Commonwealth Numbered Acts

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1991 No. 98 of 1991 - SECT 38

38. (1) The functions of AUSTEL include ensuring that the provisions of this
Act are carried out with due regard to the public interest.

(2) The functions of AUSTEL include protecting consumers from unfair practices
of carriers and other persons in the supply of telecommunications services,
the supply, installation or maintenance of customer equipment or the
performance of cabling work and, for that purpose:

   (a)  receiving and investigating consumer complaints, including complaints
        about charges for telecommunications services; and

   (b)  developing indicative performance standards relating to the quality
        of:

   (i)  standard telephone services that carriers supply to consumers; and

   (ii) goods and services that carriers supply to consumers in connection
        with supplying standard telephone services to them; and

   (iii) other telecommunications services in relation to which AUSTEL thinks
        it appropriate to develop such standards; and

   (c)  monitoring, and reporting to the Minister on, the performance of
        carriers and other persons in meeting the standards developed under
        paragraph (b); and

   (d)  referring consumer complaints to the Ombudsman or the Trade Practices
        Commission in appropriate cases; and

   (e)  monitoring, and reporting to the Minister on, charges paid by
        consumers.

(3) When developing standards under paragraph (2) (b), AUSTEL must have regard
to the best international practice performance indicators available to it.