Do audible smoke alarms discriminate against deaf people?
A normal smoke detector which emits an audible alarm relies on all users being able to hear it. For deaf and hearing-impaired people, not being able to use a normal smoke detector may amount to indirect discrimination. However a complaint of discrimination may not be the best way to achieve a positive change. Under the Equal Opportunity Act discrimination is against the law when it occurs in the following public areas – accommodation, clubs, education, employment, goods and services, land sales or transfers and sport. In this instance it would be difficult to identify against whom a complaint should be directed. Smoke detectors are compulsory under State Government regulations but the State is not the goods or services provider and there is a section in the Equal Opportunity Act which allows discrimination to occur in order to comply with Acts and Regulations. An issue like this might be better handled by advocates and by lobbying Government to have the regulations changed and perhaps
