Tara Donnelly

Tara Donnelly Tara Donnelly is Canstar Blue’s Utilities Editor, leading the team that focuses on energy, telecommunications and consumer technology, across news, reviews and how-tos. Tara has spent more than a decade covering these topics in Australia, the US and Canada, which means she’s written about countless product launches and industry changes, including the rise of 5G, Australia’s ongoing NBN rollout, the recent years of energy price volatility and the rise of renewable energy sources. Tara also has long experience in writing within the comparison industry, giving her great insights into the information consumers want when determining which plan or device will best meet their needs, while time spent in the financial sector before turning her talent to content lets her crunch the numbers on price with ease. Tara leads the coverage of Canstar Blue’s ratings and awards for the internet and phone sectors and is an expert at advising consumers on how to use comparison tools to find the best power, internet or phone deal. Her expertise has seen her appear in national media including 9 News, 7 News, Sunrise, the ABC and The Sydney Morning Herald. Tara has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canberra and is passionate about simplifying complex subjects so consumers aren’t just informed, they’re connected and confident.


Man reading power bill in kitchen

Energy debtors hit 5-year peak as watchdog urges Aussies to switch

Posted by December 1st 2023

Residential electricity prices have skyrocketed by up to 28% in the past 12 months, leaving thousands of households unable to pay their energy bills. The Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) 2022-2023 annual retail markets report said electricity  …


Best internet plans and best internet deals

Best Internet Deals [December 2023]

Posted by December 1st 2023

Compare internet deals from providers such as Belong, SpinTel, Amaysim, MyRepublic, AusBBS, MATE, Barefoot and Telstra with Canstar Blue.


mobile phone plan deals

Best Mobile Phone Plans [December 2023]

Posted by December 1st 2023

If you’re shopping around for a new mobile phone plan, keep an eye out for these deals. Compare phone plan deals with Canstar Blue.


Moto G84 5G phone in Marshmallow Blue

Motorola’s Moto G84 5G is a luxe-feel phone for under $400

Posted by November 29th 2023

Just in time for the gift-giving season, Motorola has dropped a new addition to its popular, value-packed Moto G series. The Moto G84 5G is a striking smartphone with a big display, all-day battery and …


Prepaid SIM Cards Compared

Prepaid SIM Cards Compared

Posted by November 28th 2023

Instead of billing you after the expiry period like postpaid plans, prepaid plans give you more flexibility. Packed with commitment-free value, there are some awesome deals going on prepaid SIM cards these days, which is …


Top view of woman and dog with laptop

What are the NBN alternatives?

Posted by November 27th 2023

Tired of the NBN? Review and compare alternative internet providers using their own network, such as Life Wireless, Spirit & Lightning with Canstar Blue.


The best Black Friday NBN, 5G and internet deals

Posted by November 22nd 2023

Bargain hunters know that Black Friday is the go-to shopping date to save big on appliances, fashion, homewares and gadgets. But if you’re looking for a deal on home internet, major Aussie telcos are celebrating …


Man using black iPhone

Optus apologises, offers customers bonus data after network outage

Posted by November 10th 2023

Optus has issued an apology to customers for Wednesday's nation-wide network outage, blaming a "cascading failure" for the incident. But frustrated customers aren't yet entitled to refunds or compensation, despite going without phone or internet …


Woman's hands using black iPhone

Small telcos report record sales as customers leave Optus

Posted by November 10th 2023

Optus mobile and internet services may be back online, but the fallout from the headline-grabbing outage continues. Ten million Optus customers were left without phone or broadband access for up to 12 hours on Wednesday, …