[MEDIA RELEASE] – As companies push to digital Tasmanians are hit with unfair billing practices

With Banks, Telcos and other service providers increasing pressure on their customers to bills and statements, many Tasmanians are left footing the bill. Studies show it is the most vulnerable who are impacted the most with 57% of households earning less than $40,000 not having access to the internet and only 51% of Australians over 65 being internet users, a new campaign, Keep Me Posted, is challenging corporations to remove ‘pay-to-pay’ penalties for consumer’s who prefer paper communications.

Tasmania one of the most affected States by the digital divide. The Australian Digital Inclusion Index released in August reveals that Tasmania is the least digitally included State of Australia. With a score of 48.2, it is 6.3 points below the national average.

This isn’t recent for Tasmania, as the State has held the lowest score over the last three years and further throughout this time the digital inclusion in the State has decreased.

Senator Urquhart will host a community forum Monday 19th September in Devonport to discuss the local impact of the push to digital and unfair billing practices. Guest speakers will include Justine Keay, newly elected Federal Member for Braddon, and Kellie Northwood, Executive Director of the Keep Me Posted campaign.

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