AS federal Consumer Affairs minister Michael McCormack puts his weight behind the campaign to stop businesses charging for paper bills, NSW has become the first state to announce a partial ban.
State premier Gladys Berejiklian has said that energy retailers will no longer be able to charge a fee to those consumers who want to receive their bill in the mail. The move is part of the energy relief package announced last month.
Mr McCormack raised the paper bills issue at a forum of consumer affairs ministers in Melbourne.
He confirmed that "consumers - including the elderly and disadvantaged - who do not have access to technology to receive digital bills should not be penalised and asked to pay exorbitant fees for each bill they receive."
The Commonwealth Treasury will now undertake regulatory assessment of fees for paper billing.
Disadvantaged groups of consumers including ageing, Indigenous and regional Australians have some of the lowest rates of internet access in Australia.
The Senior has previously reported it costs big business about 88 cents to provide a paper bill - including postage - yet consumers can pay around $2.20-$2.50 and even as much as $6.70.
The news has been welcomed by Keep Me Posted, the group advocating a complete ban on all billing fees.
"This is a step forward for consumers," said executive director Kellie Northwood.
"Minister McCormack has recognised that disadvantaged groups are the most impacted and we urge him to use all the power available to his office to take decisive action in the matter and not delay a process which is impacting millions of Australians."
States will also develop consumer education campaigns as an interim measure to improve consumer understanding and awareness of exemptions from fees for paper bills.
However Keep Me Posted has provided information to the state ministers explaining that those exemptions varied across providers and were difficult to obtain.
