Summary
Part of a package of five bills relating to the sale of the government’s equity in Telstra Corporation Limited, the bill amends the: Telstra Corporation Act 1991 to: repeal provisions which require the Commonwealth to retain 50.1 per cent equity in Telstra; cease application of provisions relating to Ministerial directions and reporting obligations once the Commonwealth’s equity falls below 15 per cent; specify sale provisions; reaffirm the universal service and digital data service obligations and the customer service guarantee; and temporarily cease appropriations in connection with a Telstra sale scheme; Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 to exempt decisions of Telstra from the application of the Act after the sale; Telstra Corporation Act 1991, Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Regulations and Maternity Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Regulations to preserve employee entitlements; Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, Freedom of Information Act 1982, Archives Regulations, Freedom of Information (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations and Ombudsman Regulations to make transitional provisions in relation to ongoing matters and consequential amendments.