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MEDIA RELEASE

LINDSAY TANNER MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS

TELSTRA: 3,000 JOBS TO GO, WHILE THE ENTERTAINMENT FLOWS

Having announced around 3,000 jobs will be axed this financial year, Telstra has now revealed it spent $10 million on entertainment last financial year, including up to $100,000 on Christmas lunches.

Senate Estimates this week has exposed Telstra as being allowed to operate as a private company by the Howard Government despite the fact it is still majority Government owned.

Under John Howard, Telstra is firmly entrenched in the big end of town. Telstra showers its executives with lavish entertainment and provides for million-dollar-plus pay-outs for its Managing Director. The Prime Minister and Communications Minister receive luxury plasma TVs. Massive million-dollar sponsorship deals are signed with sporting stadiums.

All Telstra delivers under John Howard is higher prices, corporate excess and 3,000 lost jobs. Rather than wasting millions of dollars on corporate excess Telstra should be spending money on expanding broadband coverage and its mobile phone network. Telstra should be providing decent employment and investment levels to fix up the thousands of faults in its telephone network. Telstra should start focusing on delivering decent and affordable telecommunications for all Australians.

May 28, 2003.

For further information contact Lindsay Tanner or Peter van Vliet on 02 6277 4055 or 0408 188 055