Government changes web accessibility plan

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Tuesday, 7 January 2014 12:19pm

The Australian Government has released its progress report on the National Transition Strategy (NTS) – its schedule to make its websites conform to international accessibility standards. The report signals a change in the Government’s approach that could affect the timeframe for when people with disability are given equal access to government information and services.

First put in place in 2010, the NTS stated that all government websites must comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 level A by the end of 2012 and level AA by the end of 2014. Now, the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) has said that this timeframe was unrealistic.

Chief Information Officer Glenn Archer said that “It is clear that some websites and some web applications will not meet the ambitious 2014 timeframe for WCAG 2.0 level AA conformance”, and that a framework will be put in place for continuous accessibility improvement next year.

Figures released in the progress report include:

  • Only 26 percent of government websites currently meet any level of WCAG 2.0
  • Accessibility conformance of more than 40 percent of government websites is unknown
  • Only 16 percent of government web applications currently meet any level of WCAG 2.0
  • Accessibility improvements are expected to be rolled out for more than 800 additional government websites and applications by the end of 2014

While AGIMO has not formally put the NTS on hold, it indicates a change in its approach to focus on a more contextual process for accessible web content, rather than setting checklists, schedules and binary measures. A number of priorities have been set for government agencies, particularly the gathering of information on the status of 1,200 websites.

Members of the web industry have expressed concern, including Chairperson of the Australian Web Industry Association Bret Treasure.

“What an awful disappointment for those who believed the Government's promise to make a difference in this area. While services are increasingly delivered online and through mobile technology, government is paying lip service to accessibility and walking away from its leadership role,” said Treasure.

The NTS plays an important role in setting the standard for all Australian websites when it comes to accessibility. It is possible that this shift in approach by the government could lead to businesses and other organisations letting the needs of people with disability online slip down the list of priorities.

An analysis of the progress report for industry professionals is available on Access iQ.

Update 10 January

Marc Vickers, Assistant Secretary, Government and Policy Branch at AGIMO, has posted a response to this article on Access iQ where we invite readers to share their comments.


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