ACCAN

Dec 10

Telecommunications services are essential to daily life, yet Australia’s laws do not treat them that way, ACCAN told the Senate Environment and Communications Committee yesterday. ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett and Deputy CEO Dr Gareth Downing warned Senators that, despite the widespread acknowledgement f...Read more

Telecommunications services are essential to daily life, yet Australia’s laws do not treat them that way, ACCAN told the Senate Environment and Communications Committee yesterday. ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett and Deputy CEO Dr Gareth Downing warned Senators that, despite the widespread acknowledgement from government, industry and the media that communications services are “essential”, there is no legal basis for this description. “We have both an opportunity and a responsibility to fix this. Reform is needed to bring telecommunications regulation into line with other essential services such as water and energy, where minimum service standards are clearly defined.” Read the media release via the link.

Dec 4

The Fair Call Coalition, an alliance of 23 consumer organisations, has today written to the ACMA Chair urging them to reject industry’s re-drafted Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code. The updated Code, put forward by the Australian Telecommunications Alliance (ATA), still fails to d...Read more

The Fair Call Coalition, an alliance of 23 consumer organisations, has today written to the ACMA Chair urging them to reject industry’s re-drafted Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code. The updated Code, put forward by the Australian Telecommunications Alliance (ATA), still fails to deliver the basic protections consumers need to stay connected and avoid harm. It offers no meaningful pathways for remedies when things go wrong, and does not address unsafe sales practices, weak credit assessments, inappropriate disconnections or service limitations, or misleading mobile coverage information. Click the link to read the Fair Call Coalition’s letter to the ACMA Chair outlining the industry standards that must be strengthened. The Fair Call Coalition: Consumer Action Law Centre Financial Counselling Australia Economic Abuse Reference Group WEstjustice CHOICE Financial Rights Legal Centre Mob Strong Debt Help Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network Consumers’ Federation of Australia South Australian Council of Social Service Care ACT Anglicare NT Bush Money Mob, WA MoneyMob Talkabout, NT Hume Riverina Community Legal Service Consumer Credit Legal Service, WA Consumer Policy Research Centre Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service Redfern Legal Centre South-East Community Links Australian Council of Social Service Centre for Women’s Economic Safety

Dec 3

ACCAN recently made a submission to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee’s Inquiry into Triple-Zero service outages. Access to mobile telecommunications is critical for daily life in Australia, and that includes being able to reliably reach Triple-Zero in an emergency. Mob...Read more

ACCAN recently made a submission to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee’s Inquiry into Triple-Zero service outages. Access to mobile telecommunications is critical for daily life in Australia, and that includes being able to reliably reach Triple-Zero in an emergency. Mobile networks delivering these services must be treated and regulated as essential services. Our submission aims to improve the reliability, inclusivity and availability of the mobile telecommunications services which underpin the delivery Triple-Zero call services. Read our full list of recommendations: https://www.accan.org.au/accan-submission/inquiry-into-triple-zero-service-outages

Dec 2

Were you sold an Optus product or service you didn’t want or need, couldn’t afford, or couldn’t use where you live? You may be eligible for compensation. Following Federal Court action by the ACCC, Optus is contacting customers impacted by misleading sales practices. This includes the sale of produ...Read more

Were you sold an Optus product or service you didn’t want or need, couldn’t afford, or couldn’t use where you live? You may be eligible for compensation. Following Federal Court action by the ACCC, Optus is contacting customers impacted by misleading sales practices. This includes the sale of products like phones, tablets, accessories and services such as mobile plans that were unsuitable or unnecessary. If you think you were affected: 📞 Call Optus on 1300 082 820 to discuss your situation or make a claim. 💬 Need free, independent financial advice? Contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 to be connected with a financial counsellor. ACCAN encourages consumers to check whether they may be entitled to a refund or support. Click the link for more info.

Dec 1

ACCAN welcomes the introduction of legislation to establish the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) to Parliament - a generational step toward improving connectivity, safety and choice for people across Australia. The Bill will require national mobile carriers to provide baseline outdoor mob...Read more

ACCAN welcomes the introduction of legislation to establish the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) to Parliament - a generational step toward improving connectivity, safety and choice for people across Australia. The Bill will require national mobile carriers to provide baseline outdoor mobile voice and SMS coverage across almost the entire continent through a mix of traditional mobile tower links and emerging direct-to-handset satellite technology - a long-awaited modernisation of Australia’s universal service arrangements. Read our media release via the link.