Footnotes

[1] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, 2001.

[2] ATUG, Submission 20, p. 29.

[3] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, The Australian telecommunications network, August 2004.

[4] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, Competition in broadband services, August 2004.

[5] Holly Raiche, 'The Policy Context', p. 15; Alasdair Grant, 'Industry Structure and Regulatory Bodies', p. 23, Australian Telecommunications Regulation (3ed), Alasdair Grant (ed), UNSW Press, 2004.

[6] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 10.

[7] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report no. 16, September 2001, p. 21.

[8] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 38.

[9] Alasdair Grant, 'Industry Structure and Regulatory Bodies', Australian Telecommunications Regulation (3ed), Alasdair Grant (ed), UNSW Press, 2004, p. 89.

[10] ACCC, Submission 17, p. 3.

[11] ACCC, Submission 17, p. 3.

[12] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 11.

[13] ACCC, Submission 17, p. 2.

[14] Mr Ewan Brown, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 50.

[15] ATUG, Submission 20, p. 29.

[16] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 44.

[17] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 18.

[18] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 2.

[19] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, September 2001, p. xxii.

[20] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, September 2001, p. xxix.

[21] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 55.

[22] CEPU, Submission 40, p. 9.

[23] Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Address to the Australian Telecommunications Users Group Conference, Sydney, Wednesday 9 March 2005, accessed on 16 April 2005, at: http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/ media/speeches/address_to_the_australian_telecommunications_users_group_conference.

[24] Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Issues Paper April 2005.

[25] ATUG, Submission 20, p. 37.

[26] Productivity Commission, Review of National Competition Policy Reforms, Report No. 33, p. 247.

[27] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 44.

[28] Mr Charles Britton, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 60.

[29] CEPU, Submission 40, p. 10.

[30] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 2.

[31] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 53.

[32] Ms Teresa Corbin, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 24.

[33] Ms Teresa Corbin, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 31.

[34] Mr Christopher Cheah, Chief General Manager Communications, DCITA, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, p. 28.

[35] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 46.

[36] Professor Peter Gerrand, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 1.

[37] Australian Communications Authority, Telecommunications Performance Report 2003-04, November 2004, p. 1.

[38] Australian Communications Authority, Telecommunications Performance Report 2003-04, November 2004, pp 33-39.

[39] Australian Communications Authority, Telecommunications Performance Report 2003-04, November 2004, p. 36.

[40] DCITA, Submission 50, p. 1.

[41] Mr Paul Budde, Submission 1, p. 7.

[42] Mr Richard Thwaites, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 41.

[43] To date its plans have been rejected by the Senate, most recently in the Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Bill 2003 [No. 2] which was negatived by the Senate on 30 March 2004.

[44] See Telstra, Telstra Corporation Limited Legal Group Structure as at 31 December 2004, accessed on 19 July 2005, URL: http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/corp/docs/groupstructure 311204.pdf.

[45] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 1.

[46] Townsville City Council, Submission 34, p. 2. See also Mr Paul Askern, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 33.

[47] Mr Paul Budde, Submission 1, p. 5.

[48] Professor Peter Gerrand, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 3.

[49] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 11.

[50] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 1.

[51] Mr Ewan Brown, SETEL, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 51.

[52] Mr Damian Kay, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 28.

[53] Regional Telecommunications Inquiry, Connecting Regional Australia, November 2002.

[54] Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Bolstering Telecommunications Services in the Bush, Media release, 2 March 2005, http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/media/media_releases/bolstering_telecommunications_services_in_the_bush (accessed 9 June 2005).

[55] Ms Caroline McNally, General Manager Regional Communications Policy, DCITA, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, p. 26.

[56] Mr Mark Needham, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 4.

[57] Mr Mark Needham, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 2.

[58] Mr Peter Corish, Still Too Many Gaps In Rural Telecommunications, Media Release, 16 June 2005, http://www.nff.org.au/pages/nr05/082.html (accessed 21 June 2005).

[59] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee, Provisions of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Regular Reviews and Other Measures) Bill 2005, May 2005.

[60] The Government majority report made six recommendations for amendment, five of which were supported by Opposition senators, who called for another two changes.

[61] The additional comments by ALP Senators in the report highlight these concerns (pp 27-30).

[62] Mr Joe Knagge, KNet Technology Pty Ltd, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 15.

[63] Mr Michael Davis, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 54.

[64] Mrs Tess Le Lievre, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 49.

[65] Mr Robert Barnett, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 35.

[66] Mr Alden Lee, WALGA, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 3.

[67] Mr Christopher Hill, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 4.

[68] Mr Jeffery Caldbeck, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 5.

[69] Mr Jeffery Caldbeck, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 5.

[70] Ms Liz Murray, Submission 29. See also: Consumers' Telecommunications Network, Submission 30, p. 3; Meridian Connections Pty Ltd, Submission 41, p. 23; Mr Michael Davis, Submission 43; Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 15, Mr Alden Ping Kit Lee, Program Manager, Western Australian Local Government Association, Committee Hansard, Perth, 29 April 2005, p. 2.

[71] Mr Mark Needham, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 11.

[72] NFF, Submission 15, p. 2.

[73] Mr Alden Lee, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 1.

[74] Mr Joe Knagge, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 10.

[75] Mr Peter Lindsay MP, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 3.

[76] Orana Development and Employment Council, Submission 8A, p. 1.

[77] Ms Juliet Duffy, Orana Regional Development Board, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 41.

[78] Mr Robert Barnett, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 32.

[79] Mr Arthur Hissey, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2004, p. 22.

[80] Mr Joe Knagge, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 10.

[81] Ms Juliet Duffy, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 43.

[82] Mr Jeffery Caldbeck, Dubbo City Development Corporation Ltd, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2004, p. 4.

[83] Mr Jeffery Caldbeck, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 2.

[84] Mr Paul Askern, Townsville City Council, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 38.

[85] Ms Juliet Duffy, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 39.

[86] Mr Robert Barnett, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 28.

[87] Mr Gary Chappell, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 70.

[88] Mr Robert Barnett, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 28.

[89] Mr Mark Needham, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 12.

[90] KNET Technology Pty Ltd, Submission 10, p. 1.

[91] Mr Jeffery Caldbeck, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2004, p. 7.

[92] Mr Gary Chappell, Peel Development Commission, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 66.

[93] Mr Michael Davis, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2004, p. 54.

[94] Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD Broadband Statistic, December 2004, accessed on 29 June 2005: http://www.oecd.org/document/60/0,2340,en_2825_495656_2496764_1_1_1_1,00.html. The OECD broadband penetration rate in 2004 was 10.2 subscribers per 100 inhabitants: Australia's rate was 7.7 per 100 inhabitants, compared with Korea (the highest at 24.9), Canada (17.8), the USA (12.8) and the UK (10.5).

[95] ACCC, Snapshot Of Broadband Deployment As At 31 March 2005, accessed 29 June 2005; http://www.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=611699&nodeId=file42c0bdf86730a&fn=Snapshot%20of%20broadband%20deployment%20(31%20Mar%2005).pdf.

[96] Mr Robert Barnett, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 27.

[97] Orana Development and Employment Council, Submission 8A, p. 1.

[98] Mr Robert Barnett, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 34.

[99] Mr Robert Barnett, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 28.

[100] Mr Joe Knagge, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 12.

[101] Mr Paul Askern, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 33.

[102] Mr John Bearne, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 53.

[103] Mr Michael Davis, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 54.

[104] CEPU, Submission 40, p. 3.

[105] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 15.

[106] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 15.

[107] The Hon. John Anderson MP, Deputy Prime Minister, NSW Nationals Conference Speech, Gunnedah, 17 June 2005, accessed 28 June 2005: http://www.ministers.dotars. gov.au/ja/speeches/2005/AS11_2005.htm.

[108] Professor Peter Gerrand, Committee Hansard, Melbourne, 4 May 2005, pp 4-5.

[109] ACCC, Submission 17, p. 8, referring to Mr Bill Scales's evidence to the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee, Additional Estimates Hansard, 14 February 2005, p. 114.

[110] ACCC, Telecommunications Infrastructure in Australia 2004, June 2005, p. 23.

[111] ACCC, Telecommunications Infrastructure in Australia 2004, June 2005, Table 8, p. 23, accessed 29 June 2005 at: http://www.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=610432&nodeId=file42ae708289350&fn=Telecommunications%20infrastructure%20in%20Australia%202004%20(released%20Jun%2005).pdf.

[112] xDSL is a term used to describe various forms of digital subscriber line technologies that can provide very high speed service using existing copper lines.

[113] ACCC, Telecommunications Infrastructure in Australia 2004, June 2005, p. 39.

[114] ACCC, Telecommunications Infrastructure in Australia 2004, June 2005, Table 24, p. 49.

[115] ACCC, Telecommunications Infrastructure in Australia 2004, June 2005, p. 58.

[116] Mr Steve Wright, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 68.

[117] DCITA, The Telecommunications Carrier Industry Development Plans Progress Report 2003‑04, p. 6.

[118] DCITA, The Telecommunications Carrier Industry Development Plans Progress Report 2003‑04, p. 8.

[119] Telstra, Submission 25d, p. 1.

[120] Professor Peter Gerrand, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 2.

[121] Page Research Centre, Future-Proofing Telecommunications in Non-Metropolitan Australia, March 2005.

[122] Professor Peter Gerrand, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 5.

[123] Mr Paul Fearon, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 42.

[124] Mr Paul Budde, Submission 1, p. 1.

[125] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 56.

[126] Mr Errol Shaw, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 19.

[127] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 45.

[128] ACCC, website at 29 April 2005, http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/269239.

[129] TPA, subsections 151AJ(2) and (3).

[130] David Stewart, 'Anti-competitive Conduct', Australian Telecommunications Regulation (3ed.) Alasdair Grant (ed.), UNSW Press, 2004, p. 173.

[131] David Stewart, 'Anti-competitive Conduct', Australian Telecommunications Regulation (3ed.) Alasdair Grant (ed.), UNSW Press, 2004, p. 174.

[132] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, 2001, p. 159.

[133] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 21.

[134] Recommendation 5.1.

[135] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 22.

[136] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, September 2001, p. 151.

[137] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, September 2001, p. 157.

[138] Unwired Australia, Submission 48, p. 2.

[139] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, September 2001, p. 162.

[140] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, September 2001, p. 157.

[141] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, September 2001, p. 162, referring to the ACCC's submission to its inquiry.

[142] Sections 151BY and 151CC.

[143] Grahame O'Leary, Enhancing Competition in Telecommunications: Accounting Separation of Telstra's Operations, Research Note No. 39, Parliamentary Library, March 2004.

[144] DCITA, Accounting Separation, http://www.dcita.gov.au/tel/competition_policy_and_framework/accounting_separation (accessed 2 June 2005).

[145] ACCC, website, accessed on 8 April 2004, URL: http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/333799.

[146] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 32.

[147] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 45.

[148] Mr David Forman, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 19.

[149] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 33.

[150] CCC, Submission 50, p.3, to the Committee's inquiry into competition in broadband services.

[151] Simon Hackett, Managing Director Internode, Opinion from Australian IT.com.au readers, Broadband price squeeze, 22 March 2004, URL: http://australianit.news.com.au/ common/print/0,7208,897342361542566nbv6,00.html.

[152] Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, ACCC issues competition notice to Telstra over broadband internet pricing, 19 March 2004, URL: http://www.accc.gov.au/ content/item.phtml?itemId=490779&nodeId=file405a5f8237919&fn=Competition%20notice.pdf.

[153] Stephen Bartholomeusz, 'Telstra strung up by its broadband plan', The Sydney Morning Herald, URL: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/22/1079939582767.html.

[154] Telstra, 'Low broadband prices preserved', Media Release, 1 April 2004, URL: http http://www.telstra.com.au/communications/media/mediareleases_article.cfm?ObjectID=31526.

[155] Kate Mackenzie, 'Telstra BigPond Backflip', The Australian, 1 April 2004, URL: http://australianit. news.com.au/common/print/0,7208,9146732^15318^^nbv^15306,00.html.

[156] Phil Sweeney, Whirlpool News, 6 April 2004, URL: http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1257.

[157] Phil Sweeney, Whirlpool News, 6 April 2004, URL: http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1257.

[158] Michael Sainsbury, 'Telstra taunts the watchdog', The Australian, 9 June, 2004.

[159] Blair Speedy, 'Broadband cuts "altruistic"', Weekend Australian, 12 June 2004, p. 35.

[160] ACCC, Challenges in Telecommunications Competition and Regulation, p. 3. Accessed on 30 June 2004, URL: http://www.accc.gov.au/content /item.phtml?itemId=518743&nodeId =file40dbc06cdfb57&fn=20040625%20SPAN.pdf.

[161] ACCC, 'ACCC leaves competition notice in force', 19 July 2004, URL: http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/524972/fromItemId/ 2332.

[162] Optus, Submission 12, p. 22.

[163] AAPT, Submission 13, p. 5.

[164] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 54.

[165] Mr David Spence, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 109.

[166] Mrs Dianne O'Hara, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, p. 9.

[167] For example, Optus, Submission 12, p. 22.

[168] Dr Walter Green, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 17.

[169] Communications Experts Group, Submission 26, p. 2.

[170] Optus, Submission 12, p. 22.

[171] Mr Paul Budde, Submission 1, p. 1.

[172] Dr Walter Green, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 19.

[173] ACCC, Submission 17, p. 6.

[174] Mr Ian Slattery, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 20.

[175] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 5.

[176] ACCC, Submission 17, p. 4.

[177] ACCC, Submission 17, p. 4.

[178] Mr Ian Slattery, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 22.

[179] Mr Graeme Samuel, ACCC, Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Additional Estimates Hansard, 17 February 2005, p. 15.

[180] ATUG, Submission 20, p. 10.

[181] Communications Experts Group, Submission 26, p. 2.

[182] AAPT, Submission 13, p. 6.

[183] Mr Graeme Samuel, ACCC, Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Additional Estimates Hansard, 17 February 2005, p. 15.

[184] Communications Experts Group, Submission 26, p. 2.

[185] Mr Damian Kay, Telcoinabox, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 29.

[186] Mr David Forman, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 25.

[187] Mr David Havyatt, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 31.

[188] Mr David Havyatt, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 31.

[189] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 205, p. 48.

[190] Mr David Forman, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 24.

[191] Optus, Submission 12, p. 22.

[192] Mr Paul Budde, Submission 1, p. 6.

[193] Mr Graeme Samuel, Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Estimates Hansard, 31 May 2005, p. 57.

[194] Mrs Dianne O'Hara, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, p. 9. The Gungahlin example is discussed in more detail below.

[195] Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 31 May 2005, p. 62.

[196] Mr David Spence, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 110.

[197] Mr Damian Kay, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 27.

[198] Mr Arthur Hissey, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 24.

[199] Mr Thomas Amos, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 88.

[200] Mr David Spence, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 117.

[201] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 71.

[202] Mr David Spence, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 116.

[203] Mr Doug Coates, Submission 2, p. 1.

[204] Mr Graeme Samuel, Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 31 May 2005, p. 64.

[205] Mr Graeme Samuel, Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 31 May 2005, p. 64.

[206] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 58.

[207] Mr Malcolm Moore, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 95.

[208] Dr Mitchell Landrigan, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 57.

[209] Mr Richard Thwaites, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 40.

[210] Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Address to the Australian Telecommunications Users Group Conference, Sydney, 9 March 2005, accessed on 16 April 2005 at: http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/ media/speeches/address_to_the_australian_telecommunications_users_group_conference.

[211] Mr Damian Kay, Telcoinabox, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 19.

[212] Computer Research and Technology, Submission 27, p. 3.

[213] Mrs Dianne O'Hara, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, p. 7.

[214] Mr Joe Knagge, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 11.

[215] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 46.

[216] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 46.

[217] Mr Stephen Dalby, iiNet, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 42.

[218] Mrs Dianne O'Hara, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, p. 4.

[219] Mrs Dianne O'Hara, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, p. 3.

[220] Mrs Dianne O'Hara, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, p. 4.

[221] Mr David Spence, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 110.

[222] Mr Anthony Wilson, Townsville City Council, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 35.

[223] Mr David Spence, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 113.

[224] Mr David Spence, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 114.

[225] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 36.

[226] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 61.

[227] Mr David Spence, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 112.

[228] Mr Damian Kay, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 17.

[229] Mr Damian Kay, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 27.

[230] Mr Damian Kay, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, pp 26-27.

[231] Mr Errol Shaw, PowerTel Ltd, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, pp 23-24.

[232] Mr Ian Slattery, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 24.

[233] Mr Paul Broad, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 24.

[234] Mr Graeme Samuel, 'The Telecommunications and Media Revolution', speech at the National Press Club, 27 April 2005, p. 5.

[235] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 66.

[236] Mr Denis Mullane, Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 24 May 2005, p. 73.

[237] Mr Christopher Hill, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 12.

[238] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 68.

[239] Mr Damian Kay, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 19.

[240] Mrs Dianne O'Hara, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, p. 12.

[241] Mrs Dianne O'Hara, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, p. 12.

[242] Mr Arthur Hissey, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 19.

[243] Mr Jeremy Moffat, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 21.

[244] Mr Damian Kay, Telcoinabox, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 18.

[245] Mr Damian Kay, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 18.

[246] Mr Arthur Hissey, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 20.

[247] Mr Arthur Hissey, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 20.

[248] Mr Arthur Hissey, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 20.

[249] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 38.

[250] Mr Jeffery Caldbeck, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 3.

[251] Mr Anthony Wilson, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 35.

[252] Mr Damian Kay, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 20.

[253] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 70.

[254] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 42.

[255] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 69.

[256] Mr Peter Lindsay MP, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 2.

[257] Mr Peter Lindsay MP, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 2.

[258] Mr Arthur Hissey, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 23.

[259] Mr Arthur Hissey, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 23.

[260] Mr Gary Chappell, Peel Development Commission, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 73.

[261] Mr Christopher Hill, WA Local Government Association, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 14.

[262] Independent Committee of Inquiry into National Competition Policy, National Competition Policy – Report by the Independent Committee of Inquiry, AGPS, Canberra, 1993, pp 240-241.

[263] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, 2001, p. xxiii.

[264] Paragraph 152AB(e).

[265] Section 152AR.

[266] To be operative, the undertaking must be accepted by the ACCC.

[267] Section 152AY.

[268] The ‘core services’ are the domestic PSTN originating and terminating access services; the unconditioned local loop service (ULLS); the local carriage service (LCS); and any additional core service specified in regulations by the Minister.

[269] Section 152AQB.

[270] Section 152AQA.

[271] Sections 152AS, 152AT.

[272] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, 2001.

[273] The Telecommunications Competition Act 2002 amended the Trade Practices Act 1974.

[274] Section 152ATA.

[275] Subsection 152ATA(10).

[276] Subsection 152ATA(14).

[277] Part XIC, Division 5, Subdivision B.

[278] CCC, Submission 14, p. 5.

[279] OECD, Restructuring Public Utilities for Competition, OECD, Paris, 2001, p. 17.

[280] Subsection 152AB(2).

[281] Communications Experts Group, Submission 26, p. 5.

[282] Mr Christopher Hill, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 14.

[283] CCC, Submission 14, Attachment 1, p. 11.

[284] Mr Paul Fletcher, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 102.

[285] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, 2001, p. 229.

[286] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, 2001, p. 234.

[287] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 27.

[288] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 27.

[289] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 27.

[290] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, 2001, p. 217.

[291] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, 2001, p. 235.

[292] Trade Practices Amendment (Telecommunications) Act 2001.

[293] Telecommunications Competition Act 2002.

[294] Section 152AQA.

[295] Section 152AQB.

[296] CEPU, Submission 40, p. 19.

[297] Mr Paul Budde, Submission 1, p. 10.

[298] Mr Graeme Samuel, speech to Australian Telecommunications Users Group, 10 March 2005, http://www.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=591603&nodeId=file422f9e9581125&fn=20050310%20ATUG.pdf.

[299] CCC, Submission 14, Attachment 1, p. 15.

[300] CCC, Submission 14, p. 5.

[301] CCC, Submission 14, paper 3, pp 6-7.

[302] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 40.

[303] ATUG, Submission 20, p. 12.

[304] OFCOM, Strategic Review of Telecommunications Phase Two Consultation Document, November 18 2004.

[305] Mr Graeme Samuel, speech to Australian Telecommunications Users Group, 10 March 2005, at http://www.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=591603&nodeId=file422f9e9581125&fn=20050310%20ATUG.pdf.

[306] Mr Graeme Samuel, speech to Australian Telecommunications Users Group, 10 March 2005.

[307] Mr Errol Shaw, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 23.

[308] Mr Ian Slattery, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 23.

[309] Telstra, Submission 25A, p. 1.

[310] Productivity Commission, Telecommunications Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, 2001, p. 22.

[311] Mr Paul Budde, Submission 1, p. 1.

[312] Mrs Dianne O'Hara, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, pp 3-4.

[313] Communications Experts Group, Submission 26, p. 5.

[314] Communications Experts Group, Submission 26, p. 5.

[315] Mr Tom Warren, Orana Development and Employment Council, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 50.

[316] Mr Peter Lindsay MP, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 5.

[317] CCC, Submission 14, attachment 1, p. 15.

[318] Subsection 152AB(2).

[319] Productivity Commission, Telecommunication Competition Regulation, Inquiry Report, Recommendation 9.1, p. xxxviii. The Commission suggested the object be changed to the promotion of ‘the economically efficient use of, and investment in, telecommunications services'.

[320] Trade Practices Amendment (National Access Regime) Bill 2005, proposed section 44A.

[321] Mr Errol Shaw, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 23.

[322] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 39.

[323] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 56.

[324] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 3.

[325] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 25.

[326] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 56.

[327] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 25.

[328] CEPU, Submission 40, p. 15.

[329] Mr Christopher Hill, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 5.

[330] Optus, Submission 12, p. 3.

[331] Optus, Submission 12, p. 7.

[332] Optus, Submission 12, p. 7. Specifically, Optus proposed that Government fix the LCR wholesale price at 10 cents per call and the monthly line rental at $25 for a limited period of time. Optus, in return, would enter into a network development deal.

[333] http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204, 15532088%5E15318%5E%5Enbv%E15306,00.html.

[334] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 41.

[335] Dr Walter Green, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 19.

[336] WADIR, Submission 32, p. 5.

[337] WADIR, Submission 32, pp 5-7.

[338] Dr Walter Green, Communications Experts Group, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, pp 19‑20.

[339] Regional Internet Australia, Submission 35, pp 1-2.

[340] Mr Jeffrey Caldbeck, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 6.

[341] Mr David Forman, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, pp 22-23.

[342] Mr Errol Shaw, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 23.

[343] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, pp 47-48.

[344] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 16.

[345] Telstra, Submission 25A, p. 2.

[346] Mr Michael Cosgrave, General Manager Telecommunications, ACCC, Competition and the Need for Regulation, Speech at the Regional Cities Telecommunications Forum, Sydney, 21 June 2005, at: http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/611729/fromItemId/142.

[347] Associate Professor Ian Atkinson, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, pp 42-43.

[348] Associate Professor Ian Atkinson, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, pp 42-43.

[349] ACCC, Mobile Services Review: Mobile Terminating Access, June 2004, p. v.

[350] ACCC, Mobile Services Review: Mobile Terminating Access, June 2004, p. v.

[351] ACCC, Mobile Services Review: Mobile Terminating Access, June 2004, p. 221.

[352] Mr Brian Currie, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, pp 71-72.

[353] Mr David Havyatt, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, pp 36-37.

[354] Mr David Havyatt, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, pp 36-37.

[355] Mr David Havyatt, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 37.

[356] Mr Richard Thwaites, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, pp 41-42.

[357] Mr David Havyatt, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 33.

[358] Productivity Commission, Telecommunication Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, 2001, p. 294.

[359] See paragraphs 4.27 to 4.29.

[360] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 28.

[361] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 28.

[362] Productivity Commission, Telecommunication Competition Regulation, Report No. 16, 2001, p. 287.

[363] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 28.

[364] Mr Graeme Samuel, Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Additional Estimates Hansard, 17 February 2005, p. 7.

[365] Mr Joe Dimasi, Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Additional Estimates Hansard, 17 February 2005, p. 7.

[366] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 51.

[367] Mr Ross Kelso, Submission 31, pp 2-3.

[368] Mr Ross Kelso, Submission 31, pp 2-3.

[369] Mr Robert Barnett, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 29.

[370] Mr Paul Bennett, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 31.

[371] Mr Bill Scales, Group Managing Director, Corporate and Human Relations, Telstra, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 74.

[372] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 76.

[373] Telstra, Submission 25A, p. 3.

[374] Mr Graeme Samuel, speech to Australian Telecommunications Users Group, 10 March 2005.

[375] Mr Ewan Brown, SETEL, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 50.

[376] Mr Tom Warren, ODEC, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 49.

[377] Telecommunications Act, section 3.

[378] Australian Consumers' Association submissions to Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee 2002 Inquiry into the Australian Telecommunications Network and the Legislation Committee's 2003 Inquiry into the Provisions of the Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Bill 2003.

[379] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 12.

[380] Holly Raiche and Alasdair Grant, 'Consumer and Community Issues', Australian Telecommunications Regulation (3ed), Alasdair Grant (ed), UNSW Press, 2004, p. 240.

[381] ACA website, 31 May 2005, at: http://www.aca.gov.au/consumer_info/fact_sheets/consumer_fact_sheets/fsc08.htm.

[382] Subsidies are determined according to sections 16, 16A and 16B of the TCPSS Act.

[383] ACA website, 17 March 2005, at: https://www.aca.gov.au/telcomm/universal_service_regime/universal_service_obligation/overview/usointro.htm.

[384] ACA website, 20 June 2004, at: https://www.aca.gov.au/consumer_info/fact_sheets/consumer_fact_sheets/fsc62.htm.

[385] As amended by sections 115, 117 and 120 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.

[386] DCITA, FAQ, website, 5 May 2005 at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/tel/faqs/consumer_rights_and_benefits/faq_-_telephone_service_consumer_safeguards_for_all_australians.

[387] See below, and Ms Corbin, CTN, Committee Hansard 13 April 2005, p. 31.

[388] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 199, website 5 May 2005, at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/10103/Review_of_the_Operation_of_the_Universal_Service_Obligation_and_Customer_Service_Guarantee.pdf.

[389] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 200.

[390] In accordance with section 159A of the TCPSS Act.

[391] DCITA, Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee Review, June 2004, accessed 17 April 2005, at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/tel/fixed_telephone_services/industry_issues/the_universal_service_obligation_uso/universal_service_obligation_uso_and_customer_service_guarantee_review_csg/universal_service_obligation_and_customer_service_guarantee_review/contents/executive_summary.

[392] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 221.

[393] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 221.

[394] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 56.

[395] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 56.

[396] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 99.

[397] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 129.

[398] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, pp 47-48.

[399] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 104.

[400] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 104.

[401] Mr Tom Warren, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 49.

[402] Mrs Tess Le Lievre, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 52.

[403] TCPSS Act, Part 4.

[404] Mr Michael Davis, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 54.

[405] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 100.

[406] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 129.

[407] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 158.

[408] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 159.

[409] DCITA, website, 31 May 2005, at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/tel/fixed_telephone_services/industry_issues/the_universal_service_obligation_uso#1.

[410] See: http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/media/media_releases/uso_subsidies_set_for_next_three_years.

[411] Optus, Submission 12, p. 4.

[412] Optus, Submission 12, p. 4; pp 8ff, also cites the DCITA Review in support of Telstra funding the USO.

[413] AAPT, Submission 13, p. 10.

[414] Mr Richard Thwaites, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 40.

[415] Optus, Submission 12, pp 13-14.

[416] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 158, website 5 May 2005, at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/10103/Review_of_the_Operation_of_the_Universal_Service_Obligation_and_Customer_Service_Guarantee.pdf.

[417] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 5.

[418] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 45.

[419] NFF, Submission 15, Appendix "A", note 13, p. 7.

[420] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 45.

[421] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 45.

[422] Mr Doug Coates, Submission 2, p. 5.

[423] Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, 'Telecommunications safeguards to remain', Media release, 086/05, 28 July 2005.

[424] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 73.

[425] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, pp 75-76.

[426] ATUG, Submission 20, p. 17.

[427] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 43.

[428] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, pp 75-76, website 5 May 2005, at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/10103/Review_of_the_Operation_of_the_Universal_Service_Obligation_and_Customer_Service_Guarantee.pdf.

[429] Regional Telecommunications Inquiry, Connecting Regional Australia, 2002, Finding 7.3, p. 263.

[430] Optus, Submission 12, p. 4; AAPT, Submission 13, p. 10.

[431] AAPT, Submission 13, pp 10-11.

[432] AAPT, Submission 13, pp 10.

[433] HiBIS is discussed in detail below.

[434] Optus, Submission 12, pp 14-15.

[435] ATUG, Submission 20, p. 17.

[436] Ms Teresa Corbin, CTN, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 31; Mr Peter Knox, ACE, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, pp 104-105.

[437] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 50.

[438] For example, CTN, Submission 30, pp 6-7.

[439] Mr Ewan Brown, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 50.

[440] Mr Alden Lee, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 9.

[441] WALGA, Submission 22, p. 1.

[442] Released in July 2003 by the Western Australian Department of Industry and Resources, the TNA is a comprehensive examination of access to, and satisfaction with, communications services across regional Western Australia, It focused on standard phones, mobile phones, internet and high speed data (broadband), broadcasting (radio and television), and access to communications support services (training, sales, support) for regional Western Australians. WADIR website, accessed 23 May 2005 at: http://www.doir.wa.gov.au/businessandindustry/78014A8643AD499E9504C8F1B0951AE3.
asp.

[443] WALGA, Submission 22, p. 3.

[444] Mr Alden Lee, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 9.

[445] Mr Malcolm Moore, Submission 6, p. 10.

[446] CEPU, Submission 40, p. 30.

[447] Regional Telecommunications Inquiry Report (Estens Report), 2002, Recommendations 9.1 and 9.6.

[448] Townsville Council, Submission 34, p. 2.

[449] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 9.

[450] CTN, Submission 30, p. 4; Ms Teresa Corbin, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 31.

[451] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 9, footnote 19.

[452] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 9.

[453] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 50.

[454] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 37.

[455] ACE, Submission 7, p. 5.

[456] As defined by section 95 of the TCPSS Act. See ACE, Submission 7, p. 1.

[457] ACE, Submission 7a, p. 1.

[458] ACE, Submission 7a, p. 2.

[459] ACE, Submission 7, p. 2.

[460] House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Connecting Australia: Wireless Broadband, November 2002, p. 47, Recommendation 12 [para. 6.25].

[461] HREOC, When the Tide Comes In: Towards Accessible Telecommunications for people with Disabilities in Australia, 2003, Recommendation 21.

[462] ACE, Submission 7, p. 3. The principles for the provision of such equipment were identified at an ACIF forum in 2001 and published in the ACIF Alert newsletters, Autumn, Winter and Spring, 2001.

[463] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, The Australian telecommunications network, August 2004, Recommendations 14 and 15, p. 147.

[464] ACE, Submission 7, pp 4-5.

[465] Mr Peter Knox, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 104.

[466] AAD, Submission 45, pp 4-5.

[467] Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Media Release, website, 7 July 2005 at: http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/media/media_releases/$50_million_in_extra_hibis_funds_for_broadband_in_the_bush

[468] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, Provisions of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Regular Reviews and Other Measures) Bill 2005, May 2005, p. 10.

[469] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 47.

[470] DCITA website, 13 May 2005, at: http://www.telinfo.gov.au/HiBIS%20page.htm.

[471] Mr Gary Chappell, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 67.

[472] Mr Michael Davis, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 54.

[473] Mr Michael Davis, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 54.

[474] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 39.

[475] HiBIS special subsidy applies to consumers without ISDN availability. For checking ISDN availability, see DCITA website, 13 May 2005, at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/_data/assets/word_doc/9735/isdn_availability.doc.

[476] Optus, Submission 12, p. 15.

[477] Australian Financial Review, 11 May 2005, p. 15; The Hon Senator Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Media Release, website, 13 May 2005, at: http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/media/media_releases/metropolitan_broadband_blackspots_ programme.

[478] Optus, Submission 12, p. 8. See discussion in Chapter 4.

[479] Mrs Tina Reynolds, Dubbo Chamber of Commerce, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 59; Mr Mark Needham, NFF, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 3.

[480] Mrs Tess Le Lievre, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 52.

[481] NFF website, News Release, 16 June 2005, at: http://www.nff.org.au/pages/nr05/082.html.

[482] NFF website at: http://www.nff.org.au/pages/nr05/082b.pdf.

[483] NFF website at: http://internet.aca.gov.au/ACAINTER.65636:STANDARD:1611311777:pc=PC_1378.

[484] NFF website at: http://www.nff.org.au/pages/nr05/082b.pdf.

[485] Australian Communication Authority, Telecommunications Performance Monitoring Bulletin, Issue. 32, March 2005 Quarter, p. 39.

[486] For example, Mrs Tina Reynolds, Dubbo Chamber of Commerce, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 59; Mr Mark Needham, NFF, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 3; NSW Farmers' Association, Telecommunications Survey, Press Conference presentation, NSW Parliament House, 13 July 2005, accessed at http://www.nswfarmers.org.au/

[487] Australian Communication Authority, Telecommunications Performance Monitoring Bulletin, Issue. 32, March 2005 Quarter, p. 4.

[488] In an ACA produced Consumer Fact Sheet - Customer Service Guarantee 2000 (No.2) – it is stated that the CSG 'requires telephone companies to meet minimum performance requirements', p. 1 of 4, accessed at: http://www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.2097430:STANDARD:986025926:pc=PC_1712

[489] NFF, Submission 15, p. 3.

[490] NFF, Submission 15, p. 3.

[491] Ms Teresa Corbin, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 31.

[492] Section 480.

[493] Section 481. See CLC, Submission 23, p. 13.

[494] CLC, Submission 23, p. 13.

[495] CLC, Submission 23, p. 14.

[496] ACIF C620:2005, republished in March 2005 with amendment.

[497] ACIF, Industry Code Consumer Contracts, pp ii &iii, ACIF website, 29 June 2005 at: http://www.acif.org.au/__data/page/12605/C621.pdf

[498] CLC, Submission 23, p. 14.

[499] CLC, Submission 23, p. 14.

[500] Under section 32W, a term is to be regarded as unfair 'if contrary to the requirement of good faith and in all the circumstances, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties' rights and obligations arising under the contract to the detriment of the consumer'.

[501] Paragraph 32X(d).

[502] Dr Derek Wilding, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 11.

[503] Dr Derek Wilding, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 11.

[504] Mr Allan Horsley, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 52.

[505] Dr Derek Wilding, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 12.

[506] Dr Derek Wilding, Committee Hansard, 14 April 2005, p. 11.

[507] Mr Peter Kelly and Mr Thomas Amos, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, pp 84-85.

[508] ACCC, Submission 17A, p. 1.

[509] CLC, Submission 23, p. 15.

[510] CLC, Submission 23, p. 15.

[511] Part 31 of the Telecommunications Act provides that pecuniary penalties are payable for contraventions of civil penalty provisions.

[512] Sections 123 and 125.

[513] ACIF, Submission 9, p. 1.

[514] ACIF, Submission 9, p. 4.

[515] ACIF, Submission 9, p. 4.

[516] ACIF, Submission 9, p. 2.

[517] For example, CLC, Submission 23, p. 8; CTN, Submission 30, p. 3.

[518] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, A lost opportunity? Inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill 2004 and related bills and matters, March 2005, p. 78, Recommendation 13.

[519] CLC, Submission 23, pp 8-9.

[520] CTN, Submission 30, p. 5.

[521] Australian Privacy Foundation, Submission 52, p. 1.

[522] Ombudsman's overview, TIO Annual Report 2003/04 at: http://www.tio.com.au/publications/annual_reports/ar2004/annual_200402a.htm

[523] CLC, Submission 23, p. 9.

[524] CLC, Submission 23, p. 8.

[525] Consumer Driven Communications: Strategies for better representation, December 2004, discussed below.

[526] Mr David Havyatt, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 35.

[527] Mr Allan Horsley, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 51.

[528] ACA, Final Report: Consumer Driven Communications: Strategies for better representation, December 2004, p. 2.

[529] ACA, Final Report: Consumer Driven Communications: Strategies for better representation, December 2004.

[530] ACA, Final Report: Consumer Driven Communications: Strategies for better representation, December 2004, p. 1.

[531] ACA, Final Report: Consumer Driven Communications: Strategies for better representation, December 2004, p. 19.

[532] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, A Lost Opportunity? Inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill 2004 and related bills and matters, 2005, recommendations 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Government senators agreed in principle to those recommendations.

[533] The Code was registered on 4 May 2005.

[534] ACIF, Industry Code Consumer Contracts, 2005, p. ii.

[535] ACIF, Industry Code Consumer Contracts, 2005, p. iii.

[536] Ms Teresa Corbin, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 30.

[537] Ms Teresa Corbin, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 30.

[538] Mr Allan Horsley, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 47.

[539] Mr Allan Horsley, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 50.

[540] Mr Allan Horsley, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 50.

[541] Ms Anne Hurley, Committee Hansard, 13 May 2005, p. 16.

[542] ACIF, Submission 9, p. 2.

[543] Ms Anne Hurley, Committee Hansard, 13 May 2005, p. 21.

[544] Mr Charles Britton, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 61.

[545] ACA, Final Report: Consumer Driven Communications: Strategies for better representation, December 2004, pp 16 & 17.

[546] Ms Anne Hurley, ACIF, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 18.

[547] CLC, Submission 23, p. 9.

[548] Mr Allan Horsley, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 52.

[549] Mr Allan Horsley, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 52

[550] Ms Teresa Corbin, Committee Hansard¸13 April 2005, p. 33.

[551] Ms Teresa Corbin, Committee Hansard¸13 April 2005, p. 33.

[552] Ms Teresa Corbin, Committee Hansard¸13 April 2005, p. 33.

[553] Mr Allan Horsley, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, pp 52-53.

[554] Ms Anne Hurley, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 15.

[555] CLC Submission 23, p. 11.

[556] CLC Submission 23, p. 11.

[557] TIO website, 20 May 2005 at: http://www.tio.com.au. The TIO defines a complaint as an expression of dissatisfaction or grievance: Requests for information are registered as Enquiries. Complaints which are anonymous or regarded as trivial or vexatious are also registered as Enquiries (see TIO Submission 39, p. 2). In describing the TIO as an office of last resort, the website states 'This means that before contacting the TIO you must have tried to resolve your complaint with your service provider'.

[558] TIO, Submission 39, p. 3.

[559] Mr John Pinnock, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, pp 28–36.

[560] TIO, Submission 39, p. 5.

[561] TIO Complaints statistics, TIO website, 24 May 2005 at: http://www.tio.com.au/statisticsQtr.htm

[562] TIO Talks 33, April 2005, TIO website, 1 June 2005, at: http://www.tio.com.au/publications/annual_reports/ar2004/annual_200404.htm

[563] Mr John Pinnock, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 31.

[564] CTN, Submission 30, p. 7. The CTN argued that suppliers should distribute the TIO's contact details with all warning notices and final notices (p. 5).

[565] Mr John Pinnock, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 28.

[566] Rule 7.6.1.

[567] Mr John Pinnock, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, pp 28 - 29.

[568] CTN, Submission 30, p. 7.

[569] Mr John Pinnock, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 35.

[570] Mr John Pinnock, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 36.

[571] CTN, Submission 30, p. 7.

[572] CTN, Submission 30, p. 7.

[573] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, A Lost Opportunity? Inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill 2004 and related bills and matters, 2005, para 5.141 and Recommendation 17, pp 87-88.

[574] ACA, Final Report: Consumer Driven Communications: Strategies for better representation, December 2004, Recommendation 43, p. 13.

[575] Mr John Pinnock, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 31.

[576] ACA, Final Report: Consumer Driven Communications: Strategies for better representation, December 2004, Recommendation 43, p. 13.

[577] TIO Ombudsman, TIO Talks 33, TIO website, 24 May 2005 at: http://www.tio.com.au/publications/TIO_talk_issues/33/33.2.htm.

[578] CTN, Submission 30.

[579] ACCC, Review of Telstra's Price Control Arrangements, February 2005, p. 1.

[580] ACCC, Review of Telstra's Price Control Arrangements, February 2005, p. 101.

[581] Price controls can have unintended impacts on the dominant competitor. Telstra argues that aspects of the price cap regime can restrict Telstra's capacity to recover costs for certain unprofitable services. In turn, the cost is passed on to other competitors in the form of access charges. In effect, competition may be stifled rather than enhanced. See Telstra, Submission 25, p. 16 and Alasdair Grant (ed.), Australian Telecommunications Regulation: The Communications Law Centre Guide, UNSW Press, 2004, pp 253-254.

[582] Telstra Carrier Charges – Price Control Arrangements, Notifications and Disallowance Determination No. 1 of 2002.

[583] The review involved extensive consultation by the ACCC through written submissions and public meetings throughout Australia.

[584] ACCC, Review of Telstra's Price Control Arrangements, February 2005, p. v.

[585] ACCC, Review of Telstra's Price Control Arrangements, February 2005, p. vi.

[586] ACCC, Review of Telstra's Price Control Arrangements, February 2005, pp 110, 116.

[587] Senator the Hon. Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senate Hansard, 22 June 2005, p. 50.

[588] 'Telstra price controls extended', The Australian, 30 June 2005, at:http://australianit.news.com.au/common/print/0,7208,15776749^15306^nbv^,00.html.

[589] Mr Christopher Dodds, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 11.

[590] Mr Christopher Dodds, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 12.

[591] Mr Christopher Dodds, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 12.

[592] Public Report to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Telstra's Access for Everyone Package, to 31 December 2004, p. 5.

[593] Mr Christopher Dodds, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 12.

[594] ACCC, Review of Telstra's Price Control Arrangements, February 2005, p. 110.

[595] Mr Christopher Dodds, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, pp 12-13.

[596] CTN, Submission 30, p. 6.

[597] ACCC, Review of Telstra's Price Control Arrangements, February 2005, p. 110.

[598] Mr Christopher Dodds, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 15.

[599] Mr Christopher Dodds, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 15.

[600] Mr Christopher Dodds, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 16.

[601] Report of the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry, Connecting regional Australia, 2002, Finding 5.1, p. 9.

[602] Report of the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry, Connecting regional Australia, 2002, pp 9&10.

[603] DCITA, Review of the Operation of the Universal Service Obligation and Customer Service Guarantee, 7 April 2004, p. 174.

[604] Mr Mark Needham, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 2.

[605] Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, 'Keynote address to the DCITA Indigenous Telecommunications Forum', Alice Springs, 17 May 2005, accessed at http://www.dcita.gov.au/newsroom2/speeches.

[606] Public Report to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Telstra's Access for Everyone Package, to 31 December 2004.

[607] Public Report to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Telstra's Access for Everyone Package, to 31 December 2004, p. 21.

[608] See http://www.dcita.gov.au/tel/indigenous_telecommunications, accessed on 21 June 2005.

[609] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates: Committee Hansard, 24 May 2005, pp 127-128.

[610] Report of the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry, Connecting regional Australia, 2002, p. 163.

[611] Mr Robert Barker, Committee Hansard 29 April 2005, pp 51-52.

[612] Mr Robert Barker, Committee Hansard 29 April 2005, p. 54.

[613] Mr Robert Barker, Committee Hansard 29 April 2005, p. 52.

[614] Mr Robert Barker, Committee Hansard 29 April 2005, p. 53.

[615] CTN, Submission 30, p. 10.

[616] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 58.

[617] The Hon. John Anderson MP, Deputy Prime Minster, Speech at the NSW Liberal Conference, 17 June 2005, accessed 29 June 2005: http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/ja/speeches/2005/AS11_2005.htm.

[618] Ms Rosalind Eason, Committee Hansard, 20 June 2005, p. 20.

[619] This commitment was recently reiterated by Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, who stated that adequate services to rural and regional Australia is one of three 'preconditions' for the stage-three sale of Telstra. 'Address to the Adelaide Press Club', 7 July 2005, p. 2, accessed 8 July 2005: http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/media/speeches/address_to_the_adelaide_press_club_-_12.30pm_thursday_7_july-_check_against_delivery_-_7_july_2005_adelaide

[620] Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, 'Address to the Adelaide Press Club', 7 July 2005, p. 8.

[621] Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, 'Telstra's rural, regional and remote presence to be assured', Media release 91/05, 4 August 2005.

[622] The Minister has issued written guidance to Telstra: see 'Local Presence Plan Guidance', August 2005, accessed on 8 August 2005 at http://www.dcita.gov.au/tel/regional,_rural_and_remote_communications/local_presence.

[623] ACCC, Submission 17, p. 5.

[624] Optus, Submission 12, pp 16-17.

[625] Mr Ian Slattery, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 17.

[626] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 6.

[627] Mr David Spence, Unwired Australia, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 112.

[628] Professor Peter Gerrand, 'Revisiting the Structural Separation of Telstra', in Telecommunications Journal of Australia, Vol 54 No 3 Spring 2004, pp 15-28.

[629] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 6.

[630] Telstra, Submission 25, p. 30.

[631] Mr Graeme Samuel, Committee Hansard, 9 May 2005, p. 3.

[632] Productivity Commission, Review of National Competition Policy Reform, No. 33, 2005, p. 241.

[633] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 81.

[634] Mr Stephen Dalby, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 41.

[635] Mr Doug Coates, Submission 2, p. 2.

[636] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 71.

[637] ATUG, Submission 20C, p. 4, where it stated: '... the Australian Government has repeatedly refused to seriously contemplate the structural solution. The Government’s shareholding in Telstra is an explicit conflict of interest in developing policy options for the telecommunications sector and its consumers.'

[638] Optus, Submission 12, pp. 16-17. Accordingly 'Optus sees little point in making the case for such a reform'.

[639] See also Senator the Hon Nick Minchin, Minister for Finance and Administration, Senate Hansard, 21 June 2005, p. 24; Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, 'Address to the Adelaide Press Club', 7 July 2005.

[640] Mr Peter Lindsay, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 6.

[641] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2004, p. 46.

[642] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 53.

[643] Optus, Submission 12, pp 16-17.

[644] Mr Paul Broad, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, pp 18-19.

[645] Productivity Commission, Review of National Competition Policy Reform, No. 33, February 2005, p. 242.

[646] Mr Charles Britton, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 65.

[647] Mr Graeme Samuel, Chairman, ACCC, Speech at National Press Club, Canberra, 27 April 2005, p. 3.

[648] Mr Graeme Samuel, Chairman, ACCC, Speech at National Press Club, Canberra, 27 April 2005, p. 3.

[649] Mr Ewan Brown, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 52.

[650] Mr John Feil, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 91.

[651] Mr David Forman, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 15.

[652] Mr Graeme Samuel, Committee Hansard, 9 May 2005, p. 14.

[653] Cited in CEPU, Submission 40, pp 22-23.

[654] ACCC, Submission 17, p. 6.

[655] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 6.

[656] Optus, Submission 12, pp 23-24.

[657] Mr David Forman, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 21.

[658] ATUG, Submission 20a, p. 3.

[659] ATUG, Submission 20a, p. 3.

[660] Optus, Submission 12, p. 18.

[661] OFCOM 'Strategic Review Telecommunications Phase 2 consultation document: telecommunications statement', 23 June 2005, accessed on 27 June 2005 at http://www.OFCOM.org.uk/consult/condocs/telecoms_p2/statement/.

[662] OFCOM, 'A new regulatory approach for fixed telecommunications', 23 June 2005, accessed on 27 June 2005 at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2005/06/nr_20050623.

[663] In the event of a breach, OFCOM may take the matter to the High Court. Third parties affected by the breach may also seek damages.

[664] The consultation period of 6 weeks commenced on 30 June 2005.

[665] OFCOM, 'A new regulatory approach for fixed telecommunications', accessed on 27 June 2005 at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2005/06/nr_20050623.

[666] OFCOM, 'A new regulatory approach for fixed telecommunications', accessed on 27 June 2005 at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2005/06/nr_20050623.

[667] ACCC, Submission 17, p. 5.

[668] Mr Paul Broad, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, pp 21–22.

[669] Mr Paul Fearon, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 43.

[670] Mr Paul Broad, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 18.

[671] Mr Paul Fearon, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 45.

[672] CEPU, Submission 40, p. 24.

[673] Optus, Submission 12, p. 18.

[674] AAPT, Submission 13, p. 8.

[675] ATUG, Submission 20C, p. 10.

[676] Associate Professor Ian Atkinson, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 50.

[677] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 78.

[678] Mr Ed Willett and Mr Graeme Samuel, ACCC, Committee Hansard, 9 May 2005, p. 8.

[679] Optus, Submission 12, p.19.

[680] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 56.

[681] CEPU, Submission 40, p. 21.

[682] Mr Paul Broad, PowerTel Ltd, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 21.

[683] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, Competition in broadband services, 2004, Recommendation 3.

[684] Productivity Commission, Review of National Competition Policy Reforms, Report No. 33, February 2005, pp 241-243.

[685] Mr Richard Thwaites, ATUG, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 39.

[686] Mr Paul Budde, Submission 1, p. 6.

[687] WADIR, Submission 32, p. 1.

[688] Mr Damian Kay, Telcoinabox, Committee Hansard, 21 April 2005, p. 24.

[689] Dr Walter Green, Communications Experts Group, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 18.

[690] ATUG, Submission 20C, p. 3.

[691] Mr Stephen Dalby, iiNet, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 41.

[692] Optus, Submission 12, pp 4-5.

[693] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, p. 4.

[694] Mr David Havyatt, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 31.

[695] AAPT, Submission 13, p. 6.

[696] Unwired Australia, Submission 48, p. 3.

[697] Dr Mitchell Landrigan, Telstra, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 57.

[698] Trade Practices Act Review Committee, Review of the Competition Provisions of the Trade Practices Act, 2003, (Chairman Sir Daryl Dawson).

[699] Trade Practices Act Review Committee, Review of the Competition Provisions of the Trade Practices Act, 2003, (Chairman Sir Daryl Dawson), Chapter 5.

[700] Trade Practices Act Review Committee, Review of the Competition Provisions of the Trade Practices Act, 2003, (Chairman Sir Daryl Dawson), Chapter 5.

[701] Section 151CA.

[702] Dr Mitchell Landrigan, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 57.

[703] Mr Charles Britton, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 63.

[704] Communications Experts Group, Submission 26, p. 4.

[705] Mr David Forman, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 20. See also CCC, Submission 14A, p. 8.

[706] Mr Paul Budde, Submission 1, pp 1-2

[707] Productivity Commission, Review of National Competition Policy Reforms, No. 33, February 2005.

[708] Mr Doug Coates, Submission 2, p. 3.

[709] Dr Mitchell Landrigan, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 57.

[710] Mr Graeme Samuel, Committee Hansard, 9 May 2005, p. 13.

[711] Mr Graeme Samuel, Committee Hansard, 9 May 2005, p. 14.

[712] Mr Ed Willett, Committee Hansard, 9 May 2005, p. 14.

[713] ATUG, Submission 20C, p. 5.

[714] Mr Paul Budde, Submission 1, pp 1-2.

[715] Mr Ed Willett, Committee Hansard, 9 May 2005, pp 14-15.

[716] Mr Ed Willett, Committee Hansard, 9 May 2005, p. 15.

[717] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, A lost opportunity? Inquiry into the provision of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill 2004 and related bills and matters, March 2005.

[718] Communications Experts Group, Submission 26, p. 4.

[719] Mr Richard Thwaites, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 42.

[720] Townsville City Council, Submission 34, p. 2.

[721] Dr Walter Green, Communications Experts Group, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 19.

[722] Dr Walter Green, Communications Experts Group, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 30.

[723] AAPT, Submission 13, p. 8.

[724] Mr David Havyatt, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 30.

[725] Mr David Havyatt, Committee Hansard, 11 April 2005, p. 30.

[726] As well as several associate and ex-officio members and a Chief Executive Officer.

[727] The Committee previously recommended cross-membership of the ACMA and ACCC boards – see Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, A lost opportunity? Inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill and related bills and matters, 2005, Recommendation 7.

[728] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, A lost opportunity? Inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill and related bills and matters, 2005, Recommendation 10 & pp 65-68.

[729] Mr David Spence, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 115.

[730] Mr Bill Scales, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 71.

[731] AAPT, Submission 13, p. 10.

[732] Mr Graeme Samuel, ACCC, Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Additional Estimates Hansard, 17 February 2005, p. 10.

[733] Communications Experts Group, Submission 26, p. 4.

[734] Optus, Submission 12, p. 22.

[735] The UK requirements not to unduly discriminate are derived from European Directives. See OFCOM, Undue discrimination by SMP providers, consultation paper, 30 June 2005, p. 11, accessed at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/undsmp/.

[736] OFCOM, Undue discrimination by SMP providers, consultation paper, 30 June 2005, p. 10, accessed at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/undsmp/.

[737] A consultation paper was released on 30 June 2005, with responses due by 8 September 2005.

[738] Unwired Australia, Submission 48, p. 3.

[739] Senate Economics References Committee, The effectiveness of the Trade Practices Act 1974 in protecting small business, March 2004, Recommendation 2.

[740] Senate Economics References Committee, The effectiveness of the Trade Practices Act 1974 in protecting small business, March 2004, p. 14.

[741] Senate Economics References Committee, The effectiveness of the Trade Practices Act 1974 in protecting small business, March 2004, p. 15.

[742] Unwired Australia, Submission 48, p. 2.

[743] Unwired Australia, Submission 48, p. 2.

[744] Dr Mitchell Landrigan, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 57.

[745] Paragraph 152AB(e).

[746] Paragraph 152AQB(1)(e).

[747] ACCC, Emerging market structures in the communications sector, June 2003, p. 39.

[748] ACCC, Emerging market structures in the communications sector, June 2003, p. xviii.

[749] ACCC, Emerging market structures in the communications sector, June 2003, p. xxii.

[750] ACCC, Emerging market structures in the communications sector, June 2003, p. 30.

[751] ATUG, Submission 20C, p. 9.

[752] OECD Economic and Development Review Committee, OECD Economic Surveys: Australia, December 2004, p. 114. The report noted that 'This dominant position is disquieting' and made recommended divestiture 'provided independent assessment shows the benefits of divestiture would exceed the costs' (p. 114).

[753] OECD Working Party on Telecommunications and Information Services Policies, Broadband access for business, December 2002.

[754] Mr Charles Britton, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 61.

[755] Australian Consumers' Association, Submission 16, pp 10-11

[756] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 52.

[757] CEPU, Submission 40, p. 22.

[758] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, Competition in broadband services, 2004, Recommendations 4 and 6.

[759] The Committee notes that a similar recommendation was made in an earlier report: ' The ACA should be empowered and required to develop a comprehensive inventory of all significant telecommunications infrastructure, including geospatial data on Telstra's existing customer network and mobile phone coverage, and make that information available to other carriers and service providers, local government, and other interested parties to facilitate planning for new infrastructure.' See Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, The Australian telecommunications network, August 2004, p. 148.

[760] Mr Malcolm Moore, Submission 6C, p. 18.

[761] For example, Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 47.

[762] Australia's Broadband Connectivity: The Broadband Advisory Group's Report to Government, Chapter 10, accessed 28 June 2005 at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/ie/publications/2003/01/bag_report/chap10.

[763] Mr Gary Chappell, Peel Development Commission, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 67.

[764] Mr Stephen Dalby, iiNet, Committee Hansard, 29 April 2005, p. 39.

[765] CEPU, Submission 40, p. 30.

[766] Mr Harvey Grennan, 'Give us broadband in five years', The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July 2005, p. 23.

[767] Mr Horsley, ACA, Committee Hansard, 4 May 2005, p. 46.

[768] DCITA, update of answer to Question on Notice 141, tabled 24 May 2005 at Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee Budget Estimates hearing; and see Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee Budget Estimates Hansard, 24 May 2005, p. 105.

[769] Mr Paul Budde, Submission 1, p. 11.

[770] Mr David Spence, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 114.

[771] Optus, Submission 12, p. 11.

[772] DCITA, updated answer to Question on Notice 140, tabled 24 May 2005 at the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Art Legislation Committee Budget Estimates.

[773] Optus claimed to have received 22% of the HiBIS fund at the ATUG conference in Canberra, 12 May 2005. See Telecommunications in Rural Australia – Stimulating Competition for Real Future Proofing, ATUG website, 22 June 2005, at: www.atug.com.au/atug2005Regprogram.cfm.

[774] Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS), Program Guidelines, p. 45, 17 June 2005, at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/25005/HiBISGuidelinesU.pdf.

[775] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 47.

[776] Optus, Submission 12, pp 4, 16.

[777] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, Report into Competition and Broadband Services, August 2004, Recommendation 1.

[778] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, Competition in Broadband Services, August 2004, Recommendation 9.

[779] Application for registration as a HiBIS provider, accessed on 24 June 2005, at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/23253/HIGHER_BANDWIDTH_INCENTIVE_SCHEME.doc.

[780] Mr Noel O'Brien, IQ Connect Pty Ltd, Committee Hansard, 21April 2005, p. 72.

[781] See, for example, Orana Regional Development Board, Submission 8, pp 6-8.

[782] ACE, Submission 7, p. 2.

[783] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, The Australian Telecommunications Network, 2004, Recommendation 14.

[784] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, The Australian Telecommunications Network, 2004, Recommendation 15.

[785] NFF website, News Release, 16 June 2005, at: http://www.nff.org.au/pages/nr05/082.html.

[786] NFF website, News Release, 16 June 2005, at: http://www.nff.org.au/pages/nr05/082.html.

[787] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, A Lost Opportunity? Inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill 2004 and related bills and matters, March 2005, Recommendation 14.

[788] Mr John Pinnock, Committee Hansard, 5 May 2005, p. 29.

[789] Rule 7.6.1, Complaint Handling Code, ACIF C547:2004. See TIO, Submission 39, p. 3.

[790] Mr Allan Horsley, Committee Hansard, 5 May 2005, p. 54.

[791] Mr Allan Horsley, Committee Hansard, 5 May 2005, p. 54.

[792] Mr John Pinnock, Committee Hansard, 5 May 2005, p. 29; TIO, Submission 39, p. 4.

[793] CLC, Submission 23, p. 11.

[794] TIO, Submission 39, p. 4.

[795] TIO Ombudsman, TIO Talks 33, TIO website, 24 May 2005 at: http://www.tio.com.au/publications/TIO_talk_issues/33/33.2.htm.

[796] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, A Lost Opportunity? Inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill 2004 and related bills and matters, March 2005, Recommendation 17.

[797] Mr Paul Budde, Committee Hansard, 13 April 2005, p. 53.

[798] ACCC, Review of Telstra's price control arrangements, February 2005, pp 113-117.

[799] NECWG, Submission 3, p. i.

[800] NECWG, Submission 3, p. 7.

[801] Australian Communications Authority, Telecommunications Performance Report 2003-04, p. 31.

[802] Mr Lindsay Tanner MP, 'Reforming Telstra: The Next Step', Press Release, 6 February 2003.

[803] Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Address to the Adelaide Press Club, 7 July 2005.

[804] Mr Graeme Samuel, Chairman, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Committee Hansard, 9 May 2005, pp 13–14.

[805] Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Address to the Adelaide Press Club, 7 July 2005.

[806] Telecommunications Competition Regulation Issues Paper, released April 2005, available at: http://www.dcita.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/25175/Issues_Paper.doc.

[807] Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999, section 16A.

[808] 'Mexican stand-off: Telstra provokes rural showdown', The Australian Financial Review, 29 July 2005, p. 1.

[809] Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Address to the Adelaide Press Club, 7 July 2005, p. 6.

[810] See http://www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.2163012:STANDARD:1961131216:pc=PC_1661.

[811] Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee, A lost opportunity, Inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill 2004 and related bills and matter, March 2005.