James Riley
Tuesday, 09 March 2010 19:18
IT Policy -
Regulation
Page 1 of 2
The Federal Coalition will reject the Government's telecommunications reform bill when it is considered by the Senate as expected this week, calling the proposed legislation a deliberate assault on Telstra and its shareholders.
Shadow communications spokesman Tony Smith said the Coalition remained "utterly opposed" to the bill in its current form, which he says is a "legislative attempt to force the break up of Telstra."
The Opposition will seek to have the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2009 split into two parts – rejecting the components that seek to force a Telstra break up while considering those components that recast the telecommunications sector regulatory environment.
A Coalition party room meeting this morning agreed this morning to reject the bill in its current form, and seek the split. However, if the bill passes a second reading, the Coalition will move unspecified amendments. The meeting also agreed to reject Government's amendments to the Do Not Call register, which would include the businesses in the scheme for the first time.
Government will need the backing of the Greens – which it appears to have – as well as the independents Nick Xenophon and Steve Fielding in order to secure the passage of the telecom reform package.
"The Coalition has never advocated the forced break up of Telstra and this was never part of Labor's plan before the last election," Mr Smith said.
