Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I have to say that the minister is consistent in avoiding answering any questions. Is the minister aware of recent comments by independent telecommunication analyst Paul Budde who said that, when it comes to a fully privatised Telstra, the prices of ‘everything that is not regulated will be increased’? Since the price caps have been proven completely inadequate in protecting pensioners, doesn’t this mean that these home phone price increases will just be the first of many Telstra increases for Australian pensioners?