Consideration of the Telstra (Dilution of Public Ownership) Bill 1996

CONTENTS

MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE

TERMS OF REFERENCE

SUMMARY

RECOMMENDATIONS

CHAPTER 1

• INTRODUCTION
  
• Conduct of the Inquiry
  
• Committee's comments on the inquiry

CHAPTER 2: Scope

• LEGISLATION
  
• Telstra (Dilution of Public Ownership) Bill 1996
  
• Other telecommunications regulatory arrangements
  
• Privatisation of Telstra by the 'non legislative' route

CHAPTER 3: Scope

• TELSTRA AND ITS MANAGEMENT
  
• History of Telstra
  
• Corporate Structure
  
• Corporate Performance
  
• Other Structural issues
  
• Accountability - Telstra management and the Parliament
  
• Telstra Scoping Study

CHAPTER 4: Scope

• PRIVATISATION - FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
  
• The World Bank position
  
• Other empirical studies
  
• The dangers of privatising a monopoly
  
• Efficiency of public enterprises
  
• Beneficieries of privatisation
  
• Foreign investment
  
• Financial considerations - the float
  
• Industry development and research
  
• Conclusion

CHAPTER 5: Scope

• EMPLOYMENT ISSUES
  
• Introduction
  
• Privatisation and staffing levels
  
• Project Mercury
  
• Industry growth andf development
  
• Impacts of privatisation on regional employment
  
• Other employment issues
  
• Telstra's attitude to the Committee
  
• Conclusions

CHAPTER 6: Scope

• THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
  
• The Universal Service Obligation
  
• The standard telephone service
  
• Consumer protection for residents in rural and remote regions
  
• Consumers with special needs
  
• Possible loopholes in the Bill
  
• Funding of the Universal Service Obligation
  
• Consumer protection and the Customer Service Guarantee
  
• Consumer protection safeguards in the Post-1997 Regulatory Regime

CHAPTER 7: Scope

• ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
  
• Carriers' Exempt Activities
  
• Development of a new Telecommunications National Code and Land Access Code
  
• Community opposition to aerial cabling
  
• Duplication of infrastructure
  
• Health issues relating to aerial cabling and mobile phone towers
  
• Conclusion

CHAPTER 8: Scope

• POST JULY 1997 REGULATORY ARRANGEMENTS
  
• Introduction
  
• Post July-1997 regulatory bodies
  
• Licensing
  
• Carrier definition
  
• Carrier land access rights and immunities
  
• Telecommunications access regime
  
• Competition directions
  
• Tariff filing
  
• Appeal rights
  
• The Universal Service Obligation
  
• Privacy
  
• Codes of practice and standards
  
• Industry development obligations
  
• The Future

APPENDIX 1

• LIST OF SUBMISSIONS

APPENDIX 2

• LIST OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WITNESSES

APPENDIX 3

• BILLS FOR INTRODUSTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 1996 SPRING SITTINGS STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR THE SENATE

APPENDIX 4

• TELSTRA INQUIRY: QUESTION ON NOTICE TO ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT

APPENDIX 5

• SUBMISSIONS FROM UNIONS

APPENDIX 6

• MERCURY PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

APPENDIX 7

• EXPLANATORY NOTES ON BANDWIDTH, NETWORKS AND SERVICE QUALITY

APPENDIX 8

• TELECOMMUNICATION CROSS SUBSIDY

APPENDIX 9

• RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONS, CITY CORPORATIONS, LOCAL COUNCILS, AND CONSERVATION GROUPS RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND DUPLICATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE

MINORITY REPORT BY SENATORS BAUME, KNOWLES, O'CHEE AND TIERNEY

• Introduction and Summary
• The Economic Case for Part Privatisation of Telstra
• Improved Community and Consumer Safeguards
• Provision of Telecommunications Infrastructure
• Technical Issues Concerning the Form of the Legislation
• Conclusion