Fed: Labor wants to force Telstra to stay on in remote areas

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2000
Fed: Labor wants to force Telstra to stay on in remote areas

Labor wants to force Telstra to keep operating in remote regions even if it loses a
bid to provide untimed local calls to remote regions.

Opposition communications spokesman STEPHEN SMITH says Telstra should not be allowed
to walk away from its responsibilities as the primary carrier even if a rival won the
$150 million contract.

Telstra has told a Senate inquiry into the competition plans it will have to consider
pulling infrastructure out of the extended zones, which cover 80 per cent of Australia's
landmass, if it loses out.

Mr SMITH says Labor will try and amend proposed government legislation to keep Telstra
as the carrier of last resort for the whole country.

A report by Labor senators into the proposed bill says Australians have a right to
expect the 50.1 per cent publicly-owned Telstra to always be there for them.

He says because of the strict requirements surrounding the tender, Australians will
not be consulted before the tender is awarded.

AAP RTV kmh/mfh/alt/wz

KEYWORD: TELSTRA USO (CANBERRA)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.