[LINK] ABR website is browser-phobic

[Ash Nallawalla]

"Oh please", indeed.

I was in "real user" mode in the morning, needing to look up the ABN
procedure. After seeing a prominent notice that I needed to use another
browser, I didn't hang around to read every word on the page. I'd have sworn
in court that I didn't even notice the left hand nav bar. That's how this
user reacted.

And it is a stupid thing to say "If you believe your current browser is
suitable to use, please continue."

See how the home page looks in IE. You don't see the warning, or course.
Being rather busy at that hour, I couldn't imagine a home page containing
nothing but two lines about a privacy notice, so I assumed that I was not
seeing "the rest of the page".

The site has serious issues for users. Try the link for GST Fuel tax credit.
You are redirected to
https://authentication.business.gov.au/S001v3.0/WSTrustHandler/Signin?reload
=true, where I get a confronting message:

"Software download required
Australian Business Register

You do not have any of the software that is required to login. Please visit
one of the following sites to download the required software:

Software for AUSkey - www.abr.gov.au/auskey
Software for ATO digital certificates - http://csi.business.gov.au

If you do not wish to download the required software, please use the Cancel
button below to return to the Agency web site."

OK, I have no idea what the Fuel Tax credit is, but a more informative
message would be helpful.

The WCAG compliance deadline is noted, Alex, but I intend to create some
immediate work for some public servants via my local member, even if it
generates some emails and no action.

- Ash


> -----Original Message-----
> From: link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au [mailto:link-
> bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of eric scheid
> Sent: Tuesday, 10 May 2011 12:47
> To: link
> Subject: Re: [LINK] ABR website is browser-phobic
> 
> On 10/5/11 10:14 AM, "Ash Nallawalla" <ash at melbpc.org.au> wrote:
> > When I login with Firefox 4 or Chrome in Win 7, it tells me that I
> > should use IE 5 and above or Netscape 6 and above.
> 
> It also says
> 
>     If you believe your current browser is suitable to use, please
continue.
> 
> Site works fine for me in FF4 and Safari.
> 
> 
> On 10/5/11 10:52 AM, "Roger Clarke" <Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au> wrote:
> >> That is completely unacceptable!  It blocks large numbers of people!
> 
> Oh please. It says "supported", implying others are "not supported". It
> doesn't say "others are blocked". I've accessed the site many times with
> unsupported browsers and got what I was looking for, I certainly wasn't
> blocked.
> 
> Then again, if we can rightfully point out the folly of govt spin doctors
with
> their "won't someone please think of the children!" and related over-
> reaching hysteria, it's only fair we respond to them in the same
> hyperventilated style, yes?
> 
> e.
> 
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