Susan Templeman
Macquarie · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“The three key focuses of the government's action are, firstly, to disrupt and dismantle border threats to stem the flow of illicit tobacco and vapes to Australia before they make it to our shores; secondly, to enhance detection, disruption and destruction of illicit tobacco and vapes at the border and within the community; and, thirdly, t…”
“AUSTRAC is working with the banks and service providers to shut down the money flows that keep illicit tobacco profitable. Hundreds of accounts have already been closed and payment systems stopped.”
“We need to keep fighting it and not blame each other. Those opposite need to recognise that, just as we supported the steps they made, we need their full support in taking these actions.”
“That's not good enough for participants, it's not good enough for employers and it's not good enough for the economy. That's why these reforms are so important. This is the most significant change to employment services in 30 years. At the heart of these reforms is the end of the one-size-fits-all model.”
“The Commonwealth, states and territories are working together to reverse the equation for organised crime at every step and in every way to make the illicit tobacco trade more risky and less profitable, disrupting the illicit supply chain and shutting down illegal shops. This bill is another step in that process.”
“Mr Robert, at that time, spoke of the actions they were taking and the changes they were making on duty liabilities being paid when tobacco is imported into Australia.”
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“The Crisis and Transitional Accommodation Program supports the building, remodelling and purchase of new or expanded crisis and transitional accommodation. Thanks to funding through this program, DV West has been able to purchase two transitional units in the Blue Mountains, which will accommodate women and children who are no longer in crisis but still have support needs. This Commonwealth funding will help thousands of women and children across Australia, and it's another part of the Albanese government's ambitious housing reform agenda. Since coming to government, we've invested nearly 20 times more in crisis and transitional accommodation and programs than the previous Liberal government did in 10 years.”
“DV West has been supporting women and children in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Nepean and Western Sydney for decades. Recently I took the newly appointed assistant minister for the prevention of family violence, Ged Kearney, to sit down, listen and learn from DV West. The frontline workers shared with us examples of the activities that have helped reconnect children with their mums or carers after domestic and family violence. These might be anything from family outings, starting a new sport, cultural camp—all of which can bring happiness but also new ways of bonding. We were updated on the new crisis and transitional accommodation in the Blue Mountains that DV West has secured with funding from the Albanese government's Housing Australia Future Fund, one of my 2022 election commitments.”
“On spending time with Mary at an arts forum I held in the Blue Mountains many moons ago, the then shadow arts minister said to me, 'Wow, you really do have people who know about the arts.' Mary was chuffed to get that feedback. Mary gave her time and energy generously to the Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters, helping to fundraise to repair cyclone damage at a primary school in Timor Leste. Not long before she died, Mary was celebrated in a glowing portrait by Dr Janet Saunders at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre. I'm so proud that she got to see herself glowing in that beautiful painting.”
“In a membership movement, she backed people and supported them to find their voice. I feel very grateful to have had her backing. The Blue Mountains has lost an arts champion with the death of Mary Catherine Travers, an irrepressible, witty and warm person with a huge understanding of arts, advocacy and administration. Among many things, she was theatre officer and youth and puppetry officer at the Australia Council theatre board in the 1980s, a business manager for the Sydney Dance Company and, as an independent consultant, worked with theatres, writers, visual artists and arts agencies. Mary was a pioneer of arts advocacy. She was the founding executive director of Arts Action Australia, establishing the first Arts Advocacy Day in 1990.”
“Today I want to again pay tribute to her, honour her life and mourn her recent death. Susan mentored and guided me and so many Lefties in the Blue Mountains and was the most loyal comrade as my vice-president of our Macquarie federal electorate council—and she became president when I was elected. A Wenty and Bullaburra resident, Susan was passionate about social justice, the law and the environment. As a founding and ongoing member of the Labor Environment Action Network, LEAN, Susan played a key role in educating branch members about environmental policy and building support for ambitious climate change action and protection for the environment. I think outgoing LEAN co-convener Felicity Wade described her perfectly when she said: 'Fierce, sharp, committed, loved the environment, and she backed people.' Susan certainly did back people.”
“Since then, they said 'he continued to be generous with his time and knowledge, never tiring of us asking his thoughts on new films or being a special guest speaker at many events.' and ' In that time, we came to know David as a lovely, funny and generous person and are incredibly lucky to have had him as part of our journey.' The Edge cinema in Katoomba, which he often visited, recognised that 'his deep knowledge and passion inspired generations.' I extend our community's deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. As Special Envoy for the Arts, I acknowledge David's lifetime of service to screen culture. In my first speech to parliament, I recognised and thanked an absolute Labor stalwart and supporter of mine from my first foray into federal politics in 2010, Susan Elfert.”
“He made sure that our best stories, our landscape and our voices were celebrated as part of a great global tradition of cinema. In announcing his passing, David's family invited people to celebrate his life and legacy by watching their favourite movie, or his favourite movie, of all time, Singin' in the Rain . Glenbrook Cinema presented a special screening of that film in his honour. It was sold out. Mount Vic Flicks in Mount Victoria also remembered David, recalling that he introduced the first film the current owners screened there 12 years ago—yes, Singin' in the Rain .”
“I want to pay tribute to David Stratton. David Stratton was much more than a film critic. He was a committed champion of Australian cinema and a trusted guide to the world of cinema beyond our shores. He was also a constituent, a Blue Mountains local since 1991, and a valued member of our community over the following decades. From his 18-year stewardship of the Sydney Film Festival, bringing international cinema to Australia, to his thoughtful reflections on the Movie Show and A t the M ovies , he helped shape the way we think about film. With his collaborator of 28 years, Margaret Pomeranz, he modelled the art of respectful, intelligent and constructive disagreement. Above all, David Stratton backed our filmmakers, often before the rest of the world caught on.”
“My question is to the Treasurer. What progress has been made in the housing market, and what are the next steps informed by the Economic Reform Roundtable? Are there any other approaches the government's being asked to consider?”
“The opportunity of carbon credits, which are being embraced more by regional Australians looking to diversify incomes than by anyone else, is a significant counterbalance. The biggest threat to agriculture isn't net zero; it's doing nothing. That's the choice the Liberals and Nationals will make in their vote on this bill being put forward by the member for New England. Will they choose to abandon net zero targets to fearmonger without facts and stand in the way of renewable projects or will they stand with Australians who want a better future?”
“Around the world, according to the International Energy Agency, global investment in clean energy will hit $2.2 trillion this year, double the amount going to fossil fuels. Last year, renewables made up 92.5 per cent of all new electricity capacity added worldwide. China will account for more than half the world's renewable energy by 2030. They are the facts. There's another area where the member for New England ignores the facts, and that's on the use of rural land for renewables projects. For instance, in New South Wales, the Agriculture Commissioner estimates that just 0.1 per cent of rural land is needed for new energy infrastructure by 2050. We know with certainty that worsening drought and extreme weather are far worse for farmers and food prices.”
“The bigger picture on renewable energy is that Australia has hit new records with the volume of renewables generated, up around 30 per cent since we came to government, reaching 46 per cent of the national energy market at the end of 2024 and working towards 82 per cent of our mix by 2030. Emissions are down 1.4 per cent, or 6.5 million tons of carbon dioxide, to March this year, driven largely by Albanese government policies. There's record investment in clean energy, including $9 billion for new large-scale generation, evidence of an improved policy and investment environment. More than 18 gigawatts of renewable generation capacity has been installed across Australia since we were elected in 2022, enough to power more than six million households.”
“Households in Macquarie across the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and parts of Nepean have taken up our offer of subsidies for home batteries to bolster their rooftop solar. The latest data shows 438 households in Macquarie had new batteries installed in the first six weeks of the program, putting us in the top four electorates in the state for take-up of the home batteries program. They are among tens of thousands of households and small businesses taking that next step on their solar panels and installing batteries. In fact, the biggest uptake has been in the regions, in peri-urban areas and in outer suburbs. It shows that ordinary Australians care about reducing their energy bills and reducing emissions.”
“So the member for New England, in this bill, is effectively tossing out the policies of previous coalition governments. People in my community know we cannot pretend she'll be right, mate—not after fires like in 2019-20 that ravaged the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area for three months, took homes and destroyed nearly a million hectares while the eastern seaboard burned like never before and not after the increasingly frequent floods and storms, the wilder weather, that climate scientists in the 20th century predicted in this, the 21st century. Climate change is real, and reducing emissions is an imperative we owe our children and their grandchildren. People are embracing the opportunities to do their bit to increase the amount of energy we generate through solar.”
“Into the vacuum of policy that the opposition offers waltzes the member for New England, saying the quiet stuff out loud and proud, and going nuclear. He and his Nationals collaborators reject the goal of net zero emissions ever. Let's contrast the priorities of the opposition to those of our government. Our first piece of legislation was to cut student debt by 20 per cent. The opposition's first piece of legislation into this new parliament is not about cutting student debt but about cutting climate change action. The Nationals want to party like it's 1999. To be fair, the Howard government in 1999 was, in theory, supporting action on climate change but then changed its mind on supporting the Kyoto protocol. Even the Morrison government announced a plan in 2021 to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.”
“For me, one of the most urgent challenges this term is to work with the Assistant Treasurer, the emergency ministers, the New South Wales government, the insurance industry and my community to find a way forward on this very complex issue. No-one is suggesting there is a quick fix, but what is clear is that the urgency continues to mount and that, where we can't find a solution, we're creating huge distress for communities who see a place they felt secure in become a real ball and chain—a place they can't exit, a place they can't afford to leave but also where they can't afford to stay. These are some of the many joys and challenges I look forward to in this term of parliament, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the chamber on these issues.”
“But there is urgency to ensure that people can take responsibility for their own recovery by being able to access insurance in some form. We're not the only country facing this issue, and I've been grateful to the Insurance Council of Australia for giving me access to people in the United States, the UK and New Zealand to hear of the very similar challenges they're facing. We all know that mitigation is crucial in this insurance affordability issue, and our government has done more on mitigation than has ever previously been done. But exactly what to do, how to do it at a local level and what difference it makes is not yet completely clear. Obviously, responsibility for so much of the mitigation sits with the New South Wales government. As I say, this is a place where we need collaboration and cooperation.”
“It is equally out of reach to the average person. Their insurance broker said there was nothing that could be done. At the same time as I reached out to the insurance industry to try and find a solution, this person was able to secure insurance where they opted out of flood insurance. They're covered for all the other perils and accidents that can occur but not for flood. For this family, that was an acceptable outcome, but there is not always a satisfactory ending in these situations. One recent home-seller had to pay $25,000 insurance on the property to secure the sale with the future buyer. The Hawkesbury-Nepean was lucky in these last few weather events that some parts of the country faced. There was low-level flooding.”
“It goes to what the Governor-General spoke about when she spoke about caring for others in our community. There is a group of people who are facing increasing distress, and that's homeowners who can't afford to insure their home—likely their biggest asset—because they're in a flood prone area. This is happening across Hawkesbury-Nepean as well as in many other parts of the country. We've experienced eight floods since 2020. While none of them reached more than a one-in-20-years level, they were devastating for people. We've seen the sense of security that people had fall away. In the last week or so, I spoke with one resident who was quoted up to $85,000 a year to insure their home in a suburban area. Yes, it's on a flood plain. The average quote they had was $25,000, and this is a number I hear frequently.”
“I look forward to visiting every one of those RFS sheds and seeing the work they've done. In 2022 we also announced investments in the headquarters of each, and that is also underway. With $1.1 million for each SES, they are very close to starting those projects. These sorts of commitments are just a sample of the things that we've done in Macquarie, and there is always more to do. The Veterans' and Families' Hub that the government has established is underway. The temporary site is close to opening, and a permanent site is already selected. What it shows me is that federal government doesn't do things on its own. We need to work with other groups. In the last few minutes I have, I want to turn to an issue that will be a focus for me in this term.”
“It's been sometimes frustrating for the community not to see an instant fix from those things, but working with several tiers of government can complicate things. Two groups who have been beautifully delivering the 2022 commitment have been the Rural Fire Service and the SES. Again, it wasn't necessarily as quick as we would have liked, but I am now seeing $50,000 of expenditure in every single rural fire brigade in my electorate across the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury. These things are really creative. Some are choosing water tanks to increase their water supply. Others are putting in vermin-proof lockers, because you do not want stuff eating your uniforms. There is a range of innovation happening that is designed to serve the volunteers and the community they serve. I'm very proud to be seeing this.”
“One of our new mobile towers, at Hawkesbury Heights, has been switched on and one at Mount Tomah—again, on that really key Bells Line of Road—is not far off. Those are the things that we keep working on. We try to work collaboratively. I find that, rather than just attacking them for not having got projects done and dusted, it is much more productive to work in collaboration. I'm definitely looking forward to them finalising the work—it's not a huge amount of money—on two small parks in Bounty Reserve in Bligh Park and in South Windsor. That's another Hawkesbury City Council project. They're also spending some of the $3 million we committed last election to Woodbury oval in Glossodia. On the Blue Mountains side, Mount Victoria's investment of a million dollars into their central park is coming along nicely.”
“There are still some commitments that I made in 2022 that have not quite managed to be brought to fruition by the parties who received the funding for. This term I'm very much looking forward to seeing Hawkesbury City Council deliver on $2.5 million worth of improvements to North Richmond Community Centre, upgrading it so it is more suitable as an emergency and evacuation spot. These projects often end up being complex, and I appreciate that council has been working on them as best they could, but it is very clear to me that the delivery of these projects is urgent in this term of government and I will continue to work closely with council on that, as well as on the rollout of additional mobile services. Obviously, this involves working with the telecommunications companies, and sometimes it gets complicated when councils get involved.”
“This wasn't an election commitment; this was announced by us in government, and the state government is now working through where those sites will be. It's a road that spans two local government areas: the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury. It's a key thoroughfare for people coming from the Central West and from Lithgow through to the city as an alternative to the Great Western Highway, which, in itself, is going to be the focus of a lot of our attention, with the state government, in this term of government. The Bells Line of Road now has $100 million of investment that we will soon start to see the detail on. I'm very proud to be delivering those sorts of things. Commitments don't always come when there's an election. Sometimes they come because there's a job that really has to be done.”
“There are some preliminary early-stage works that will, in fact, be starting within a matter of days, but the bulk of the project will get started next year, and that is thanks to the additional Labor commitment of funding to make sure that it's done once and it's done right. When I think about roads in my community, they have been a key focus of what we've delivered already in our first term, and we'll continue to deliver. On the back of terrible bushfires and floods, there's been tens of millions of dollars of investment of federal funding to ensure that roads can be repaired and, more importantly, built back better, and that is something we saw in the last term of government. But we also have an additional $100 million coming into one of our key roads, the Bells Line of Road.”
“We are very focused on the commitments that we've made this election. One that has been a long-running and ongoing commitment from Labor to my community has been duplicating the North Richmond bridge. The commitment around this started back in 2010, my very first election, where I was unsuccessful, when the now prime minister stepped in with a federal commitment to kickstart this process. It has moved slowly through some periods—quickly when we were in government, more slowly when we were not—and I'm pleased to say it is moving now with pace. At this election we committed an additional $114 million, on top of our $400 million commitment, to ensure this project gets done, and gets done properly. There is a long way to go, but we're looking at the work on this project starting next year.”
“The commitment over the next few years will involve collecting and reviewing data across diverse sites, including looking at the connectivity of those sites, the disease that might be present in koalas and the genetic diversity. I'm proud to say that we have already living in this area the most genetically diverse koalas, and they deserve to be protected, which is why another part of it is a responsible pet ownership program to address the risk of predators, many of which are our beloved pets. This holistic program has many elements, and I look forward to talking about it in more detail. I am very much looking forward to the work that we do with people like Science for Wildlife and the different agencies that support the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area, including the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute.”
“Our $3.495 million—let's just call it $4 million—election commitment will address the knowledge gaps and coordinate the management of areas in this Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. That involves multiple councils, multiple other state organisations as well as the federal government so that we can offer refuge to koalas. The work of Science for Wildlife showed us, in the years following the shocking 2019-20 Gospers Mountain fires—part of that Black Summer fire season—that koalas have found refuge in the Blue Mountains. It becomes even more important, as climate changes, that we conserve these spaces and make sure they are well supported.”
“There has already been a discussion for an expression of interest as to who might want to operate the service, looking for health organisations that already do this or have the capacity to do this. We will then build on their capacity to provide a service across that whole Blue Mountains and Nepean region. So, that's another one I'll be keeping a very close eye on. I'm very proud to represent the Blue Mountains and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Much of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area sits within my electorate. That's why koalas are a really key election commitment for me. We have committed to creating a stronghold for koalas—a place of refuge for koalas as climate changes.”
“But the Hawkesbury deserve one, and that is something I will continue to work on, and I have already had conversations about getting that underway. Aside from the fantastic commitments we've made around women's health and the changes that are already in place and that this Labor government believes very strongly in, the new endometriosis and pelvic pain and menopause clinic that is slated for the Nepean and Blue Mountains area is a game changer. I acknowledge the work of the assistant minister, who's sitting at the desk and who put so much effort into making sure women's health has been a key focus of Labor's first-term agenda as well as our second.”
“There is already an urgent-care clinic operating in Penrith, and one of the delights of doorknocking through the campaign was being able to raise people's awareness about that—something that perhaps the member for Lindsay had not been as excited about as I am, but it is proving to be, in Penrith, a really useful service, particularly for kids with sporting injuries and for older people who know that they really should get a fall looked at or a cut dealt with quickly, not to mention run-of-the-mill things; all of us will do something silly at some point or find ourselves in need of urgent but not critical care. I'm delighted to see that lower-mountains people are using that service, as well as those in the Emu Plains region.”
“I think she and I have already established our meeting place as the wonderful cafe at the Penrith Regional Gallery, Cafe at Lewers. It is a perfect place to sit and make sure that at those two levels of government we're working hand in hand to support our community. One of the things I'm really excited about as we move into this term of government is fulfilling the commitments we've made that go right across the electorate. The urgent-care clinic that is going to be opened in the Hawkesbury will be a real game changer for families there, and I'm grateful for the huge support I've had from the community in making sure we were one of those nominated to get a new urgent-care clinic.”
“Our funding's going towards replacing deteriorated asphalt on the basketball court at Clissold Park, creating a multipurpose court, and a bunch of other things in Emu Plains like new pathways to make the park more accessible, and modernising of Ausburn Reserve in Emu Plains and Gough and Lucas Street Reserve. As I say, these feel like small things, but I've got to tell you that it's easy to remember what it was like being home with kids and just needing to get out to somewhere that provided a safe and accessible play space for children or grandchildren. The other thing I want to mention around this new part of the electorate is that the state member for Penrith, Karen McKeown, has been an amazing support in helping me get to know this part of the world, which she has lived in for so much of her life.”
“Emu Plains Little Athletics Club and Emu Plains Junior Rugby League Club have hundreds of young athletes and players who rely on this oval every week, and this investment will finally give them the sort of facility that they deserve. We also have a $1.1 million commitment to invest in local community parks in Emu Plains and Emu Heights. These are the things that make a big difference to you if you're a mum and you want to get out of the house for a break with the kids to really lovely facilities nearby or if you're a kid after school and you want to be able to have a play and let off steam before, of course, heading home to do all that homework.”
“One is Labor's $4 million commitment to upgrading Jamison Park netball facilities—not technically in my electorate but used by many of my constituents and their kids. I look forward to working with Penrith council and the netball association on that and also on major projects like the Leonay Oval. We'll be making a $2.25 million investment. One part of it will be the really exciting stuff of upgrading drainage, which is not necessarily exciting but is really essential for a field that sits at the foot of the Blue Mountains. The exciting bit will be developing the master plan. There's a real vision for that site, one that's able to be brought to life in future years.”
“It has been a real pleasure already having conversations with you, and I look forward to more of those. It's also been terrific getting to know the community groups like the Nepean District Historical Society, Emu Plains Girl Guides and Lions Club volunteers and being involved with them in the planning for the Emu Plains Anzac Day event, which the member for Lindsay restarted a year ago, and I'm very proud to be continuing that tradition. I am looking forward to deepening my relationship with community groups in coming years and months, as I am to working with the Penrith City Council on the various election commitments that we've made that directly involve working with them.”
“This is my first opportunity to speak at length in the 48th Parliament, but definitely not my first speech in this place. It is an extraordinary privilege to have be sworn in again this week for the fourth time as the member for Macquarie. I'm so grateful to the people of the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury and to my new constituents in Nepean who have put their trust in me to be their representative for three more years, and I want to thank the many volunteers who helped make that possible. I particularly want to thank the people of Emu Plains, Emu Heights and Leonay, which are the new parts of the Macquarie electorate following the redistribution. These people very generously had conversations with me and my team of volunteers on their doorsteps, at the railway station and along the river, sometimes in 38-degree heat.”
“As Special Envoy for the Arts, I visited her thriving arts community to learn about the wonderful visual arts and performing arts on offer and to hear how they can be even better supported. Like me, the member for Newcastle appreciates the richness and joy that the arts bring to our lives. I want to end this nomination with the words spoken by the late Peta Murphy, who wisely nominated the member for Newcastle for her Deputy Speaker role three years ago. Peta said: She embodies the qualities that are required not just to preside over but to enhance proceedings in this chamber, and she has the experience, commitment and work ethic to play an important role in ensuring that we bring in the reforms necessary to address the cultural problems that we know exist across this institution.”
“In her role as Deputy Speaker, I have witnessed the member for Newcastle's confidence and authority in this chamber grow. When I look back at the words expressed here three years ago by those who nominated and congratulated her, the consistent themes were her diligence, a strong work ethic, a smart and principled person, and a commitment to serve this parliament. These qualities were all in evidence in the 47th Parliament. To that praise, I would add that the member for Newcastle is an absolute pleasure to work with, an excellent confidante with whom to work through complex issues and terrific company, particularly on a visit to meet with the Tibetan government in exile and the Dalai Lama. While the member for Newcastle has diligently served the parliament, I have also had the privilege of seeing her in her community.”
“I'm proud to move: That Ms Claydon be elected Deputy Speaker of this House. Every one of us who was in this chamber in the last parliament knows that the member for Newcastle runs a tight ship when she sits as Deputy Speaker in the Speaker's chair. We know that she's going to listen carefully to both the person who is speaking and the interjectors. We know that she's going to be thoughtful in her remarks. At times they express warmth or empathy for the MP who has just spoken or the issues they've spoken about, and at other times they remind the previous speaker that she is not, in fact, Mr Speaker. We know that she is not going to put up with anything outside the rules of this place. When sternness is required, it is employed efficiently and effectively by the member for Newcastle.”
“Our two tax cuts that are already law and let every worker keep more of their hard earned money will disappear under the Liberals and Nationals. They want to wipe them out. We know our extra tax cuts are a modest top-up for people, but we think every little bit helps. What we know today is that the Liberals and Nationals don't care about tax cuts. They stand for higher taxes so Australians will earn less and keep less of what they earn.”
“There's one thing for sure that we know about the Liberals, and that is that they will make every worker in the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury and Nepean pay more tax. I'm not saying this just because they voted against our two rounds of top-up tax cuts, which they did yesterday, but I say they want every one of the more than 67,000 workers in Macquarie to pay more tax, because today the shadow Treasurer admitted the Liberals would repeal the tax cuts that we passed yesterday if they won the election—tax cuts that flow to every single worker this year and next and beyond. They are permanent tax cuts that, when combined with our tax cuts that came into effect in July last year, lift thresholds and reduce the lowest tax level from 19c on the dollar to 14c—the lowest it has been in about 50 years.”
“This is common to many of the things that we have done in this term of parliament; we have looked at rules that have been neglected for a decade. No-one's bothered looking at them. They haven't served a purpose. They haven't been fit for purpose. They haven't been fit for the 21st century and how things have changed. What we're seeing in this legislation is an update to take into account not only how the world has changed but also how consumer expectations have changed, as they should. I'm very pleased that we are doing something that backs consumers and allows people to stand up to telecommunications companies, be given a fair deal and seek a remedy when they are not given a fair deal. I commend this bill to the House.”
“The telco industry has benefited from a very light enforcement regime over the years, which has permitted continued poor practices. The consumer regulator the ACCC commenced court action late last year against Optus for its alleged unconscionable selling of phone products to hundreds of vulnerable customers, even though Telstra was fined $50m for similar conduct years earlier. That helps you understand some of the rationale and why there is such support for this. A body that I know well, ACCAN, which is the peak national communications consumer body, has welcomed this legislation as a vital step forward for consumers, who have too often been left in the lurch by failures of a regulatory framework that's been largely voluntary, too weak and poorly enforced.”
“I want to point out that the reforms in this bill, particularly when taken together with the other measures, really strengthen consumer protection and have received strong support from a number of stakeholders, including the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, the Consumer Action Law Centre, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, the ACMA itself and the Communications Alliance. It's important to know that the sector, particularly those in the sector who currently deal with the consequences of poor behaviour by telcos, are backing this bill. The Consumer Action Law Centre said: Similar consequences and high penalty amounts are already in place in other sectors that provide essential services such as in energy, water and banking.”
“This bill also increases the visibility of providers operating in the market, especially telecommunications retailers, through the establishment of a carrier service provider registration scheme, which means that no longer will there be hidden providers who are operating without anyone being aware of what they're doing. It would allow ACMA to stop a carrier service provider operating when they've been found to pose an unacceptable risk to consumers or to have caused significant consumer harm. The significant reforms included in this bill will better equip the regulator with the tools and powers it needs to protect telco customers and to hold providers to account.”
“Further changes allow penalties for codes, standards and determinations to be based on the value of the benefit obtained from the offending conduct or the turnover of the relevant provider, allowing for penalties even greater than $10 million in certain circumstances. This penalty framework incentivises industry compliance and better aligns with those in other relevant sectors, like energy and banking, under the Australian Consumer Law. To ensure the ACMA has a range of effective enforcement tools at its disposal, an additional change is going to expand and clarify the government's ability to increase infringement notice penalty amounts that the ACMA can issue for all applicable breaches, including consumer protection rules.”
“It removes the two-step process where you get a warning and ACMA must first issue a direction to comply to the offending telcos, no matter how significant the breach, and then only take further action if noncompliance continues. It allows instead for a much quicker process and more appropriate action in response to breaches, by immediately addressing consumer harm and holding those telcos to account. The bill also significantly increases the maximum general penalty for breaches of industry codes and standards from a quarter of a million dollars to about $10 million. It's a much bigger stick.”
“That's the whole suite of things that will make a difference here. In terms of enhancing consumer safeguards in this legislation, this will give effect to a number of significant reforms to boost those enforcement powers and penalties available to ACMA. They help ensure that the ACMA is an empowered and effective regulator and that appropriate incentive structures are in place to drive better behaviour by the telecommunications companies. Nobody wants to see an industry where those penalties are literally the cost of doing business, as I referred to earlier. The proposed changes let ACMA take direct and immediate enforcement action against telecommunication providers who have breached their obligations to consumers under industry codes.”
“Introducing legislation to better equip the regulator, ACMA, with the tools and powers it needs to protect telco consumers and hold companies to account if they do the wrong thing is a really necessary step. We're also establishing new industry rules, prioritising keeping customers connected, with greater promotion of financial hardship assistance and requiring telcos to offer assistance, such as payment plans. This is particularly important in the period we've had where the cost of living has put pressure on people. We're also developing requirements for the telcos to ensure they better support customers experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence. We're revising the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code and improving communications services for people with a disability.”