7. MELISSA LEE (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology
What work is the Government doing on trans-Tasman mobile roaming?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Communications and Information Technology) Link to this
I and my Australian counterpart, Senator Stephen Conroy, have released a discussion document dealing with trans-Tasman mobile roaming rates. Many New Zealanders have been caught unaware of the costs of using their mobile phone—in particular, data roaming—in Australia. With large numbers of New Zealanders working and holidaying in Australia, and vice versa, it makes sense to examine whether the markets between the two countries are working effectively in this respect. We are therefore keen to hear the views of users, the telecommunications industry, and other interested stakeholders on this issue.
Preliminary work done by both Governments has found that although the features and quality of mobile services are reasonable, there does seem to be a lack of consumer awareness of prices, and the prices themselves seem relatively high. Trans-Tasman mobile roaming has the potential to bring great benefits for individuals wanting to stay connected, and, on an economic level, for companies doing business across the Tasman, as we move further towards a single economic market. However, these benefits will not be fully realised if the market is not functioning efficiently.