Sydney, 5th May 2006: Cochlear Limited (COH.AX) today announced an approximately $270 million order for cochlear implants from a major healthcare
organisation based in Taipei to supply Nucleus cochlear implants in Taiwan and China over the next approximately six years.

These cochlear implants are a donation by the Taiwanese organisation and represents a truly great philanthropic gesture that will impact the lives of many thousands of profoundly deaf Chinese people and their families. The focus of the implant recipients will be young children.

In consultation with local hospitals, professional groups and government organisations, Cochlear will support and assist with training and skill development for surgeons, audiologists and speech habilitationists to help ensure the best possible outcomes.

There are currently approximately 3,000 Nucleus cochlear implant recipients in China and this number could treble in the next three to four years alone.

The implants will be introduced in parallel with the growth of supporting infrastructure, which is critical to the uptake of the CI. It is envisaged that the majority of the order will be delivered in the latter stages of the six-year agreement.

We do not anticipate a material change to Cochlear's F'06 & F'07 core earnings as a result of this order. This order supports the medium term growth rate and underpins the considerable investment Cochlear continues to make in manufacturing capacity and ongoing research and development.
For further information contact:

Dr Chris Roberts, CEO
Ph: +61 2 9428 6555
Neville Mitchell, CFO
Ph: +61 2 9428 6555