Australian consumers get stronger voice on telecoms issues

by Stuart Corner

Wednesday, 06 August 2008

Page 1 of 2 ! A new body has been formed which promises to strengthen Australian consumer representation across a wide range of telecommunications issues. The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has announced its inaugural board and released is constitution. However whether it becomes an effective and active entity will depend on funding in the May 2009 Federal budget. Subject to this it expects to be operational in July 2009. The allocation of budget funding will be a decision for cabinet. The new body has its origins in a promise made by communications minister,  Stephen Conroy in his speech to the Australian Telecommunications Users Group conference in March when he said he was interested in exploring a range of options that would "provide the strong voice consumers need." To progress this he organised a Consumer Stakeholder Forum in Canberra on 1 May and subsequently announced a grant  of $87,000 to the Consumers Telecommunication Network (CTN) to cover costs associated with obtaining legal advice, logo and branding development, website development, a human resources consultancy for wages benchmarking and project management and sitting fees to create the new body. Consumers handed a report to the minister outlining their plans for a new representative body on 1 August. Conroy said he would "look forward to considering the report it has recently provided on consumer representation arrangements going forward." And he welcomed the formation of ACCAN saying: "This is an important step in the process towards a stronger unified consumer voice. Strong and effective consumer representation is paramount for a vibrant and competitive telecommunications market." According to its press release, ACCAN will "represent the full range of telecommunications consumers in Australia; people with disabilities, from rural and remote Australia, those living on low incomes, seniors, youth, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, indigenous Australians, and small businesses (in their capacity as consumers) and will take communications consumer issues and concerns to government, the regulators and to industry." Some 33 organisations participated in its creation. CONTINUED << First page <   1 2 Next page > Last page - Post your comment >>

 

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