Dissenting Senators Report
1.1 Senator Cameron, Senator Bilyk and Senator Ludlam do not agree with
Recommendation 1 in the Coalition’s Senators’ report.
1.2
Dissenting Senators find that the charging for a fee for an unlisted
(silent) number should be prohibited.
1.3
The genesis for this References inquiry was recommendation no. 72-17 of
report no. 108 of the Australian Law Reform Commission on Australian privacy
law and practice which recommended that:
The Telecommunications Act 1997 should be amended to
prohibit the charging of a fee for an unlisted (silent) number.
1.4
The Coalition Senators’ report found that the ALRC’s recommendation has
widespread support from consumer and privacy advocacy groups as well as
sections of the telecommunications industry. The Coalition Senators have chosen
to ignore the evidence received and seek to protect the corporate interest of
Telstra.
1.5
Of the 19 submissions, the only submission that advocated the
continuation of unlisted (silent) line fees was made by Telstra. Their
submission was focused on ensuring the continued profitability of Telstra,
through the charging of unlisted (silent) line fees, and of Sensis, the
subsidiary that is responsible for the production of the White Pages directory.
1.6
This was opposed by groups like the St Vincent de Paul Society, the
Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, the Privacy Commissioner and
Legal Centres from around Australia - all built on the work of the Australian
Law Reform Commission. Their submissions were focused on concerns about privacy
and safety. They also focused on ensuring that all telecommunications users are
able to enjoy those two rights, regardless of their ability to pay, or meet
complex eligibility requirements.
1.7
The claim by Coalition Senators that the prohibition of charging a fee
for an unlisted number would undermine the purpose and usefulness of the
national telephone directory does not withstand even basic scrutiny.
1.8
As it stands, 16% of fixed line users are currently paying a monthly fee
to have their details removed from telephone directories. This has not had a
deleterious effect on the use of telecommunications directories, which is still
used by 88% of Australians in the past year.
1.9
Dissenting Senators have taken the view that citizens' right to privacy
and personal safety are more important than a theoretical decrease in the
usefulness of Telstra’s White Pages directory.
1.10
Dissenting Senators agree with the Australian Law Reform Commission view
that a fee can act as an impediment to accessing a service that will help
protect privacy, particularly for individuals on fixed or low incomes.
1.11
Dissenting Senators call on the government to undertake consultation in
order to set out a clear timetable that would see the abolition of the charging
of fees for unlisted (silent) lines.
Recommendation
1
That the Telecommunications
Act 1997 be amended to prohibit the charging of a fee for an unlisted
(silent) number on a public number directory.
Senator Doug Cameron
Deputy Chair |
Senator Catryna Bilyk
Senator for Tasmania |
|
|
Senator Scott Ludlam
Senator for Western Australia |
|
Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page