THE legislative dismemberment of Telstra could be delayed indefinitely unless the Senate can speed through debates on the emissions trading scheme.
The historic telecommunication regulatory reforms, which are aimed at providing a level playing field ahead of construction of the government's $43 billion national broadband network (NBN), are due to be debated this week, The Australian reports.
While Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has expressed his desire to push through the Bill before Parliament rises on Thursday, it is unlikely it will come to pass.
Top of this week's parliamentary agenda are the debates over the highly controversial Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme that have driven a wedge through the Liberal Party.
The Senate has set aside today and tomorrow to come to an agreement on the carbon scheme, but the squabblings of the Liberal Party and some independents are likely to push the debates much deeper into the week.
As it stands, the Competition and Consumer Safeguards Bill has been scheduled in for the Thursday sitting, leaving little time before the Christmas break for the Senate to debate the issues canvassed in the bill that could potentially end Telstra's continuing domination of the telco sector.
The Senate's failure to come to a consensus would not only delay the passing of laws aimed at righting a rickety regulatory regime, it could see them scrapped altogether.
Telstra's competitors say any delay could have disastrous results for the Bill's existence and the competitive future of the sector.
Read more at The Australian
