Telstra's Dr Phil 'Phar Lap' Burgess doesn't spare the horses in his Melbourne Cup Day address to a Telstra senior executive CEO Forum.

Dr Burgess discusses the effects of initiatives by the Telstra Board and management to educate the country's leaders, public and shareholders about the new realities, and the political and social controversy that has resulted.

"We are simply challenging decades of entrenched thinking about the way Telstra ‘should’ behave and act.

"In the “good old days” that meant to serve politicians rather than customers and shareholders. The controversy is based on our decision to reverse years and years of appeasement."

Dr Phil talks about the principle-driven approach to public policy that requires Telstra to:

• Put the customer first – e.g., through policies that promote investment, innovation and facilities-based competition.
• Increase shareholder value, by safeguarding shareholder investments.
• Protect intellectual property, commercial advantage, and shareholder rights.
• Say what you mean and do what you say.
• Persist; persevere; do not blink.
• Develop confidence-building with allies and adversaries alike, based on no surprises, consistency, transparency and principled decision-making.
• Take a post-partisan approach to candidates issues, strategies and parties – with a focus on issues and forbearance on the rest.

Read the full speech:

Aligning Regulations with National Needs - The State of Play (PDF - 149KB)
Phil Burgess, Group Managing Director, Public Policy & Communications, Telstra Corporation Limited.
A background paper for remarks delivered at Anything.Possible – CEO Forum 2007, Hilton Hotel, Sydney, Australia
November 5-6, 2007