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NSW Farmers Association Press Release - Farmers set conditions on any further Telstra sell-off
26 Jul 2002
The NSW Farmers’ Association Annual Conference has voted to oppose any further privatisation of Telstra until services and costs in the bush reach comparable city standards, with future technology improvements also guaranteed.
Association Rural Affairs Committee Chair, Jim Graham, says access to affordable and quality telecommunications services is one major way of ‘Bridging the Country-City Divide’, the Association’s Conference theme.
"Being able to access the Internet or get mobile phone coverage at reasonable costs and without drop-outs is often taken for granted in our cities," Mr Graham said.
"However, delegates to the Conference have made it clear that rigorous standards need to be implemented before any further sell-off of Telstra occurs, in order to protect farm families and rural communities.
"Following spirited debate, the Association sent a strong message that any further sale of Telstra must also include the establishment of a trust fund from at least 10 percent of sale proceeds.
"The trust find will ensure on-going telecommunications improvements and technological parity with urban areas for Australians living in rural, regional and remote areas."
Mr Graham says changes are also required to the telecommunications Universal Service Obligation (USO) and the Customer Service Guarantee (CSG).
"Although Telstra’s service performance continues to improve against the CSG criteria, the current criteria is not rigorous enough.
"The CSG should reflect Telstra’s overall performance in areas such as repetitive faults and problems with new line connections, not just whether they have repaired or provided services within a certain time.
"Country residents should also be able to access a level of service that does not discriminate on the size of someone’s town, which it currently does.
"Additionally, the USO should include data as well as telephony standards," Mr Graham said.
Contact: Kaaren Latham (Media Manager) 02 9222 9044 – conference / 0409 809 909
by Ireni Attia
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