Today’s announcement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones reflects consistent efforts from consumer advocates to improve shady practices employed by some businesses, and particularly digital platforms.
Unfair practices cost consumers more than just money – it costs them valuable time, reduces consumer confidence in markets and distort consumers’ ability to make free choices. ‘Unfair’ trading practices fall into a category of conduct which can be harmful, subtly manipulative or exploitative, but don’t reach a legal benchmark for unconscionable conduct – which is illegal. This reform will plug the gap between the law and community expectations.
ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett welcomed this move from the Prime Minister and urged the government to consider any reforms which result in better consumer outcomes.
ACCAN has today welcomed the Albanese Government’s introduction of legislation to the parliament to keep the National Broadband Network in public ownership.
ACCAN supports NBN Co in its mission to deliver affordable, accessible, high-speed broadband to all Australians. This legislation ensures that the public interest will remains front and centre.
Australian taxpayers have outlaid nearly $60 billion for the construction of the NBN in the 15 years since it was established.
Today’s announcement from Minister Rowland that Australians facing domestic and family violence (DFV) will receive new, stronger protections for their essential communications services is a significant and welcome development.
This decision follows years of advocacy from ACCAN and others in the community sector, urging more robust protections about the use of telecommunications services by DFV victims, and the misuse of technology by DFV perpetrators. Through media releases, policy submissions and consultation, we have called for protections that ensure telcos act responsibly when dealing with vulnerable customers.
Read more: ACCAN welcomes new telco rules to curb DFV scourge
A broad coalition of consumer advocates is calling for the Albanese Government to make one fundamental change to the proposed Scams Prevention Framework (SPF) and put reimbursement at its core, warning that without this improvement the SPF is not going to work for the tens of thousands of Australia’s robbed by scammers.
The group’s call is a core part of their submission -with seven key recommendations- in response to the Government’s Consultation on the exposure draft of the Scams Prevention Framework.
A report from the Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman (TIO) of a 14.6% reduction in consumer complaints over the past year is unlikely to be an indication of improved satisfaction with communications services. The reduction in complaints is more likely to indicate that telco consumers are increasingly giving up on the complaints process.
Over 50% of consumers report having at least one problem with their communications service in the last year. This fact alone should temper any industry claims that a reduction in complaints is a good outcome. The disconnect between customer’s experiences of their telco provider and a reduction in the level of complaints suggests the telecommunications complaints mechanism is not working or not fit for purpose.
Read more: A reduction in telco complaints may signal that consumers are giving up
The government’s draft Scams Prevention Framework, set to be put to Parliament later this year, will make a difference in the fight against scams. However, by not securing mandatory reimbursement for scam victims, it falls short of what is needed.
ACCAN – the peak body for Australian communications consumers – welcomed the draft scams prevention legislation earlier this month alongside other consumer advocates despite some caveats, including the absence of a mandatory reimbursement requirement on large corporations.
Read more: Onus to stop scams must be on large corporations – not consumers
Changes to Triple Zero rules announced by Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland today are an important step to enhance public safety.
ACCAN – Australia’s peak body for communications consumers – welcomes today’s announcement by the Minister that several new requirements will apply to mobile carriers in relation to the Triple Zero service.
The range of changes included in a ministerial direction to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will amend the Emergency Call Service Determination.
Read more: New rules for essential Triple Zero services a win for public safety