6084-Additional

2008-2009-2010

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

THE SENATE

 

 

 

 

 

Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2009

 

 

(Amendments to be moved by Senator Ludlam on behalf of the Australian Greens in committee of the whole)

 

These amendments replace amendments 24 and 25 on sheet 6084

(R24)   Schedule 1, page 120 (after line 29), after Part 4, insert:

Part 4A—Consumer protection

Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999

1  Paragraph 115(1)(f)

Omit “.”, substitute “; and”.

2  At the end of subsection 115(1)

Add:

                     (g)  the advertising of products and informing customers about the prices, terms and conditions of products on offer; and

                     (h)  the fairness of consumer contract terms may be considered unfair, including having regard to the intelligibility and accessibility of contract terms; and

                      (i)  the provision of billing information and billing services to customers; and

                      (j)  the credit assessment of customers, the provision of security and credit control tools, and a requirement to have a financial hardship policy to assist customers experiencing financial difficulties; and

                     (k)  the complaint handling procedures for information provision to customers and recording of their complaints.

[incorporation of the Consumer Protection Code]

(R25)   Schedule 1, Part 5, page 121 (after line 1), before item 177, insert:

Telecommunications Act 1997

176A  At the end of paragraph 105(3)(d)

Add:

                     and (iii)  performance standards made, and performance benchmarks set, under Part 5 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 ;

[annual report on compliance with benchmarks etc.]