Nationals howling at the moon on Telstra reform

James Riley
Friday, 23 October 2009 13:36

Opinion and Analysis

And yet, as a reform bill heads into the Senate next week, they have already announced they will squib. After years of being underwhelmed by what Nick Minchin had to offer as Finance Minister in horse trading over the Telstra sales – and then finally being presented with a bill that effectively ticks off the party's wish-list – the Nationals will not only squib, but will do it on the say so of Senator Minchin.

Ok, so we know it's about the Emissions Trading Scheme and a show of unity, and we know its about the Coalition leadership, but this is completely ridiculous. There is nothing as central to regional economies – and the welfare of regional Australians – than access to excellent communications.

Clearly some Senate Nationals are uncomfortable about delaying the passage of the bill, and with good reason. They will wear it through every campaign stop in the run-up to next year's election.

Labor will shout delay from the rooftops of every regional centre they travel through digging trenches for the fibre roll-out over the next year as the part of the Regional Backhaul Blackspots program. They might mention jobs too.

There may be some movement. Nothing is done until it's done.

But consider this. The numbers look like getting down to Steve Fielding. What's it going to look like if Government gets the legislation passed and the Nationals haven’t been at the negotiating table? Because they simply opposed the whole thing? And Steve Fielding gets final sign-off on the biggest infrastructure project in the history of the country?

Are the Nationals seriously considering delaying the passage of a bill they plan to support in three months?

Seriously. Bonkers.