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Sigh. You all know how tough it is with captioning - sometimes it isn’t there when it is supposed to be. Sometimes it is there but not very helpful. Sometimes it is downright incomprehensible . Sometimes there are things you wish had captions that don’t. And no-one seems to care.

We care. We understand how you feel about captions. And we, on your behalf, spend an enormous amount of time working on captioning issues: free to air TV, subscription TV, cinema, DVDs, online material, theatre, hotels and motels, the list goes on and on….

For example in the past month alone we have held meetings with various groups regarding DVD captioning, as part of a campaign by a number of our members on DVD accessibility. We have been involved in negotiations on cinema accessibility and look forward to improvements very soon. We have written an impassioned letter to the ACMA about some recent decisions about captioning. We have asked ACCAN to get involved in captioning. And much, much more.

So, once a year, we stop and take a moment to think about any improvements, initiatives or changes during the past year, and that brings us to the annual Captioning Awards. A time when we try to offer an incentive to companies to improve (after all, we have spent the past year criticizing them). There are many people out there who are genuinely trying to improve captioning.

For more information, see http://www.deafnessforum.org.au/index.php?q=captioning-awards

Issues paper now available. The issues paper is intended to assist you to prepare a submission to the government about a lifetime disability care and support scheme. Submissions due 16 August 2010.

For more information see http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support/issues

The Senate Community Affairs References Committee tabled its report on the inquiry into Hearing Health in Australia on 13 May 2010.

At the press conference immediately following the tabling of the report, Senator Rachel Siewert addressed the major recommendations and Senator Claire Moore acknowledged the role of Deafness Forum to instigate the Senate Inquiry, through years of lobbying. 

This includes the work done in the past through Deafness Forum's Hearing Health as a National Priority Committee, chaired by Peter Lindley, and the impact of Deafness Forum's technology demonstration at Parliament House in 2009, among other lobbying activities.

The report focuses on the prevalence of hearing loss in Australia and the issues faced by those who are hearing impaired. These issues include access and services, educational opportunities and lack of support in the criminal justice system. It specifically addresses a number of issues in indigenous hearing health.

See Deafness Forum's media release. 

The committee has made a number of important recommendations. These include:

Recommendation 2 (chapter four): The committee recommends that the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations engage with state and territory jurisdictions, and with employment and hearing loss peak bodies, to develop a 10 year strategy to better support, engage and retain hearing impaired Australians in the workforce.

Recommendation 4 (chapter five): The committee recommends that eligibility for the Australian Government Hearing Services Voucher Program be extended to include all Australians, subject to eligibility and a means test.

Recommendation 5 (chapter five): The committee recommends that former child clients of Australian Hearing remain eligible for Australian Hearing support until the age of 25. This eligibility is to be subject to a means test. Former child client of Australian Hearing who do not meet the means test are to have the option to access Australian Hearing support on a fee-for-service basis until the age of 25. 

The report may be accessed at www.aph.gov.au/senate_ca or obtained from the Committee Secretariat: phone 02 6277 3515 or email community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au

Here is Deafness Forum's "quick and dirty" analysis of items that may be of interest to you. The summaries of each item are based on quick reading of the Budget papers so they are not set in concrete. Comments/corrections/additions welcome.

1. Productivity Commission Inquiry into long term care and support

Summary: funding to allow consultation and enable those might who might not normally be able to contribute, to have a voice in the Inquiry. See http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/about/publicationsarticles/corp/BudgetPAES/budget10_11/Documents/default.htm or http://www.budget.gov.au/2010-11/content/pbs/html/index.htm

2. Changes to Special Disability Trusts

Summary: Following on from the 2008 Senate Inquiry, assets held by the Trust can be maintained using $ in the Trust. Also discretionary spending of up to $10,000 per year from the Trust eg for family holiday. See http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/about/publicationsarticles/corp/BudgetPAES/budget10_11/Documents/default.htm

Special Disability Trusts — greater accessibility

The Government will provide $1.0 million over four years to amend the eligibility criteria and allowable uses for Special Disability Trusts, to make them more accessible and increase uptake.

Special Disability Trusts enable parents and immediate family members to put money aside for the future care and accommodation needs of a family member with a severe disability. Under Special Disability Trusts, up to $551,750 (indexed annually) and the family home can be kept in the trust without being counted as income or assets under the pension means tests for the beneficiary of the trust.

These changes will expand the definition of a beneficiary to include people with a disability who can work up to seven hours per week (excluding work in an Australian Disability Enterprise). In addition, this measure will amend the allowable uses for the trust to include all medical expenses, including membership costs of private health funds, maintenance expenses of Special Disability Trust property and discretionary spending of up to $10,000 per year.

This measure is in addition to the Australian Government's initial response to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs report Building trust: Supporting families through Disability Trusts announced as part of the 2009-10 Budget.

3. Changes to Disability Support Pension

Summary: when applying for DSP, work experience will be taken into account for capacity to work. See http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/about/publicationsarticles/corp/BudgetPAES/budget10_11/Documents/default.htm

4. Employment

Summary: Centrelink will become main provider of Job Capacity Assessments (as well as CRS)as pathway to get to Disability Employment Service. See http://www.budget.gov.au/2010-11/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-08.htm

Job Capacity Account — one-off reduction

The Government will reduce the funds available in the Job Capacity Account from $25.0 million to $17.0 million for one year in 2011-12. Through the Job Capacity Account, Job Capacity Assessors can refer job seekers to services that will assist them to become job ready.

These services will continue to be available to job seekers through the Employment Pathway Fund. This assistance includes counselling, rehabilitation services and purchasing work uniforms and safety equipment.

This measure will provide savings of $8.0 million in 2011-12 for redirection to other Government priorities.

Job Capacity Assessment — more efficient and accurate assessments for Disability Support Pension and employment services

The Government will improve assessments for disadvantaged job seekers and Disability Support Pension claimants who are currently required to undergo a Job Capacity Assessment to ensure that appropriate employment and income support are provided. Job Capacity Assessments will be refined to have a greater focus on a person's potential to work with appropriate capacity building and rehabilitation.

From 1 July 2010, job seekers who seek a temporary exemption from participation requirements due to a medical condition will no longer require a Job Capacity Assessment. Exemption determinations will be made by Centrelink staff.

From 1 July 2011, job seekers who need to have their work capacity assessed will undergo a revised and more efficient assessment of their need for employment services, which will be conducted by an allied health professional.

Job Capacity Assessments will continue to be used to determine an individual's eligibility for the Disability Support Pension where required under existing arrangements. From 1 January 2012, Disability Support Pension claimants without sufficient evidence of a future work capacity of less than 15 hours per week may be referred to an alternative income support payment and offered employment assistance through Job Services Australia or Disability Employment Services. These services will assist in developing the skills of job seekers or building evidence of their future work capacity for subsequent claims which may be made at any time.

This measure will provide savings of $383.4 million over four years.

5. Transition from school to work

Summary: some people will be able to transition direct to DES without an assessment on leaving school. See http://www.budget.gov.au/2010-11/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-08.htm or see Mark Arbib’s website (deewr). Also Jenny Macklin’s media releases http://www.jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/jennymacklin.nsf/content/jobseeker_disability_11may10.htm

Disability Employment Services

Disability Employment Services — assistance to job seekers with an intellectual disability.

The Government will provide $7.4 million to fund a two-year trial of a 70 per cent loading on selected service fees, on placement fees and on outcome fees available to Disability Employment Services providers. These loadings will be available to providers who help job seekers with moderate intellectual disability, enabling the delivery of additional support and resources to help those job seekers prepare for and secure sustainable work of more than 15 hours per week.

Disability Employment Services — information technology

The Government will provide $26.2 million over four years from 2009-10 to fully implement information technology arrangements to support the delivery of the new Disability Employment Services announced in the 2009-10 Budget.

As part of the measure, the Government is committing $0.4 million over two years to fund a Gateway Review of the implementation. The Gateway Review process provides quality assurance during the implementation of major government projects to ensure the intended outcomes of the projects are achieved.

The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Disability Employment Services — streamlined access to employment assistance

The Government will provide funding of $0.5 million over two years to pilot new arrangements for certain young people with a disability to access Disability Employment Services. Young people with a disability who access state government transition-to-work programs before entering Disability Employment Services, or who access specialist employment assistance within 12 months of leaving school, will no longer be required to undergo a Job Capacity Assessment before entering Disability Employment Services. This proposal will streamline arrangements for young people with a disability to transition from school to employment assistance.

6. Department of Health and Ageing

Summary: business as usual. Minimum hearing loss threshold for fitting is new (but flagged in previous years). Encouraging take-up of Rehabilitation Plus also not news to us all. Good to see mention of considering recommendations from Senate Inquiry. See http://www.health.gov.au/internet/budget/publishing.nsf/Content/2010-11_Health_PBS_sup1/$File/Outcome%207%20-%20Hearing%20Services.pdf

Support access to quality hearing services

Ensure eligible clients have access to free hearing services

Through the Hearing Services program, the Australian Government provides free services for eligible people. In 2010-11, the Department will continue to issue vouchers to clients for hearing assessments, hearing rehabilitation and the fitting of hearing devices, if clinically appropriate.

In 2010-11, the Department, through its Rehabilitation Plus service, aims to improve take-up rates of hearing device rehabilitation services by clients fitted with a free device for the first time. The Rehabilitation Plus service educates and encourages clients on making best use of their hearing aids and assists clients cope with their hearing loss. The Department anticipates that the additional training and support will increase clients’ usage of hearing devices.

Ensure program clients receive quality services
In 2010-11, the Department will continue to monitor and evaluate the operation of the Hearing Services program to ensure quality and consistency in the delivery of hearing services to eligible clients. This process will include accreditation and monitoring of contracted service providers and registration and monitoring of qualifications for individual hearing health practitioners. This will ensure that hearing devices provided under the program are of high quality.

The Department will continue to provide a robust, transparent and well supported information service and complaints handling process for services provided under the Hearing Services program. During 2009-10, the program experienced a significant increase in client demand, which put pressure on the delivery of services. This has resulted in an increase in the time needed to process voucher applications and longer waiting times for clients contacting the Client Contact Line.

In 2010, the Department will provide advice to the Government regarding sustainable options to address the mid to long-term policy and administrative issues arising from the Senate Inquiry into Hearing Health in Australia.

Better targeting of Government resources

The Australian Government is committed to providing cost-effective and sustainable hearing services. From 1 July 2010, the Government will require eligible clients to have a minimum level of hearing loss before a hearing device is fitted. This initiative is designed to ensure that hearing devices are provided to those with the greatest clinical need. In 2010-11, the Department will monitor the impact of the minimum threshold through clinical audits and random client surveys, including working with stakeholders, to ensure the requirement is effective.

Support ongoing research into hearing loss prevention

The Australian Government aims to reduce the incidence of avoidable hearing loss in the community. The number of people affected by hearing loss in Australia is expected to increase over time, with this increase mainly attributed to the ageing population. Avoidable hearing loss can also affect young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people in the workforce, due to increased incidence of middle-ear disease and greater exposure to workplace noise hazards. This will also increase unless preventive action is taken.

Through the Hearing Loss Prevention program research projects, the Australian Government aims to identify strategies to reduce avoidable hearing loss in the general community and its consequent impact on productivity. The program funds research targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, young people and those in the workplace. From 2010-11 onwards, administrative arrangements for research applications processes will be revised.

During 2010-11, the Department will continue to monitor the progress of six research projects funded under the program. These projects focus on the prevalence of hearing loss and its relationship to leisure sound 3 in adolescents; the effectiveness of hearing loss and tinnitus simulations as a deterrent of risky behaviours; the effects of the use of swimming pools on the ear health of Indigenous children in remote communities; the prevention of hearing loss associated with otitis media in Indigenous children; and a project to determine key barriers and enablers to effective control of hazardous occupational noise exposure. The reports of these research projects are due in 2011-12. The major challenge is to ensure that the research outcomes funded under the Program influence behavioural change in the priority target groups over time. The Department will manage this challenge through independent evaluation of individual projects.

National Health and Hospitals Network — eHealth — personally controlled electronic health records

Summary: personally controlled (in your home) e-health records.

The Government will provide $466.7 million over two years to establish the key components of the personally controlled electronic health record system for Australia. This secure online system will enable improved access to health care information, commencing in 2012-13.

This funding will provide the capability to produce nationally consistent patient health summaries from existing and compliant information sources. Patients who choose to participate will be able to securely access, and permit their healthcare providers to access, their health information. Personally controlled health records will over time be capable of incorporating a range of health information, such as a patient's general health history, pathology and radiology summaries and prescription information. This will support more informed clinical assessments and decision making, improve continuity of care for patients and introduce efficiencies in health care service delivery.

The measure builds on the Healthcare Identifiers Service, which is being developed as a foundation service for eHealth initiatives in Australia. Healthcare identifiers will allow for accurate identification of patients and health care providers and provider organisations. Subject to the passage of legislation, $0.5 million per annum in existing funding will be provided to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for regulatory support in relation to health care identifiers in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

In order to fully realise the significant benefits of this Commonwealth investment, State and Territory governments will also need to continue their planned or expected investments in core health information systems. The States and Territories will also need to provide the complementary investments to build their capacity in readiness for connection to this national system.

7. Australian Sports Commission

Summary: nothing specific for deaf sport/Deaflympics. See http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Sport-set-for-biggest-funding-boost-ever-5CE7L?OpenDocument and http://www.budget.gov.au/2010-11/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-13.htm

Australia's elite athletes will get extra funding to help them go faster, higher and further at the 2012 London Olympics, but kids kicking balls around the park have not been left on the sidelines.

The government announced it will provide more than $300 million to sports in the 2010 federal budget as part of its long-awaited response to businessman David Crawford's review of Australian sports funding.

In the biggest cash injection to sport in Australia's history, sport will receive another $324.8 million over four years, which includes funding to extend the life of existing programs and $195.2 million in new money.

It takes total investment in the area to $1.2 billion over the forward estimates period, which takes in the 2012 London Olympic Games and Paralympics.

"Disabled athletes" {quote from the article in paper} haven't been forgotten, with $16 million dedicated to the Australian Paralympic Committee's elite programs and to support the broadcast of their 2012 Games.

Australian Sports Commission — investing in Australia's sporting success

The Government will provide $324.8 million over four years to the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), including $62.1 million already provided for in the forward estimates, to support the long-term sustainability of the Australian sport system, as part of its final response to the Independent Sport Panel's report The Future of Sport in Australia.

This measure will provide $195.2 million over four years for a range of sport initiatives at both the elite and community level, including:

• providing talent identification and development opportunities for up to an additional 5,000 athletes;
• increasing support for athletes to compete in international competitions;
• increasing direct support for up to 665 of Australia's international and emerging athletes;
• providing additional support for the development of up to 112 national coaches; and
• education initiatives and coaching and officiating training for community sport.

This measure also includes $67.5 million over four years to continue support for the ASC's high performance programs ($51.6 million), the Australian Paralympic Committee's high performance programs ($14.9 million) and the broadcast of the 2012 London Paralympic Games ($1.0 million).

The Government will also continue to provide $62.1 million over four years to enable the Australian Institute of Sport to better support elite sport through coaching, talent identification and improved sports science and medicine.

8. DBCDE

Summary: no surprise after the disappointing media access review that there is no mention of caption quality guidelines, but more surprisingly there seems to be no mention of audio description trial on ABC either.

- Timely and effective policy advice on implementation of the National Broadband Network and the underpinning telecommunications legislative framework leading to increased availability of fast, affordable and reliable broadband and communications infrastructure;

- Regional Backbone Blackspots Program meets contractual milestones;

- Administering the Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG) which has been used by the Government to complement the National Broadband Network by subsidising access to metro-comparable broadband where not otherwise available;

- Developing enhancements to the ABG, which from 1 July 2010 will focus the program on the 2 per cent of premises in Australia which are in greatest need
of support in accessing adequate broadband services; doubling the service speed and data allowances supported by the program; and providing remote and regional communities with a transition path towards the NBN.

improving services to regional, rural and remote Australia:

- the Satellite Phone Subsidy provides support for Australians living or conducting business in areas outside the reach of terrestrial mobile phone networks;

the appointment of rural National Broadband Network coordinators will encourage the take up of broadband opportunities by local government, community and business;

the Indigenous Communications Program. Key elements are:

community phones: This element maintains existing community phones and provides additional community phones to remote Indigenous communities with baseline populations of less than 50 people; and

internet access and training: This element is being implemented in collaboration with state and territory governments and Indigenous communities to provide improved public internet access and computer and internet training to remote Indigenous
communities.

supporting the development of the digital economy including:

supporting the Information and Communications Technology Centre of Excellence
Program;

through the Digital Regions Initiative, support cross-regional and national deployment of successful delivery models in health, education and emergency services in regional, rural and remote communities.

• supporting and protecting the interests of consumers through:

- funding for ACCAN through the Consumer Representation Grants program;

- cyber-safety initiatives to inform and educate the Australian community about internet safety tools and online help. Operation of the Youth Advisory Group online forum and secretariat to the consultative working group on Cyber-safety; and

- cyber-safety initiatives to inform and educate Australian consumers and small businesses about how best to manage the risk of financial fraud and loss of personal information over the internet.

Ensure the smooth switchover to digital only television by the end of 2013. Support access to high quality, innovative and diverse broadcasting services that deliver content consistent with Australia’s diverse community expectations.

All Australians have access to a range of free-to-air national and commercial television and radio services and subscription television and radio services. Community broadcasting services are also widespread with community television operating in major cities and over 350 community radio stations across the country as at 4 March 2010.

The Digital Switchover Taskforce, within the Department assesses the effectiveness of the switchover to digital television through the Digital Tracker by monitoring the following indicators for each switchover region on a quarterly basis:

awareness of switchover to digital television;

understanding of what needs to be done to prepare for switchover;

attitudes towards digital switchover;

intentions to convert to digital television;

the proportion of Australians who have switched over; and

satisfaction with digital television.

Community television broadcasters in all major capital cities commence digital television broadcasting from 2010.

Note: Deafness Forum has a representative on the Digital Switchover Taskforce Consumer Expert Group, to ensure the needs of people who are Deaf or have a hearing impairment are considered.

Community broadcasters' transition to digital television

The Government will provide $2.6 million in 2009-10 to assist the community television broadcasting sector to meet the costs of commencing digital simulcasts.

The Government will also temporarily allocate vacant spectrum, previously known as Channel A, to the community broadcasting sector until 2013. This will allow community television licensees in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to simulcast their analog television services until the switch to digital-only television in capital cities in 2013. A new community licensee in Perth will commence digital-only broadcasts in early 2010.

The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

Further information can be found in the press release of 4 November 2009 by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

National Broadband Network — implementation

Summary: Opportunities for telemedicine, captel and VRS using the NBN.

The Government will provide $23.4 million over five years to continue to support the implementation of the National Broadband Network.

Funding of $12.9 million over four years will be provided to the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy to support the implementation and regulation of the National Broadband Network including: policy and regulatory support for the rollout; overseeing construction of the regional backbone transmission links; and managing the Government's shareholding in NBN Co. A further $2.1 million over four years will be provided to the Department of Finance and Deregulation to assist in managing the Government's shareholding in NBN Co, given the department's role in advising the Minister for Finance and Deregulation as joint shareholder.

The Government will also provide a further $16.0 million over two years to the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy for a national information campaign, focused on raising public awareness of the value of superfast broadband which will be delivered to Australian households, businesses and organisations through the rollout of the National Broadband Network. Of this, $7.6 million in 2009-10 will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

9. Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Aviation Safety — Civil Aviation Safety Authority funding strategy

Summary: stronger security measures. Needs of people who are Deaf and hearing impaired must be considered in screening. This work is taking place already with Deafness Forum on the Aviation Access Working Group to ensure the needs of our constituents are considered.

The Government will provide $89.9 million over four years to strengthen the capacity of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to maintain and enhance aviation safety. The additional funding ensures that CASA can: continue random testing for alcohol and other drugs within the aviation industry; develop and maintain safety standards; regulate expanding areas of aviation activity; and implement a state safety program. It will also enable CASA to strengthen their technical capability and regulatory oversight ability; expand technical training capacity for its technical staff; and continue funding for its five-member Board.

The additional funding for CASA will be provided through an increase in the excise and excise-equivalent customs duty on aviation fuels to $0.03556 per litre. This increase will take effect from 1 July 2010. The revenue measure is expected to raise $89.9 million over the forward estimates period.

Further information can be found in the National Aviation Policy White Paper — Flight Path to the Future, released on 16 December 2009 by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local
Government.

10. FaHCSIA

Summary: create a new public service section to implement NDS – need to make sure PWD are represented in this section! See http://www.budget.gov.au/2010-11/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-10.htm

National Disability Strategy — coordination

The Government will provide $6.2 million over four years to establish a policy coordination and secretariat unit within the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs to further develop and implement the National Disability Strategy. The unit will engage stakeholders; develop action plans; establish governance arrangements to negotiate and implement the National Disability Strategy with the States and Territories; and ensure robust reporting on outcomes achieved.

This measure also includes the development of a comprehensive information portal covering disability programs, services and support, which will be provided through australia.gov.au.

Funding for this measure will be met from within the existing resources of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

11. Department of Finance and Deregulation

Summary: not sure if this includes electronic voting for vision impaired, which is important.

Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters — implementation of recommendations

The Government will implement a range of recommendations in the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters Report on the conduct of the 2007 Federal Election and matters related thereto. This includes recommendations that relate to simplifying the evidence of identity requirements for enrolment, measures to encourage electoral participation and responding to increased demand for early voting.

This measure is budget neutral over four years to 2013-14.

12. Resources, Energy and Tourism

Summary: could be an opportunity to have disability access considered in “quality of tourism products”?

National Tourism Accreditation Framework — establishment

The Government will provide $5.5 million over four years to establish a National Tourism Accreditation Framework (NTAF).

The NTAF will offer tourism accreditation program providers the opportunity to co-brand with the NTAF and benefit from being associated with a nationally and internationally recognised mark. The NTAF will provide an incentive for tourism businesses to examine and improve the quality of their products and services, and it will also improve consumers' capacity to identify quality tourism products and services.

Further information can be found in the Launch of the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy speech delivered by the Minister for Tourism on 15 December 2009.

13. Foreign affairs and Trade

Summary: AusAid overseas aid programs continuing in capacity development.

Overseas development assistance — development accessible to all

The Government will provide $30.2 million over four years to build capacity and leadership in disability and development. This measure will build AusAID capacity to address disability issues. It will also provide technical resources and assistance to partner governments, regional organisations and disabled peoples' organisations to design and manage effective disability-inclusive activities.

This measure will be fully offset from the provision for expanded aid funding held in the Contingency Reserve.

This measure is part of the Government's commitment to increase Australia's overseas development assistance over the long term.

14. Treasury

Summary: changes to consumer laws to bring in greater consumer protection eg telco contracts.

Implementation of Unfair Contract Terms Provisions of the Australian Consumer Law

The Government will provide $5.3 million over five years (including $0.6 million in 2009-10) to deliver guidance on, and enforce compliance with, the unfair contract term provisions of the first tranche of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The ACL rationalises consumer laws and enhances the protection of consumers.

This measure supports the implementation of one of the 27 deregulation priorities under the Council of Australian Governments' National Partnership Agreement to Deliver a Seamless National Economy.

Speeches and photos from the 6th National Deafness Sector Summit are being added to our website, as approved. Please see http://www.deafnessforum.org.au/index.php?q=national-deafness-sector-summit

For our April 2010 e-news see http://www.deafnessforum.org.au/index.php?q=newsletter-archive

The Australian Communications and Media Authority will conduct a formal inquiry into customer service and complaints handling in the telecommunications industry following the on-going high volume of complaints to the industry ombudsman. 

See http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_312103

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today anounced  expansions to the NRS and committed to an SMS Emergency Services system for people with disability. For more information, see www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/speeches/2010/006

The Australian Human Rights Commission has decided not to grant an exemption lodged by Hoyts Corporation, Greater Union Organisation, Village CInemas and Reading CInemas under Section 55 of the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) (Cth).

See the AHRC website for more information. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/exemptions/cinema/decision.htm