Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move Australian Greens amendment (21) on sheet 7006:

(21)  Schedule 1, page 168 (after line 15), after item 216, insert:

216A  Subparagraph 6(1)(b)(i)

Omit “has a hearing impairment”, substitute “is deaf or has a hearing and/or speech impairment”.

216B  Subparagraph 6(1)(b)(ii)

Omit “teletypewriter”, substitute “device that enables text-based communication”.

This amendment is also relatively simple; it comes in two parts and broadens the definition of a standard telephone service beyond teletypewriters, senators will be pleased to know. We have also broadened the definition of hearing impairment, for fairly obvious reasons. At present it is by no means clear that the equivalent to voice telephony includes services that came into being subsequent to the publication of the original act, such as VOIP, video over IP and text over IP. The current reference to text telephony is a legacy of outdated analog technology. We thought this was an appropriate time to bring this definition up to date. I commend the amendment to the chamber.