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Greens call for a vote before NBN Co sale

Australian Greens move amendments to stop Government from selling NBN Co without a parliamentary vote

The Australian Greens have introduced a range of telco amendments and called for any sale of NBN Co to be voted on by Parliament.

In the proposed amendment to the Telecommunications Act 1997, the Greens define and identify NBN Co.

“The Commonwealth must not dispose of or transfer shares in the NBN Co or any subsidiary of it without the approval of Parliament,” it stated.

According to a statement released by Greens' Senator Scott Ludlam, the clause is a stumbling block and one that will require Labor capitulation.

“We are still deadlocked on the issue of the eventual privatisation of the National Broadband Network, and are insisting the Government show flexibility and common sense,” he said.

The amendments also call for Telstra employees to retain their jobs and contracts if any structural separation results in the sale or transfer of assets or workforce.

“The receiving business entity should be obliged to employ the workforce currently responsible for those areas of the business that are separated… any policies pertaining to employment conditions be no worse than those applying at Telstra,” it stated.

The move comes after the Coalition declared its automatic opposition to any move to split Telstra using legislation. This gives more bargaining power to the cross-bench senators, without whom no legislation can be passed.

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Comments

1

sams

Wed 17/03/2010 - 15:57

Finally, some sanity to the debate.

Well done Greens -- i gather if it is going to cost billions to build and destroy Telstra (note: i do not have shares/ not a Telstra fanboi/ i just don't like hissy fits and bullying), atleast the ramifications of comrad-conroy-knows-best should be declared and taken care of (re: current Telstra employees), and all this doesn't turn into another monopoly further down the track from some hasty garage sale.

2

Scott

Thu 18/03/2010 - 10:32

We need to go one further and somehow legislate that the NBN Co can NEVER be sold, certainly never below 51% interest.

This will be a nationally significant and strategic asset that must be maintained for the good of the economy and the people. A for-profit enterprise will never have the same motivations as a government entity.

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