Even if the recommendations from the Estens Inquiry were followed, the full privatisation of Telstra would still be a disaster for the bush, the Shadow Minister for Information Technology, Senator Kate Lundy said today.
Speaking at the 7th Annual Regional and Remote Communications Conference in Sydney, Senator Lundy said that a Telstra sell-off would lead to
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A significant decline in already disturbing levels of service; |
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A further reduction in much needed investment in the aging copper network; and |
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Telstra flexing their monopoly muscles even more strongly to suppress competition and new investment in infrastructure |
“The recently released Estens Report was an exercise of codifying the conditions by which the Coalition would give itself permission to privatise,” Senator Lundy said.
“In Senate estimates hearing last week, where the opposition has a chance to ask the Minister directly about policy and programs, Senator Alston outlined the two, yes, only two, recommendations that he thought, if addressed, would constitute reasonable grounds to proceed,” Senator Lundy said.
Senator Lundy also gave several examples of policy solutions that Labor has identified to drive innovation and investment in Australia’s communications landscape, in the absence of any meaningful contribution from a Coalition Government obsessed with the full sale of Telstra.
The full copy of Senator Lundy’s speech is available on her web site – http://www.katelundy.com.au/Rural&remote.htm
Media contact: Simon Tatz (02) 6277 3334 or Electorate Office 0418 488 295.
