Warren Snowdon (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the T3 prospectus released today to the ASX, and in particular to the section concerning the appointment of Mr Geoff Cousins, where it states:

Telstra believes that if there is a risk Mr Cousins cannot be considered an independent director that this could prove disruptive to the smooth and effective functioning of the Board.

And further that:

The Board is concerned that there is a risk that Mr Cousins’ previous consulting role with the Government could interfere with his capacity to be considered an independent director.

Don’t these scathing comments demonstrate the economic incompetence of the Howard government in nominating Mr Cousins?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Another part of the prospectus says that the board have not reached a concluded view. I do not know how, if they have not reached a concluded view, it can be a damning assessment.