[LINK] Proposed amendments to Competition and Consumer Safeguards Bill released

[Jan Whitaker]

Media Release

Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate

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Proposed amendments to Competition and Consumer Safeguards Bill released

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, 
Senator Stephen Conroy, today released amendments to the 
Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer 
Safeguards) Bill 2009.

The proposed amendments provide the legislative certainty that both 
industry and Telstra require in the transition to this fundamental 
reform of the telecommunications sector.

Further to Telstra's commitment to de-commission its copper network 
under the Heads of Agreement with NBN Co, the amendments establish 
clear mechanisms for the Australian Competition and Consumer 
Commission (ACCC) to consider an enforceable undertaking from Telstra 
to structurally separate.

The amendments will provide greater clarity around the undertaking 
process and will allow for Telstra to seek approval from its 
shareholders on a firm proposal to migrate its fixed-line customers 
to the National Broadband Network (NBN).

The amendments also provide a mechanism to improve the current 
equivalence and transparency measures while the NBN is rolled out and 
for Telstra to set out how it will migrate customers to the NBN. This 
migration plan will be considered by the ACCC and will be the subject 
of industry consultation.

These amendments address a number of the key issues that have been 
raised with the Government since the Bill was introduced in September 
2009. The Government is considering other issues raised in relation 
to the Bill and whether further amendments will be necessary.

The Bill strengthens consumer protections and reforms the 
telecommunications regulatory landscape to generate more competition, 
encourage better services and lower prices in the interests of 
consumers, business and the economy more broadly.

The Government urges all parties to support the passage of the Bill.

The amendments and explanatory notes can be found on the Department's website:
<http://www.dbcde.gov.au/telecommunications_regulatory_reform>http://www.dbcde.gov.au/telecommunications_regulatory_reform

Date: 23 June 2010
Contact: Suzie Brady  0408 258 457



Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com

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