Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move amendments (1) to (3):

(1) Schedule 1, page 15 (after line 5), after item 58, insert:

58A Subsection 5(2)

Insert:

Independent STS Review means a review under section 8JA.

58B Subsection 5(2)

Insert:

national broadband network has the same meaning as in the National Broadband Network Companies Act 2011.

(2) Schedule 1, item 71, page 22 (line 18), at the end of subsection 8J(6), add:

; and (g) an Independent STS Review has certified the quality of standard telephone services delivered over the national broadband network.

(3) Schedule 1, item 71, page 22 (after line 26), after section 8J, insert:

8JA Independent STS Review

(1) An Independent STS Review must be conducted by a person (the Independent STS Reviewer) who:

(a) is appointed by the Minister; and

(b) has knowledge and experience of the delivery of telecommunications services in rural areas.

(2) An Independent STS Review must not be conducted before 10,000 voice-only telephone services are being delivered over the national broadband network.

(3) The Independent STS Reviewer must not certify the quality of standard telephone services delivered over the nation broadband network unless the Independent STS Reviewer is satisfied that the quality of those services is at least equivalent to the quality of voice-only telephone services provided by Telstra over Telstra's copper network on 1 November 2011.

(4) In deciding whether or not to certify the quality of standard telephone services delivered over the nation broadband network, the Independent STS Reviewer must have regard to the following in relation to the services:

(a) prices paid by consumers;

(b) quality of voice reproduction;

(c) reliability, including down-time;

(d) repair-time;

(e) customer convenience.

(5) Subsection (4) does not limit the matters to which the Independent STS Reviewer may have regard.

(6) The Independent STS Reviewer must give the Minister a written report of the Independent STS Review. The Minister must cause the report to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 10 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the report.

The overall amendment introduces a new requirement after proposed section 8J of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999. The amendment would require the minister to obtain a favourable independent review of the quality of voice-only services provided over the NBN before being permitted to make a declaration under section 8J. Proposed subsection (1) explains how the independent review is to be appointed. Proposed subsection (2) is in place to ensure that sufficient voice-only customers are connected to the NBN to allow an accurate assessment of the voice services over the NBN. Proposed subsection (3) establishes 1 November 2011 as the baseline against which NBN services will be compared by the independent reviewer. Proposed subsections (4) and (5) detail the matters the independent reviewer should consider in conducting his review. Proposed subsection (6) requires that the minister must table the independent reviewer's report in both houses of parliament.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I indicate to the House that I have earlier outlined at once the reasons why we are opposing all of the opposition's amendments on this package of bills before the House. I outlined in great detail the five reasons why. I will not repeat those reasons, for the purpose of the efficiency of the House, but I will say that the government rejects these amendments and calls upon the House to support the government's existing legislation and therefore support the universal obligations that are so important for regional Australia.

Question negatived.

Bill agreed to.