Finally…Telstra admits to false and misleading conduct

Telstra’s admission in court today that it had engaged in false and misleading conduct by refusing to let competitors in to several exchange buildings is a powerful vindication of competitors who have for years campaigned for a fair go.

It also shows the pressing need for the Government to press ahead with structural reform of the telecommunications industry.

Telstra has not only spent years denying wrong doing, it also attacked the companies and individuals who raised these complaints.

As recently as March, when the court action was brought, Telstra attacked the ACCC and competitors, claiming these had been small, inadvertent process issues.

Competitors who were denied access to install their equipment in these exchanges should now be compensated, and consumers will expect that Telstra is penalised for its behaviour.

However, nothing will compensate Australian consumers for the impact that this dishonest conduct by Telstra has had on competition, and its contribution to keeping prices for communications services in Australia among the highest in the world.

Only courageous and fundamental regulatory reform by the Government in response to its present review of regulation can remove the incentive on Telstra to continue to find ways to frustrate other telecommunications companies from being able to compete fairly.

It is just another piece of evidence supporting the case that Telstra must be structurally separated.

Contact

David Forman
Executive Director
CCC Inc
0438121114

Note to Editors:
The latest statistics from the OECD for download caps of broadband products show that, Australia has the second lowest data caps in the world, and a price penalty that practically leaps off the chart. Australians have been paying through the roof for slow Internet connections.