Telstra reforms will proceed this year: Conroy

James Riley
Friday, 09 October 2009 11:10

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

The Opposition also argues the Rudd Government does not have a mandate to implement the reforms. It points to the Labor policy taken to the last election which sought functional – rather than structural separation – of Telstra.

Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam, who sits on both the Senate communications committee and the select committee investigating the NBN, says the Greens would prefer to see the debate proceed to the Government timetable.

"I don’t think Telstra has made the case for a delay," Senator Ludlam told iTWire. “The bigger problem is going to be scheduling, because the Senate is just so congested."

"And if the Opposition wants to talk out the Climate Change debate (through filibuster) and that’s a real concern … but aside from scheduling, I don’t think Telstra have made a case to delay debate."

Meanwhile Competitive Carriers Coalition executive director David Forman called the Telstra submission a display of “the same old arrogance we have come to expect.”

"Of course they would try to delay debate. They don’t want their lollypop taken away," Forman told iTWire. "It is just ridiculous."

He said the reform Bill specifically address telecommunications industry regulation, and “had nothing to do with the NBN.”

"The suggestion that this bill should be delayed for some more NBN work to be done is an absolute con," Forman said. "This bill is about reforming the industry. It’s not about the NBN, and Telstra knows it."

"Why on earth would the Senate delay debate on something that has been needed for ten years?"