Section 593 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 gives the Minister capacity to make grants of financial assistance to consumer bodies to support consumer representation in the telecommunications sector.
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has received the entire funding allocation for its activities as the peak communications consumer body.
ACCAN also administers an independent grants program for research and representation projects. Please direct queries to ACCAN by telephone on 02 9288 4000 or via the ACCAN website.
The 2023–2024 annual report on the funding of telecommunications consumer representation grants is available below.
The Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Charges) (Paragraph 15(1)(d)) Determination 2022 (No. 1) sets out the amount for the purposes outlined in paragraph 15(1)(d) of the Act (ie the amount determined to be 'the estimated total amount of grants likely to be made during the financial year under section 593 of the Telecommunications Act 1997') at $2,381,000 for 2021–22 financial year. The Determination and Explanatory Statement for the Determination are available below.
Relevant documents
- Funding of telecommunications—consumer representation grants—Annual Report 2023–24—November 2024
- Funding of telecommunications—consumer representation grants—Annual Report 2022–23—October 2023
- Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Charges) (Paragraph 15(1)(D)) Determination 2023—published 6 April 2023
- Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Charges) (Paragraph 15(1)(D)) Determination 2023—Explanatory statement—published 6 April 2023
- Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Charges) (Paragraph 15(1)(D)) Determination 2022 (No. 1)—published 7 July 2022
- Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Charges) (Paragraph 15(1)(D)) Determination 2022 (No. 1)—Explanatory statement—published 7 July 2022
- Funding of telecommunications consumer representation grants—Annual report 2020–21—published 20 January 2021