Conroy plans feedback forum for telecommunications policy

Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is calling for participants to take part in a forum aimed at identifying ways to make consumer representation in telecommunications policy making more effective.

Scheduled to take place in Canberra on Thursday 1 May 2008, the forum will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss ways in which current consumer representation strategies can be improved.

Prominent stakeholders in the telecommunications market -- including consumer, carrier, disability, government and industry representatives -- have been invited to attend.

“The Telecommunications Consumer Representation Stakeholder Forum will examine the effectiveness of current consumer representation in the Australian telecommunications industry,” Conroy said.

“I want to give consumers a more powerful and effective voice in the development of telecommunications policy.”

Conroy said he was also interested in exploring a range of options that would give consumers a stronger platform to air their concerns.

“This could be along the lines of a federated peak body and substructure as proposed by the Productivity Commission in its draft report, Review of Australia’s Consumer Policy Framework,” Conroy said.

Anyone interested in expressing a view on this issue can lodge a submission electronically at consumer.forum@dbcde.gov.au. Submissions must be lodged by midday 30 April 2008 AEST. All submissions will be published on the Department’s website.