Regarding who will win the tender to build the NBN, Billson indicated that Telstra appeared to be in the box seat. But the incumbent, motivated by revenue protection and a desire to continue the monopoly it holds over the industry, has made it clear that it will remove itself from the NBN process if structural separation is enforced. Billson, however, echoed the calls of the majority of the nation’s telco industry for structural separation of the NBN builder.
“The opposition has made it clear that if $4.7 billion of taxpayers' money is to be utilized, then we need commensurate public policy gains. We’re not about imposing new burdens on taxpayers, shareholders, or corporations; we’re about saying if you want the money there are strings attached. And we believe that achieving effective structural separation has to be one of those things, because the natural monopoly that will be produced requires that kind of clarity.”
That does not mean Billson supports Terria’s bid for the NBN tender, he said, but hinted Telstra might want to start thinking about the prosperity of the nation as a whole in addition to its shareholders.
“I’m all for people advancing their interests as they see them…but in the national interests I’m not sure that will get the best outcome, in fact I’m certain it won’t… [That’s why there should be] public policy goals described in some way that let those proponents know that they might want to have a rethink about that.”
Billson urged conference attendees, the telecommunications industry, consumer groups and even those with a passing interest in the future of Australia’s digital economy to get involved in the Senate Inquiry launched in June by the opposition into the NBN process.
“I urge you to participate in the Senate Inquiry because it’s the only chance you’ve got. It’s an effort by the opposition to shine a light on some of the issues that go to the heart of public policy development, where the national interests and consumer interests get a look in, because at the moment they are competing for the most neglected status,” he said.
“It’s a chance to canvas what the impacts may be of different choices that we may make as a nation. If we get this wrong, unscrambling an egg would look simple.”
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