Telstra should have been separated earlier, Joyce says
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CANBERRA, Oct 22 AAP
October 22 2009, 1:35PM
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce will toe the coalition line on delaying government legislation that aims to force a structural break-up of Telstra.
But he's not convinced separating the telco's wholesale and retail functions is a bad idea, saying it should have been done much earlier.
Labor argues the separation will make Australia's telecommunications sector more competitive, while the coalition says government should not meddle in the affairs of a publicly listed company.
It wants a parliamentary vote on draft laws deferred until a Senate committee completes its inquiry into the government's planned national broadband network.
"I'm happy to have a close examination of the facts," Senator Joyce told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
"But I'm not closing the door."
Senator Joyce says separating the telco's functions was a more complicated process now because it should have been done when Telstra was established.
Steve Fielding, another key senator yet to make his position known on the break-up, is concerned about what effect it will have on the telco's shareholders.
"I'd hate to see them hung out to dry," he told reporters.
Another other issue for the Family First senator is the $43 billion national broadband network.
"I want to make sure we've got the right structure in place to make sure that Australians aren't ripped off in the process as well."
