FED: Satisfaction up ahead of Telstra sale talks, Newspoll

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2005
FED: Satisfaction up ahead of Telstra sale talks, Newspoll

SYDNEY, Aug 16 AAP - Community opposition to the sale of Telstra continues to grow,
despite an increase in satisfaction with the telco's services and charges, a Newspoll
survey shows.

The poll, published in News Ltd newspapers, shows public satisfaction with Telstra's
services and charges has increased in many areas, with the biggest rise in the country.

Seventy-nine per cent of people in non-capital cities said they were satisfied with
Telstra's service, with 52 per cent reporting satisfaction with charges.

Three years ago most people were were dissatisfied with Telstra's charges, but the
latest poll of 1,200 Australians shows a fairly even split.

However, community opposition to the full privatisation is growing, with 70 per cent
of Australians against the $30 billion share sale, compared with 66 per cent in July 2002.

Support for the sale has dropped four per cent over the past three years to 16 per cent.

Cabinet will today consider a package of funding and rules for Telstra as part of the
sale of the Commonwealth's 51.8 per cent stake.

The government has to convince Nationals MPs that regional services have improved and
will be adequately funded on par with metropolitan services in order to push ahead with
the sale.

AAP ajc/lma |

KEYWORD: NEWSPOLL TELSTRA

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