Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I thank the minister for the compliment, if not the answer. It is nice to receive pleasantries from a fellow labour lawyer. I ask a supplementary question. Why has the minister allowed Telstra to rip payphones out of schools, TAFEs and universities? Why will the minister not require Telstra to keep these payphones? How many more Australians will have their safety put at risk and be cut off from family and friends before the minister finally acts to stop Telstra’s attack on our most vulnerable citizens? Minister, how do you expect Ms Temple to make a call to the hotline if there is no payphone available for her to use?