Many telco consumers continue to face long wait times, unresolved complaints and repeated network failures. ACCAN is calling on the consumer watchdog ACCC to investigate if consumers being charged and not receiving a service constitute misleading sales practice. The full article: buff.ly/7R1i5Ux

With Black Friday fast approaching, consumers are being urged to watch out for scams. Here are some essential tips to stay safe: 1. Question deals that appear unrealistic 2. Take time to verify a seller’s identity 3. Treat high-pressure sales tactics with suspicion. More info: buff.ly/f7xKmNm

Since the major Optus outage, reporter Michael Atkin has been digging into what’s being done to prevent another Triple-Zero failure. Atkin’s latest report unpacks why Triple-Zero calls are still failing and whether our emergency call system remains fit for purpose. Listen here: buff.ly/nV6tWtM

A strong win for Australian consumers. Thank you to Minister Leigh for taking action on this vital issue, and to all consumer groups whose sustained advocacy made this possible. @cprc-research.bsky.social @erinlturner.bsky.social @choiceaustralia.bsky.social #subscription #auspol

A new report released through our ACCAN Grants Program, with research conducted by @griffith.edu.au, has found that while most Australians share their smartphone with their partner, many are taking steps to protect their privacy. For more, read the media release: buff.ly/FznzbyI #cybersecurity

ACCAN recently met with Craig Young, CEO of Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ), which represents telco consumers in New Zealand. It was a valuable opportunity to exchange insights & share our experiences ahead of the planned 3G network shutdown in New Zealand in late 2025.

ACCAN attended the Global Summit on Economic Abuse in Sydney this week. We were happy to receive an EARGie - an annual tradition within the network that recognises members contributions to economic abuse advocacy.

The Government is consulting on a proposed Digital Duty of Care, which would require online services to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harms. ACCAN has consistently called for stronger platform responsibility, and this consultation is an opportunity for consumers to have their say.

Following the tragic death linked to the failed Samsung TPG Triple-Zero call, Carol Bennett spoke to 9 News about the serious safety concerns this raises, stressing that the issue is a matter of life and death for users. Ensure your device is fully updated to prevent similar risks. #tpg #samsung

We welcome ACMA’s decisive action in holding Optus accountable, issuing the maximum $826,320 penalty following a security flaw that exposed customers to phone scams. It’s encouraging to see the regulator taking meaningful steps to protect consumers and enforce compliance in the telco sector.

Speaking to ABC News, our CEO questioned why older generation Samsung phones were not identified and blocked earlier when the Emergency Call Service Determination was first introduced in 2024. “These devices slipped through the cracks and now we have a tragic outcome." 🔗 buff.ly/0Ubftii

ACCAN is deeply saddened by reports that a person has died following failed attempts to reach Triple Zero while using a Lebara (TPG) service on an older Samsung device. Read our full statement: buff.ly/U3Anwx9

ACCAN made a comprehensive submission to the Attorney-General’s Department’s consultation on the review of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth). Read our 11 recommendations to the Attorney-General's Department in the full submission: buff.ly/vvs2HhJ

The Australian has spotlighted the debate over whether a spectrum auction should be held, contrasting Telstra and ACMA’s views with the consumer-first views of ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett, Professor Allan Fels and Professor Richard Holden. Read more: buff.ly/M0vToR9

Our CEO Carol Bennett spoke with ABC Adelaide this week about Telstra’s new charge for paper bills - a move likely to impact older Australians. Under the rules, Telstra can only cover costs with their paper billing fees - they can't make a profit. #telstra #telecommunications #telco

Not all calls to Triple-Zero are for a medical emergency. Read ABC News' story from Michael Atkin about 32-year-old Kelsey who was unable to contact emergency services after two burglars entered her room in the middle of the night. Full story: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10... #triplezero #optus

The 2025 ADII report demonstrates that Australia has made steady progress on digital inclusion, yet large gaps still remain. We urge the government to consider the economic + social benefits of a concessional broadband policy to ensure no one is left offline. 🔗 www.accan.org.au/accan-s-medi...

“Spectrum is a valuable public asset & its allocation must deliver benefits to the public” - Carol Bennett ACCAN will be driving this message as part of our forum ahead of the upcoming Spectrum licensing decision. Don't miss it this Friday, tix are free! events.teams.microsoft.com/event/78c20a...

Minister for Communications Anika Wells has confirmed a list of eight sites which will come under the new social media ban. This marks a bold and positive step in social policy, positioning Australia as a leader in protecting young people online. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

Our CEO told ABC Radio that yesterday’s Senate inquiry was both revealing and disappointing. Optus’ priority is its shareholders, and ACMA is still expecting telcos to act in the public interest. 🔗 buff.ly/2hq4Pq3

A Senate inquiry into the fatal Optus outage has revealed a telco torn between profit and public safety - and a regulator asleep at the wheel. Read more in our media release: buff.ly/n4kB2bS

The Fair Call Coalition is calling for direct regulation in the telco sector to replace the weak TCP Code. It's time ACMA puts consumers first, putting an end to the self-regulatory system that has been in place for too long and harmed too many. Read the full CHOICE article: buff.ly/z4RNqIl

The Fair Call Coalition is calling for direct regulation in the telco sector to replace the weak TCP Code. It's time ACMA puts consumers first, putting an end to the self-regulatory system that has been in place for too long and harmed too many. Read the full CHOICE article: buff.ly/z4RNqIl

ACCAN on 10 News this week! Carol Bennett spoke about the new rules requiring telcos to maintain a public network outage register - a vital step toward greater transparency for Australian consumers and stronger accountability across the telco industry. #news #australianews #telcos #outageregister

This week ACCAN is at the Australian Competition Summit 2025 in Melbourne, hosted by the ACCC and Monash University. ACCAN supports critical digital competition reforms as well as calling for best practice in telecommunications competition policy. Read Cass-Gottlieb's full speech: buff.ly/F1XQhvH

3AW Mornings radio host Tom Elliott received an email last week saying if he didn't call the Telstra hotline, he would be disconnected. ACCAN CEO @caroljbennett.bsky.social noted that these types of encounters are all too common. Listen to the full interview: buff.ly/hbhB2hf #telstra #telco

Former competition tsar Allan Fels’ statement reaffirms ACCAN’s stance on spectrum: that a transparent public auction best promotes competition and will ensure the best service offerings while keeping costs for consumers down. Read the full article: buff.ly/rUb43XK #spectrum #auspol

ACCAN welcomes the announcement from Minister Anika Wells that public outage registers will be established in the wake of successive network failures. Once implemented, this means it will be mandatory for telcos to maintain a public outage register and update it in real-time. 🔗 buff.ly/s9WhWZV

Consumers are supposed to be protected under the industry written TCP code. Last week, ACMA rejected the ATA's draft after finding it did not adequately protect customers. ACCAN would like to see direct regulation of sales practices and credit assessment to protect consumers from ongoing harm.

Our CEO Carol Bennett spoke to ABC News about the Samsung Triple-Zero issue affecting older Samsung devices, with some needing to buy a new phone within 28 days. ACCAN says: Telcos and regulators must prioritise public safety and ensure every Australian can access Triple-Zero without undue burden.

🚨 50,000 Australians may be unable to reach Triple-0 due to older Samsung phones failing to “camp on” to another network during outages. Australians deserve reliability when calling Triple-0. Customers contacted by their provider should act quickly to make sure they can reach help in an emergency.

ACCAN has released a new policy position! if ACMA is to pursue a licence renewal approach, they should instate legal guarantees that money saved by telcos will be reinvested into a mix of further network investment and price reduction for consumers. Spectrum is a public asset. 🔗 buff.ly/65pbrjk

ACCAN is proud to support Get Online Week, a national initiative by Good Things Australia. With over 120,000 people supported and 97% learning something new, Get Online Week helps Australians gain the digital skills and confidence they need to thrive safely online. Let's close the digital divide.

Join our CEO @caroljbennett.bsky.social for the upcoming online forum “Stopping Scams at the Source: Australia’s World-Leading Prevention Framework in Action” on 11 November! Register now: events.humanitix.com/stopping-sca...

This Anti-Poverty Week, we’re celebrating the work of Workventures, one of our ACCAN Independent Grants Program recipients, whose project ‘Enabling First Nations digital citizens through a National Device Bank’ is helping close Australia’s digital divide. Learn more here: buff.ly/d4pLx8I

Today ACCAN has expressed concern about increasing financial hardship complaints (up 46%) and issues regarding poor mobile coverage (up 25%), revealed in the TIO's 2024-25 Annual Report. ACCAN is urging ACMA to reject the industry's proposed TCP Code. Read our new media release: buff.ly/1jTHQyM

Today ACCAN has released a new position paper calling on regulator ACMA to introduce a national outage register to restore public trust in Australia’s telcos. Australians deserve clear, reliable information about the services they depend on. Read the policy paper now: buff.ly/ZTDzEV9

👀 In case you missed it — ACCAN was on Nine News last week! ACCAN will continue to advocate for a more robust Triple Zero system. The new Custodian must have strong powers and be able to apply substantial fines when telcos break the rules. #optus #triplezero #telco #auspol

On @todayshow.com this morning, ACCAN CEO @caroljbennett.bsky.social told Karl Stefanovic that after Senate Estimates revelations yesterday, Triple Zero processes must change. A new Triple Zero custodian will help — but only if it has teeth and can act to oversight and improve the system.

We joined TODAY to discuss Telstra's $18mill fine handed down by the Federal Court for breaching consumer law - after moving almost 9000 customers to lower-speed plans without telling them. Communications is an essential service & must be regulated with direct oversight to protect Australians.

We welcome draft legislation to establish a Triple Zero Custodian - a key recommendation of the 2024 Bean Review – but want to see it strengthened to hold telcos to account. Read our full release: buff.ly/JiPQEB7 #optus #triplezero #telcos

All eyes on Communications Minister's meeting with telco execs today 👀 This is an important opportunity to outline to the heads of our largest telcos what Australians expect when it comes to their access to triple-zero services and discuss draft legislation ahead of its introduction to Parliament.

ACCAN in CHOICE 👀 It's time telcos have processes in place to prevent triple-0 failures. In Optus' case, it should be a condition on their licence to ensure reliable emergency calls. Thousands were affected in the latest outage—independent oversight is urgently needed. Read more: buff.ly/zVWA5cM

Your voice counts. Here’s what the Bulli community told us about the NBN. 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments below! #nbn #broadband #internet #bulli

ACCAN in Australian Financial Review this week, bringing consumer interests to the forefront of the ongoing Optus issue. Articles one written by @jennywiggins.bsky.social and Nicola Smith: buff.ly/4bm63Pz Article two written by Jenny Wiggins, Paul Smith, Simon Evans and Paul Karp: buff.ly/07bwUHQ

Almost two years on from the Optus outage that left Australians disconnected and unable to reach triple-zero, one of the Bean Review’s key recommendations — a dedicated triple-zero custodian — is yet to be put in place. It's time to act now. 🔗 @australia.theguardian.com: buff.ly/TEbbu2X optus

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Western Sydney this week to share their views on the future of @nbnaustralia.bsky.social. We were pleased to be joined by representatives from Western Sydney Health Alliance, Jarara Cultural Centre and Centre for Western Sydney at Western Sydney University.

📰 The Canberra Times: This week, ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett shared her perspective on the recent NBN speed boost and what it means for Australians. 💬 Read the full opinion piece here: buff.ly/sOH0NJG #nbn #broadband #internet #auspol

ACCAN on 9 News. As we await the regulator’s review of Optus’ triple-zero outages, urgent action is needed to restore trust. Minister Wells can act now under Optus’ carrier licence to appoint an independent technical expert – giving Australians confidence triple-zero will work. 🔗: buff.ly/lIG6nFx

Writing for @daily-telegraph.bsky.social @theherald-sun.bsky.social, our CEO @caroljbennett.bsky.social has today released an opinion piece on what the government must do to take back control of vital public safety services – or risk losing more lives in the process. Full article: buff.ly/nnzR9ew