diff --git a/include/wx/event.h b/include/wx/event.h
index 451c03151b..2dcf3c6958 100644
--- a/include/wx/event.h
+++ b/include/wx/event.h
@@ -606,9 +606,6 @@ enum
 
 class WXDLLEXPORT wxMouseEvent : public wxEvent
 {
-private:
-    wxMouseEvent& operator=(const wxMouseEvent& event);
-
 public:
     wxMouseEvent(wxEventType mouseType = wxEVT_NULL);
     wxMouseEvent(const wxMouseEvent& event)	: wxEvent(event)
@@ -746,6 +743,8 @@ public:
 
     virtual wxEvent *Clone() const { return new wxMouseEvent(*this); }
 
+    wxMouseEvent& operator=(const wxMouseEvent& event);
+
 public:
     wxCoord m_x, m_y;