Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy’s NBN plans are starting to unravel with his plan to beat up Telstra set to be rejected in the upper house today.
Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy’s NBN plans are starting to unravel with his plan to beat up Telstra set to be rejected in the upper house today.
Family First Senator Steve Fielding said that he will not support the bill until negotiations between the Government, Telstra and the NBN Co are finalised
Both the Coalition and Fielding are set to vote against a bill that analysts say is designed to “blunt” Telstra negotiating position with the Federal Government who is attempting to roll out a multibillion dollar broadband network in Australia but to do so need access to Telstra assets, and copper wire network.
The Opposition’s communications spokesman, Tony Smith, says the Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, is using the bill to blunt competition to his new high speed broadband network.
“He’s rushed in to try and belt up Telstra, hoping that will make his NBN more viable,” he said.
“We are opposed to it. We are re-affirming that today and as for when he brings his legislation on, that’s an open question.”
Smith said “Labour’s legislation is a deliberate assault on Telstra and its 1.4 million shareholders and 30,000 employees,” he said.
