The Opposition has confirmed that it will oppose the passing of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2009 which would see the break-up of Telstra into separate wholesale and retails businesses.
The first priority of the new shadow communications ministers, Tony Smith, should be to consult with industry and develop positive, constructive policies on the National Broadband Network (NBN), according to telecommunications analyst, Paul Budde.
Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott has named Tony Smith as the new shadow minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy.
Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy has condemned his former opposite number, Senator Nick Minchin, for forcing the Telstra separation bill to be delayed until February next year, saying consumers will be worse off as a result.
The ICT industry couldn’t get a worse shadow communications minister than Nick Minchin, according to telecommunications analyst Paul Budde.