Solomon Smith, a 20 year-old man from Hobart, has welcomed the news that the State Cinema in North Hobart will accept the Companion Card into the future.
The guarantee was made following a change-over in management from John Kelly to Readings Cinemas.
In September 2017 Solomon, who has an autism spectrum disorder, went to the State Cinema with his carer but was informed that his carer would need to pay for a ticket, despite Solomon producing his Tasmanian Government-issued Companion Card which provides:
The holder of this card requires the support of a companion. It is recommended that the companion be issued a companion ticket or admission at no charge, in order to assist you to comply with the principles of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas) and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth).
Solomon filed a complaint of discrimination on the basis of disability in September 2017 with the Equal Opportunity Commissioner determining in March 2018 that Solomon had a case and the matter should proceed to hearing.
Before the complaint could be heard by the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, Readings Cinemas took over management of the State Cinema and have confirmed to Solomon’s lawyer at the Hobart Community Legal Service that the Companion Card will be accepted in to the future.
The Companion Card is accepted at over 100 businesses throughout Tasmania and allows persons with disabilities to attend sporting, cultural and community events without the need for the carer to pay for a ticket.
Until the change-over of management to the Readings Cinemas, the State Cinema was the only cinema in Tasmania that refused to accept the companion card for all movie sessions.
Solomon Smith said:
“In making my complaint with Equal Opportunity Tasmania all I ever wanted was for the State Cinema to treat me the same way that every other cinema in Tasmania treats people with a disability.
I never asked for compensation. The change-over of the State Cinema’s Management to Readings Cinemas ensures that in future the companion card will be accepted by all Tasmanian cinemas.”
You can find out more about the Companion Card on the government web page.
There is also a guide for businesses interested in affiliating to the Companion Card scheme.
