annual report 08-09 - Public Interest Advocacy Centre

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CONSUMER RIGHTS & PROTECTION 38 protections and social programs to ensure consumers are not adversely affected. Water price determinations PIAC submissions and presentations to the Hunter and Central Coast water price determinations alerted the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to the impacts of price rises on disadvantaged households. IPART decisions about price paths, pensioner rebates, dialysis rebates, hardship policies, and complaints resolution were all influenced by PIAC representations. Electricity price hikes Late in the year, IPART announced that NSW consumers would soon experience a 20 per cent increase in electricity prices. EWCAP used the media to publicly express concern about the impact this price increase would have on low-income and other disadvantaged consumers. Faced with growing community concern, the Minister for Energy committed to bring forward a multi-million dollar consumer safety net that included an increase in the pensioner energy rebate and more funding for financial counselling services and for electricity vouchers. Throughout the year, EWCAP met with various customer councils, consumer advocates and community welfare organisations to voice concerns about issues deemed likely to impact upon residential energy consumers including price increases, emissions trading, energy rebates, and hardship programs. Advocacy for consumers with disability During the year, PIAC (through EWCAP) supported a campaign by MS Australia on the introduction of an energy rebate designed to assist sufferers of thermoregulatory diseases. Sufferers of thermoregulatory diseases rely heavily on air conditioning and space-heating, and therefore high energy bills, due to the impact of higher or lower than normal core body temperature on their illness. As part of this campaign PIAC contributed towards the cost of data analysis and production of a report published by the MS Society, Keeping Cool Survey: Air conditioner use by Australians with MS, which was launched in May 2009. PIAC also made representations to the NSW Minister for Energy and NSW Department of Water and Energy in support of the introduction of an energy rebate for people with thermoregulatory disease. PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY CENTRE • ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009
HUMAN RIGHTS AIMS • To promote the use of human rights mechanisms • To promote community awareness of human rights • To extend protection in Australia of internationally recognised human rights • To promote the equal enjoyment of rights • To promote improved privacy protection KEY ACHIEVEMENTS • Extensive consultation, meetings with, and training of community groups and individuals to facilitate submissions to the National Human Rights Consultation • Vindication of Mr Romzi Ali’s defamation claim against Nationwide News Pty Ltd • Victory for clients discriminated against by Wesley Mission on the grounds of their sexuality The Hon Catherine Branson QC, President of the Australian Human Rights Commision (left), with the Hon Robert McClelland, Federal Attorney-General, and PIAC’s Robin Banks. PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS In December 2008, the Federal Attorney- General, the Hon Robert McClelland, announced a public consultation about protection of human rights in Australia. The Federal Government established a committee, led by Father Frank Brennan SJ, to organise public hearings and take submissions. The committee is expected to report to Government in late 2009. PIAC focussed significant resources on the consultation process for the first six months of 2009. The objectives of PIAC’s involvement were to increase awareness and knowledge about human rights across the community and to increase community participation in a dialogue about mechanisms for protecting human rights in Australia. 39 PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY CENTRE • ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009
Page 1 and 2: PIAC ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009
Page 3 and 4: ABOUT PIAC The Public Interest Advo
Page 5 and 6: PIAC is looking to its future, too.
Page 7 and 8: THE PIAC BOARD Directors Shauna Jar
Page 9 and 10: and subsequent enactment of changes
Page 11 and 12: has employed the staff doing PILCH
Page 13 and 14: People (other than PIAC or PILCH st
Page 15 and 16: Homeless Persons’ Legal Service I
Page 17 and 18: PILCH members staffing clinics Alle
Page 19 and 20: PIAC’s submission to the Senate L
Page 21 and 22: Women’s Advisory Council to the D
Page 23 and 24: During the year, the IJP expanded c
Page 25 and 26: Unfortunately, there have also been
Page 27 and 28: ‘ One of the aims of Street Care
Page 29 and 30: community consultation in May 2008,
Page 31 and 32: Senator Ursula Stephens … convene
Page 33 and 34: eleased; PIAC is required to comple
Page 35 and 36: At the same time as the NSW Governm
Page 37 and 38: National health care … PIAC welco
Page 39: ENERGY AND WATER The Energy + Water
Page 43 and 44: The project concluded with a public
Page 45 and 46: Mr Ali was represented in the proce
Page 47 and 48: Act 1992 (Cth) and forms of relief
Page 49 and 50: groups and to overcome barriers to
Page 51 and 52: Review of alcohol-related violent o
Page 53 and 54: Submission to Report on Secure and
Page 55 and 56: Bill 2009 (Cth). However, in a numb
Page 57 and 58: APPENDICES PIAC’S REPRESENTATION
Page 59 and 60: APPENDICES PIAC Staff Robin Banks C
Page 61 and 62: PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CLEARING HOUSE
Page 63 and 64: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PUBLIC INTERES
Page 65 and 66: Auditor’s Opinion In our opinion,
Page 67 and 68: BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2009 AS
Page 69 and 70: CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Page 72: PIAC Level 9, 299 Elizabeth St Sydn

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