FUNDING STRENGTHENS CONSUMER REPRESENTATION
15 July 2004
113/04
Telecommunications consumers will have stronger representation as a result of grants to 28 consumer organisations totalling $700,000.
The grants will ensure that the needs and interests of consumers are represented in the development of telecommunications industry codes and practices.
A new feature of the grants for 2004-05 is the allocation of sitting fees to all members of the Australian Communications Industry Forum's (ACIF) Consumer Advisory Council and Disability Advisory Board. This funding means that consumer bodies who want to participate in the self-regulatory process in telecommunications have appropriate financial support.
Funds are also to be allocated for the representation of consumers in regional areas and consumers with disabilities.
The peak representative organisations for residential and small business consumers, the Consumers' Telecommunications Network and the Small Enterprise Telecommunications Centre, will receive funding. This will help them to employ staff with expertise and experience in telecommunications and representation for the long-term benefit of consumers.
Organisations representing consumers with disabilities, including the Telecommunications and Disability Consumer Representation, Australian Association of the Deaf, Deafness Forum Australia and Women with Disabilities Australia have also been allocated funding.
Under the Telecommunications Act 1997 the Howard Government has allocated $4.6 million to consumer bodies for representation since 1998.
A list of grant recipients is attached.
More information is available from the 'grants and funding' link at www.dcita.gov.au.
Media Contact: Jane Seaborn (02) 6277 7480 or 0439 425 373
TELECOMMUNICATION CONSUMER REPRESENTATION
GRANTS 2004-05
Consumer Organisation
Grant
AgForce Queensland
$12,500
Australian Association of the Deaf
$44,407
Australian Council of Social Service
$2,628
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
$7,300
Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association
$2,190
Australian Seniors Computer Clubs' Association
$2,628
Australian Telecommunications Users' Group
$2,628
Blind Citizens Australia (Telecommunications and Disability Consumer Representation)
$91,190
Blind Citizens Australia
$2,190
Collective of Self Help Groups
$2,628
Communications Law Centre
$17,628
Community Information Strategies Australia
$10,000
Consumers' Telecommunications Network
$253,628
Deafness Forum of Australia
$14,690
Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria
$2,628
Internet Society of Australia
$19,878
Isolated Children's Parents' Association
$2,628
National Council of Women of Australia
$2,628
National Council on Intellectual Disability
$2,190
National Farmers' Federation
$2,628
Physical Disability Council of Australia
$2,190
Queensland Rural Women's Network
$2,628
Small Enterprise Telecommunications Centre
$164,128
Tasmanian Council of Social Service
$12,500
Telecommunications Consumer Group SA
$2,628
The Country Women's Association of Australia
$2,628
The Outback Digital Network
$2,628
Women with Disabilities Australia
$10,760
TOTAL
$700,000
Note: The total includes an amount of $1095 to be provided to the Chair of the Consumer Advisory Council, once elected.
