recovered - second draft
Although Alan Smith’s phone problems began in 1988, it is now believed many of the phone and fax problems that occurred, at least from 1991 on, were caused by moisture and were exacerbated by heavy rainfalls in the area. Cape Bridgewater faces the Southern Ocean and always has had a moisture problem. This was not taken into account nor discussed, in any of the technical findings of the arbitrator or his Technical Resource Unit, even though Alan included this information in his submissions.
Please note: The Cape Bridgewater Holiday Camp was also connected to a single ‘copper pair’ (see Senator Harris’ media release at GS-CAV Exhibit 410-a to 447 - See GS-CAV 415).
When Senator Len Harris meets with Alan Smith and other COT claimants, Alan provides information regarding the problems Graham has experienced over the years, in his role as COT spokesperson, as well as the problems the new owners of Alan’s business are still having to contend with, including the business still being connected to the Telstra network via a single pair of wires. Senator Harris is extremely shocked at this information and prepares a press release for the following day, on behalf of the COTs. It was significantly censored before it was released, showing just how much power Telstra could wield, as part of their strategy, to downplay the COT claimant’s valid claims.
14th November 2002: Senator Len Harris (One Nation) sends out his media release entitled, Alston Praying For Continued Drought.
"Telephone industry authorities and the Telstra unions have predicted, with supporting documentation that the network at lasrge, will fail in the event of a substantial wet season".
"Prime Minister John Howard and Telstra Managing Director DR Ziggy Switowski, have, according to union sources, just returned from an overseas trip marketing Telstra shares."
"The government now claims the findings of the Estens Inqury into Telstra has given it the green light to proceed with the sale of its 51 per cent shareholding. which remains the property of the people of Australia".
"The urgency of the Government to unload Telstra is the realisation that it needs a huge injection of captial expenditure just to remain operational"
“In other words, sell the whole shooting bag before it rains and let someone else worry about fixing it. …”
“In light of evidence presented by the Communications Electrical Plumbing Union to a senate inquiry then to the Estens inquiry, other court submissions and a large dose of anecdotal evidence from Telstra employees, there seems no doubt the copper and lead network could implode with the onset of rain.”
“Numerous reports from regional areas that have recently received rainfall, reveal the subscriber fault rate has doubled and tripled due to lack of proper maintenance, faulty materials and understaffing. …
- Faulty materials such as Hi Gel 3M 442, that has corroded copper joints
- Contractors cutting corners with cable installation
- Management giving capital works an economic priority order for replacing faulty cables and equipment i.e. those exchange areas that produce the most profit given priority for repair or replacement. This process could preclude most country areas. …”
“In city and country telephone exchange areas, low gas alarms, sometimes 200 or more a day, are sending technicians in a scurry from exchanges to manholes across the city or country roads and back. …”
“According to the union the CAN or Customer Access Network (customer land lines) accounts for 50 to 60 per cent of Telstra’s fixed costs, ie maintenance bill, but generates the lowest rate of return. …”
“Some industry analysts have placed the capital expenditure to replace the aging lead and faulty copper network in the hundreds of millions to perhaps the billion-dollar range. …”
“Estens, in recommendations 2.7 and 4.2, has clearly identified problems with the pair gain system, that allows multiple calls on a single pair of wires. It provides a good financial return for Telstra but is unfair on customers and repairmen.” (GS-CAV Exhibit 410-a to 447 - See GS-CAV 415-A)
