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weekly hansard - Queensland Parliament - Queensland Government

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2540 Ministerial Statement 23 Aug 2005<br />

The increase in expenditure year on year is only 1.65 per cent. This is far less than increases in<br />

the consumer price index over this period. While enterprise bargaining pay increases have pushed<br />

salary costs up, there have been substantial savings in both telecommunications costs as well as<br />

computer costs. My government has continued to be responsive to community needs, and the new<br />

portfolio structure I have recently put in place will ensure that we address the big issues and continue<br />

implementation of the Smart State initiatives to build our future. The substantial work of my government<br />

continues to be done in a cost effective way. I table that report for the information of the House.<br />

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT<br />

Sale of Telstra<br />

Hon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (9.43 am): There are a<br />

number of matters that I wish to report on briefly. One relates to the proposed Telstra sale. As members<br />

know, my government remains totally opposed to the sale of Telstra. I seek leave to incorporate in<br />

Hansard the reasons.<br />

Leave granted.<br />

With arrogant disregard for telecommunications users and taxpayer-shareholders, the Federal <strong>Government</strong> intends to sell Telstra.<br />

People are having problems getting a decent broadband service sometimes only 12 to 15 kilometres from the centre of the city, let<br />

alone in the bush.<br />

Broadband coverage in Australia is not keeping up with world best practice.<br />

• Australia’s broadband penetration rate is well below that of other industrialised countries.<br />

• As at June 2003, Australia ranked 20th out of the 30 OECD countries, compared to 18th the previous year.<br />

• More recent analysis suggests only 32% of homes have broadband, compared with 67% in Canada, 65% in Singapore<br />

and 46% in the United Kingdom.<br />

An innovative, competitive telecommunications market is critical to <strong>Queensland</strong>’s and Australia’s future economic growth.<br />

We need a review to address the best way of ensuring services (including repair times, installation, mobile coverage and<br />

broadband) will allow all Australians to be part of the global village.<br />

In particular, the best way to deliver broadband must be considered.<br />

Broadband is most commonly delivered via ADSL, cable or satellite (one or two way).<br />

Satellite provides 100 percent coverage, but ADSL is only available to approximately 75 percent of Australia’s population and<br />

cable is only available in parts of the capital cities, Newcastle and the Gold Coast.<br />

Dial up internet, which is more commonly available, is capable of speeds of up to 56kps, but in reality is often slower.<br />

This technology is not suitable for business and is also frustratingly slow in rural areas where the Federal <strong>Government</strong> has set the<br />

mandated minimum speed at 19.6 kps for the Universal Service Obligation.<br />

Also, it is more prone to drop-outs and customers cannot use their telephone line at the same time as they use the Internet as they<br />

can with broadband.<br />

Despite the fact the Commonwealth has a clear constitutional responsibility in telecommunications, the <strong>Queensland</strong> <strong>Government</strong><br />

has maximised opportunities to ensure regional <strong>Queensland</strong>ers have better, affordable services.<br />

Yesterday Cabinet endorsed the <strong>Queensland</strong> Telecommunications Strategic Framework 2005-2008, to enhance competition and<br />

improve telecommunications in <strong>Queensland</strong><br />

This builds on earlier initiatives, such as a $117.5M five year agreement with Optus to support the installation of alternative<br />

broadband infrastructure in <strong>Queensland</strong>.<br />

This facilitated the construction during 2000-2001 of 1,820 kilometres of optical fibre cable in the Brisbane to Cairns rail corridor,<br />

passing through nine regional centres.<br />

It reduced charges for broadband services between Brisbane and Cairns by up to 70%.<br />

In 2003 we used our buying power as big consumers of mobile phone services to cut deals with Telstra and Optus that have led to<br />

scores of new mobile phone towers in rural and remote areas.<br />

Now we are seeking improved mobile coverage for a highway gap between Winton to Cloncurry.<br />

We have also committed $42 million per annum over five years for Optus products and services, in exchange for broadband<br />

infrastructure in 30 regional towns and optical fibre infrastructure in the business districts of Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton.<br />

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT<br />

Economic Growth<br />

Hon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (9.44 am): I am happy to<br />

report that recent figures show the <strong>Queensland</strong> economy continues to go from strength to strength. As I<br />

informed the House on 12 August, the July unemployment figure was for the ninth consecutive month at<br />

five per cent or below. I seek leave to incorporate details in Hansard.<br />

Leave granted.<br />

And the latest figures from the ABS Wage Price Index show <strong>Queensland</strong>ers with a job are on a better wicket with total hourly pay<br />

rates in <strong>Queensland</strong> growing 0.7% in the June quarter to be 3.9% higher than a year ago.

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