Fed:Nats won't endorse Telstra sale until services up to scratch

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Fed:Nats won't endorse Telstra sale until services up to scratch

CANBERRA, Aug 16 AAP - Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson today vowed the NationalParty would not endorse the full sale of Telstra until telecommunications in the bushwere up to scratch.

Mr Anderson, the National Party leader, welcomed a second inquiry into telecommunicationservices in rural, regional and remote Australia, announced by Communications MinisterRichard Alston this morning.

He said the inquiry was in response to National Party concerns that telecommunicationservices needed to be examined to ensure that the recommendations of the previous Besleyinquiry had been implemented.

"We will not endorse the full sale of Telstra until the services are of a standardthat regional and rural Australians should expect," Mr Anderson said in a statement.

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KEYWORD: TELSTRA ANDERSON