Representatives across the telecommunications industry are appalled at the government’s blitzkrieg-like efforts to push through the Telstra sale bills, with many expressing exasperation at the lack of consultative opportunity.

Officials from the ACCC, ACMA, ACIF, Optus, the CCC, ATUG, AAPT, CEPU, National Farmers Federation, CTN and Australian Local Government Association were informed yesterday that they would have the opportunity to discuss the legislation during an open round table discussion over five hours on Friday morning in Canberra.

In what is believed to be the first scenario of its kind, the 8am to 1pm forum has no scheduled timing for individual representations, leaving participants confounded and largely in the dark over the pivotal process which is further limited to very specific terms of reference. The afternoon session of the public hearing devotes 90 minutes each to Telstra and the Department of Communications, IT and the Arts.

Shadow Communications and IT Minister Stephen Conroy had earlier raised a plan for a five-week inquiry into the legislation but was rebuffed by Telecommunications Minister Helen Coonan, who suggested earlier in this week that after several “exhaustive” years of investigations, the issues at stake are already well known.

Check out the Communications Day website here.