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Farmer McGauchie gets Telstra chairman job
21 Jul 2004
Telstra has named Victorian farmer Donald McGauchie as its new chairman. Mr McGauchie, 54, a former National Farmers' Federation president and current Reserve Bank director, has chaired the advisory board of Telstra's rural arm Country Wide since 2000.
Mr McGauchie, who still runs a farm that includes dairy cattle, takes over as chairman with a sympathetic ear to the problems faced by Telstra's bush customers, many of whom are opposed to the telco's full privatisation.
Analysts suggested Mr McGauchie's strong rural connections will help the Government defend its plans to privatise Telstra and demonstrate its commitment to maintaining regional services despite the further sale. One said Mr McGauchie's appointment is an appeasement to the bush only if he can show he can do something for them - "but he's not sitting in an ivory tower, he has dirt under his fingernails".
NFF president Peter Corish said while the NFF is opposed to the sale of Telstra, Mr McGauchie's appointment is good for rural Australia. Pastoralists' and Graziers' Association of WA vice-president Ruth Webb Smith said the appointment is great for rural and remote areas.
The West Australian, 21/7/04.
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