Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 12 March 2008 10:41
IT Policy -
Government Tech Policy
Page 2 of 3
Conroy said he was "strongly commited to remaining actively engaged with all stakeholders" because "I firmly believe this is the best way to develop new policy...A sustainable telecommunications industry ultimately relies on maintaining a healthy relationship with consumers. According to a recent OECD paper on protecting and empowering consumers, informed consumers are a necessary part of the mix. They are able to stimulate innovation and competition, improving prices and service quality."
Consumers are presently represented in Communications Alliance by the Consumer Council, According to its web site, "The ACIF [former name of Comms Alliance] Consumer Council was an initiative to ensure adequate and appropriate broad consumer input into ACIF processes and activities, particularly, in code development. The Council works in parallel with, and is complementary to, the existing ACIF structure.
"The Council comprises up to ten members from a wide range of consumer representative and public interest representative organisations, thereby providing diverse coverage of key stakeholder sectors. The roles and responsibilities of the Council are based upon providing broadly-based consumer input to ACIF, including input to the ACIF Strategic Plan and input to the ACIF Works Program."
It lists members, as of April 2007 as being: Teresa Corbin (Consumers Telecommunications Network); Dr Christopher Newell (ACIF Disability Council); Nan Bosler (Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association); Su Robertson (Communications Law Centre); Myra Pincott (Country Womens' Association of Australia); Marion Lau (Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria); Cheryl Langdon-Or (Internet Society of Australia); Gordon Frend (Australian Telecommunications Users Group); Ian Butterworth
(Telecommunications Consumer Group SA).
Conspicuous by its absence is the Australian Consumers Association. There is a very specific reason for this.
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