Ms McCARTHY - 2005-08-17
The federal government is currently considering the full sale of Telstra. It is also considering the provision of additional funding to fill gaps in existing services. Can you advise Territorians of the state of telecommunications services in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. She, of course, is a member with responsibility for an electorate not unlike my own. In fact, the indigenous communities scattered across north--east Arnhem Land and to the south are shared between the member for Arnhem and me.
The government has received advice in regard to telecommunications deficiencies across the Northern Territory. This advice confirms those deficiencies in about 60 communities right across the Northern Territory, which range in population from 100 to in excess of 2000 people. These communities that have been subject to this investigation are home to some 20 000 Territorians.
Members would be aware that Northern Territory communities without access to full services range from Cox Peninsula just across the water from Darwin and Palmerston, to more remote places such as Kintore on the Northern Territory/Western Australian border. The advice that government has received is that the provision of adequate telecommunications services to these Territory communities requires an investment of around $100m. That would be the bottom line, the least figure, because that calculation does not include any upgrade to services to outstations. Therefore, if we took into account the full need, it would, of course, be much greater.
Most importantly, the report calculates that the upgrades to telecommunications services could contribute to economic benefits of a massive $406m per year. Therefore, the investment of just $100m to bring telecommunications services up to standard in these Territory communities would be a key contributor to an increase in community output of more than $4bn over 10 years. Really, it is an investment for the future and would be of massive benefit to the Territory and Territorians living in these communities. It cannot be ignored on that basis, and ought not be ignored on an equity basis either. However, a large economic benefit such as that ought be secured.
The Martin Labor government does not support the full privatisation of Telstra. I would see that there is a role for the CLP member for Solomon to be reminded that he stated that he would not support the full sale of Telstra until such time as full mobile coverage is established on the length of the Territory’s highways. That is not the case as I stand here. We will be strongly arguing the case to secure that minimum investment required to bring telecommunications services up to standard before the full sale of Telstra takes effect, because it is a very difficult road from then on.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. She, of course, is a member with responsibility for an electorate not unlike my own. In fact, the indigenous communities scattered across north--east Arnhem Land and to the south are shared between the member for Arnhem and me.
The government has received advice in regard to telecommunications deficiencies across the Northern Territory. This advice confirms those deficiencies in about 60 communities right across the Northern Territory, which range in population from 100 to in excess of 2000 people. These communities that have been subject to this investigation are home to some 20 000 Territorians.
Members would be aware that Northern Territory communities without access to full services range from Cox Peninsula just across the water from Darwin and Palmerston, to more remote places such as Kintore on the Northern Territory/Western Australian border. The advice that government has received is that the provision of adequate telecommunications services to these Territory communities requires an investment of around $100m. That would be the bottom line, the least figure, because that calculation does not include any upgrade to services to outstations. Therefore, if we took into account the full need, it would, of course, be much greater.
Most importantly, the report calculates that the upgrades to telecommunications services could contribute to economic benefits of a massive $406m per year. Therefore, the investment of just $100m to bring telecommunications services up to standard in these Territory communities would be a key contributor to an increase in community output of more than $4bn over 10 years. Really, it is an investment for the future and would be of massive benefit to the Territory and Territorians living in these communities. It cannot be ignored on that basis, and ought not be ignored on an equity basis either. However, a large economic benefit such as that ought be secured.
The Martin Labor government does not support the full privatisation of Telstra. I would see that there is a role for the CLP member for Solomon to be reminded that he stated that he would not support the full sale of Telstra until such time as full mobile coverage is established on the length of the Territory’s highways. That is not the case as I stand here. We will be strongly arguing the case to secure that minimum investment required to bring telecommunications services up to standard before the full sale of Telstra takes effect, because it is a very difficult road from then on.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016