QLD: Telco inquiry invited to meet rural customers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2000
QLD: Telco inquiry invited to meet rural customers

BRISBANE, April 24 AAP - The federal government's three-member panel investigating
Australia's telecommunication services has been invited to meet Queensland rural consumers
face-to-face.

Queensland's Rural Communities Minister Henry Palaszczuk said the panel should be actively
seeking the views of rural Australians.

"I would urge the inquiry members to undertake an extensive tour of regional and rural
Australia," Mr Palaszczuk said today.

He said if the invitation was accepted, the Queensland Rural Ministerial Advisory Council
meeting in Mt Isa on June 16 could be the first meeting in rural Australia attended by
the panel.

The federal government announced the Telecommunications Service Inquiry on March 19
to assess whether telecommunication services levels were adequate.

Mr Palaszczuk said telecommunications has been a major topic at rural advisory council meetings.

"It remains an issue of great concern in rural and remote communities," he said.

Mr Palaszczuk said he had invited Federal Communications Minister Richard Alston to
attend the next rural advisory council meeting but the Senator had refused.

The panel members are Tim Besley, Ray Braithwaite and Jane Bennett.

Queensland's Rural Ministerial Advisory Council was set up by the state government
last year to provide advice on rural issues.

It includes 19 representatives from throughout the state.

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KEYWORD: TELSTRA QLD

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