Media Release 24 February 2000

Telecommunications investment exciting fillip

The Telstra Saturn merger with its accompanying investment of over $1billion will be a great boost to business confidence says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern).

“Telstra Saturn’s plan to roll out new greenfields investment in cutting edge telecommunications infrastructure is superb news,” said EMA’s chief executive, Alasdair Thompson.

“The Government’s announcement yesterday to examine our competitive regulatory framework for telecommunications would have reassured Telstra Saturn to proceed.

“The new network will be good for all businesses as it represents new investment in much needed infrastructure and not the purchase of existing assets. It also increases competition in telecommunications.

“The heightened level of competition in our telecommunications industry will flow on to boost the competitiveness of other sectors of our economy.

“Along with Telecom’s investments in the Southern Cross cable across the Tasman and the Pacific, and in new digital wireless technology, our businesses can have every confidence our telecommunications will quickly become amongst the world’s leaders once again.

“Our businesses should have good reason to consider lifting their own levels of investment activities. The level of confidence demonstrated by these investments is an exciting fillip for business confidence”

Further comments: Alasdair Thompson
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