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.
Posted by September 14th 2022
Telstra Day is back for August — and to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the telco's 24-hour sales event, Telstra is offering perhaps its biggest deal to date. In addition to slashing hundreds of dollars off …
Posted by August 1st 2022
Optus has quietly increased the price of its SIM-only and phone-on-a-plan postpaid services for new customers, several weeks after confirming plan changes for legacy users. All of Optus' postpaid mobile plans have risen in price by …
Posted by July 29th 2022
A week ahead of the likely unveiling of its premium new Galaxy folding phone range for 2022, Samsung has dropped a surprise new colour for its flagship Galaxy S22 devices — a pastel orchid hue …
Posted by August 4th 2022
The Google Pixel 6a is officially available for pre-order in Australia, alongside the new Pixel Buds Pro. If you've been eager to get your mitts on Google's latest, lower-priced smartphone — as well as the …
Posted by July 21st 2022
The now-merged TPG and Vodafone has announced it will extend a free, 5G network trial to eligible mobile customers on TPG Telecom brands. If you're using a selected mobile plan from TPG, iiNet, Kogan or …
Posted by July 19th 2022
The big telcos have kicked off the second half of 2022 with some serious sales and discounts, including finally dropping prices on the premium iPhone 13 series. But if you missed out on picking up …
Posted by July 19th 2022
A new, lower-priced 5G phone has arrived on Aussie shelves, with Motorola's mid-range Moto G62 5G now available from local retailers. Priced at a very competitive $399, the G62 5G is a triple-camera, big-battery smartphone, …
Posted by December 21st 2022
Australia's three biggest telcos are engaged in an ongoing war of words, sparked by TPG Telecom and Telstra's proposed network-sharing deal currently before the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). It's no secret that competitor Optus …
Posted by July 12th 2022
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is introducing tough new telco rules to protect Australians from SMS scammers. Developed in partnership with industry body Communications Alliance, the new rules will require telcos to identify, trace, …
Posted by September 9th 2022
With the next iPhone likely to be unveiled in just a few months, telcos are finally discounting the 2021 iPhone 13 series — or in Optus' case, throwing in some unbeatable plan extras. Pick up …