Publications
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Submission to Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020
PIAC recommends that the Bill not be passed. The proposed powers to prohibit mobile phones in immigration detention and to enforce bans with invasive search and seizure powers are not supported by evidence. They are likely to have a significant, negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people in immigration detention and their…
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Expanded NSW Inquiry into the Sustainability of Energy Supply and Resources
PIAC responded to the expanded NSW Inquiry into the Sustainability of Energy Supply and Resources. The inquiry was expanded to explore the opportunities of renewable energy in the COVID-19 economic recovery. We recommend the state government prioritise renewables in its recovery measures, in particular we recommend it implement an energy efficiency retrofit scheme targeted at…
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Consumer Data Right draft energy sector designation
PIAC made a submission to the Commonwealth Treasury regarding a draft designation instrument for energy for the Consumer Data Right (CDR). PIAC supports allowing greater engagement in the electricity market by those customers who wish to do so but stresses this must not be an obligation on consumers. We support introducing the CDR to the…
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Submission to Inquiry into the Commonwealth Government’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Commonwealth Government’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic PIAC’s submission to this inquiry focused on three of our project areas: asylum seeker health rights; energy and water; and homelessness. In terms of asylum seeker health rights, we highlight the need to minimise the risks of COVID-19 for people in…
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AEC Interim COVID-19 Authorisation
PIAC responded to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s consultation on an Interim Authorisation (the Authorisation) granted to the Australian Energy Council (AEC) to allow members of the AEC and other energy retailers to undertake certain conduct for the purpose of providing financial and other relief to energy users during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are…
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Inquiry into the future of the Consumer Data Right for Energy
PIAC made a submission to a federal treasury inquiry into future directions of the Consumer Data Right. We support the aggregation of data across multiple sectors but stress the benefits of this aggregated data – which may be more than the sum of its parts – should be shared with consumers rather than just a third party. …
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AEMO Interim COVID-19 Authorisation
PIAC responded to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s consultation on an Interim Authorisation (the Authorisation) granted to the Australian Energy Market Operator that would allow the operator to engage in certain conduct to ensure the safety, security and reliability of the energy system and integrity of wholesale markets during the COVID-19 pandemic. We support…
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Moving to a two-sided market
PIAC responded to the Energy Security Board (ESB) consultation into moving to a two-sided market. PIAC propose a framework for assessing design choices and suggest a more detailed consideration of how costs are allocated, and access to information by market participants, including consumers. PIAC recommend a harm-based approach for consumer protections, where the protections offered…
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Independent review of the Energy Security Board
PIAC responded to the independent review of the Energy Security Board (ESB), an organisation we have engaged with in numerous processes including through submissions, public forums, technical working groups, and bilateral meetings with ESB members and staff. We believe the ESB should focus on the outcomes and impact it has achieved rather than how closely…
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Second wholesale demand response draft determination – PIAC submission
PIAC responded to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC) second draft determination on wholesale demand response. We broadly support the second draft determination and highlight our support for issues raised by demand response provider, Enel X, and Major Energy Users in their submissions. These issues include the need for flexible baselining and to ensure the…