Fed: Govt ministers defend Trujillo's rural customer record

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2005
Fed: Govt ministers defend Trujillo's rural customer record

Senior government ministers have been forced to defend Telstra's new boss SOL TRUJILLO
from what they say are grubby attacks from Labor.

Labor senators used question time in parliament yesterday to raise concerns about Mr
TRUJILLO'S track record with rural customers during his time as chief of American phone
company US West.

The Senate heard that Mr TRUJILLO was reportedly forced to settle a multi-million dollar
class action with US West's regional customers after the company slashed their services.

US West had also divided its customers into categories of gold, silver and bronze,
with regional customers falling into the bottom category.

But Finance Minister NICK MINCHIN and Communications Minister HELEN COONAN have defended
Mr TRUJILLO, saying he is the best person to lead Telstra.

Senator MINCHIN says the questions are a grubby little attack from the mindless, useless
opposition which continues to oppose any decent reform in Australia.

AAP RTV bt/mfh/wz

KEYWORD: TELSTRA TRUJILLO (CANBERRA)

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