Aussie Comms Minister seeks input on consumer representation

Stuart Corner
Monday, 07 April 2008 12:03

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

Choice claimed that "not all consumer codes have been developed with adequate consumer input," and it singled out the premium mobile services industry code as one where "industry gamed the process for its own advantage." Gordon Renouf, Choice's manager of policy and campaigns, told iTWire that, after 18 months developing a code through TISSC, "AMTA did not like it so they threw it out and came up with one of their own."

Choice has called for the creation of a generic set of principles and procedural requirements for codes that affect consumer contracts or conduct in consumer markets. Renouf said: "What we would like to see happen is for the Commonwealth Government, through the PC review and its response to set standards for code development across all industries. At the moment we have a silo approach. In finance we do it one way, in telecommunications another and in energy another.

"There are good aspects to all of these but there should be a generic good practice code development model under the leadership of the Commonwealth and appropriate changes made in each industry to bring those in to line."

Choice also wants changes to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman to bring it into line with dispute resolution bodies in other sectors. Renouf said "If you look at the dispute resolution services in the finance sector, you have very clear rules that the governance structures are balanced between industry and consumers with an independent chair which is not the case with the TIO. It has a supervisory board made up entirely of industry people and a day-to-day body which is balanced."