The cost-of-living crisis is hitting Aussies from every side these days. Many are already having a hard time keeping up with their food and grocery bills, while some are worried about how the cost of doctor’s appointments rising in a matter of weeks will affect their budget.

And now, millions of Australians are set to get slugged with an extra 10 per cent to their internet bills in this latest price increase.

According to a report, more than six million Aussies are facing a surprise 10 per cent increase in their bills, with some even facing even higher costs.

This comes after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) approved to increase NBN retail prices.

The Albanese government has defended the increase, claiming it to be essential in providing 'certainty' to the industry and that it would've been far higher under the former Coalition government.

Internet subscribers are expected to pay higher internet bills. Credit: Unsplash

However, those with the budget to pay more for their Wi-Fi services will actually receive a discount on their bills.

Aussie Broadband has already revealed its prices, with those on the retailer's cheapest plans expected to shell out an additional $6 per month ($72 extra per year). Meanwhile, the most expensive plan will score a monthly discount of $20, saving $240 a year.

‘This is good news for our customers on higher-speed...plans, who will enjoy a price reduction come 21 November,’ said Aussie Broadband’s Managing Director Phillip Britt.

Meanwhile, telecommunications giant Telstra already announced a price hike for its subscribers in July, where its ‘basic’ plan surged from $58 to $62 monthly and the ‘essential’ plan from $68 to $72. You can read more about this story here.

They also revealed that they will increase the pricing on some of their plans starting 1 November.

A Telstra spokesperson confirmed: 'We’re making changes to the pricing of our home internet and voice plans, with some plans going up and some plans going down. We communicated with customers last month that the changes will take place from 1 November 2023.'

'We held off changing our prices until the new NBN SAU was lodged so we could get greater certainty. That has now happened, and with nbn implementing pricing changes in the near future, plus our own increased business costs, we believe now is the right time for us to look at our plans and make some changes which respond to this and improve the economics of our fixed business.'

They continued, saying, 'We’ve taken steps to protect our concession and low-income customers from the changes by maintaining our $10 concession credit on the voice plan and our $65 Starter internet plan for those who need it. Belong also offers great value for customers with a $65 plan which includes unlimited data.'

'Our Basic and Essential plans will increase by $5 a month, as well as our Business Essential plan. But not all nbn prices are going up and we’ve also been able to pass on some savings to customers. Our voice-only plan is reducing in price to $50 a month, our Superfast plan is coming down in price by $5 and our Ultrafast plan will drop by $10. We have a range of home internet plans delivered over different networks so we can offer the best connectivity option for customers and different plans to suit their needs. This includes using the NBN, 5G Internet for home and business and in the future our Starlink offer.'

Coalition Communications Spokesman Minister David Coleman criticised the industry hikes, stating they happened when Aussies were reportedly struggling the most with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

He said: 'Families will now be forced to pay much more for their internet. How can that be a “positive outcome” in the middle of a cost of living crisis?’

Minister Coleman slammed the internet hikes and is expected to bring the issue with the Albanese government. Credit: X (formerly Twitter)

‘This is another blow to families who are already struggling under the Albanese government's cost of living crisis, we have seen it with petrol prices, with grocery prices, and now we are seeing it with petrol prices,’ he added.

Coleman is expected to bring the issue up with the Albanese government in the near future.

On the other hand, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland stated that the previous pricing scheme in the Morrisson government was more expensive. She also said that these changes will bring certainty to the National Broadband Network (NBN) and company.

Key Takeaways

• Millions of Australians will experience an increase in their internet bills as the ACCC has approved the federal government's decision to increase NBN retail costs.
• Those on more expensive internet plans will receive a discount, whereas users on the retailer's cheapest plans will pay an average of an extra $6 per month.
• The Albanese government has argued these increases provide 'certainty' to the industry, but Coalition Communications Spokesman David Coleman has criticised the price hikes.

What are your thoughts about this story? Have you received communications from your provider regarding price hikes? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[mylittletibbies]

When is the next federal election being held???? It would appear to be true that if you want fiscal responsibility then don't vote labor.

Well we always seem to end up in the shit when Labor get in, but what's the option. Liberal are no better, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

 

[Luckyus]

Well we always seem to end up in the shit when Labor get in, but what's the option. Liberal are no better, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Event the lets keep the bastards honest party in S.A sold us out over the G.S.T. If a child of mine told me they wanted to go into politics, If a child of mine told me that they wanted to go into politcs, I wouldn't whether to shake their hand or break the bastard.