Indigenous People, Telecommunications and Consumer Protection

Abstract

Indigenous people in their dealings with telecommunications companies (‘telcos’) face a broad range of issues. The role of consumer protection law in safeguarding Indigenous people has been raised at different intervals in the past.1 In the last five years, the Federal Court has heard a number of cases involving breaches of Australia’s consumer protection laws in respect of Indigenous consumers. Communications technologies have had a positive impact on Indigenous communities. They have opened up possibilities in areas such as education,2 health3 and banking4. However, at the same time they have facilitated access into remote Indigenous communities by unscrupulous businesses using high pressure sales tactics such as telemarketing.