The Morrison Government’s decision to cut CapTel services is causing significant stress for residents in Macarthur who rely on the service to stay in touch with family and friends.

CapTel allows deaf and hearing impaired Australians to make and receive telephone calls using text relay via the National Relay Service (NRS). As of 1 February 2020, the Government is ending access to CapTel and cutting NRS funding by 20 per cent.

Despite the average CapTel user being over 80 years old, a recent Senate hearing revealed the Morrison Government did not even consult CapTel users or their family members before deciding to cut the service.

“It is inexcusable that Scott Morrison would allow his Government to treat elderly deaf Australians with such insensitivity and contempt,” said Dr Mike Freelander MP.

As an alternative, CapTel users are being told they must switch to legacy teletypewriters or smartphones to continue accessing the NRS, despite the community saying these alternatives are more difficult to use and not suited to their needs.

“The Morrison Government should not be imposing such decisions on a vulnerable segment of the community without consulting and understanding their needs,” said Dr Freelander MP.

“Elderly deaf Australians deserve better than this.”