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Telecommunications Nick Minchin, minister-for-the-sale-of-Telstra, now shadow comms minister
Telecommunications Nick Minchin, minister-for-the-sale-of-Telstra, now shadow comms minister | Nick Minchin, minister-for-the-sale-of-Telstra, now shadow comms minister |
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| by Stuart Corner | |
| Monday, 22 September 2008 | |
  
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Minchin was shadow defence minister under Nelson's leadership. "While I would have been happy to continue as shadow minister for defence, the communications portfolio has a number of issues of vital importance to people across Australia, and especially the bush," he said. Announcing his appointment, new leader Malcolm Turnbull said: "Nick Minchin will take on the fraud that is Labor's broadband revolution...He will be there to take on [minister Stephen[ Conroy and with a very powerful combination of experience in communications, finance and in regulation. [He] is perfectly equipped to take on Stephen Conroy and demonstrate the hollowness of this area of the government's initiative.'' Minchin claimed that his experience as finance minister had given him "a strong understanding of the importance of fair competition in the telecommunications sector." However his parliamentary biography shows almost no experience in communications-related issues, other than from the finance perspective. He added: "My general approach will be to support freedom of choice for consumers and industry. Where regulation is appropriate, it should be light-handed and only put in place where the benefits of regulation exceed the costs." He identified "Labor's rollout of the National Broadband Network [which] continues to be hamstrung by delay and uncertainty, made worse by Senator Conroy's continued obfuscation in the Senate and in Estimates," and "Quality of telecommunications services...for people in the bush," as key issues for his attention, along with "Labor's uncertain plans for a digital switch-off; ABC and SBS funding; cyber safety; and interactive gambling." Minchin is senator for South Australia and leader of the Opposition in the Senate. He was minister for finance and administration from November 2001 until the Coalition lost power in the November 2007 Federal Election. He entered Parliament in 1993 and before that was a solicitor. |
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