Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bilyk for her question. Yesterday, the Rudd government introduced historic reforms to the existing telecommunications regime to make it work more effectively in the interests of all Australians. These reforms included measures to address the structure of the telecommunications market and the competition framework by addressing Telstra’s high level of integration and by streamlining and simplifying the existing regulatory framework to provide more certain and quicker outcomes for telecommunications companies. A vibrant and pro-competitive telecommunications industry will promote better consumer outcomes by driving lower costs, higher quality and more innovative services. This view has been widely supported, including by some of those opposite. I note the comments of Senator Williams this morning. Senator Williams’s understanding of these issues is clearly superior to those put by the shadow minister. Senator Williams gets out there among people in regional and rural Australia and he understands the failings that were left by the former government. He said, ‘In my opinion, in brief, it’s good for competition.’ How right Senator Williams is. His assessment is supported by key industry representatives, including iiNet Managing Director Michael Malone, who said yesterday:

The big winner from these reforms is the Australian consumer who will be able to gain access to fast, affordable and competitive broadband services.

These views are shared by Vodaphone Hutchison Australia CEO Nigel Dews, who stated:

The separation of Telstra’s wholesale and retail business is good news for competition and great news for customers.

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