service of the newly merged vision impairment agency between Vision Australia Foundation, Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind and Royal Blind Society of New South Wales.

Key election voting information will be made accessible in audio file format from the AEC's website at www.aec.gov.au. This information will also be available in braille, audio cassette and large print formats.

All formats will cover essential and practical information about the election including how to vote, how votes are counted and where to access AEC services and more information.

This voting information in alternative formats will be automatically mailed to people registered with NILS living throughout New South Wales, ACT, Queensland, Victoria, Northern Territory and Tasmania as well as through the networks of the Royal Society for the Blind of South Australia and Association for the Blind of Western Australia. People can expect to start receiving these formats from Friday 17 September.

The information is available on request by phoning the AEC on 13 23 26.

Information on candidates will also be produced in alternative formats including audio cassette and Braille and will be available on request by phoning the AEC on 13 23 26. It will also be accessible as an audio file and large print file on the AEC's website at www.aec.gov.au, in the week following the declaration of candidate nominations on 17 September 2004.

It is estimated that nearly 10 per cent of Australians, or approximately two million people, have a print disability. The primary cause, particularly among older people, is sight loss. Other reasons for people not being able to read newspapers, books and other informative publications include learning difficulties, language barriers where a person can understand verbal English but not the written word and physical disabilities such as arthritis.

Printed information on the 2004 election will be delivered by the AEC to more than seven million households around Australian in the weeks before election day, 9 October.

Information in alternative formats or information about the election can be obtained by calling the AEC on 13 23 26 any time from 8am to 8pm seven days a week or by visiting the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au.

Further information:

Phil Diak
Director,
Media and Communication
Ph. (02) 6271 4415
Mobile: 0413 452 539

Bernadette O'Meara
Australian Electoral Commission
Ph. (02) 6271 4529