ACCAN recently submitted to The Treasury’s Inquiry into the Treasury Laws Amendment (Consumer Data Right) Bill 2022 Consultation.

ACCAN supports amending the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) (CCA) to extend the Consumer Data Right (CDR) framework to enable action initiation. Extending the CCA to cover action initiation through an Accredited Action Initiator (AAI) may provide significant benefits to consumers.

The Australian Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is calling for the development of a retail registration scheme for telco providers which will give the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) greater visibility over the industry.

ACCAN wants to see the creation of an up-to-date register of providers, to improve the visibility of market participants. Creation of a register will benefit consumers, regulators and services providing by providing a trusted and central source of information that consumers can use to contact their telco.

ACCAN recently submitted to the Senate Standing Committees on Economics’ consultation on the Influence of International Digital Platforms.

Our submission identified the harms consumers face when interacting with digital platforms, including social networking scams and a lack of complaint redress. ACCAN recommends:

ACCAN has made a submission to the Governments Future of Broadcasting consultation on a Connected Television Prominence Framework. The consultation suggested a range of proposals which would support the policy intent of making Australian local television services prominent and easy to access on connected devices capable of displaying television programming.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement of a trial which will give up to 10,000 regional Australians on NBN Sky Muster Plus access to unmetered monthly data allowances and faster speeds in a bid to boost internet quality in the bush.

Beginning in March and running through to May this year, the trial aims to deliver faster download speeds of up to 100 Mbps for regional customers. Faster satellite services without data allowances is very good news for households and small businesses in regional and remote Australia.

ACCAN has responded to an ACCC consultation on NBN Co’s proposed variation to its Special Access Undertaking (SAU). The SAU sets out the rules by which NBN Co provides wholesale access to retailers. The SAU can determine price and quality of voice and broadband services delivered over the NBN until 2040.

The SAU variation lodged by NBN Co in November 2022 represents a significant step forward compared to its previous Variation. There are many aspects of the latest proposal that ACCAN supports such as the shift to a flat rate pricing construct, the reduction of the Initial Cost Recovery Account, the Replacement Module Application process, and the introduction of the Weighted Average Price Cap.

ACCAN has responded to The Treasury’s Digital Platforms: Government consultation on ACCC’s regulatory reform recommendations Consultation Paper. In our submission we supported the introduction of:

ACCAN has provided feedback on the ACCC’s record keeping rule (RKR) for NBN’s service performance.

ACCAN supports the proposal which will require NBN Co to submit service quality and network performance metrics to the ACCC, where the ACCC will publicly report on the information collected.

ACCAN considers that the RKR should be amended to:

ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ consultation on the Regional Connectivity Program Round 3 (including Mobile Black Spot opportunities) Grant Opportunity Draft Guidelines. In our submission we recommended:

ACCAN recently submitted to the Department of Social Services’ consultation on a new Act to replace the Disability Services Act 1986 (The Act). ACCAN welcomes the commitment of the new Act to affirm the rights and freedoms contained in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).  ACCAN’s submission calls for the new Act to:

ACCAN recently submitted to the Australian Treasury’s pre-budget consultation, to provide our views on priorities for the 2023-2024 Australian Budget. Promoting digital inclusion is key to achieving the Australian Government’s Digital Economy Strategy and to boosting productivity and living standards for Australians. ACCAN’s submission calls on the Australian Government to commit to the following in the 2023-2024 Budget:

ACCAN recently submitted to Communications Alliance’s consultation on DR C647:2022 NBN Access Transfer Code. 

ACCAN supports the amendments proposed in the draft code, which will facilitate the efficient transfer of NBN services. The proposed amendments will support the verification and transfer process and provide benefits by: