In a major win for CFA members ACCAN and FCA, the communications regulator has committed to make calls from mobile phones to 1800/13 numbers free or the cost of a local call by January 2015.
Read More ACMA commits to reform of mobile charging for 13/1800 numbers
The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is a controversial, secretly negotiated, trade agreement designed to provide for stronger enforcement of intellectual property rights. But there has been no independent analysis of the impact of the treaty in Australia upon economics, human rights or health care.
Read More Opening Pandora’s box: secret treaty threatens human rights
The Department of Health and Ageing has released the Proposals for Regulations and Rules (proposals paper) for the eHealth records program.
Read More eHealth proposals paper released
Could the problem of one-sided take it or leave it contracts be addressed by developing a trust mark that traders can display to consumers where there contracts meet agreed standards of fairness?
Read More A trust mark for fair contracts?
Consumer advocate Jenni Mack documents the highs and lows of 150 years of consumer activism, and considers where to next for consumer advocacy.
Read More 50 years of consumer rights – how far have we come?
Researchers from UNSW’s Cyberspace Law and Policy Centre have launched a report revealing a complex, confusing and inconsistent web of Codes of Conduct which could cover an online transaction, and questions whether this model works to protect consumers in the new environment.
Read More Report finds online consumers and providers ‘Drowning in Codes of Conduct’
Access Now’s suggests that the secretly negotiated ACTA Treaty “will destroy the openness of the internet and threatens free speech online by forcing websites and ISPs to watch and track our every move”.
Read More ACTA a threat to freedom of the Internet?
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The Grants Scheme is a way for ACCAN to support community projects that create versatile resources for consumers and build a strong evidence base for communications consumer advocacy. There is scope for a wide variety of projects by community organisations, small businesses, researchers and individuals.
Read More ACCAN 2012 Grants Scheme now open
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CFA member ACCAN’s submission to the 2011–12 Regional Telecommunications Review was based on extensive consultations with member organisations and wider stakeholders. This interview with Robin Eckerman from the Review Committee explains the aims of the review.
Read More Regional Telecommunications Review 2011-2012
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Peak consumer group ACCAN says it cannot support the revised Telecommunications Consumer Protection (TCP) Code that was submitted to the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) for registration.
Read More ACCAN rejects draft Telecommunications Code
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Global roaming charges are high – indeed some have asked if they are the greatest rip off in history. CFA member ACCAN provides this handy tip sheet to avoid massive smartphone bills.
Read More Don’t let global roaming ruin your holiday
Mark Gregory from RMIT University says charges can be as high as $AUD20/MB for international data roaming and $AUD4.40 per minute to call home, but that there’s no justification. Originally published in The Conversation.
Read More Are Australian international roaming charges the greatest rip-off in history?
