Publications
-
Submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework
PIAC supports the introduction of Charters of Human Rights in both New South Wales and federally. In this submission, PIAC reiterates this support, while also making recommendations in relation to another key component of Australia’s human rights framework: anti-discrimination laws. This includes support for systemic reforms to anti-discrimination laws, such as: This submission also recommended…
-
Submission to the AER Retail Performance Reporting Procedures and Guidelines – Issues Paper
PIAC provided a response to the AER’s Retail Performance Reporting Procedures and Guidelines Issues Paper (the paper). The paper sought feedback on proposed changes to the reporting procedures and guidelines that outline what information retailers must provide to the AER as part of their quarterly performance reporting. The AER’s role in monitoring energy retail markets…
-
Submission to the AEMC consultation on Accommodating financeability in the regulatory framework
PIAC provided a response to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC) consultation on Accommodating financeability in the regulatory framework. The consultation brought together two rule change applications from federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Energy Networks Australia. Both applications are seeking to give the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) new powers to alter the depreciation paths…
-
Submission to AER’s Pipeline Regulatory Determinations and Elections Guide
PIAC supported the AER reviewing the level of regulation applying to natural gas pipelines operating in Eastern Australia. In the submission we argue that self-initiated reviews should serve to promote competitive pricing and ensure risks associated with pipeline investment are appropriately managed by those best placed to do so, and that unreasonable costs and risks…
-
Joint Submission to the AEMC Electricity Consumption Benchmarks Consultation Paper
PIAC provided a joint response to the AEMC’s Electricity Consumption Benchmarks Consultation Paper (the Paper) alongside the Australian Council of Social Service, Victorian Council of Social Service and South Australian Council of Social Service. The paper sought feedback on a rule change proposed by the AER to cease collection of electricity consumption benchmark data. We…
-
Submission to the ‘Rental Fairness’ Bill
PIAC made a submission to the Legislative Assembly Select Committee on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Rental Fairness) Bill 2023 (NSW) (the Bill). PIAC commended the NSW Government for initiating rental housing regulation reform early in its term. The submission supports extending the existing ban on solicited rent bidding to landlords and third parties and the creation of a…
-
Submission to the Fourth Review of the Transport Standards
PIAC made a submission to the 2022 Review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Cth) (Transport Standards). Our submission reiterates many concerns from our submission to the Third Review, as the majority of issues we identified and our recommendations have not been addressed. These include: We also refer to two specific transport areas – rideshare…
-
Submittion to AEMO Services on the Draft 2023 Infrastructure Investment Objectives Report
PIAC provided a response to AEMO Services on the Draft 2023 Infrastructure Investment Objectives Report. We commend the Consumer Trustee on the thoroughness of the report and the information and consultation sessions that have accompanied it. We recommend two broad improvements to future IIO reports to build on this good work. First, the reports and…
-
Paying to pay: Using credit products to afford energy
PIAC partnered with the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) to research payment harms in energy (gas and electricity) and telecommunications (phone and internet). The research examined whether people experiencing disadvantage pay more to receive utilities because of the way they pay. This report is one of a series from the Paying to pay research and examines where…
-
Submission to the AEMC on the National Electricity Amendment (Amendment of the Market Price Cap, Cumulative Price Threshold and Administered Price Cap) Rule
PIAC provided a response to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) on the National Electricity Amendment (Amendment of the Market Price Cap, Cumulative Price Threshold and Administered Price Cap) Rule. The AEMC Reliability Panel has recommended a rule change increasing the market price settings – the Market Price Cap (MPC), Cumulative Price Threshold (CPT), and…