The Board of AMTA met with Shadow Communications Minister, Sen Stephen Conroy last week.
The aim of the meeting was to discuss policy issues of interest to AMTA and to gain an understanding from Senator Conroy regarding Labor’s policy plans ahead of the ALP National Conference and ultimately the 2007 Federal Election.
In 2004 the ALP took mobile telecommunications policy positions to the election covering infrastructure deployment and mobile contracts.
There are several main areas of direct interest to AMTA from a policy/election perspective, some of which are referenced in the 2007 ALP Draft National Platform:
Mobile Infrastructure:
On the subject of infrastructure, mobile phone base stations are never far away from the headlines, particularly at the local community level. Local politics in marginal seats can place pressure on the carriers’ powers and immunities under Schedule 3 of the Telecommunications Act and the Low Impact Determination, which are key enabling instruments supporting timely deployment of mobile network base stations. This regulatory framework plays a vital role in balancing the needs of Australia’s 19.76 million mobile phone subscribers with local community concerns about living and working near a base station. AMTA and MCF strongly support the current regulatory framework in relation to mobile infrastructure deployment.
ALP 2007 Draft National Platform to go to the National Conference does not mention mobile infrastructure.
Content Regulation:
AMTA has been supportive of Government efforts to implement safeguards for children from accessing offensive or harmful material. In fact our industry has led the way on this issue with the development of the Mobile Premium Services Industry Scheme. We are keen to ensure that any policy moves in this area are workable in practice and do not place undue financial and administrative burdens on our industry. AMTA supports the direction of the Government’s Bill but has not yet seen the detail as the bill has not been introduced to Parliament (expected May 07). Labor’s reaction to the Government’s Draft of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Content Services) Bill will be analysed during Senate Committee deliberations.
ALP 2007 Draft National Platform to go to the National Conference states:
“Labor will also strengthen legislation to meet the challenges of adult and other materials being made available to children and young people on mobile phones.”
Law Enforcement/National Security:
AMTA remains heavily involved in law enforcement issues ranging from the Blunn implementation, data retention, pre-paid identity checks and money laundering. We are working with government and law enforcement agencies in pursuing their objectives to protect our community from security threats. Our guiding principle in all of our discussions is one of proactive engagement in seeking to co-operate with Government while highlighting industry’s operational issues. The introduction of the new Telecommunications Interception Amendment Bill will be an opportunity to understand the ALP position on security issues during Committee debate on this Bill.
ALP 2007 Draft National Platform to go to the National Conference states Labor will:
"prohibit the use of telecommunications interception and listening devices unless approved by judicial warrant or subject ot appropriate administrative review".
Broadband:
Senator Conroy recently unveiled Labor’s plan for a National Broadband Network. In the telecommunications sector broadband infrastructure issues are the focus of a major debate. Clearly convergence issues link mobile telecommunications to the broadband environment however AMTA is simply monitoring this aspect of policy debate.
Consumer Issues:
Given 2004 ALP policy identified mobile contracts as a policy issue AMTA needs to be aware that consumer issues may feature again. AMTA is not aware of any specific issues in this context.
A major review of Standard Forms of Agreement in combination with the take-up of pre-paid products has largely addressed the concerns in the ALP’s 2004 policy.
ALP 2007 Draft National Platform to go to the National Conference states:
Services such a mobile phones and the internet are increasingly essential to full participation in the economy. To protect consumers in these new growth areas, Labor supports the implementation of:
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