Bids to delay passage of the Telecommunications Reform Bill would mean negotiations between Telstra and the Government to structurally separate Telstra’s monopoly network would go on without any safety net protecting competition, consumers or regional Australia.

“Telstra claims that the Bill is a ‘gun to the head’ in these negotiations. The truth is the Bill is the only safety net for whatever comes out of the secret dealing going on between Telstra and the Government right now,” says David Forman, Executive Director of the Competitive Carriers’ Coalition.

“If the Bill passes, any deal would have to pass scrutiny from the ACCC. And that ACCC process could be subject to legal review.

“But if the Bill does not pass, there is nothing to stop the Government and Telstra reaching a hand shake deal on structural separation. If that occurs, there is no security that anybody can have any influence on the terms of that deal,” Mr Forman added.

“We know that Telstra has for years argued consumer protection, competition rules and regional services such as pay phones should be wound back.

“Those things could all be on the negotiating table unless the present Bill is passed before any secret deal is finalized.”

The CCC urges the Senate not to delay passage of the Bill until it is too late.

“If Telstra and the Government do a deal on structural separation in December, there seems no reason for this Bill to come back to the Parliament next year.

“The measures in it to protect consumers, competition and regional Australia could be traded away in secret and we would not find out until too late. Then we will have no way of reversing it,” Mr Forman said.

“This is what any Senator voting for a delay is risking.”

Contact:
David Forman
Executive Director
CCC Inc