Fed: Tim Fischer joins board of high tech company = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2000
Fed: Tim Fischer joins board of high tech company = 2

Heartland Communications said it intended to improve communications in regional Australia
by linking existing phone and Internet services with satellite technology.

It would initially make the service available to businesses, later offering it to individuals,
it said.

Mr Fischer said he was confident the new scheme would make a difference in the bush.

"I am delighted to come on board with ABT as an individual decision, as an individual
citizen, but utilising obviously experience built up over the years ... following through
on some of the things I have strongly believed in," he said.

"The Heartland stratagem is looking very good ... Mildura to the world, Mudgee to the
world and beyond to the world, in a way which you haven't seen anything yet.

"There will be a lot of competition out there, but is the Internet making a difference
and will the activities of this company make more choice available and more capacity available
in an efficient and effective way? Yes."

Mr Fischer, whose formal appointment to the board of ABT was made this morning, said
he would be informing the parliamentary register of members' interests of his new role.

"I am also being pretty careful about how many hats I take on in this phase," he said.

"I am still a member of parliament, first and foremost, until I cease to be, at the
end of the parliamentary term, the member for Farrer."

AAP ab/tsm/wjf/de

KEYWORD: ABT 2 SYDNEY (REOPENS)

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