James Riley
Sunday, 22 November 2009 17:07
IT Policy -
Government Tech Policy
The telecommunications reform bill is listed for debate in the Senate on Thursday – the last day of the parliamentary sitting year – and despite seemingly impossible time constraints, Government remains confident that it will get to a vote.
Whether or not the Senate considers the Telecommunications Legislation
Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill will depend
largely on the success of negotiations between Government and the
opposition on the emissions trading scheme.
An early agreement on the ETS will mean the Senate debate on the Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme can be foreshortened, creating some
breathing room for a hectic senate program.
But it remains a difficult timetable, and has some Senators wondering
out loud whether it is achievable – or even if it should be debated in
such a hurry given the significance of the changes.
The reforms set out a mechanism for the separation of Telstra, and
makes sweeping changes to the telecommunications regulatory regime
through amendments to the Trade Practices Act.
If the significance of the telecom reforms has been lost somewhat in
the heat and blanket mainstream coverage of the ETS, it is certainly
well understood in the Senate. This week is shaping as one of the most
important sitting weeks for the telecommunications industry in a
generation.
But the politics of climate change has distorted everything around it,
and has had an impact on the telecommunications reforms that go beyond
putting pressure on the timetable.
Even if the reform bill gets to a vote late in the week, it is not yet
clear if it will pass. On a headcount of the most recent publicly
stated attitudes of Senators, Government is still one vote shy of
having the numbers.
The Nationals, who might otherwise have been reasonably expected to
support the bill, will support an Opposition attempt to delay its
consideration until next year as a direct result of the political heat
of the ETS debate.
The Greens have indicated they are inclined to support the bill – but
will hold talks with Communications Minister Stephen Conroy this week
on amendments it will propose – and South Australian independent Nick
Xenophon has indicated he will support the bill.
Victorian Family First Senator Steve Fielding has kept his intensions
to himself, but has in recent weeks voiced unsubtle concerns about the
reforms on Telstra’s mum and dad shareholders. Senator Fielding will
also meet this week with Stephen Conroy, who is understood to have a
prepared list of potential sweetener options for the Fielding
conversation.
Without any of the Nationals, Senator Conroy needs the Greens as well
as Senator Xenophon and Senator Fielding to get the bill passed.
The Senate select committee on the National Broadband Network will
report on Tuesday, and is expected to include a dissenting view from
the Greens Senator Scott Ludlam. The coalition dominated committee is
chaired by South Australian Liberal Senator Mary Jo Fisher, with the
Nationals Senator Fiona its deputy.