Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH - 1996-10-16
Is the Chief Minister aware that the current locally answered Telstra 000 emergency number is to be moved to Adelaide in January 1997? Using this as an example, how much longer will he tolerate Northern Territory citizens being treated as second-rate Australians during our push for statehood?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is a very good question. Not only is there the relocation of that emergency number, but there have been a number of other issues, including the local office of Telstra in Alice Springs, that I have taken up very forcefully with Telstra. I told it that it is totally unacceptable to see these people moving ...
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr STONE: The member for Arnhem interjects, but the big cutbacks in Telstra occurred during the term of the federal Labor government when we saw the guts ripped out of Telstra in the Territory. Not a word about that was muttered by members opposite ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: They did not get to their feet at any stage of the game and take on Senator Bob Collins who had, I believe, ministerial responsibility. They let it go because they were not prepared to take him on. Meanwhile, members on this side took up the fight in relation to the redundancies and the services that were being moved to Adelaide.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: I agree with the member for Nelson. It is unacceptable. I have put it in very forceful terms to the senior management of Telstra. I have written to Telstra on a range of these issues, including the matter of the local office or shopfront in Alice Springs, and I have received some assurances. I can tell the member for Nelson that I will continue to be forceful in my representations. I expect the same level of service in the Territory that other Australians take for granted. I thank her for her questions.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is a very good question. Not only is there the relocation of that emergency number, but there have been a number of other issues, including the local office of Telstra in Alice Springs, that I have taken up very forcefully with Telstra. I told it that it is totally unacceptable to see these people moving ...
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr STONE: The member for Arnhem interjects, but the big cutbacks in Telstra occurred during the term of the federal Labor government when we saw the guts ripped out of Telstra in the Territory. Not a word about that was muttered by members opposite ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: They did not get to their feet at any stage of the game and take on Senator Bob Collins who had, I believe, ministerial responsibility. They let it go because they were not prepared to take him on. Meanwhile, members on this side took up the fight in relation to the redundancies and the services that were being moved to Adelaide.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: I agree with the member for Nelson. It is unacceptable. I have put it in very forceful terms to the senior management of Telstra. I have written to Telstra on a range of these issues, including the matter of the local office or shopfront in Alice Springs, and I have received some assurances. I can tell the member for Nelson that I will continue to be forceful in my representations. I expect the same level of service in the Territory that other Australians take for granted. I thank her for her questions.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016