Mr Scholes asked the Minister for Post and Telecommunications, upon notice:

(   1 ) Has he received a request for the waiving of telephone rental in respect of surf lifesaving clubs.

(2)   If so, does he intend to comply with the request which would assist these important voluntary life preserving organisations.

Mr Eric Robinson (MCPHERSON, QUEENSLAND) - The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1)   and (2) Telecom Australia advises me that frequent approaches are made to the Commission by various groups in the community, such as Surf Lifesaving Clubs, for the waiver or reduction of the normal charges for telephone service. Consequently if any action were taken to discriminate in favour of one organisation, this would make it very difficult to decline extending similar preferential treatment to other groups which may claim entitlement to concessional rates. As a result, the stage would ultimately be reached where it would be quite impracticable to determine just where discrimination should end.

In the circumstances it would not be practicable for Telecom Australia to waive or reduce telephone rental charges for Surf Lifesaving Clubs.