Wednesday, 21 October 2009 00:00

Responding to this afternoon’s announcement from the Coalition that it will seek to defer consideration of the Rudd Government’s legislative reforms for the telecommunications industry, Mr Ravi Bhatia, CEO of Primus Telecom and Chairman of TASA (TERRiA Access Seekers Association) expressed his disappointment that the Coalition was turning its back on Australian consumers and businesses in regional Australia.

Mr Bhatia said, “This decision appears to go against the Coalition’s previously stated policy to improve services for regional Australians. The Coalition needs to explain why such a change in policy has come about, and why it has decided to abandon regional Australians.”

Commenting on the proposed regulatory reforms, Mr Bhatia stated, “Nowhere has the impact of the flawed telecommunications regulatory regime been more evident than in the lack of choice and quality of services currently available to regional Australians. The legislative reforms currently before Parliament are intended to improve conditions for competition and deliver benefits to Australian businesses and consumers right across Australia. The Coalition appears to be neglecting Australian consumers for the sake of cheap politics.”

Mr Bhatia stated, “Right now the industry is very keen to provide services into regional Australia, but we can’t do that until the Government delivers a level playing field. Deferring this important Bill will only serve to harm Australian consumers.”

Mr Bhatia said, “I’m concerned about the misinformed commentary on these reforms. Quite simply, this Bill is about improving competition and consumer benefits. It will address the long standing structural issues in our industry. Australian consumers deserve better market outcomes than currently available, and this Bill will deliver that. The measures proposed in the Bill are long overdue.”

“The Coalition should be supporting this Bill because it is in the interests of Australian consumers, and in the interests of all users of broadband and telecommunications services.”

For media information please contact:

Louise Roberts or Pru Quinlan
Einsteinz Communications – for Primus Telecom
Tel: 02 8905 0995 M: 0405 579 633
E: louise@einsteinz.com.au or pru@einsteinz.com.au