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

The government’s announcement has been welcomed by some of the largest telco carriers in the country, including Macquarie Telecom, Internode, iiNet, NetSpace, Ancon and Adam Internet. It has also been welcomed by key figures in the regional community. Dr Bill Glasson AO, the Chair—appointed by those opposite—of the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee, said:

This development will make a huge difference to telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote Australia. This announcement addresses major recommendations of the RTIRC review and we congratulate the government on this timely endeavour.

Mary-Lou Corcoran, the Victor Harbour Mayor, said, ‘This is a fantastic result.’ Councillor John Duscher, the Bass Coast Shire Mayor, said, ‘I can’t overstate what this means for the region— (Time expired)