Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that the Government cut the access of Australian users to CapTel through the National Relay Service (NRS) on 1 February 2020;

(b) welcomes the actions of Ultratech, a US-based company, to establish an interim CapTel service for Australian users;

(c) notes the statement by the Ultratech CEO, Mr Rob Engelke, on 1 February 2020:

"I have been genuinely moved by the outpouring of heartfelt messages from Australians who are clearly distressed and frightened about living without CapTel. CapTel has been available for over ten years in Australia and I believe it is not acceptable to leave CapTel users without access to family, friends, employment, emergency services and the myriad ways that all of us use the telephone".

"Therefore, as a temporary measure, I have instructed our American captioning centers to support existing Australian CapTel handsets so that they will continue to operate with captions while, we investigate long-term options based in Australia".

(d) further notes that:

  (i) cutting access to CapTel through the NRS has created distress for senior deaf and hearing impaired Australians, and a permanent loss of service would negatively affect their quality of life and sense of security and safety at home,

  (ii) while the Government has been prepared to protect a Cabinet Minister whose administration of the $100 million community sports grant program has been criticised by the Auditor-General, they have not been prepared to protect the dignity and wellbeing of senior deaf Australians, and

  (iii) the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, has now attempted to blame the 2013 Labor Government, the public service, the previous relay provider, and recently the US technology licensee, for the Government's own decision to cut funding and services;

(e) condemns the Government for its lack of consultation with CapTel users, or their concerned family members, before imposing a decision that would affect their welfare; and

(f) calls on the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts to stop the misinformation and buck passing, and move urgently to reach an agreement to secure ongoing access to CapTel.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia's National Relay Service has a range of services to support people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment to make and receive phone calls. The CapTel handset, which uses proprietary technology owned by a US company, Ultratec, ceased to be supported under the NRS from 1 February this year. The government advises any remaining CapTel users to migrate to the NRS supported alternatives. The government remains open to CapTel being supported by the NRS if Ultratec can strike a suitable commercial arrangement with the current NRS provider, Concentrix. Existing CapTel users should be aware that there is no certainty that such an arrangement can be reached.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 404 be agreed to.