Prebudget Submission 2026-27

ACCAN recently submitted to the Australian Treasury’s Pre-Budget consultation to provide our views on priorities for the 2026-2027 Budget. ACCAN’s submission outlines the challenges faced by communications consumers in accessing reliable, accessible and affordable communications services, and a range of proposed solutions to address these challenges.  

Communications consumers must be supported to engage in a fair, competitive and responsive communications market that meets their needs – particularly in the context of Australia’s ongoing cost of living pressures.  

This submission recommends the Australian Government: 

1. Implement wholesale and retail mobile network performance standards to improve consumers’ access to mobile services, including emergency services.   

2. Undertake an expansive review into the functionality, objectives and sustainability of the Triple Zero (000) service. 

3. Support a technology-neutral approach to accessing emergency services, including a broad review of how consumers access 000 through video relay-to-000, text-to-000 and real time text-to-000.  

4. Resource and expand the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman to include handling digital platforms complaints. 

5. Advance digital platforms competition reforms to address anti-competitive behaviours, preventing harm to Australian businesses and consumers. 

6. Allocate funding to establish a concessional broadband product for low-income households receiving Commonwealth financial support. 

7. Introduce retail price caps for NBN Co’s Entry Level Offer to benefit low-income and price conscious households.  

8. Allocate funding to establish an independent telecommunications plan comparison tool in the retail telecommunications market.  

9. Provide additional funding to improve telecommunications network resilience in Regional, Rural and Remote areas, including investment in backup power solutions.  

10. Amend the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) to introduce a clause focused on ensuring accessible ICT and require that Australian Government agencies procure ICT products and services that are accessible. 

11. Allocate funding towards the development of a national plan to promote accessible information and communications.  

12. Increase funding for national digital skills and literacy programs, including accessible training such as Auslan, braille and plain English.  

13. Continue funding to the Regional Tech Hub, First Nations Digital Support Hub and Network of Digital Mentors.