❓ Mr Brown asks the Minister for Commerce and Trade about the Federal Government's plan to provide affordable internet access across WA. The Minister acknowledges the plan but notes the lack of a firm timetable, detailing ongoing state and federal projects aimed at achieving this goal.
AnsweredQoN 164Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware of an article that appeared in The West Australian newspaper on 1 June 2000 which reported the Federal Government intended to provide Internet access for the cost of a local call to every Australian? (2) Has the Minister been advised by the Federal Minister when Internet access for the cost of a local call will be made available in every location throughout Western Australia? (3) If so, will the Minister make that information available? (4) If not, will the Minister seek that information? (5) If not, why not? Answered on 17 August 2000 The Minister
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 August 2000
Response time
8 days
(1) Yes (2) No (3) Not Applicable (4) I am aware that the Commonwealth Government does not have a firm timetable. However, the following State and Commonwealth projects are working towards the objective of Internet access for the cost of a local call: · The $150million tender about to be called by the Commonwealth Government for provision of untimed local calls in extended zones includes the requirement to deliver untimed Internet access throughout those zones. The implementation timetable will depend on the nature of the subsequently accepted tender. The Department of Commerce and Trade has had input to the procurement plan. This Commonwealth action, utilising some of the proceeds of sale of Telstra, tackles the most difficult area in which to provide local call access. · The $20.4million project mentioned in the newspaper article is also to deliver untimed local call Internet access, but in light of the above project may focus on all the standard zones. The project is being managed by Farmwide, as the recipient of this Networking the Nation grant. The Department of Commerce and Trade has met with Farmwide to discuss implementation of the project in Western Australia. The Department of Commerce and Trade will have significant input to the tender process. It is clear that Farmwide will not begin implementation before the beginning of 2001 at the earliest as the outcome of the extended zones contract and the two Universal Service Obligation contestability pilots need to be known. · A number of Western Australian projects part funded by the Networking the Nation program have already delivered local call Internet access to some areas previously unserved. Western Australia is well advanced on provision of local call Internet access due to actions such as the above over the past 2 ½ years. The extent of local call Internet access achieved in Western Australia is researched each year and is publicly available as the Internet Availability Survey on www.commerce.wa.gov.au. In a number of areas local call access is achieved through use by Internet Service Providers of the Telstra service called Call Diversion Number Only. Telstra has announced it is withdrawing that service from 1 January 2001 and has not offered an alternative. The Department of Commerce and Trade has pressed Telstra to provide an equivalent service and has raised the issue in its response to the Telstra Zone Boundaries review and in submissions to the Commonwealth government. (5) Not Applicable
(2) Has the Minister been advised by the Federal Minister when Internet access for the cost of a local call will be made available in every location throughout Western Australia? (3) If so, will the Minister make that information available? (4) If not, will the Minister seek that information? (5) If not, why not? Answered on 17 August 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) Yes (2) No (3) Not Applicable (4) I am aware that the Commonwealth Government does not have a firm timetable. However, the following State and Commonwealth projects are working towards the objective of Internet access for the cost of a local call: · The $150million tender about to be called by the Commonwealth Government for provision of untimed local calls in extended zones includes the requirement to deliver untimed Internet access throughout those zones. The implementation timetable will depend on the nature of the subsequently accepted tender. The Department of Commerce and Trade has had input to the procurement plan. This Commonwealth action, utilising some of the proceeds of sale of Telstra, tackles the most difficult area in which to provide local call access. · The $20.4million project mentioned in the newspaper article is also to deliver untimed local call Internet access, but in light of the above project may focus on all the standard zones. The project is being managed by Farmwide, as the recipient of this Networking the Nation grant. The Department of Commerce and Trade has met with Farmwide to discuss implementation of the project in Western Australia. The Department of Commerce and Trade will have significant input to the tender process. It is clear that Farmwide will not begin implementation before the beginning of 2001 at the earliest as the outcome of the extended zones contract and the two Universal Service Obligation contestability pilots need to be known. · A number of Western Australian projects part funded by the Networking the Nation program have already delivered local call Internet access to some areas previously unserved. Western Australia is well advanced on provision of local call Internet access due to actions such as the above over the past 2 ½ years. The extent of local call Internet access achieved in Western Australia is researched each year and is publicly available as the Internet Availability Survey on www.commerce.wa.gov.au. In a number of areas local call access is achieved through use by Internet Service Providers of the Telstra service called Call Diversion Number Only. Telstra has announced it is withdrawing that service from 1 January 2001 and has not offered an alternative. The Department of Commerce and Trade has pressed Telstra to provide an equivalent service and has raised the issue in its response to the Telstra Zone Boundaries review and in submissions to the Commonwealth government. (5) Not Applicable
(3) If so, will the Minister make that information available? (4) If not, will the Minister seek that information? (5) If not, why not? Answered on 17 August 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) Yes (2) No (3) Not Applicable (4) I am aware that the Commonwealth Government does not have a firm timetable. However, the following State and Commonwealth projects are working towards the objective of Internet access for the cost of a local call: · The $150million tender about to be called by the Commonwealth Government for provision of untimed local calls in extended zones includes the requirement to deliver untimed Internet access throughout those zones. The implementation timetable will depend on the nature of the subsequently accepted tender. The Department of Commerce and Trade has had input to the procurement plan. This Commonwealth action, utilising some of the proceeds of sale of Telstra, tackles the most difficult area in which to provide local call access. · The $20.4million project mentioned in the newspaper article is also to deliver untimed local call Internet access, but in light of the above project may focus on all the standard zones. The project is being managed by Farmwide, as the recipient of this Networking the Nation grant. The Department of Commerce and Trade has met with Farmwide to discuss implementation of the project in Western Australia. The Department of Commerce and Trade will have significant input to the tender process. It is clear that Farmwide will not begin implementation before the beginning of 2001 at the earliest as the outcome of the extended zones contract and the two Universal Service Obligation contestability pilots need to be known. · A number of Western Australian projects part funded by the Networking the Nation program have already delivered local call Internet access to some areas previously unserved. Western Australia is well advanced on provision of local call Internet access due to actions such as the above over the past 2 ½ years. The extent of local call Internet access achieved in Western Australia is researched each year and is publicly available as the Internet Availability Survey on www.commerce.wa.gov.au. In a number of areas local call access is achieved through use by Internet Service Providers of the Telstra service called Call Diversion Number Only. Telstra has announced it is withdrawing that service from 1 January 2001 and has not offered an alternative. The Department of Commerce and Trade has pressed Telstra to provide an equivalent service and has raised the issue in its response to the Telstra Zone Boundaries review and in submissions to the Commonwealth government. (5) Not Applicable
(4) If not, will the Minister seek that information? (5) If not, why not? Answered on 17 August 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) Yes (2) No (3) Not Applicable (4) I am aware that the Commonwealth Government does not have a firm timetable. However, the following State and Commonwealth projects are working towards the objective of Internet access for the cost of a local call: · The $150million tender about to be called by the Commonwealth Government for provision of untimed local calls in extended zones includes the requirement to deliver untimed Internet access throughout those zones. The implementation timetable will depend on the nature of the subsequently accepted tender. The Department of Commerce and Trade has had input to the procurement plan. This Commonwealth action, utilising some of the proceeds of sale of Telstra, tackles the most difficult area in which to provide local call access. · The $20.4million project mentioned in the newspaper article is also to deliver untimed local call Internet access, but in light of the above project may focus on all the standard zones. The project is being managed by Farmwide, as the recipient of this Networking the Nation grant. The Department of Commerce and Trade has met with Farmwide to discuss implementation of the project in Western Australia. The Department of Commerce and Trade will have significant input to the tender process. It is clear that Farmwide will not begin implementation before the beginning of 2001 at the earliest as the outcome of the extended zones contract and the two Universal Service Obligation contestability pilots need to be known. · A number of Western Australian projects part funded by the Networking the Nation program have already delivered local call Internet access to some areas previously unserved. Western Australia is well advanced on provision of local call Internet access due to actions such as the above over the past 2 ½ years. The extent of local call Internet access achieved in Western Australia is researched each year and is publicly available as the Internet Availability Survey on www.commerce.wa.gov.au. In a number of areas local call access is achieved through use by Internet Service Providers of the Telstra service called Call Diversion Number Only. Telstra has announced it is withdrawing that service from 1 January 2001 and has not offered an alternative. The Department of Commerce and Trade has pressed Telstra to provide an equivalent service and has raised the issue in its response to the Telstra Zone Boundaries review and in submissions to the Commonwealth government. (5) Not Applicable
(5) If not, why not? Answered on 17 August 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) Yes (2) No (3) Not Applicable (4) I am aware that the Commonwealth Government does not have a firm timetable. However, the following State and Commonwealth projects are working towards the objective of Internet access for the cost of a local call: · The $150million tender about to be called by the Commonwealth Government for provision of untimed local calls in extended zones includes the requirement to deliver untimed Internet access throughout those zones. The implementation timetable will depend on the nature of the subsequently accepted tender. The Department of Commerce and Trade has had input to the procurement plan. This Commonwealth action, utilising some of the proceeds of sale of Telstra, tackles the most difficult area in which to provide local call access. · The $20.4million project mentioned in the newspaper article is also to deliver untimed local call Internet access, but in light of the above project may focus on all the standard zones. The project is being managed by Farmwide, as the recipient of this Networking the Nation grant. The Department of Commerce and Trade has met with Farmwide to discuss implementation of the project in Western Australia. The Department of Commerce and Trade will have significant input to the tender process. It is clear that Farmwide will not begin implementation before the beginning of 2001 at the earliest as the outcome of the extended zones contract and the two Universal Service Obligation contestability pilots need to be known. · A number of Western Australian projects part funded by the Networking the Nation program have already delivered local call Internet access to some areas previously unserved. Western Australia is well advanced on provision of local call Internet access due to actions such as the above over the past 2 ½ years. The extent of local call Internet access achieved in Western Australia is researched each year and is publicly available as the Internet Availability Survey on www.commerce.wa.gov.au. In a number of areas local call access is achieved through use by Internet Service Providers of the Telstra service called Call Diversion Number Only. Telstra has announced it is withdrawing that service from 1 January 2001 and has not offered an alternative. The Department of Commerce and Trade has pressed Telstra to provide an equivalent service and has raised the issue in its response to the Telstra Zone Boundaries review and in submissions to the Commonwealth government. (5) Not Applicable
Answered on 17 August 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) Yes (2) No (3) Not Applicable (4) I am aware that the Commonwealth Government does not have a firm timetable. However, the following State and Commonwealth projects are working towards the objective of Internet access for the cost of a local call: · The $150million tender about to be called by the Commonwealth Government for provision of untimed local calls in extended zones includes the requirement to deliver untimed Internet access throughout those zones. The implementation timetable will depend on the nature of the subsequently accepted tender. The Department of Commerce and Trade has had input to the procurement plan. This Commonwealth action, utilising some of the proceeds of sale of Telstra, tackles the most difficult area in which to provide local call access. · The $20.4million project mentioned in the newspaper article is also to deliver untimed local call Internet access, but in light of the above project may focus on all the standard zones. The project is being managed by Farmwide, as the recipient of this Networking the Nation grant. The Department of Commerce and Trade has met with Farmwide to discuss implementation of the project in Western Australia. The Department of Commerce and Trade will have significant input to the tender process. It is clear that Farmwide will not begin implementation before the beginning of 2001 at the earliest as the outcome of the extended zones contract and the two Universal Service Obligation contestability pilots need to be known. · A number of Western Australian projects part funded by the Networking the Nation program have already delivered local call Internet access to some areas previously unserved. Western Australia is well advanced on provision of local call Internet access due to actions such as the above over the past 2 ½ years. The extent of local call Internet access achieved in Western Australia is researched each year and is publicly available as the Internet Availability Survey on www.commerce.wa.gov.au. In a number of areas local call access is achieved through use by Internet Service Providers of the Telstra service called Call Diversion Number Only. Telstra has announced it is withdrawing that service from 1 January 2001 and has not offered an alternative. The Department of Commerce and Trade has pressed Telstra to provide an equivalent service and has raised the issue in its response to the Telstra Zone Boundaries review and in submissions to the Commonwealth government. (5) Not Applicable
(2) Has the Minister been advised by the Federal Minister when Internet access for the cost of a local call will be made available in every location throughout Western Australia? (3) If so, will the Minister make that information available? (4) If not, will the Minister seek that information? (5) If not, why not? Answered on 17 August 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) Yes (2) No (3) Not Applicable (4) I am aware that the Commonwealth Government does not have a firm timetable. However, the following State and Commonwealth projects are working towards the objective of Internet access for the cost of a local call: · The $150million tender about to be called by the Commonwealth Government for provision of untimed local calls in extended zones includes the requirement to deliver untimed Internet access throughout those zones. The implementation timetable will depend on the nature of the subsequently accepted tender. The Department of Commerce and Trade has had input to the procurement plan. This Commonwealth action, utilising some of the proceeds of sale of Telstra, tackles the most difficult area in which to provide local call access. · The $20.4million project mentioned in the newspaper article is also to deliver untimed local call Internet access, but in light of the above project may focus on all the standard zones. The project is being managed by Farmwide, as the recipient of this Networking the Nation grant. The Department of Commerce and Trade has met with Farmwide to discuss implementation of the project in Western Australia. The Department of Commerce and Trade will have significant input to the tender process. It is clear that Farmwide will not begin implementation before the beginning of 2001 at the earliest as the outcome of the extended zones contract and the two Universal Service Obligation contestability pilots need to be known. · A number of Western Australian projects part funded by the Networking the Nation program have already delivered local call Internet access to some areas previously unserved. Western Australia is well advanced on provision of local call Internet access due to actions such as the above over the past 2 ½ years. The extent of local call Internet access achieved in Western Australia is researched each year and is publicly available as the Internet Availability Survey on www.commerce.wa.gov.au. In a number of areas local call access is achieved through use by Internet Service Providers of the Telstra service called Call Diversion Number Only. Telstra has announced it is withdrawing that service from 1 January 2001 and has not offered an alternative. The Department of Commerce and Trade has pressed Telstra to provide an equivalent service and has raised the issue in its response to the Telstra Zone Boundaries review and in submissions to the Commonwealth government. (5) Not Applicable
(3) If so, will the Minister make that information available? (4) If not, will the Minister seek that information? (5) If not, why not? Answered on 17 August 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) Yes (2) No (3) Not Applicable (4) I am aware that the Commonwealth Government does not have a firm timetable. However, the following State and Commonwealth projects are working towards the objective of Internet access for the cost of a local call: · The $150million tender about to be called by the Commonwealth Government for provision of untimed local calls in extended zones includes the requirement to deliver untimed Internet access throughout those zones. The implementation timetable will depend on the nature of the subsequently accepted tender. The Department of Commerce and Trade has had input to the procurement plan. This Commonwealth action, utilising some of the proceeds of sale of Telstra, tackles the most difficult area in which to provide local call access. · The $20.4million project mentioned in the newspaper article is also to deliver untimed local call Internet access, but in light of the above project may focus on all the standard zones. The project is being managed by Farmwide, as the recipient of this Networking the Nation grant. The Department of Commerce and Trade has met with Farmwide to discuss implementation of the project in Western Australia. The Department of Commerce and Trade will have significant input to the tender process. It is clear that Farmwide will not begin implementation before the beginning of 2001 at the earliest as the outcome of the extended zones contract and the two Universal Service Obligation contestability pilots need to be known. · A number of Western Australian projects part funded by the Networking the Nation program have already delivered local call Internet access to some areas previously unserved. Western Australia is well advanced on provision of local call Internet access due to actions such as the above over the past 2 ½ years. The extent of local call Internet access achieved in Western Australia is researched each year and is publicly available as the Internet Availability Survey on www.commerce.wa.gov.au. In a number of areas local call access is achieved through use by Internet Service Providers of the Telstra service called Call Diversion Number Only. Telstra has announced it is withdrawing that service from 1 January 2001 and has not offered an alternative. The Department of Commerce and Trade has pressed Telstra to provide an equivalent service and has raised the issue in its response to the Telstra Zone Boundaries review and in submissions to the Commonwealth government. (5) Not Applicable
(4) If not, will the Minister seek that information? (5) If not, why not? Answered on 17 August 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) Yes (2) No (3) Not Applicable (4) I am aware that the Commonwealth Government does not have a firm timetable. However, the following State and Commonwealth projects are working towards the objective of Internet access for the cost of a local call: · The $150million tender about to be called by the Commonwealth Government for provision of untimed local calls in extended zones includes the requirement to deliver untimed Internet access throughout those zones. The implementation timetable will depend on the nature of the subsequently accepted tender. The Department of Commerce and Trade has had input to the procurement plan. This Commonwealth action, utilising some of the proceeds of sale of Telstra, tackles the most difficult area in which to provide local call access. · The $20.4million project mentioned in the newspaper article is also to deliver untimed local call Internet access, but in light of the above project may focus on all the standard zones. The project is being managed by Farmwide, as the recipient of this Networking the Nation grant. The Department of Commerce and Trade has met with Farmwide to discuss implementation of the project in Western Australia. The Department of Commerce and Trade will have significant input to the tender process. It is clear that Farmwide will not begin implementation before the beginning of 2001 at the earliest as the outcome of the extended zones contract and the two Universal Service Obligation contestability pilots need to be known. · A number of Western Australian projects part funded by the Networking the Nation program have already delivered local call Internet access to some areas previously unserved. Western Australia is well advanced on provision of local call Internet access due to actions such as the above over the past 2 ½ years. The extent of local call Internet access achieved in Western Australia is researched each year and is publicly available as the Internet Availability Survey on www.commerce.wa.gov.au. In a number of areas local call access is achieved through use by Internet Service Providers of the Telstra service called Call Diversion Number Only. Telstra has announced it is withdrawing that service from 1 January 2001 and has not offered an alternative. The Department of Commerce and Trade has pressed Telstra to provide an equivalent service and has raised the issue in its response to the Telstra Zone Boundaries review and in submissions to the Commonwealth government. (5) Not Applicable
(5) If not, why not? Answered on 17 August 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) Yes (2) No (3) Not Applicable (4) I am aware that the Commonwealth Government does not have a firm timetable. However, the following State and Commonwealth projects are working towards the objective of Internet access for the cost of a local call: · The $150million tender about to be called by the Commonwealth Government for provision of untimed local calls in extended zones includes the requirement to deliver untimed Internet access throughout those zones. The implementation timetable will depend on the nature of the subsequently accepted tender. The Department of Commerce and Trade has had input to the procurement plan. This Commonwealth action, utilising some of the proceeds of sale of Telstra, tackles the most difficult area in which to provide local call access. · The $20.4million project mentioned in the newspaper article is also to deliver untimed local call Internet access, but in light of the above project may focus on all the standard zones. The project is being managed by Farmwide, as the recipient of this Networking the Nation grant. The Department of Commerce and Trade has met with Farmwide to discuss implementation of the project in Western Australia. The Department of Commerce and Trade will have significant input to the tender process. It is clear that Farmwide will not begin implementation before the beginning of 2001 at the earliest as the outcome of the extended zones contract and the two Universal Service Obligation contestability pilots need to be known. · A number of Western Australian projects part funded by the Networking the Nation program have already delivered local call Internet access to some areas previously unserved. Western Australia is well advanced on provision of local call Internet access due to actions such as the above over the past 2 ½ years. The extent of local call Internet access achieved in Western Australia is researched each year and is publicly available as the Internet Availability Survey on www.commerce.wa.gov.au. In a number of areas local call access is achieved through use by Internet Service Providers of the Telstra service called Call Diversion Number Only. Telstra has announced it is withdrawing that service from 1 January 2001 and has not offered an alternative. The Department of Commerce and Trade has pressed Telstra to provide an equivalent service and has raised the issue in its response to the Telstra Zone Boundaries review and in submissions to the Commonwealth government. (5) Not Applicable
Answered on 17 August 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) Yes (2) No (3) Not Applicable (4) I am aware that the Commonwealth Government does not have a firm timetable. However, the following State and Commonwealth projects are working towards the objective of Internet access for the cost of a local call: · The $150million tender about to be called by the Commonwealth Government for provision of untimed local calls in extended zones includes the requirement to deliver untimed Internet access throughout those zones. The implementation timetable will depend on the nature of the subsequently accepted tender. The Department of Commerce and Trade has had input to the procurement plan. This Commonwealth action, utilising some of the proceeds of sale of Telstra, tackles the most difficult area in which to provide local call access. · The $20.4million project mentioned in the newspaper article is also to deliver untimed local call Internet access, but in light of the above project may focus on all the standard zones. The project is being managed by Farmwide, as the recipient of this Networking the Nation grant. The Department of Commerce and Trade has met with Farmwide to discuss implementation of the project in Western Australia. The Department of Commerce and Trade will have significant input to the tender process. It is clear that Farmwide will not begin implementation before the beginning of 2001 at the earliest as the outcome of the extended zones contract and the two Universal Service Obligation contestability pilots need to be known. · A number of Western Australian projects part funded by the Networking the Nation program have already delivered local call Internet access to some areas previously unserved. Western Australia is well advanced on provision of local call Internet access due to actions such as the above over the past 2 ½ years. The extent of local call Internet access achieved in Western Australia is researched each year and is publicly available as the Internet Availability Survey on www.commerce.wa.gov.au. In a number of areas local call access is achieved through use by Internet Service Providers of the Telstra service called Call Diversion Number Only. Telstra has announced it is withdrawing that service from 1 January 2001 and has not offered an alternative. The Department of Commerce and Trade has pressed Telstra to provide an equivalent service and has raised the issue in its response to the Telstra Zone Boundaries review and in submissions to the Commonwealth government. (5) Not Applicable
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