Policy submissions and positions
ACCAN will make its policy submissions available online.
2010
ACCAN POLICY POSITION: Accessibility of digital television equipment
20 August 2010
The switch off of analog television by 2013 requires all households to begin getting ready for digital television now. However, for the 20% of the population who have disabilities, there is no information readily available about accessible digital television equipment.
For ACCAN's full position please see the doc. or pdf. document below.
PDF (268Kb) |Doc (66Kb)
Disability Care and Support Inquiry
16 August 2010
ACCAN is committed to improving the information and communications environment for all consumers with disability. We strongly recommend that any disability care and support scheme incorporates the above mentioned recommendations in an effort to further the economic, social participation and social inclusion of Australians with disability.
PDF (264Kb) |Doc (922Kb)
Mobile Premium Services Code review
06 August 2010
It is time to re-think the content and structure of the Code to accommodate consumer protections for current, emerging and ‘unknown’ mobile services of the future. ACCAN is very happy to support a healthy and vibrant market for premium and subscription mobile services and other mobile commerce technologies where there are sufficient safeguards in place to ensure that vulnerable consumers are protected, services provided do not cause consumer detriment (financial or otherwise) and redress is available when something goes wrong.
PDF (267Kb) |Doc (926Kb)
Privacy of Australians Online
23 July 2010
Protecting and promoting the privacy of communications as a critical aspect of our vision for available, accessible and affordable communications for all Australians.
Complaints are a vital element in privacy protection and this submission describes the different complaints paths available to Australians when they have a privacy complaint and suggests ways to improve these avenues.
PDF (299Kb) |Doc (181Kb)
Trans-Tasman mobile roaming
08 July 2010
ACCAN believes that Australian consumers pay excessive voice, text and data prices for international roaming. At the same time there is inadequate transparency and thus consumer awareness of pricing arrangements that apply when customers take their Australian mobile devices overseas. To address these problems the Agencies should consider the introduction of pricing interventions and measures to increase pricing transparency..
PDF (266Kb) |Doc (928Kb)
Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Determination 2009
28 June 2010
The move towards making available enhanced, mobile location information for Emergency Call Services by amending the Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Determination 2009, is long overdue and a welcome provision to enhance the safety of consumers.
PDF (195Kb) |Doc (900Kb)
Geographic Numbering Amendments
01 June 2010
ACCAN opposes the proposals to allow a break from geographic numbering protocols. If enacted, consumers are likely to be offered standard telephone services that no-longer support untimed fixed-rate local calls, do not support location information services and have a limited capacity to switch between providers. Regulation that would permit industry to charge consumers more for an inferior product must be rejected.
PDF (214Kb) |Doc (1098Kb)
Response to the NBN Implementation Study
31 May 2010
This submission provides ACCAN's response to the weighty NBN Implementation Study. ACCAN is critical about the lack of attention given to consumer issues. ACCAN welcomes the recommendation that NBN Co develop a Charter on how NBN Co should meet the needs of consumers.
PDF (465Kb) |Doc (1098Kb)
Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety
28 April 2010
ACCAN strongly supports efforts to improve consumer cyber-safety. In particular, we believe that consumers should be made aware of, and be able to easily access, clear, relevant cyber-safety information and tools. Assessments of how effective the current cyber-safety initiatives being run by government departments should be made and where there are short-comings currently, these should be addressed. This may be by changes to current initiatives, such as extending the Spam Act, or through the creation of entirely new initiatives where necessary.
PDF (326Kb) |Doc (1114Kb)
Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Bill (No. 2) 2010
27 April 2010
In this submission, we encourage senators to seize the opportunity to create real reform that comprehensively addresses future consumer concerns, including key digital rights issues. The introduction of a prohibition on unfair conduct, a reform which we believe is long overdue, would be one step in providing comprehensive, future-looking consumer protection.
***UPDATE*** Following our submission, Elissa Freeman, Director Policy and Campaigns gave evidence to the hearing into the Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Bill (No. 2) 2010 on 30 April 2010 in Canberra.
PDF (333Kb) |Doc (923Kb)
Telecommunications Service Provider (MPS) Determination 2010 (no.2)
16 April 2010
This submission provides the ACMA with the opportunity to enhance the Telecommunications Service Provider (Mobile Premium Services) Determination 2010 (No.2) in protecting consumers. The 'Do Not Contract‘ Rule and the 'Do Not Bill‘ Rule are important new tools that can be deployed to protect consumers from some of the excesses of SMS/MMS services. While we welcome these measures, we believe that consumer protection can be still further enhanced, in particular in relation to the 'Do Not Bill‘ Rule.
PDF (240Kb) |Doc (908Kb)
National Broadband Network Companies and Access Arrangements Bills
30 March 2010
The exposure drafts of the NBN Companies Bill and the Access Bill provide an opportunity to entrench consumer protections in Australia’s future broadband arrangements. The bills establish key arrangements for the accountability of the NBN Co to government and the process for access seekers but ACCAN believe the Bills could go much further to build public interest concerns into the NBN.
PDF (219Kb) |Doc (1102Kb)
Transforming Life Outside Cities: The Potential of Broadband Services
18 March 2010
This submission outlines opportunities for the NSW government to facilitate a more inclusive society using the benefits of broadband services. We note, however, that the success of such initiatives ultimately depends on consumers having sufficient availability of broadband services at affordable prices.
PDF (228Kb) |Doc (912Kb)
Are you connected? Telecommunications availability in Rural and Regional Communities
18 March 2010
The struggle to access adequate communications services in rural and remote areas of Australia is an ongoing concern, often leading to lengthy disputes between consumers and service providers.
PDF (287Kb) |Doc (920Kb)
Digital Dividend Green Paper
08 March 2010
The digital dividend is the Government’s opportunity to ensure that the benefits to individuals and the community outweigh the costs associated with the switchover to digital television. This submission highlights the ways in which this could be achieved.
PDF (225Kb) |Doc (907Kb)
Mandatory Internet Service (ISP) Filtering
12 February 2010
ACCAN supports the rights of consumers to safe products and services and we recognise the unique needs of children and young people using the internet. We also believe that the internet must remain a neutral and open forum for its users.
PDF (127Kb) |Doc (219Kb)
Do Not Call Register Amendment Bill 2009
22 January 2010
ACCAN recommended the removal of the 3 year registration renewal requirement, and removal of the 'public interest' exemptions that currently apply.
PDF (212Kb) |Doc (288Kb)
2009
Gov 2.0 Taskforce
16 November 2009
ACCAN's submission outlined our views on how to provide an accessible Gov 2.0 platform, emphasising the role of government procurement policies, the need for an independent disability equipment program and a discussion of e-accessibility in Government activities.
PDF (79Kb) |Doc (216Kb)
E-Security Code
10 November 2009
ACCAN commended the Internet Industry Association (IIA) for developing an E-Security code and offered a number of recommendations to improve it.
PDF (123Kb) |Doc (1734Kb)
Do Not Call Register Statutory Review
03 November 2009
ACCAN welcomed the opportunity raised by the statutory review to contribute to the expansion and improvement of the Do Not Call Register. We recommended that:
- The Register moves to an opt-in model
- Inferred consent is removed as an exemption and the test for express consent is strengthened;
- Consumers can manage exclusions on a category by category basis;
- The 3 year registration period is removed;
- The Register is expanded to include small business numbers and fax numbers; and
- Missed call and silent line marketing should be banned.
PDF (182Kb) |Doc (307Kb)
Premium SMS/MMS Barrring
30 October 2009
ACCAN argued strongly in favour of a default barring approach. Creating a Determination that incorporates default barring is not just a complementary safeguard to the Mobile Premium Services Code, it is a fundamental one to ensure the improved safety of Mobile Premium Services (MPS). Default barring will provide consumer protection for all Australians, with a particular benefit for minors, who are still heavily vulnerable to false advertising and claims in relation to MPS.
PDF (155Kb) |Doc (1777Kb)
PDF Accessibility Review
19 October 2009
ACCAN wrote a letter supporting the views of Blind Citizens Australian and Media Access Australia, highlighting the need for documents to be made available in multiple formats.
PDF (87Kb) |Doc (210Kb)
Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2009 Submission
13 October 2009
ACCAN has made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts in relation to the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2009.
PDF (135Kb) |Doc (382Kb)
Cyber Crime
17 August 2009
ACCAN made a submission to the Inquiry into Cyber Crime, under investigation by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications.
PDF (149Kb) |Doc (233Kb)
Consumer Voices: Sustaining Advocacy and Research
10 August 2009
ACCAN wrote a letter supporting the Consumers Federation of Australia’s submission to the Treasury Discussion Paper “Consumer Voices: Sustaining advocacy and research in Australia’s new consumer policy framework”
PDF (150Kb) |Doc (264Kb)
Information Accessibility Code
10 August 2009
ACCAN submitted comments to the revised Information on Accessibility Features for Telephone Equipment Industry Code (DR C625:2009) and Operational Matrices for Reporting on Accessibility Features for Telephone Equipment Industry Guideline (DR G627:2009).
PDF (113Kb) |Doc (262Kb)
Review of Regulatory Burdens: Social and Economic Infrastructure Services
10 August 2009
ACCAN submitted comments on the Productivity Commission’s Annual Review of Regulatory Burdens: Social and Economic Infrastructure Services draft report.
PDF (183Kb) |Doc (270Kb)