Blog

This month, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman signed revised Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

In June this year, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman will announce its new FY2021-23 organisation strategy. Essential to the strategy is the organisation’s new values: ‘Together we D.R.E.A.M.’.

On 17 March 2020, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman hosted the first meeting of the newly formed Consumer Panel. The virtual meeting brought together consumer advocates from eleven consumer organisations across Australia to provide their insights into the consumer experience of phone and internet issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly changing the way Australians live and work. Phone and internet services are more important than ever, providing a vital link for consumers and small businesses to work, study, connect with friends and family, and access important services.

I have declared the current COVID-19 pandemic is a disaster under the Business Continuity Plan, and from Thursday 26 March 2020, have increased the time to respond to standard (non-urgent) referrals from 10 to 15 days.

On 26 January 2020 the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) held a stall at Yabun, the largest one-day gathering and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia.

Held on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people in Sydney’s Victoria Park, the event showcased Indigenous artists, musicians and traditional performers, as well and hosted panel discussions and community forums on Indigenous issues.

“We didn’t see the sun for the whole five days we were there. You could see the glow of it, and it had this red tinge to it, but there were no blue skies. There was just so much smoke.”

– Leigh Bradley, TIO Dispute Resolution Officer

Our thoughts are with those affected by bushfires. To support you we have put together a fact sheet – Information for bushfire affected consumers – to help you access assistance you may need to reconnect to phone or internet services.

Consumers impacted by the recent bushfires can now receive dedicated assistance with their unresolved phone and internet issues. The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s Natural Disasters help line, 03 8600 8308, will be open from Thursday 21 November 2019.