The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) is investigating options for internal reform in the wake of recommendations from the Consumer Safeguards Review Part A: Complaints handling and consumer redress. The first part of this investigation relates to possible changes to the TIO Constitution to reform the structure and selection of its Board. ACCAN’s response to the TIO Option Paper proposed a number of changes to enhance the independence of the TIO Board and strengthen the consumer perspective in Board matters.
ACCAN’s response to the TIO’s call for feedback offered a number of suggestions:
- That independent Board member positions are removed and replaced by a Director with consumer experience and a Director with industry experience respectively.
- That the Nominations Committee is re-structured to include the Chair of the Board, and one representative from ACCAN, the industry peak body Communications Alliance, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) respectively
- That a two-term limit on tenure is introduced to promote diversity in Board positions
- These options will support the independence of the TIO Board by diversifying the range of opinions reflected on it while maintaining the integrity of the selection process.
Download: 
Response to TIO Options Paper: Possible Amendments to Constitution88.54 KB
Download: 
Response to TIO Options Paper: Possible Amendments to Constitution519.42 KB