Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson says Telstra “has conned so many regional communities” by denying Australians “the right to mobile roaming”, calling for the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission to re-examine the issue.
“Currently, there is no requirement that infrastructure companies like Telstra and Optus are required to share their critical infrastructure telecommunications towers, yet if you’re an overseas visitor coming into Australia, you get that right to roam and use any carriers infrastructure,” she said.
“Frankly, Telstra have been absolute bastards … they’ve just been fined $50 million by the ACCC for engaging in the most disgraceful, unconscionable conduct in selling phone plans to Indigenous Australians who did not understand what they were buying.
“If you can imagine a family fleeing a bushfire and can use any mobile tower as they escape from an emergency situation, Telstra is even saying they will not embrace that – that was a criticism during the bushfire royal commission.
“We have to see mobile phone carriers sharing their infrastructure. This is critical infrastructure and it’s no longer a privilege for Australians; it’s a right.”
