Hon. Tom Stephens inquired about an assessment regarding shared power transmission systems for telecommunications infrastructure in the West Kimberley. The Minister responded that no such assessment was conducted due to government policy favouring private investment and existing Telstra infrastructure.

AnsweredQoN 862Legislative Council
Asked
19 September 2000
Portfolio
Commerce and Trade

QuestionView source ↗

(2) If yes, what were the results of that assessment and have you relayed those results to the Minister for Energy? (3) If no to (1) above, why not? (4) Will the Minister now have one carried out? Answered on 17 October 2000 The Minister

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
17 October 2000
Response time
28 days
(1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3)&(4)It is not Government policy to build its own telecommunications infrastructure, but rather to encourage competitive services through investment by carriers. As far as the West Kimberley is concerned, there is substantial Telstra optic fibre and microwave trunk telecommunications capacity running through the region that is not fully utilised. Even if the carriers intended to invest in additional broadband telecommunications infrastructure, it is unlikely that they would wish to share power transmission systems of this type as underground installation is preferred. The Office of Information and Communications in the Department of Commerce and Trade discusses telecommunications infrastructure matters with the Office of Energy regularly to identify opportunities for sharing facilities.
(3) If no to (1) above, why not? (4) Will the Minister now have one carried out? Answered on 17 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3)&(4)It is not Government policy to build its own telecommunications infrastructure, but rather to encourage competitive services through investment by carriers. As far as the West Kimberley is concerned, there is substantial Telstra optic fibre and microwave trunk telecommunications capacity running through the region that is not fully utilised. Even if the carriers intended to invest in additional broadband telecommunications infrastructure, it is unlikely that they would wish to share power transmission systems of this type as underground installation is preferred. The Office of Information and Communications in the Department of Commerce and Trade discusses telecommunications infrastructure matters with the Office of Energy regularly to identify opportunities for sharing facilities.
(4) Will the Minister now have one carried out? Answered on 17 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3)&(4)It is not Government policy to build its own telecommunications infrastructure, but rather to encourage competitive services through investment by carriers. As far as the West Kimberley is concerned, there is substantial Telstra optic fibre and microwave trunk telecommunications capacity running through the region that is not fully utilised. Even if the carriers intended to invest in additional broadband telecommunications infrastructure, it is unlikely that they would wish to share power transmission systems of this type as underground installation is preferred. The Office of Information and Communications in the Department of Commerce and Trade discusses telecommunications infrastructure matters with the Office of Energy regularly to identify opportunities for sharing facilities.
Answered on 17 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) No. (2) Not applicable. (3)&(4)It is not Government policy to build its own telecommunications infrastructure, but rather to encourage competitive services through investment by carriers. As far as the West Kimberley is concerned, there is substantial Telstra optic fibre and microwave trunk telecommunications capacity running through the region that is not fully utilised. Even if the carriers intended to invest in additional broadband telecommunications infrastructure, it is unlikely that they would wish to share power transmission systems of this type as underground installation is preferred. The Office of Information and Communications in the Department of Commerce and Trade discusses telecommunications infrastructure matters with the Office of Energy regularly to identify opportunities for sharing facilities.

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