Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

In the longer term the deal will fundamentally transform the competitive dynamics of the Australian telecommunications sector. The full structural separation will be achieved when Telstra migrates its customers to the wholesale-only NBN and decommissions its copper network.

This does provide us with an opportunity to ensure that we can pass this legislation, put this agreement and ensure that we have all the preparatory work done so that it can proceed. That is the reason for asking the Senate today to deal with this before we go home. I do understand that senators will have made arrangements. I do appreciate the ability of the Senate to deal with this expeditiously. The legislation and the motion will permit us to focus on finalising the second reading amendment and the committee stage as soon as possible so that it can be forwarded to the House of Representatives.

I will not delay the Senate any longer. The longer I talk the less opportunity will be provided for those opposite and on this side to debate the substantive matters that are associated with the bill.