Minchin a 'complete Luddite': Conroy

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 21 October 2009 11:51

IT Industry - Strategy

Minchin added "The NBN implementation study is not expected to be completed until next February and hopefully at that time the Government will be able to provide a greater level of clarity in relation to what the future telecommunications landscape may look like. Therefore it makes perfect sense to defer consideration of this legislation until that time."

Conroy retorted "[Waiting for] the implementation study is a furphy, it's a fig leaf that the Opposition are seeking to use to cover their lack of leadership."

"This is a system that is broken today, and this is legislation that begins to change the framework of the regulation in this sector to improve it for consumers," he added.

Conroy also noted that "They're not promising to pass it next year. They're not promising to support it next year. And let's be clear. They have no plan themselves, and they are simply trying to get away from the fact that they are divided yet again. This is a rabble, this [Opposition] leadership."

In response to questions concerning the Universal Service Obligation (USO) to locations that won't be covered by the fibre portion of the NBN, Conroy said the legislation strengthens the USO, which will continue to be funded by an industry levy.

However, he did say that the USO could in future only apply to premises not served by NBN fibre "if negotiations turn out in one particular form."

"No-one is proposing repealing the levy. No-one is proposing digging up phone lines and pulling them out. Only Nick Minchin," said Conroy.