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

I thank Senator Minchin for his question and for his 150th press release since he became shadow minister. There has not been one policy in the 150. It is an auspicious day today—150 press releases and not one single policy!

The historic reforms that the government will introduce today will fundamentally reform existing telecommunications regulations in the interests of Australian consumers and businesses. They will drive future growth, productivity and innovation across all sectors of the economy.

For years, telecommunications companies, industry experts and the regulator have been calling for fundamental reforms in telecommunications. In the past, these tough decisions have been avoided by governments of both persuasions. Regulatory reform is critical for the future of communications in Australia. It should have been done in the past, a fact acknowledged by the former Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan, who on 13 May 2008 conceded that, ‘More thought could have gone into a policy that would have separated the network.’ Senator Helen Coonan said that just last year.

Today, we are delivering historic reforms in Australia’s long-term national interest that will address Telstra’s high level of integration to promote greater competition and consumer benefits; streamline and simplify the competition regime to provide more certain and quicker outcomes for telecommunications companies; strengthen consumer safeguards— (Time expired)