National's comm's policy: confusion or duplicity

6 September 2005

National's communications policy: confusion or duplicity?

Maurice Williamson's attempt to talk tough on regulating Telecom is totally at odds with the policy National released yesterday.

National wants to decrease the power of the Telecommunications Commissioner by making him open to more legal challenge from big business.

"This means one of two things," said Labour Communications Spokesman David Cunliffe.

"Either Maurice has been overridden by Don Brash, as he was on his attempt to scrap free local calls, or National is trying to mislead New Zealanders about what their policy means."

"It is very simple. National's policy is bad for consumers and very good for lawyers"

"Faster broadband and cheaper phone calls are crucial for this economy. With six years of hard work we are making progress. Broadband connections have doubled this year, prices are dropping and we are working to make the connections faster. We are also working to make calls to mobile phones cheaper, Telecom dropped its prices last week."

"Under National's policy the progress we are making for consumers would be stopped in its tracks. Only lawyers and phone companies would benefit."

ENDS

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