Fed: WA Nats vote not to disaffiliate with Fed body over Telstra =3

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Fed: WA Nats vote not to disaffiliate with Fed body over Telstra =3

Nationals WA leader Max Trenorden told journalists that rural people were passionateabout the need for government assurance on the future of telecommunications in the bush- whichever way they voted on today's motion.

Much of their anxiety stemmed from a lack of communication about what Mr Anderson meantby the word "satisfactory" when he said the nationals would oppose a sale of Telstra untilrural services were satisfactory, Mr Trenorden said.

This had never been adequately explained by Mr Anderson or the federal government, he said.

"No, definitely not," Mr Trenorden said.

"I don't believe that is coming back from Costello, from Anderson and Howard, no.

"They have to be clearer in what they are saying because the truth is if we don't havethese services we'll be second class world citizens.

"That's why there is so much concern.

"What is acceptable to one person is going to be totally unacceptable to another."

AAP lk/cjh/de

KEYWORD: TELSTRA NATIONALS WA 3 YORK