The Federal Government is reviewing the effectiveness of organisations in the telecommunications industry, including consumer and industry regulatory bodies, to provide information to consumers looking for the right products and services to meet their needs.
The Ministers for Communications, Mitch Fifield, has just released an issues paper inviting submissions on the effectiveness of section 593 of the Telecommunications Act 1997, under which the Government provides funding for telecommunications consultation and research.
According to the Government, Australia’s telecommunications landscape has “changed dramatically” since section 593 was enacted in 1997 and, as the National Broadband Network rollout continues to gather pace, consumers have an “ever-increasing variety of telecommunications options” and can face challenges in finding the right products and services.
The Government says the review will assess whether the Act remains “fit-for-purpose” in an evolving telecommunications market, or if improvements could be made for the benefit of consumers.
{loadposition peter}The peak industry body charged with looking after the interests of consumers is the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and the Government says that it will review the effectiveness of both ACCAN itself, and section 593 of the Act, to ensure that consumer interests remain “well-represented into the future”.
The review is being implemented as ACCAN’s current five-year funding agreement is due to conclude in May next year.
ACCAN is currently the sole recipient of funding under the telecommunications Act, with its role in the industry including representing consumers in consultation processes, conducting research and providing information and advice to assist consumers in making informed decisions.
The issues paper poses questions across three key areas:
1. Consumer representation and the effectiveness of ACCAN
2. The independent grants program and research, currently administered by ACCAN
3. The scope of Section 593 of the Act, and whether other activities should be funded beyond consumer representation and research.
The Government says any changes made as a result of the review will be evaluated on whether they provide “better outcomes for consumers”.
Feedback on the issues paper has to be submitted to the Government by 25 November.