Senate debates

Thursday, 28 February 2013

Committees

Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference

11:55 am

Photo of Anne McEwenAnne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 15 May 2013:

The feasibility of a prohibition on the charging of fees for an unlisted (silent) number service, with particular reference to:

(a) recommendation no. 72.17 contained in report no. 108 of the Australian Law Reform Commission on Australian privacy law and practice;

(b) whether the payment of a fee unduly inhibits the privacy of telephone subscribers;

(c) the likely economic, social and public interest impact for consumers and businesses, carriage service providers and the White Pages directory producer, if the charging of fees for unlisted (silent) number services was prohibited;

(d) the implications of such prohibition for the efficacy of the national public number directory; and

(e) any other relevant matters.

Question agreed to.