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.



Young man in grey hoodie, sitting in chair and using a laptop

160 new suburbs added to NBN speed upgrade list

Posted by April 10th 2024

Champing at the bit for a faster NBN connection? If your choice of broadband speeds is still limited, there’s good news: hundreds of thousands of Aussie homes and businesses will soon be eligible for an …


Wireless Broadband Guide & Plans

Best home wireless broadband plans in Australia

Posted by June 20th 2023

Using either a 4G or 5G mobile network, it’s generally reliable and hugely convenient, which is why many Australian households are turning to home wireless over the NBN or any other connection type. In this …



Hnads typing on laptop surrounded by Halloween decor and candies

Treat yourself with Aussie Broadband’s $25,000 Halloween giveaway

Posted by October 11th 2022

Nothing's scarier than sky-high bills, but one telco is out to ease your financial frights with its limited-time spooky-season competition. Aussie Broadband has launched an eerie-sistable Halloween giveaway, with more than $25,000 in cash and …


Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro in white

The best Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro plans and deals

Posted by October 11th 2022

If you're eyeing Google's 2022 flagship smartphones, the Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro, both devices are now available to pre-order from telcos and major retailers. However, with prices beginning at $999 for …


Range of Google Pixel smartphones

Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro phones revealed

Posted by May 29th 2024

The final big-name, high-end smartphone drop of 2022 is here, with Google's Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro now officially unveiled and available to pre-order. The successors to last year's excellent Google Pixel 6 series, …


Best Value Phone Plans

Expert Picks: Best Phone Plans (October 2022)

Posted by October 5th 2022

When it's time to upgrade to a new smartphone, buying on a telco plan is a simple way to spread out your payments and avoid dropping hundreds on a device upfront. But with more providers …


Man using mobile phone while on laptop

Worried about the Optus hack? These are your switching options

Posted by November 10th 2023

Note: Although this page was published during the Optus cyberattack in September 2022, the switching advice may still be useful for Optus customers considering a change of provider after the November 2023 network outage. Prices …


Optus sign outside store

Optus hack: What customers need to know right now

Posted by September 27th 2022

You’ve probably heard that Optus has suffered a massive data breach, with hackers potentially gaining access to the personal information of millions of Australian customers. It’s one of the largest data breaches in Australia history, …