Fed: Truss says Nats will reserve judgement on measures

AAP General News (Australia)
05-16-2001
Fed: Truss says Nats will reserve judgement on measures

CANBERRA, May 16 AAP - The National Party would not decide if rural and regional telecommunication
services were adequate until all the new measures were rolled out, Agriculture Minister
Warren Truss said today.

Mobile phone black holes, slow internet access and poor repair times in the bush will
be targeted in the government's $163.1 million response to last year's Besley inquiry.

National Party MP Mr Truss said the measures were very significant and would improve services.

"But the National Party has always held the view that no further sale of Telstra will
be contemplated until the services in rural and regional Australia are viewed as adequate,"

he told ABC Radio.

"So we certainly want to see these steps put in action and the results on the ground."

The assessment of the adequacy of the measures would be made as the improvements progressed.

"I think it is a continuous assessment that has to be made as to whether or not the
telecommunications services in regional Australia are adequate, and we certainly will
be continuing to press to achieve a higher standard of service," Mr Truss said.

AAP eg/las

KEYWORD: PHONES TRUSS

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