A cloud over the immediate future and very existence of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has been lifted with the Federal Government’s announcement of a new agreement to fund the telecoms consumer interest group for the next 5 years.
As the peak communications consumer group representing the interests of consumers in the telecommunications sector, doubts were cast over its future when the Government announced a review of its performance in October last year.
At the time of the review announcement and release of an issues paper, the Government said continued funding of ACCAN was the priority issue to be considered.
And, when it announced the review, the Government said it was appropriate to look at the role that ACCAN has performed to date and “whether other bodies could perform the role that ACCAN has played and also other methods which could be adopted by government to ensure that the views of consumers are adequately considered in policy making”.
{loadposition peter}The ACCAN is the sole recipient of funding under the Telecommunications Act and, in its issues paper, the Government listed organisations that could be considered for funding redirected from ACCAN, as the Consumers’ Federation of Australia, advocacy group CHOICE and the Consumer Action Law Centre.
But, with Friday’s announcement, the Minister for Communications Senator Mitch Fifield says the Government will continue to fund ACCAN - to 2022 -, and that this will enable “improved engagement between ACCAN, regulatory agencies and industry” as well as enhancements to the independent grants research program administered by ACCAN to guide research priorities.
Announcing his decision, the Minister said the Government’s delivery of ongoing funding to ACCAN will enable the removal of funding caps and time limits for research projects “to provide greater flexibility and allow for longer-term research proposals”.
ACCAN Chair, Johanna Plante, says the new funding agreement is “clear recognition by the government that an adequately funded consumer organisation is vital in achieving better communications services for all Australians”.
“On behalf of all consumers I’m very pleased that this work will continue into the foreseeable future.
“We want to thank the Minister and the Department for recognising the on-going need for a consumer organisation in the telecommunications industry. Telecommunications is a very complex area, and as more and more devices are connected, consumer representation is needed more than ever.”
The Minister said the Government recognises the ongoing need for consumer representation in telecommunications policy and regulatory processes and “looks forward to ACCAN’s continued contribution to the communications sector and ongoing commitment to representing the views of Australian consumers”.
ACCAN CEO, Teresa Corbin, said the review of the organisation had highlighted the “strong support for the work ACCAN does and many stakeholders reinforced the need for a united consumer voice in the telecommunications industry”.
Corbin said ACCAN will work to implement the agreed enhancements to industry and government engagement and the Grants program as soon as possible.
“The first round of the Grants program will open for applications very soon. A big thank you must also go to ACCAN’s supporters including members, volunteers and industry representatives for their ongoing commitment to ensuring we remain a relevant and effective organisation.”