NATIONAL WEEK OF DEAF PEOPLE

Today marks the beginning of National Week of Deaf People, in which we celebrate their culture and contribution and also raise awareness about the issues that affect deaf people.

This year’s theme is ‘With Sign Language, Everyone is Included!”

 

The feeling of isolation because of hearing loss is well understood by the one in six Australians with varying degrees of deafness.

 

Australian Hearing has been providing essential services to people with hearing loss since it was established in 1947.

 

Yet only last month, the Coalition Government failed to rule out privatising Australian Hearing in its response to the unanimous recommendations of a recent inquiry carried out by the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport.

 

Speculation about the future of Australian Hearing began in early 2014 when the Coalition’s National Commission of Audit recommended a number of privatisations.  Subsequently the 2014 Budget included a scoping study for  privatisation of Australian Hearing and later considered a proposal from a consortium comprising of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, Macquarie University and Cochlear Limited.

 

Submissions made to the inquiry were clear: Australian Hearing should remain a public service in government hands.

 

Whilst the privatisation issue was sidelined in the lead up to the 2016 election, the Government’s response makes it clear that privatisation is still on the table.

 

With more than 150 permanent locations and 330 visiting sites around Australia, Australian Hearing is a trusted government agency delivering affordable hearing services and operates at no cost to government.

 

Labor has consistently opposed the privatisation of Australian Hearing.

 

This week with the spotlight on hearing the Morrison Government should rule out ever privatising Australian Hearing.