May 15, 2008
The G9 today announced that the Hon. Michael Egan has been appointed as its Chairman.
The announcement was made on behalf of G9 by Mr Ravi Bhatia, CEO of Primus Telecom Australia.
Mr Bhatia said the appointment was another major step forward for G9, which will be bidding to provide the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network.
“Mr Egan will take up the appointment immediately and together with Mr Michael Simmons, the recently appointed Managing Director of G9’s NBN project, will lead the development of our bid and submission documents,” Mr Bhatia said.
“Mr Egan was the unanimous choice of the G9 CEOs,” Mr Bhatia said. “He is a distinguished Australian with an excellent record of service to the nation. He brings energy, enthusiasm and tremendous experience in the principles, working and importance of strong competition for the protection of the interests of consumers and businesses in Australia.”
"The appointment of Michael Egan to Chair G9 is further confirmation of our commitment to the NBN to achieve fair & equitable access to broadband throughout Australia in the long term,” said Michael Simmons, the Managing Director of G9’s NBN Project. “Mr. Egan was an outstanding Treasurer for NSW and is fully aware of the need for structural separation and continued regulation where monopolistic infrastructure exists. I am certain together we can convince the Federal Government to appoint an alternate to Telstra & implement appropriate regulation of the network owner.”
Mr Egan currently holds a number of other senior roles, including Chancellor of Macquarie University, Chairman of the Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology and Chairman of the Australia Day Council of New South Wales.
He was Treasurer of New South Wales from 1995 to 2005, making him the State’s longest serving Treasurer since the introduction of responsible government in 1856.
He was also NSW Minister for State Development and NSW Minister for Energy.
Mr Egan said he was delighted to accept the appointment and was looking forward to assisting G9 develop an excellent bid.
“The national broadband network will be hugely important for all Australians,” Mr Egan said.
“It’s vitally important that it enhances, rather than diminishes, competition in the provision of communication services.”
“Australia can’t afford to have a national broadband network that leads to an effective monopoly and sky-high broadband prices,” Mr Egan said.
Mr Egan’s appointment follows the May 9 announcement that Mr Michael Simmons has been appointed G9 Managing Director for National Broadband Network Project.
The G9 includes AAPT, iinet, Internode, Macquarie Telecom, Optus, PowerTel, Primus, Soul and TransAct.
Visit: www.fairgobroadband.com.au
Media contacts:
Louise Roberts or Pru Quinlan
Einsteinz Communications
Tel: 02 8905 0995
Email: louise@einsteinz.com.au