Saving lives: Liberals commit to specialist smoke alarms for deaf and hard of hearing Tasmanians

· Smoke alarms for profoundly and severely deaf Tasmanians cost $500

· A 2009 survey found only 11 out of 89 hard of hearing households had visual alarms because of cost

· Liberal program will subsidise each alarm system by $450, ensuring equity with the cost of a standard smoke alarm

The Liberals will subsidise specialist smoke alarms for profoundly and severely deaf Tasmanians to ensure equity for those at increased risk because of their disability, and to save lives.
A Hodgman Liberal Government will fund 100 units and, in partnership with Tasdeaf, would subsidise each $500 unit to the value of $450, reducing the cost to the cost of a standard smoke alarm.
“This is a policy the Liberals took to the last election, but because of the Labor Government’s failure to act despite years of lobbying and the deaths of two hearing impaired Tasmanians in house fires, we today reaffirm this commitment.
“For a small cost, risk can be reduced and lives possibly saved,” Mr Hodgman said.
Shadow Minister for Health and Human Services, Brett Whiteley, said three other States had programs in place to make specialist smoke alarms more affordable for deaf and hard of hearing people.
“Yet in Tasmania, only those living in public housing are able to access assistance, while people living in private rental or their own homes are not eligible for any assistance.
“A recent survey by Tasdeaf revealed 59% of survey participants did not have specialist smoke alarms fitted because of the cost.
“Requests to the State Labor Government to address this issue have been ignored since 2004.
“The Liberals fairer Tasmania framework is about ensuring equity for disadvantaged groups in our community..
“Specialist alarms for those who are severely and profoundly deaf are not affordable, and by subsidising these units, we can ensure deaf and hard of hearing Tasmanians are not disadvantaged because of their disability.”
The policy will be funded through the Community Equipment Scheme, which the Liberals have already committed to doubling the annual funding.”
Chronology of inaction by Labor:
2003 – Coroner finding in death of an elderly hearing impaired man at Ouse in a house fire; had a visual/sensory smoke alarm been fitted, “it may … possibly have saved his life”.
2003 – Tasdeaf begins its lobbying of Government, with a written proposal to Minister Llewellyn with the response, “please try again in 2004-2005”.
2004-2006 – Tasdeaf resubmit its submission.
2005 – Liberal policy to subsidise smoke alarms.
2006 – Meeting between Tasdeaf and new Health Minister, Lara Giddings, with the response there were no funds and a pilot project would not be beneficial to Tasmania.
2007-2009 – continued negative responses to requests for funding
Will Hodgman MP Leader of the Opposition Brett Whiteley MP Shadow Minister for Heath and Human Services