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ACCAN recently submitted to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) regarding the proposed Telecommunications (Customer Communications for Outages) Industry Standard 2024 (the standard). ACCAN welcomes the development of an industry standard for communications, having called for stronger action in this field following the Optus Outage on 8 November 2023.

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ACCAN recently commented on the Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ proposals paper for introducing mandatory guardrails for AI in high-risk settings (the paper).

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving and broad technology that, with the right regulatory settings, can provide material benefits for consumers. AI can offer tailored services for consumers and potentially drive efficiencies in business, lowering the cost for consumers. However, as the paper notes, AI also carries risks of consumer harm through discrimination and data breaches.

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ACCAN recently submitted to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (the Joint Committee) on the Cyber Security Legislative Package 2024 (the Legislative Package). ACCAN’s comments on the Legislative Package are restricted to the Cyber Security Bill 2024 (The Bill).

In this submission, ACCAN provides the Joint Committee with recommendations to improve the cybersecurity of consumers using connected devices, including Internet of Things devices, by improving the enforcement structures established under the Bill relating to the security standards of connected devices.

ACCAN recommends that:

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ACCAN recently submitted to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee’s consultation on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 (the Bill).

In ACCAN’s view the Bill provides a foundation for tackling misinformation and disinformation on digital communications platforms. However, the Bill should be expanded to explicitly include measures which address consumer harms, such as minimum dispute resolution standards, which could be expanded to ensure appropriate complaints do not fall through the gaps.

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ACCAN recently submitted to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee to comment on the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 [Provisions] (the Bill).

ACCAN supports the Bill as a first step to modernising Australia’s privacy protections. However, Australian consumers have poor privacy protections by international standards and further reforms are needed now. ACCAN urges the Government to address all the remaining recommendations from the Attorney-General’s privacy report to ensure that Australians receive the same minimum privacy protections enjoyed by the rest of the world.

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ACCAN recently provided a joint submission, together with CHOICE and Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA), to the Treasury’s consultation on Revitalising National Competition Policy (NCP).

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ACCAN recently submitted to the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) consultation on proposed changes to the ECS Determination and the Draft Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Amendment Determination 2024 (No.1).

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ACCAN recently commented on the Treasury’s Scam Prevention Framework – exposure draft legislation (SPF).

ACCAN’s submission sets out our concerns with respect to fundamental incentive problems in the SPF which make it impractical and unworkable and concerns regarding the interaction of the SPF and the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth).

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ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, The Environment and Waters’ Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group (CEMAG).

ACCAN supports the CEMAG’s identification of the ‘right to repair’ as an activity the government should consider pursuing in the product design and use space.

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ACCAN recently submitted to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) public inquiry on the access determinations for the voice interconnections services discussion paper.

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ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Social Services’ consultation on the Review of Australia’s Disability Strategy. 

ACCAN notes that accessible communications and technology are central to the success of the Australian Disability Strategy (ADS).

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ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Social Services consultation on the Draft List of NDIS Support. 

ACCAN notes that the current draft list of NDIS support would block the purchase of devices with important accessibility features required for some NDIS participants to communicate.

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