FORM 6-K
 

 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date: For the period ending 24 November 2006
TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
ACN 051 775 556
242 Exhibition Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Australia
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
     
Form 20-F þ
  Form 40-F o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
     
Yes o
  No þ
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
 
 

 


 

INDEX
BigPond marks 10th Anniversary with launch of national High Speed Broadband
Appendix 3Y — Change in Director’s interest Notice — John Zeglis
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Remuneration Chair presentations
Results of Annual General Meeting
Appendix 3B — New issue announcement, application for quotation of additional securities and agreement
Appendix 3X — Initial Director’s Interest Notices
Telstra 3 Share Offer — Allocation Details
Telstra 3 Share Offer — Instalment Receipt Foreign Ownership Rules
Telstra 3 Share Offer — Final Institutional Offering Memorandum
Telstra 3 Share Offer — Final Canadian Offering Memorandum
Appendix 3Y — Change in director’s interest notices
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations
SEC deregistration

 


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
10 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager
  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
   
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
 
  Facsimile 03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
BigPond marks 10th Anniversary with launch of national High Speed Broadband
Attached is a copy of an announcement for release to the market.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

Media Release
  (TELSTRA LOGO)
     
10 November 2006   214/2006     
BigPond marks 10th Anniversary with launch of
national High Speed Broadband
Telstra today delivered another important instalment in its “Plan for Australia” as BigPond unveiled its upgraded national high-speed broadband network, offering fixed-line ADSL speeds amongst the fastest in the world.
The unveiling also marked the 10th anniversary of the launch of BigPond in November 1996.
BigPond’s Group Managing Director, Mr Justin Milne, said BigPond High Speed Broadband would deliver network speeds of either up to eight megabits per second (Mbps) or up to 20Mbps from exchanges offering ADSL2+ services. Because of regulatory constraints, the up to 20Mbps service would be limited to exchanges where competitors are also offering those higher speeds.
“Telstra’s commitment to delivering national high-speed broadband services is demonstrated by how we are investing our money. Because we’ve invested shareholder funds heavily in building out our high-speed network, we are now able to offer BigPond customers, across Australia, higher speed ADSL broadband services” Mr Milne said.
“Additionally, we have introduced new 1.5Mbps BigPond plans, which are up to $30 per month cheaper. A customer on a 512kbps BigPond plan can elect to switch to an equivalent 1.5Mbps BigPond plan at no extra charge and benefit from a speed increase of around 300 per cent.
“This is the biggest news in Australian fixed-line broadband in years and complements the launch of the Telstra’s Next GTM network, Australia’s fastest and largest mobile wireless broadband network one month ago.
“BigPond’s new high-speed plans are not just for a few prime inner city exchanges. We’ve upgraded our ADSL-enabled exchanges nationally, to offer more speed in more places, so that customers in cities, regional centres and country towns can reap the productivity, entertainment, education, and health care benefits of high-speed broadband,” Mr Milne said.
“It means faster downloads, better quality video streaming, lightning-quick web surfing and the ability to send and receive large files quickly and conveniently,” he said. The new national high-speed broadband network includes more than 2,400 ADSL-enabled exchanges that reach around 91 per cent percent of the population.
“BigPond Movie Downloads, BigPond TV On Demand and BigPond Games Shop downloads will take only minutes. For example, downloading Casablanca, a one gigabyte download which would take more than nine hours at 256kbps, can now be fully downloaded in as little as seven and a half minutes with our high-speed plans.
“We’ll be able to offer high quality video from our sports sites, and students will be able to explore and learn from the encyclopaedic educational resources of the internet,” Mr Milne said.
Telstra’s national media inquiry line is 1300 769 780 and the Telstra Media Centre is located at:
www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media
For news, views and discussion on telecommunications in Australia see
www.nowwearetalking.com.au
     
 
  Telstra Corporation Limited
 
  ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

Media Release
  (TELSTRA LOGO)
New customers with two eligible Telstra services, who sign up online, can get one of our new BigPond Broadband high-speed ADSL plans from as little as $29.97 per month for the first 12 months on a two year contract.
For customers with a Telstra full service phone, pricing for the new ADSL high-speed services starts at $59.95 with a 600MB download limit, a 12GB shaped plan for $89.95 and 25GB and 60GB plans for heavy users priced at $119.95 and $149.95 respectively.
Entry level 256kbps plan prices remain unchanged, starting at $29.95 per month.
Customers can check what speed may be available from their local exchange by entering their address at https://www.bigpond.com/internet-plans/broadband/availability/default.asp. Speeds may vary due to factors including network configuration, line quality & length, exchange type, customer premises interference, internet traffic and equipment.
Existing BigPond members on 512 kbps and 1.5Mbps plans can take advantage of the new speeds and pricing by visiting “My BigPond” at www.bigpond.com and, in some cases, they may also need to upgrade their existing modem.
Telstra Media Contact:
Craig Middleton
Tel: 02 82364372
craig.middleton@team.telstra.com
BigPond ADSL Pricing effective 10 November 2006
         
Access speed / MB Allowance   Preselect Price
256kbps / 200MB
  $ 29.95  
256pbps / BigPond Liberty1
  $ 59.95  
1500 kbps / 400MB
  $ 39.95  
1500 kbps / BigPond Liberty1
  $ 69.95  
1500 kbps / 25GB
  $ 99.95  
High speed2 / 600MB
  $ 59.95  
High speed2 / BigPond Liberty1
  $ 89.95  
High speed2 / 25GB
  $ 119.95  
High speed2 / 60GB
  $ 149.95  
 
1.   Shaped download limit of 12GB
2.   Up to 8Mbps for ADSL1 and up to 20Mbps for ADSL2+
Telstra’s national media inquiry line is 1300 769 780 and the Telstra Media Centre is located at:
www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media
For news, views and discussion on telecommunications in Australia see
www.nowwearetalking.com.au
     
 
  Telstra Corporation Limited
 
  ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
10 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager
  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
   
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
 
  Facsimile 03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
Appendix 3Y — Change in Director’s interest Notice — John Zeglis
In accordance with the listing rules, I attach an announcement for release to the market.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
     
 
  Telstra Corporation Limited
 
  ACN 051 775 556
 
  ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

Rule 3.19A.2
Appendix 3Y
Change of Director’s Interest Notice
Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.
Introduced 30/9/2001.
Name of entity TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
ABN 33 051 775 556
We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.2 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act.
     
Name of Director
  JOHN ZEGLIS
 
   
Date of last notice
  24 AUGUST 2006
Part 1 — Change of director’s relevant interests in securities
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
     
Direct or indirect interest
  CHANGE TO DIRECT INTERESTS ONLY
 
   
Nature of indirect interest
  PURCHASE OF ADRS ON THE NEW YORK
(including registered holder)
  STOCK EXCHANGE
Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.
   
 
   
Date of change
  3 NOVEMBER 2006
 
   
No. of securities held prior to change
  DIRECT — NIL
 
  INDIRECT — 1,897
 
   
Class
  ORDINARY
 
   
Number acquired
  3,300 ADRS (EQUIVALENT TO 16,500 TLS
SHARES)
 
   
Number disposed
  NIL
 
   
Value/Consideration
  US$ 50,353.05
Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and estimated valuation
   
 
   
No. of securities held after change
  DIRECT — 16,500
 
  INDIRECT — 1,897
 
   
Nature of change
  ON MARKET TRADE OF ADRS
Example: on-market trade, off-market trade, exercise of options, issue of securities under dividend reinvestment plan, participation in buy-back
   
Part 2 — Change of director’s interests in contracts
NIL

 


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
14 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager
  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Facsimile 03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Remuneration Chair presentations
In accordance with Listing Rule 3.13.3, I enclose the presentations of the Chairman, CEO and Remuneration Chair, which will be delivered today at the Telstra Corporation Limited 2006 Annual General Meeting.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

TELSTRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2006
MR DONALD McGAUCHIE, CHAIRMAN, ADDRESS TO SHAREHOLDERS
Introduction
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I’m Donald McGauchie, the Chairman of your company.
I welcome you to the 2006 Annual General Meeting. I also welcome shareholders viewing today’s proceedings on our Investor Relations website.
A quorum is present and I declare this Meeting open.
Let me start by introducing the Board members, senior executives and the company’s auditor. As with previous years our aim is to achieve a less formal approach, so we have only four people on stage with the rest of the directors in the front row.
Directors have been available to meet with you before the meeting and, those who can, will do so afterwards.
Joining me on the stage are:
John Stanhope, our Chief Financial Officer
Sol Trujillo, our CEO
Douglas Gration, our Company Secretary.
In the front row, we have my fellow directors:
Belinda Hutchinson,
Catherine Livingstone,
Charles Macek
John Stocker ...and I would like to welcome to their first annual general meeting
Peter Willcox and
John Zeglis who joined us during the year.
I would also like to thank John Fletcher who retired as a director on 30 June this year for his very significant contribution to the Board and the company.
I would also like to mention and welcome Telstra’s Senior Leadership Team who are seated in the front row. Welcome also to Michael Watson and Mark Maloney from the Australian National Audit Office our external auditors.
I also thank our Telstra Friends staff volunteers who greeted many of you when you arrived today.
I’ll now outline the procedure for today’s meeting.
There are five items of business on today’s agenda:
  Item 1 — Chairman and CEO presentations. Following my address, Sol will report on his first full year as CEO of your Company, including comments on the implementation of the transformation strategy.
  Item 2 — Adoption of the remuneration report for the year ended 30 June 2006. Charles Macek, Chairman of the Board Remuneration Committee, will present the remuneration report for your consideration.
  Item 3 — Discussion of Telstra’s financial statements and reports for the year ended 30 June 2006, which I now lay before the meeting.
  Item 4 — Election and re-election of directors; and
     
Chairman’s speech — final   1

 


 

 Item 5 — Adoption of the new constitution, a copy of which I now table.
Following Charles’ address I will move to answer questions submitted by shareholders in advance of the meeting before taking questions from the floor on the operations and performance of the company, the remuneration report and each of the other items of business before the meeting.
So that we can represent the views of all shareholders including those who have lodged proxies, I will call a poll in relation to Items 2, 4 and 5. No resolution is required in relation to Item 3.
I will open the poll now so that shareholders who need to leave the meeting early have the opportunity to vote on these items by completing the voting section on the reverse of your yellow shareholder card and placing it in one of the ballot boxes near the exits to this room.
This annual meeting is our forum — the shareholders’ forum — to discuss the performance and future of your company.
In the interests of the comfort of shareholders, we will take a short 20 minute break around 12 noon. You’re very welcome to enjoy the light refreshments served in the foyer at that time.
We invite your comments on improvements for future Annual General Meetings. Shareholders received a questionnaire at registration. I invite you to complete it and place it in the questionnaire boxes when you leave. To mark the launch of our exciting Next G™ network, later in the day we’ll be drawing out the names of 5 shareholders who have completed their questionnaires. We’ll be giving each of them a Next G™ handset to experience first-hand the full potential of our new network.
Board Overview
This time last year I stood before you and foreshadowed the reshaping and transformation of your company, and I quote “in the 04/05 financial year your board made decisions to begin reshaping Telstra for the years ahead. We knew that just keeping on doing what we were doing and cutting costs were not going to get us where we need and want to go”.
Further I said “Telstra is now embarked on a strategy to connect with its customers like never before. We will move towards full privatisation of the company with renewed vigour and enthusiasm — and a clear strategic path forward.”
We knew that we had to have a long-term vision for the corporation — and that we had to act decisively and with discipline.
In simple terms we had to deal with:
  Rising costs
 
  Revenue pressures
 
  Inefficient operating processes
 
  External pressures — regulatory uncertainty and rapidly changing technology
 
  Aging infrastructure requiring re-invigoration and renewal
 
  People inside and outside the company thinking about it as being part of the public sector
Performance decline in our competitors here and globally in the last year has very much shown that we were right to tackle these issues head on. Others have been slower to respond — and have paid a very high price.
Last year we drew a line in the sand — and gave you a commitment to turn around this company and drive its performance.
     
Chairman’s speech — final   2

 


 

We began the fight-back fully understanding the way to tackle what could only be described as an enormous task, was with new thinking and very significant investment. To enable us to deliver a growth strategy — growth in revenues and in margins — the hard work and tough medicine had to include...
  cutting costs — but the right costs
 
  fundamentally changing the way we do business — pricing, services and service delivery
 
  investing in new technology platforms, infrastructure and processes
 
  in short a new business model...
 
  and very critically major cultural change
I am pleased to be able to stand before you today — one year later — and say we are well and truly delivering on those commitments. We are on track, we are on budget and we are ahead of our delivery schedule. We still have a massive amount work ahead of us. But we have a coherent and aggressive plan and we are driving its implementation.
We are doing what has had to be done...
Are we pleased with the share price today? No.
Did we have a choice about tackling the systemic issues confronting the telco industry globally? No.
Have regulatory decisions, particularly on ULL pricing had an impact? Undoubtedly and indisputably. Uncertainty about future regulatory decisions weigh on ours and the markets’ minds.
Are we investing in the future? Yes.
And are we beginning to see the results of that investment of resources, efforts and human capital? Yes
We have fully informed the market of the actions we have been taking to ensure the long term strength and value creation in your company. In the last twelve months we have made two major presentations:
  November 15 last year announcing the Transformation Strategy; and
  last month, on October 6 we reported on the achievements we are making in the implementation of that strategy, including the launch of Next G.
In short, we are keeping you our shareholders — and the wider market — fully informed every step along the way.
It has been an extraordinary year of action and progress. We are turning the corner and the New Telstra is becoming visible. And this year we will continue our forward momentum.
We are forging ahead with the transformation and of course in a matter of days the Government’s sell down and transfer of its remaining stake in Telstra will be complete. By any measure this will be another extraordinary year in the history of your company.
I will not dwell on the details of the implementation of the transformation strategy, the operational change and achievements to date — that is for Sol.
But I would like to spend some time talking about the achievements of your management team.
Never before in the history of Telstra or any other telco anywhere in the world have we seen a network comparable to Next G™, covering some 98% of Australians, built in 10 months. It is a world-class achievement.
Many of us in the room are using the network — and it is a great step forward for our customers and your company.
     
Chairman’s speech — final   3

 


 

Never before in the history of this company have we seen such orchestrated and positive change across every part of the business — happening successfully — happening simultaneously — happening on or ahead of time and on budget. Once again, world class.
People have commented on the number of international executives that have joined the Company. It is worthwhile considering this for a moment. I for one consider it to be a great positive now and for our collective future.
Sol and his management team — many, many Australians and others from Europe, the US and Asia-Pacific — are delivering tried and tested world-class leadership and know-how.
We have recruited leaders from telcos and other industries both globally and in Australia. We have made internal promotions based on merit, ability and performance. For example:
    We have quadrupled the number of women on the CEO’s senior leadership team — on merit.
 
    We have recruited senior executives from the airline, automobile and other industries to bring fresh perspectives and know-how.
 
    We are working hard to develop the future leaders of your Company — from within the Company.
The mix of existing and new people is driving new thinking and adding strength to our team. The sharing of know-how comes in many forms — from intensive training to day-to-day collaboration across the business. It enriches the entire Telstra team.
Performance and meeting commitments, exceeding expectations, delivering ahead of schedule and on or ahead of budget — these are the hallmarks of the New Telstra. Telstra staff and employees are proud to be part of this rapidly transforming business.
As is, Telstra is the best performing telco in Australia. We are best in our local market. But we want to be better, we want to be world class — so we must bring in the best and brightest people we can find.
And make no mistake — Telstra must stand in the global market competing for the services of senior executives. We must offer competitive salaries to get and retain the best. As news of Telstra’s transformation is becoming known offshore, our executives are becoming attractive to competitors here and internationally.
But as Charles Macek will outline in his Remuneration Report, all executive salaries must be well earned — the performance delivered must be world class and must meet clearly understood business objectives.
The Board has set management very specific objectives with respect to the transformation of your company. Payment of executives’ short term incentives is directly linked to meeting these objectives. But executives will only receive their full long term incentives if they meet both the transformation objectives and deliver superior returns to you, our shareholders. As you would expect, over the next few years as management complete the transformation, the long term incentives will be weighted more and more heavily to measures of shareholder return.
Between the short-term and long term incentives, the majority of the remuneration of our top people is at risk. Some 70 per cent of the CEO’s package is at risk, while for our Group Managing Directors the percentage at risk ranges from 62 to 67 per cent.
     
Chairman’s speech — final   4

 


 

As I have said before — your Company is turning the corner. This time last year I said your Board had made decisions that would lead to the reshaping of Telstra. Well not only have we begun — we are well on the way.
Sol — you and the management team have delivered an exceptional first year in difficult and challenging circumstances.
Since your arrival we are more customer-focussed, we are behaving and performing to the one factory model and our culture has been energised.
Just last week I was talking with a long term and senior Telstra staff member and he said to me and I quote “I have never seen the company more aligned and energised in all my years here. We know what needs to be done and we know how we are going to do it.”
I would like to make some comments on the T3 sale process that is currently underway.
I very much look forward to welcoming new T3 investors to the company.
As I believe you know, we wholeheartedly welcomed the T3 share offer. We are committed to the success of the offer and the sale and transfer of the Government’s remaining shareholding in Telstra.
As the Federal Government has repeatedly said T3 should once and for all bring to an end the “massive conflict of interest being the owner, seller and industry regulator”.
I would like to make a few comments about Corporate Governance...
Telstra has received wide recognition for the quality of its corporate governance. We welcome these accolades, but governance at Telstra is about much more than this.
Governance at Telstra is an unwavering commitment to protecting the interests of all shareholders and the creation of long-term shareholder value. Governance at Telstra means doing the right thing, in the right way.
    It means only investing our capital in projects that are capable of delivering the returns you are entitled to expect. This is why we decided not to proceed with our proposed fibre-to-the-node network when it became clear the regulators would not accept an access regime that would ensure full compensation to our shareholders rather than permitting our competitors to have a free-ride on your investment.
 
    It means, continuing to contest all aspects of the regulatory regime that stand in the way of our delivering outstanding service to our customers while earning fair returns to our shareholders. We will continue to use every appropriate means available to us to ensure that decisions made are in the interests of shareholders.
 
    It means, insisting on procedural integrity in all that we do — including proper and transparent processes at board level.
Let there be no doubt, your board and management are 100% committed to delivering an optimal performance and outcome for all our shareholders.
We are committed to ensuring all our shareholders’ interests are protected and advanced. We are committed to ensuring that Telstra performs to its full potential and that you, our shareholders and the nation, benefit from that performance.
In closing...
    We have a strategy — we believe it is the right strategy — and we are committed to it.
     
Chairman’s speech — final   5

 


 

    We are sparing no effort to deliver the performance improvement we all require.
 
    We are committed to delivering long-term value to our shareholders.
 
    We are committed to building the value of your company and having that value reflected in the share price
 
    We are driving revenue growth and margins — and taking out the right costs.
 
    In Sol and our management team we have world class experience and the proven performance necessary to drive world-class operational and financial performance from your company
 
    We want to be more than just the best communications company in Australia — we want to be world class.
 
    The assurance that I give you is that every director and every executive will be 100% focussed on running this company in the interests of our customers and 100% of our shareholders.
 
    We are full speed ahead, building a new world-class media communications company — the New Telstra.
Thank you.
And now the CEO’s presentation.
     
Chairman’s speech — final   6

 


 

TELSTRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2006
MR SOLOMON D TRUJILLO CEO, ADDRESS TO SHAREHOLDERS
14 November 2006
Getting Results Delivering on Strategy
A big part of life is about relationships...and relationships are about sharing...sharing time and experiences with people. Sharing family ups and downs, sharing knowledge at work and sharing life with close friends.
Here at Telstra we have a pro-investment, pro-relationship Plan for Australia — that works for you, our shareholders.
A Plan that makes sharing a much richer and more immediate experience for people across the country;
  Along the coast,
 
  In the bush,
 
  In cities and suburbs, and
 
  For those travelling along our major highways.
Six weeks ago Australia got a taste of how hard we’ve been working and what an exciting future Telstra is shaping for everyone, no matter where they live.
On 6 October the way we live, work and play began to change forever. We turned on our Next G™ wireless broadband network. Next G™ gives 98 per cent of Australia’s population the ability to share experiences over their mobile phones and through their computers using Next G™ turbo cards.
Last Friday we took a step further by unveiling our upgraded Telstra BigPond high-speed broadband service. BigPond Broadband gives more than 9-out-of-10 Australians— actually 91 per cent — the ability to connect to high-speed broadband on our fixed-line network.
These were the first two planks in our Plan for Australia, milestones in our strategy to lead the market and serve our customers with services that are faster, better and more customized to meet their needs. I will talk in more detail about them later.
We are transforming Telstra for our customers, we are doing it for our shareholders and we are doing it for Australia. Because creating customer value creates shareholder value.
We are also transforming Telstra to restore its role as the nation’s technology leader, the company that serves everyone, both urban and country-wide.
Take Bob Andrews. He runs Jetset travel service in Mildura. Bob is also a very proud grandfather. He hasn’t managed to get over to Perth yet to see his 12 month old granddaughter. So Bob recently used a Next G™ phone to speak to his daughter AND see his grand-daughter for the first time — LIVE. Bob said his grand-daughter’s got a big happy smile and takes after her mother. Now he can’t keep the smile off his face

Page 1 of 8


 

Now, today, I will outline:
  What we said we’d do a year ago;
 
  What we’ve done in that year;
 
  Where we’re heading; and
And how Australia is changing, with the New Telstra.
WHAT WE SAID WE’D DO — STRATEGY TO TRANSFORM TELSTRA
But before I go further I need to step back a little and restate why Telstra’s transformation was so necessary and why it was so urgent.
This is the situation we were facing last year:
    Ongoing loss of market share;
 
    Declining revenues, with an accelerating decline in fixed line revenue;
 
    Eroding margins;
 
    Increasing costs;
 
    Falling productivity;
 
    No market leadership; and
 
    A share price which had declined from the year 2000.
That is why on November 15 2005 we outlined a five year transformation strategy:
    To rebuild Telstra;
 
    To make investments for the long term future of Telstra, not temporary fixes for the next quarter or two; and
 
    To drive a turnaround which will affect our financials, our valuation and ultimately our share price.
Because you can’t declare or wish for improved share value. You rebuild a company brick by brick. And that’s what we are doing.
In the end:
    We must be better than our competitors;
 
    We must be more innovative;
 
    We must streamline the business; and
 
    We must meet the needs of our customers today and tomorrow.
We will only do that if:
    We take costs out;
 
    We accelerate revenue growth;
 
    Improve productivity;
 
    Improve earnings; and ultimately
 
    Improve cash flow;
Because these are the drivers of share price.
Twelve months ago tomorrow, I outlined a vision and a strategy to reach it — a Plan to Transform Telstra.

Page 2 of 8


 

Our vision is to create a world of 1-click, 1-touch, 1-button, 1-screen, 1-step solutions that are simple, easy and valued by individuals, businesses, enterprises and government.
The transformation to a New Operating Model for Telstra is underpinned by three key strategies:
First, understanding customers’ needs better than any of our competitors. By using Market Based Management and the most comprehensive research undertaken in Australia’s corporate history, we are gaining a deeper understanding of customers’ needs.
By doing this, we are able to convince more customers to use more Telstra products, increasing customer loyalty, decreasing churn and increasing Telstra’s revenues.
Second, transforming Telstra using the “One Factory” approach. This approach in our Operations area is guided by four principles:
  do it once;
 
  do it ‘right’ for the customer;
 
  do it in an integrated way; and,
 
  do it at a low unit cost.
The net result is to remove duplication, reduce complexity, and cut costs. The One Factory approach in our operations includes:
  Operations support systems (such as inventory databases and truck fleet management)
 
  Business support systems — such as billing systems.
 
  Smarter procurement.
 
  Network modernisation — such as more fibre, more high speed broadband.
 
  Faster product development — such as our new Next G™ handsets.
 
  Improved customer service — as shown by recent customer satisfaction surveys.
Third, we have a Plan for Australia that involves integrating our platforms to deliver integrated content and services in order to win in the marketplace by differentiating our services from those of our competitors.
This is where Telstra really comes into its own — leveraging our scale and scope for competitive advantage to be the number one choice for customers throughout the nation.
Through the integration of FOXTEL, Sensis and BigPond services, Telstra will be THE media-comms company Australians turn to for simple “1-click “ access to everything they need to live, work and play.

Page 3 of 8


 

WHAT WE HAVE DONE
We’ve been working hard in the past year in our transformation, meeting our commitments.
  We are on track,
 
  We are on budget and
 
  We are ahead of our delivery schedule.
And let me be clear, in the second half of this fiscal year, we are turning the corner to profitable growth.
Our Next G™ network is proof that our transformation strategy is firing on all cylinders. This $1 billion investment in nation-wide broadband made with shareholders funds is all about driving increased sales, new revenues and higher margins.
Our Next G™ 850 network is Australia’s fastest, largest and most advanced mobile broadband network, built in a record ten months.
  No one in the world has built a nationwide network of this size in less than three years. We did it because we wanted to be first to deliver advanced high-speed wireless broadband — not just to those in the capital cities, but to everyone.
  In about 10 months, we designed, constructed, upgraded and turned on around 5,000 mobile towers.
  That’s the equivalent of one tower every 75 minutes. In the busiest weeks of the rollout a new base station was completed every 25 minutes.
That’s an example of the new competitive intensity at Telstra, delivering unequalled customer reach and speed using a spectrum that is globally acknowledged as superior for breadth and depth of coverage.
Because our Next G™ network runs on the 850MHz spectrum it offers better depth of coverage through obstacles, which will mean superior reception and fewer drop-outs in car-parks, in elevators and most importantly, inside buildings.
But increased penetration means more than convenience. It also means that small and mid-sized enterprises can now use the Next G™ wireless platform to do business with their large business suppliers or customers who are already using the broadband platforms.
The Next G™ turbo-charged network is up to 50 times faster than dial-up internet access and up to five times faster than some competitors’ 3G networks. The World Wide Wait is officially over if you’re a Telstra customer. Telstra is now the only company in the world that can deliver a network speed of up to 3.6 megabits per second to a nationwide footprint.
And network speeds will increase to 14.4 megabits per second early in 2007 and to 40 megabits per second no later than March 2009.
Telstra worked with handset manufacturers to build an innovative “Telstra button” into the Next G™ handsets. It’s a unique and simple “My Place” menu. This 1-click button gives our customers easy 1-touch access to nine services and applications including FOXTEL, Sensis and Telstra BigPond content, music, email, photos, downloads, maps and personal account information.

Page 4 of 8


 

As people increasingly move to follow job opportunities, family members are more often apart. At this time of year, with school finishing and Christmas approaching, our Next G™ network offers a way to connect by making a live video call — on the spot, anywhere, anytime, from your own Next G™ phone.
The stories that are coming in from Next G™ users are heart-warming and diverse.
When Kim MacGowan was named Tasmania’s Telstra Business Woman of the Year in Hobart, her son was having medical treatment in Sydney. With Kim was David Moffatt, our Group Managing Director of Consumer Marketing and Channels. David gave his Next G™ mobile phone to Kim and quickly organised another phone for her son in Sydney. So he could share the moment with his mother over a video call.
In another story, one of our Sydney staff, Ray Miller, was Best Man at a friend’s wedding. Guess what — he’d forgotten his speech. Using his Next G™ phone, he avoided embarrassment because he could retrieve his speech from his BigPond email account.
In Australia’s top end, the mining company Rio Tinto is using our Next G™ mobile broadband network to get clear voice calls at locations throughout its operations including at the bottom of a pit 95 metres underground.
In South Australia, the Limestone Coast Tourism Authority used our Next G™ network to stage a successful webcast from a cave 50 metres below ground.
But the Next G™ story doesn’t end there. It’s not just about phones — it’s also about laptop computers. Customers are also able install a Next G™ “turbo card” into their laptop, providing high-speed access to the Internet for business, entertainment, or personal applications, such as browsing the web or email.
High speed broadband turbo cards are especially useful for business customers — such as:
    Architects and engineers;
 
    software developers;
 
    product sales;
 
    construction project managers;
 
    farmers;
 
    trucking companies; and,
 
    real estate agents ...wherever they are.
As I said earlier, last Friday Telstra delivered the second plank of our Plan for Australia when we unveiled our upgraded Telstra BigPond high-speed broadband service.
The new BigPond Broadband delivers fixed-line broadband access to more than 90 percent of Australians — up to 20 Mbps from about 360 ADSL 2+ enabled exchanges and up to 8Mbps from the rest of the 2,400 ADSL-enabled exchanges.
These two important broadband initiatives — Next G™ and BigPond Broadband — complement the broadband services we continue to deliver on our existing HFC network.

Page 5 of 8


 

Why is this all important? It’s important because Next G™ services and high-speed broadband are about raising the productivity and competitiveness of individual businesses and advancing the diversification of the nation’s economy.
It’s about driving innovation and helping Australia to compete more effectively everywhere in the world. That’s good for business; that’s good for Australia — and that’s good for our business and our shareholders.
Telstra’s high-speed broadband networks are revolutionising patient care. Health professionals such as dentists, speech therapists, obstetricians, rheumatologists, cardiologists, pathologists, paediatricians and physicians can receive patient records electronically and conduct a consultation over video conference. This saves travel time, reduces the delay for diagnosis and most importantly gives patients timely advice about improving their health and well-being.
Now, in education, our high speed broadband networks are opening opportunities for Australians, young and old, regardless of their location.
For example, Queensland’s Momentum Technologies Group quickly adopted Telstra’s Next G™ turbo-charged pc card in a laptop to stream live video of environmental projects to schools around the country. And the Next G™ network can provide huge new opportunities for Isolated Schools to make better use of School of Air and other online learning resources.
In terms of improving customer service, the New Telstra understands that no matter how many features a new phone or digital service may have, it is the customer experience that will make or break future success.
Since our last meeting, we have seen substantial improvements in our business productivity while, at the same time, achieving dramatically improved service levels.
In fact, our service levels are some of the best they have ever been.
The New Telstra is getting there on time — our reschedules are down 40 to 50 per cent.
We are getting it right the first time
    Our re-visits are down 15%.
 
    The New Telstra is reducing the need for a technician to physically attend a customer premise to fix a fault — 7% more residential faults are now cleared without a truck leaving Telstra.
 
    We are reducing the response time to those reporting a problem — 9 per cent more fault calls are now answered within 20 seconds.
 
    The New Telstra is improving technician productivity which is up 15 per cent.
 
    We are reducing labour costs — overtime hours are down 62%.
 
    The New Telstra is reducing its Government penalty liability — the costs of the Customer Service Guarantee payments are down 25%.
 
    We are reducing the time it takes to get a service for example unsatisfied ADSL orders are down 74%.

Page 6 of 8


 

In addition to the 1-touch vision, we now aspire to 1-call, 1-order, 1-appointment to increase customer satisfaction — and we are making progress.
For example, customers now can have both fixed phone lines and ADSL Telstra services from their old premises connected simultaneously at their new premises — with only one call to Telstra. This cuts our combined new PSTN/ADSL BigPond service delivery timeframe by three working days!
For Telstra, the benefits are improved customer satisfaction, lowered churn, increased revenue and decreased costs.
In addition, we have:
    Reduced our workforce — by around 5,000 full-time equivalents since July of last year — at the same time as we have improved our service and workforce training.
 
    Achieved capital expenditure savings of ~$500m in FY06 and
 
    Achieved additional savings by exiting 36 office sites in Melbourne and other locations around the country.
As I said earlier, we are turning the corner and this will be reflected in our financials in the coming year.
In the second half of fiscal year 2007 we will move to earnings growth and we expect to continue this improvement, and increase market leadership as we compete harder and win.
This is a significant transformation that your company is undertaking and we are just over one year into it. The transformation has required increased capital and operating expenditures to roll out new networks and implement our planned system and operational changes, resulting in significant reductions to our earnings and cash flow.
We are expecting fiscal year 2007 to be the year of the largest transformation spending for operating and capital expenditure. As a result, we expect our first half EBIT to fall by 17 to 20 per cent.
However, we expect EBIT to grow in the second half in the range of 37 to 40 per cent.
Provided there are no further material adverse regulatory outcomes and we continue to be successful in implementing our transformation strategy, we expect our free cash flow to improve in fiscal 2008 compared with fiscal 2007.
On the T3 roadshow that we have just completed, institutional investors have shown enormous interest in the transformation we are undertaking in this company. I believe that this is having a positive impact on the T3 sale process.
WHERE WE ARE GOING:
So, where are we going? We are one year into the five year transformation plan. As you have heard we have achieved a lot in that year.

Page 7 of 8


 

We are sticking to our 15 November 2005 Strategy. We are creating a company based on fast, scalable, industrial-strength platforms with world-class partners.
We are providing high value services with extraordinary reliability and low unit costs to increase the value of this company. The management team is proud of the performance of our people who are more productive and who have embraced the change to serve our customers better and to compete harder.
Only Telstra has a Plan for Australia. Only Telstra is delivering high-speed services across Australia, at a reasonable price so that this nation’s families, communities and businesses can connect with each other and the outside world on networks that are simple, fast and everywhere, allowing everyone to benefit from and take advantage of the global information economy.
In short, we have a transformation plan for our company that we are confident is going to be as good for you, our shareholders, as it is for our customers and the nation.
In closing, let me reiterate, in order to deliver share price performance, we must:
    take market share;
 
    take costs out where they don’t add value; and
 
    accelerate revenue growth to replace the declining portions of our business — which requires innovation.
We must improve margins, earnings and cash flow which as I said before drive valuations of the business which ultimately drive share price performance.
We are rebuilding your company brick by brick, step by step, so you can get the total returns over time that you deserve.
This team has you at the centre of our priorities and is literally working 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to make it happen — it is happening as shown by our significant acceleration of earnings growth second half of this year. But it is only the beginning.
Australia’s Telstra will be the leader delivering services to all Australians like no other anywhere in the country or even in the world.
Thank you for time, your patience and your interest......and support.

Page 8 of 8


 

TELSTRA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2006
MR CHARLES MACEK, CHAIRMAN — REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
REMUNERATION REPORT
Introduction
Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Charles Macek and I am Chairman of the Board’s Remuneration Committee. I am presenting the Remuneration Report prepared in accordance with the Corporations Act for the Telstra Group for the financial year ended 30 June 2006.
Each year, as required by the Act, we prepare a remuneration report describing the remuneration of the directors and our most senior executives and ask you, as our shareholders, to consider and adopt the report.
Under the legislation, the vote on this item is advisory only and does not bind Telstra or the directors. However, we take the outcome of the vote very seriously and it will be given serious consideration when reviewing our remuneration practices and policies each year.
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the Board the remuneration policy, strategy and structure for Telstra’s Board, the CEO and senior executives.
We understand that when shareholders see the significant salary packages of senior executives they expect them to be justified, both by sound underlying policy and by matching executive performance. After all, it is your money we are spending and you have the right to expect transparency and accountability — particularly when the company’s profit and share price have declined.
That is why, in carrying out its functions, the Committee seeks external expert advice independent of management.
It is also why we prepare the very detailed Remuneration Report you can find in your Annual Review and Annual Report.
I recognise that such detailed disclosure creates complex reading, so I will take you through the main features of the Remuneration Report as they relate to:
    senior executive remuneration generally;
 
    the CEO, Sol Trujillo, specifically; and
 
    Telstra’s non-executive directors.
In doing so, I will give you the facts and at the same time I hope dispel a few myths and misunderstandings.
Senior Executive Remuneration
For some years our senior executives’ and CEO’s remuneration has been made up of three complementary elements aligning reward to the achievement of short and long term business objectives:
    fixed remuneration — that is, cash based salary;
 
    a Short Term Incentive (STI) cash payment which is “at risk” and delivers reward on achievement of pre-determined annual business objectives and individual targets; and
     
Remuneration Speech — final   1

 


 

    a Long Term Incentive (LTI) which is also “at risk”. It is delivered as performance rights which can be converted into shares, but only if the company meets certain long-term objectives.
Between the short-term and long term incentives, the majority of the remuneration of our top people is at risk. Some 70 per cent of the CEO’s package is at risk, while for our Group Managing Directors the percentage at risk ranges from 62 to 67 per cent.
Last year, new Short Term and Long Term Incentive performance measures were introduced that link CEO and senior executive incentives to the delivery of important elements of the new business strategy, and link the successful delivery of the transformation to shareholder wealth creation in the longer term.
Over the next four years, the remuneration strategy will be based on rigorous performance measures set by the board that are stapled to delivering specific transformation goals as well as on other traditional business measures, because we need not only to drive change, but to drive it quickly.
The specific objectives and weighting of the short term and the long term performance measures will be updated from one year to the next. They will also be tailored to recognize the differing time horizons of the various members of the executive team, some of whom have joined the company to deliver specific short-term outcomes, while others are contemplating longer term careers with the company.
If you look at Figure 2 of the Remuneration Report, on the screen behind me, you can see an indication of how the emphasis on transformation measures will diminish progressively as milestones are achieved.
Over time the incentive measures will shift from an initial emphasis on transformation measures towards operational measures for the STI, and growth and return measures for the LTI.
This year the Short Term Incentive was determined by corporate performance against targets relating to Earnings Before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortisation, cost reduction, the rollout of our new Next GTM mobile network and increased broadband market share, as well as individual accountabilities.
Take two examples of STI measures this year. A key short term transformation measure was the rollout of the Next G TM network. The incentive for this element was almost paid in full. Another short term measure was to increase retail broadband market share from 41 per cent to 47 per cent. The actual market share achieved was 44 per cent so a much lower proportion of the incentive was paid.
A number of shareholders have expressed concern that a healthy short term incentive has been paid for a year when our profit and share price declined. That reaction is understandable. The key is having a clarity of understanding that the basis of the payment of this incentive was delivering on the key platform of the transformation strategy and that the transformation strategy is based on delivering long-term sustainable value.
When Sol launched the transformation strategy last November, he announced plans to transform the company that would take three to five years. And our plan was widely recognised as very ambitious. There was a marked scepticism about our ability to deliver.
     
Remuneration Speech — final   2

 


 

Contrary to many people’s expectations, our transformation is — as the Chairman has told you — on track, on budget and ahead of our delivery schedule. The Next G TM network has been built in record time.
The board and management are committed to fixing Telstra so that shareholders can grow value, not just next quarter or next year but on into the future. We believe it is important to reward executives for creating long-term sustainable value for shareholders.
The Short Term incentive is delivered in cash which is a common approach in corporate Australia and, contrary to some media reports, has been our practice every year except fiscal 2005. We reverted to our pre-2005 practice because with Long Term Incentives already totally equity-based, it was unbalanced to also deliver a substantial proportion of Short Term Incentives in equity form.
Key personnel were also allocated performance rights under the Long Term Incentive plan for fiscal 2006, the allocation being calculated as a percentage of their fixed remuneration and based on the five day Volume Weighted Average Share price after our annual results. For last year that was $4.78 and for this year it will be $3.67.
These performance rights can only be converted into shares — and therefore will only deliver any value to the executive — if the company over a three to five year period achieves performance targets relating to revenue, operating expense, our IT and network transformations, as well as return on investment and total shareholder return.
This approach ensures that any rewards delivered from the LTI plan are consistent with the successful execution of transformation initiatives over a number of years which, in turn, should drive sustainable increases in shareholder wealth. So if they do get the shares, it will only be because they have enhanced Telstra’s capacity to deliver shareholder returns.
There are no easy targets and if you refer to figure 16 in this year’s Remuneration Report it provides an update on the status of the Long Term Incentive plans since 2001. You can see, for example, that performance rights allocated to executives in fiscal 2001 did not meet the performance hurdle and lapsed this year.
I should also add that the values shown for the executives’ LTIs in Figure 19 of the Remuneration Report are accounting values only. Accounting standards require us to show the current year amortised value for performance rights issued, even though those performance rights have not vested and may never do so. To reiterate the point, if the performance hurdles are not met then the performance rights don’t vest and the executives receive no benefit from the LTI.
A number of proxy adviser organizations, such as the Australian Shareholders Association and CGI Glass Lewis, have recommended voting in support of the Remuneration Report. In doing so they have identified areas for improvement so we thank them for their support and for their constructive feedback.
However, another major proxy organization, ISS, has chosen to recommend voting against the Remuneration Report. As a result of this, you will see when the Chairman shows you the proxies later in the meeting that a substantial number of votes have been cast against it.
As many of you will have seen in the press, one key concern of ISS is that many companies - including Telstra — purchase on-market the underlying shares to support executive compensation plans and therefore have not been required to seek shareholder approval for these plans.
     
Remuneration Speech — final   3

 


 

Telstra has been purchasing shares on market since introducing an equity-based Long Term Incentive plan in 1999. Indeed Telstra was commended for the practice of purchasing these shares on-market at a time when other companies were criticised for failing to properly recognise the cost of equity based compensation plans supported by the issue of new shares.
The requirements of the ASX have been very clear — share-based incentive plans that involve an issue of new shares are potentially dilutionary for other shareholders and therefore require shareholder approval. Share-based incentive plans that involve on-market purchases of the underlying shares are from a shareholder stand point economically equivalent to cash remuneration and do not require shareholder approval. Telstra’s practices have been completely in accordance with these requirements.
While on the subject of Long Term Incentives, you may have seen in the press an argument that the sale by the Government of its shareholding in Telstra might constitute a change of control that triggers vesting of the CEO and senior executives’ long-term incentives. Let me say clearly, that claim is wrong.
Similarly, some papers recently reported that long term incentives of the CEO and senior executives would automatically be triggered if a cornerstone investor buys a stake of more than 15 per cent of Telstra from the Future Fund after May 2007.
This too is wrong. The incentives could not vest without specific prior approval from the board, and this has been the position ever since the long term incentives were introduced in 1999. It’s not a new provision introduced in the past year. The board would only consider exercising this discretion in unusual circumstances.
The papers also named a range of foreign companies that might establish a cornerstone holding of 15 or more percent. These reports overlooked the fact that the current Telstra Act prevents a foreign owned company holding more than 5 per cent of Telstra.
I note that the 15 per cent threshold was set in 1999 at a time when the company was majority owned by the Commonwealth and it appeared a very remote possibility that an investor could acquire such a holding. In light of the imminent full privatisation of the company, the Board Remuneration Committee will reconsider this threshold when it reviews the LongTerm Incentive plan for fiscal 2007.
CEO
Sol’s salary package has been the subject of significant interest and reportage, including some to the effect that his remuneration had not been adequately disclosed or explained.
The facts are these.
When we announced Sol’s appointment back on 9 June 2005, his remuneration package was noted in our media release. His full contract was also lodged with the Australian Stock Exchange that day, and has been publicly available on Telstra’s corporate website ever since.
His potential remuneration was described extensively in the Directors’ Report lodged with our annual results in August 2005, and in our 2005 Annual Review and Annual Report issued in September. At our AGM last year I devoted part of my speech to explaining Sol’s remuneration — just as I am this year.
     
Remuneration Speech — final   4

 


 

This year his remuneration was again described extensively in our August annual results lodgements, and in the 2006 Annual Review and Annual Report.
From the moment of his appointment, his remuneration has been the subject of media interest.
We expect scrutiny. But criticism that we have not provided enough information about his remuneration is simply not true... I’m not aware of any chief executive officer in this country whose remuneration has been more widely and repeatedly published and analysed than Sol’s.
For the record, Sol was engaged on a remuneration package of up to $10 million annually comprising:
         
 
  -   fixed remuneration of $3 million , together with;
 
       
 
  -   up to $3 million under the Short Term Incentive plan. As disclosed last year, half of this was guaranteed for delivery of the transformation strategy, with the balance paid at 72 per cent of his potential maximum for achievement against operational and transformation measures during fiscal 2006; and
 
       
 
  -   up to $4 million for achieving maximum performance milestones under the Long Term Incentive plan, as determined by the Board. Payment of this part of Sol’s package will require significant multi-year performance by the company.
Given the recent publicity, it is worth noting that the $8.7 million remuneration beside Sol’s name in this year’s remuneration report includes several one-offs totalling $2.3 million — primarily a $1 million sign-on fee and approximately $1.3 million tax equalization payments which is no longer required due to legislative change. Both these payments have been fully disclosed.
None of which is to suggest that Sol is not well remunerated...
although you will be well aware there are other Australian CEOs who earn as much or more — in some cases much more.
We will continue to pay what is required to attract and retain an executive of this calibre. And I think the benefits of that decision are apparent not only in our transformation strategy but — more importantly — in our achievements delivering against it.
Non-executive Directors
All non-executive directors — that is all directors other than the CEO — receive a “total package” of fees. They are required to take a minimum of 20 per cent of fees in the form of Telstra shares. This aligns their interests with the interests of our shareholders. The shares are purchased on-market, allocated at market price and held in trust for five years — unable to be dealt with — unless the director ceases to be a director.
The total fee pool divided among all non-executive directors, including the value of any shares allocated, is $2 million.
The level of fees paid out of that pool is set in light of independent expert advice. In the past year, less than $1.4 million of the fee pool was provided as remuneration to our non-executive directors, reflecting the reduced size of the board for much of the year.
     
Remuneration Speech — final   5

 


 

Conclusion
I hope I have managed to shed some light on what is, unavoidably, a complex topic, and shown how the interests of both our senior executives and directors are aligned with those of you — our shareholders.
I close by assuring you that we will be taking into consideration the outcome of this vote and other feedback from shareholders when reviewing our remuneration policy. As a Board, we take our shareholders’ views on these matters very seriously.
Thank you.
     
Remuneration Speech — final   6

 


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
14 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager

  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
   
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
 
  Facsimile 03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
Results of Annual General Meeting
In accordance with Listing Rule 3.13.2 and Section 251AA (2) of the Corporations Act, I advise that the following resolutions were passed by the required majority at the Telstra Corporation Limited 2006 Annual General Meeting.
                 
1: Adoption of the remuneration report   Passed by Poll
 
               
2: Election and re-election of directors
 
The following persons were elected or re-elected as directors.
 
               
 
    1.     Mr Charles Macek   Passed by Poll
 
               
 
    2.     Dr John Stocker   Passed by Poll
 
               
 
    3.     Mr Geoffrey Cousins   Passed by Poll
 
               
 
    4.     Mr Peter Willcox   Passed by Poll
 
               
 
    5.     Mr John Zeglis   Passed by Poll
The other candidates were not elected.
3: New Constitution
The following special resolution was passed by Poll:
“that the constitution tabled at the meeting, and signed by the Chairman of the meeting for the purpose of identification, be adopted as the constitution of the Company in place of the present constitution, with effect from the close of the meeting”
The proxy and poll position is attached.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

(LINK LOGO)   TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
TELSTRA AGM 2006
Tuesday, 14 November, 2006
  RESULTS OF MEETING
     As required by section 251AA(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth) the following statistics are provided in respect of each resolution on the agenda.
                                                             
        Manner in which the securityholder directed the proxy vote   Manner in which votes were cast in person or by
        (as at proxy close):   proxy on a poll (where applicable)
        Votes   Votes   Votes   Votes            
Resolution   For   Against   Discretionary   Abstain   For   Against   Abstain **
2  
REMUNERATION REPORT
    900,262,915       1,038,979,630       101,697,433       35,494,423       7,450,556,567       1,039,955,395       35,850,114  
   
 
                                                       
4A  
ELECT MERVYN VOGT AS A DIRECTOR
    138,997,479       1,804,143,290       116,558,313       14,557,576       140,049,298       8,368,683,706       15,131,956  
   
 
                                                       
4B  
RE-ELECT CHARLES MACEK AS A DIRECTOR
    1,876,357,663       81,400,218       104,099,174       8,152,476       8,429,275,702       82,018,417       8,422,261  
   
 
                                                       
4C  
RE-ELECT JOHN STOCKER AS A DIRECTOR
    1,907,833,562       31,799,368       104,335,036       26,048,867       8,460,905,956       32,467,035       26,361,680  
   
 
                                                       
4D  
ELECT LEONARD COOPER AS A DIRECTOR
    150,234,250       1,793,795,832       116,708,228       13,494,015       151,545,559       8,358,036,075       14,135,486  
   
 
                                                       
4E  
ELECT ANGE KENOS AS A DIRECTOR
    143,183,039       1,799,347,187       118,240,271       13,485,931       144,472,919       8,364,916,932       14,334,256  
   
 
                                                       
4F  
ELECT GEOFFREY COUSINS AS A DIRECTOR
    239,797,256       1,729,788,275       98,053,611       6,474,967       6,686,600,543       1,830,233,920       6,773,736  
   
 
                                                       
4G  
ELECT PETER WILLCOX AS A DIRECTOR
    1,925,240,366       30,582,408       105,892,836       8,354,610       8,479,984,658       31,151,303       8,657,785  
 
**   - Note that votes relating to a person who abstains on an item are not counted in determining whether or not the required majority of votes were cast for or against that item

Page 1 of 2


 

(LINK LOGO)   TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
TELSTRA AGM 2006
Tuesday, 14 November, 2006
  RESULTS OF MEETING
As required by section 251AA(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth) the following statistics are provided in respect of each resolution on the agenda.
                                                             
        Manner in which the securityholder directed the proxy vote   Manner in which votes were cast in person or by
        (as at proxy close):   proxy on a poll (where applicable)
        Votes   Votes   Votes   Votes            
Resolution   For   Against   Discretionary   Abstain   For   Against   Abstain **
4H  
ELECT JOHN ZEGLIS AS A DIRECTOR
    1,916,652,831       36,295,916       107,472,583       9,581,511       8,472,920,058       36,869,381       9,876,511  
   
 
                                                       
4I  
ELECT STEPHEN MAYNE AS A DIRECTOR
    186,115,329       1,764,377,064       113,197,337       10,579,307       187,770,735       8,324,717,623       11,214,167  
   
 
                                                       
5  
NEW CONSTITUTION
    1,905,872,589       23,261,629       113,018,918       19,785,128       8,468,022,924       23,702,885       20,242,056  
 
**   - Note that votes relating to a person who abstains on an item are not counted in determining whether or not the required majority of votes were cast for or against that item

Page 2 of 2


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
17 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager

Company Announcements Office
  Level 41
242 Exhibition Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
   
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
 
  Facsimile 03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
Appendix 3B — New issue announcement, application for quotation of additional securities and agreement
In accordance with the listing rules, I attach an announcement for release to the market.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement
Rule 2.7, 3.10.3, 3.10.4, 3.10.5
Appendix 3B
New issue announcement,
application for quotation of additional securities
and agreement
Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.
Introduced 1/7/96. Origin: Appendix 5. Amended 1/7/98, 1/9/99, 1/7/2000, 30/9/2001, 11/3/2002, 1/1/2003, 24/10/2005.
Name of entity
Telstra Corporation Limited
ABN
33 051 775 556
We (the entity) give ASX the following information.
Part 1 — All issues
You must complete the relevant sections (attach sheets if there is not enough space).
         
1
  +Class of +securities issued or to be issued   Ordinary shares
 
       
2
  Number of Securities issued or to be issued (if known) or maximum number which may be issued   2.15 billion shares underlying an equal number of instalment receipts (subject to upsizing and the ability to over-allocate as described in section 2.2.2 of the T3 prospectus)
 
       
3
  Principal terms of the +securities (eg, if options, exercise price and expiry date; if partly paid +securities, the amount outstanding and due dates for payment; if +convertible securities, the conversion price and dates for conversion)   Ordinary shares
 
+   See chapter 19 for defined terms.
Appendix 3B Page 1

 


 

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement
             
4   Do the +securities rank equally in all respects from the date of allotment with an existing +class of quoted +securities?   Yes.
 
           
    If the additional securities do not rank equally, please state:    
 
           
 
    the date from which they do    
 
           
 
    the extent to which they participate for the next dividend, (in the case of a trust, distribution) or interest payment    
 
           
 
    the extent to which they do not rank equally, other than in relation to the next dividend, distribution or interest payment    
 
           
5   Issue price or consideration   N/A
 
           
6   Purpose of the issue (If issued as consideration for the acquisition of assets, clearly identify those assets)   Sell down of the Commonwealth’s remaining interest in Telstra.
 
           
7   Dates of entering +securities into uncertificated holdings or despatch of certificates   Subject to the issue of instalment receipts to applicants. The transfer of shares will be completed at the same time.
             
        Number +Class
8
  Number and +class of all +securities quoted on ASX (including the securities in clause 2 if applicable)   8,147,078,863 (subject to upsizing and the ability to over-allocate as described in section 2.2.2 of the T3 prospectus)   FPO
 
+   See chapter 19 for defined terms.
Appendix 3B Page 2

 


 

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement
             
        Number +Class
9
  Number and +class of all +securities not quoted on ASX (including the securities in clause 2 if applicable)   4,295,995,494 (subject to upsizing and the ability to over-allocate as described in section 2.2.2 of the T3 prospectus)   FPO
         
10
  Dividend policy (in the case of a trust, distribution policy) on the increased capital (interests)   The Telstra Board currently intends to declare a 28 cents per share fully franked dividend for financial year 2007 subject to continuing to be successful in implementing the transformation strategy and no further material adverse regulatory outcomes during the course of financial year 2007.
 
       
 
      The Telstra Board is unable to give guidance on ordinary dividends for financial year 2008 owing to the continuing uncertainty attached to regulatory outcomes and the impact on Telstra’s business as well as transformation and market place risks.
Part 2 — Bonus issue or pro rata issue
         
11
  Is security holder approval required?   N/A
 
       
12
  Is the issue renounceable or non-renounceable?   N/A
 
       
13
  Ratio in which the +securities will be offered   N/A
 
       
14
  +Class of +securities to which the offer relates   N/A
 
       
15
  +Record date to determine entitlements   N/A
 
       
16
  Will holdings on different registers (or subregisters) be aggregated for calculating entitlements?   N/A
 
       
17
  Policy for deciding entitlements in relation to fractions   N/A
 
+   See chapter 19 for defined terms.
Appendix 3B Page 3

 


 

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement
         
18
  Names of countries in which the entity has +security holders who will not be sent new issue documents   N/A
 
       
 
  Note: Security holders must be told how their entitlements are to be dealt with.    
 
       
 
  Cross reference: rule 7.7.    
 
       
19
  Closing date for receipt of acceptances or renunciations   N/A
 
+   See chapter 19 for defined terms.
Appendix 3B Page 4

 


 

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement
         
20
  Names of any underwriters   N/A
 
       
21
  Amount of any underwriting fee or commission   N/A
 
       
22
  Names of any brokers to the issue   N/A
 
       
23
  Fee or commission payable to the broker to the issue   N/A
 
       
24
  Amount of any handling fee payable to brokers who lodge acceptances or renunciations on behalf of +security holders   N/A
 
       
25
  If the issue is contingent on +security holders’ approval, the date of the meeting   N/A
 
       
26
  Date entitlement and acceptance form and prospectus or Product Disclosure Statement will be sent to persons entitled   N/A
 
       
27
  If the entity has issued options, and the terms entitle option holders to participate on exercise, the date on which notices will be sent to option holders   N/A
 
       
28
  Date rights trading will begin (if applicable)   N/A
 
       
29
  Date rights trading will end (if applicable)   N/A
 
       
30
  How do +security holders sell their entitlements in full through a broker?   N/A
 
       
31
  How do +security holders sell part of their entitlements through a broker and accept for the balance?   N/A
 
+   See chapter 19 for defined terms.
Appendix 3B Page 5

 


 

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement
         
32
  How do +security holders dispose of their entitlements (except by sale through a broker)?   N/A
 
       
33
  +Despatch date   N/A
Part 3 — Quotation of securities
You need only complete this section if you are applying for quotation of securities
         
34   Type of securities
    (tick one)
 
       
(a)
  þ   Securities described in Part 1
 
       
(b)
  o   All other securities
 
       
 
      Example: restricted securities at the end of the escrowed period, partly paid securities that become fully paid, employee incentive share securities when restriction ends, securities issued on expiry or conversion of convertible securities
Entities that have ticked box 34(a)
Additional securities forming a new class of securities
Tick to indicate you are providing the information or documents
         
35
  o   If the +securities are +equity securities, the names of the 20 largest holders of the additional +securities, and the number and percentage of additional +securities held by those holders
 
       
36
  o   If the +securities are +equity securities, a distribution schedule of the additional +securities setting out the number of holders in the categories
 
      1 – 1,000
 
      1,001 – 5,000
 
      5,001 – 10,000
 
      10,001 – 100,000
 
      100,001 and over
 
       
37
  þ   A copy of any trust deed for the additional +securities
 
+   See chapter 19 for defined terms.
Appendix 3B Page 6

 


 

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement
Entities that have ticked box 34(b)
             
38   Number of securities for which +quotation is sought   N/A
 
           
39   Class of +securities for which quotation is sought   N/A
 
           
40   Do the +securities rank equally in all respects from the date of allotment with an existing +class of quoted +securities?

If the additional securities do not rank equally, please state:
  N/A
 
           
 
    the date from which they do    
 
           
 
    the extent to which they participate for the next dividend, (in the case of a trust, distribution) or interest payment    
 
           
 
    the extent to which they do not rank equally, other than in relation to the next dividend, distribution or interest payment    
 
           
41   Reason for request for quotation now   N/A
 
           
    Example: In the case of restricted securities, end of restriction period    
 
           
    (if issued upon conversion of another security, clearly identify that other security)    
             
        Number   +Class
42
  Number and +class of all +securities quoted on ASX (including the securities in clause 38)   N/A   N/A
 
+   See chapter 19 for defined terms.
Appendix 3B Page 7

 


 

Appendix 3B
New issue announcement
Quotation agreement
1   +Quotation of our additional +securities is in ASX’s absolute discretion. ASX may quote the +securities on any conditions it decides.
 
2   We warrant the following to ASX.
    The issue of the +securities to be quoted complies with the law and is not for an illegal purpose.
 
    There is no reason why those +securities should not be granted +quotation.
 
    An offer of the +securities for sale within 12 months after their issue will not require disclosure under section 707(3) or section 1012C(6) of the Corporations Act.
 
      Note: An entity may need to obtain appropriate warranties from subscribers for the securities in order to be able to give this warranty
 
    Section 724 or section 1016E of the Corporations Act does not apply to any applications received by us in relation to any +securities to be quoted and that no-one has any right to return any +securities to be quoted under sections 737, 738 or 1016F of the Corporations Act at the time that we request that the +securities be quoted.
 
    If we are a trust, we warrant that no person has the right to return the +securities to be quoted under section 1019B of the Corporations Act at the time that we request that the +securities be quoted.
3   We will indemnify ASX to the fullest extent permitted by law in respect of any claim, action or expense arising from or connected with any breach of the warranties in this agreement.
 
4   We give ASX the information and documents required by this form. If any information or document not available now, will give it to ASX before +quotation of the +securities begins. We acknowledge that ASX is relying on the information and documents. We warrant that they are (will be) true and complete.
             
Sign here:
  /s/ Douglas Gration       Date: 17 November 2006
 
 
 
Company secretary
       
 
           
Print name:
  Douglas Gration        
 
+   See chapter 19 for defined terms.
Appendix 3B Page 8

 


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
17 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager
  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
   
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
 
  Facsimile 03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
Appendix 3X-Initial Director’s Interest Notices
In accordance with the listing rules I enclose an Appendix 3X — Initial Director’s Interest Notice for Mr Geoffrey Cousins.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

Appendix 3X
Initial Director’s Interest Notice
Rule 3.19A.1
Appendix 3X
Initial Director’s Interest Notice
Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.
Introduced 30/9/2001.
     
Name of entity
  Telstra Corporation Limited
ABN
  33 051 775 556
We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.1 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act.
     
Name of Director
  GEOFFREY COUSINS
 
   
Date of appointment
  14 November 2006
Part 1 — Director’s relevant interests in securities of which the director is the registered holder
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
Note: In the case of a company, interests which come within paragraph (i) of the definition of “notifiable interest of a director” should be disclosed in this part.

Number & class of securities
          NIL
 
+   See chapter 19 for defined terms.
Appendix 3X Page 1

 


 

Appendix 3X
Initial Director’s Interest Notice
Part 2 – Director’s relevant interests in securities of which the director is not the registered holder
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
     
Name of holder & nature of interest
  Number & class of Securities
 
Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.
   
 
   
 
  NIL
Part 3 – Director’s interests in contracts
Note: In the case of a company, interests which come within paragraph (ii) of the definition of “notifiable interest of a director” should be disclosed in this part.
     
Detail of contract
  NIL
 
   
Nature of interest
  NIL
 
   
Name of registered holder (if issued securities)
  NIL
 
   
No. and class of securities to which interest relates
  NIL
 
+   See chapter 19 for defined terms.
Appendix 3X Page 2

 


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
19 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager
  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
   
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
 
  Facsimile 03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
Telstra 3 Share Offer – Allocation Details
In accordance with the listing rules, I attach an announcement for release to the market.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

ASX release
TELSTRA 3 SHARE OFFER
ALLOCATION DETAILS RELEASED

Retail Offer
  Final price details for Retail Investors applying under the Australian Retail Offer (comprising the General Public Offer, the Shareholder Entitlement Offer and the Firm Offer) at the Retail Investor price are:
  o   Final price — $3.60 per share
 
  o   First instalment — $2.00 per share
 
  o   Final instalment — $1.60 per share
  Final price details for Retail Investors applying under the New Zealand Offer are:
  o   Final price — $3.70 per share
 
  o   First instalment — $2.10 per share
 
  o   Final instalment — $1.60 per share
Institutional Offer
  Final price details of Institutional Investors applying under the Institutional Offer (and non Australian resident applicants and Retail Investors applying under the Firm Offer at the Institutional Offer price) are:
  o   Final price — $3.70 per share
 
  o   First instalment — $2.10 per share
 
  o   Final instalment — $1.60 per share
ALLOCATION DETAILS
  Approximately 2,423 million shares (representing 57% of the Offer) have been allocated under the Australian and New Zealand Retail Offer, comprising:
  o   Approximately 12% under the General Public Offer.
 
  o   Approximately 42% under the Shareholder Entitlement Offer.
 
  o   Approximately 46% under the Firm Offer.
  Approximately 1,825 million shares (representing 43% of the Offer) have been allocated
under the Institutional Offer, including shares allocated to Japanese retail investors under the Public Offer Without Listing (POWL).
     
DIVAOZ\Retail Marketing Committee\Media Release — Final Offer Price
   
 
  page 1

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)
ALLOCATION BASIS
Shareholder Entitlement Offer
All Retail Investors who applied under the Shareholder Entitlement Offer for their entitlement or less have been allocated those shares in full.
Retail Investors who applied under the Shareholder Entitlement Offer for more than their entitlement have received allocations as follows:
     
Shareholder Entitlement Offer -
applicants who applied for up to 10,000 shares
  Receive
The number of shares they have applied for
         
Shareholder Entitlement Offer -    
applicants who applied for more    
than 10,000 shares, and:   Receive
1.
  Whose entitlement is less than or equal to 10,000 shares   10,000 shares plus 75% of any additional shares applied for above 10,000 shares, up to a maximum allocation of 100,000 shares
 
       
2.
  Whose entitlement is greater than 10,000 shares but less than 100,000 shares   Their entitlement plus 75% of any additional shares applied for above their entitlement, up to a maximum allocation of 100,000 shares
 
       
3.
  Whose entitlement is greater than or equal to 100,000 shares   Their entitlement with no additional shares
General Public Offer
Eligible Retail Investors who applied under the General Public Offer have received allocations as follows:
     
General Public Offer applicants    
who applied for   Receive
Up to 5,000 shares
  The number of shares they have applied for
 
   
Above 5,000 shares
  5,000 shares plus 75% of any additional shares applied for above 5,000 shares up to a maximum allocation of 100,000 shares
Firm Offer
Valid applications by broker firm applicants have been accepted in full.
Details of the pricing and allocation were published in major newspapers on 20 November 2006.
INSTALMENT RECEIPT TRADING
    Trading in Telstra instalment receipts on the ASX is expected to commence on a conditional and deferred settlement basis at 11.30am, Sydney time today. The code for Telstra instalment receipts on the ASX is TLSCA.
 
    Trading in Telstra instalment receipts on the ASX is expected to commence on a conditional basis because such trading is conditional on settlement under the International Purchase Agreement relating to the Telstra 3 Share Offer and issue of instalment receipts to successful applicants under the Offer. If these conditions are not satisfied within 10 business days after commencement of conditional trading:
    Telstra instalment receipts will not be issued;
     
DIVAOZ\Retail Marketing Committee\Media Release — Final Offer Price
   
 
  page 2

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)
    the contract formed on acceptance by the Commonwealth of an application for shares in Telstra will be cancelled;
 
    all conditional trades in Telstra instalment receipts that have occurred on the ASX since conditional trading commenced, will be cancelled.
  After the end of conditional trading, there will be a further period of deferred settlement trading of instalment receipts on the ASX until dispatch of transaction confirmation statements which is expected to occur by 30 November 2006.
ISSUE OF SECURITIES AND TRANSACTION CONFIRMATION STATEMENTS
  Instalment receipts are expected to be issued on 24 November 2006.
 
  Transaction confirmation statements to successful applicants and refunds to applicants who have applied and paid for shares in excess of their allocation are expected to be dispatched by 30 November 2006.
QUESTIONS REGARDING ALLOCATIONS
  Investors who wish to obtain details of their allocations prior to receiving their transaction confirmation statements may either access the Telstra 3 Share Offer website at www.t3shareoffer.com.au or contact the Telstra 3 Telephone Information Centre (TIC) on 1800 18 18 18 and quote their reference number. Information about all allocations will be available from www.t3shareoffer.com.au or the TIC from 7am today. The TIC’s normal operating hours are 8am to 10pm (Sydney time) Monday to Friday.
 
  It is the responsibility of applicants to determine their allocations prior to trading in Telstra instalment receipts to avoid the risk of selling instalment receipts they do not own. Applicants selling instalment receipts before they receive confirmation of their allocation do so at their own risk.
OTHER INFORMATION
Prepayments
  Instalment receipt holders may prepay the final instalment for some (in minimum parcels of 2,000) or all of their registered holding on or before 31 March 2008, and will receive a Prepayment Discount (to the final instalment) if they do so. Instalment receipt holders with a New Zealand registered address will not receive a Prepayment Discount. Prepayment may be made on or by 28 February 2007 and on or by the last day of every month thereafter up until 31 March 2008. To prepay, instalment receipt holders will need to contact the Instalment Receipt and Share Registrar on 1800 18 18 18. If applicants under the Retail Offer elect to prepay the final instalment, they will not receive Bonus Loyalty Shares on the instalment receipts for which they have prepaid the final instalment.
Bonus Loyalty Shares
  Those that purchase instalment receipts under the Australian Retail Offer at the Retail Investor price, hold those instalment receipts in the same registered name until 15 May 2008 and pay the final instalment on or by 29 May 2008, will receive one Bonus Loyalty Share for every 25 applicable instalment receipts. However, those that prepay the final instalment will not receive Bonus Loyalty Shares on those instalment receipts in relation to which a prepayment is made.
    Media enquiries can be made to Ian Smith of Gavin Anderson on 0418 814 611.
     
DIVAOZ\Retail Marketing Committee\Media Release — Final Offer Price
   
 
  page 3

 


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
19 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager
  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
   
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
 
  Facsimile 03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
Telstra 3 Share Offer – Instalment Receipt Foreign Ownership Rules
In accordance with the listing rules, I attach a copy of the Foreign Ownership rules relating to instalment receipts, for release to the market.
Telstra Corporation Limited will lodge new Foreign Ownership rules similar to those for Instalment receipts shortly.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)
As approved by the board of Telstra Sale Company
Limited on 17 November 2006
IR Foreign Ownership Rules
Instalment Receipts -
Foreign Ownership Rules

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)
Contents
             
 
  Table of contents        
 
           
1
  Definitions     2  
 
  1.1 Definitions     2  
 
  1.2 IR Holders who will be deemed Foreign IR Holders     4  
 
           
2
  Foreign IR Register     5  
 
  2.1 Establishment of Foreign IR Register     5  
 
  2.2 New Zealand branch IR register and ADR program     5  
 
  2.3 Reliance on information provided by IR Holders and in Foreign IR Register     6  
 
  2.4 Telstra’s Foreign Register     6  
 
  2.5 Joint Foreign Register     6  
 
  2.6 Transfer of IR Register information to Company     7  
 
           
3
  Obligations of IR Holders to notify Trustee of Foreign IR Holding     7  
 
  3.1 IR Holders to provide information regarding foreign ownership of IRs     7  
 
  3.2 Initial notification obligations – acquisitions through CHESS     7  
 
  3.3 Initial notification obligations – acquisitions other than through CHESS     7  
 
  3.4 Continuing notification obligations     8  
 
  3.5 Consequences of a failure to notify     9  
 
  3.6 Number of IRs deemed to be in an IR Holder’s Foreign IR Holding     9  
 
           
4
  Mixed IR Holders to endeavour to use different HINs or SRNs     10  
 
           
5
  Procedures for Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation     10  
 
  5.1 Trustee’s power to dispose of IRs     10  
 
  5.2 Treatment of proceeds of sale     11  
 
           
6
  Procedures for Unacceptable Aggregate Foreign-Ownership Situation     11  
 
  6.1 Procedures when Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit exceeded     11  
 
  6.2 Foreign IR Holders must dispose of Breach IRs     11  
 
  6.3 Trustee’s power to dispose of Breach IRs     12  
 
  6.4 Determining priority among Foreign IR Holders – date on which IRs considered “registered”     12  
 
  6.5 Treatment of foreign to foreign transactions     14  
 
           
7
  Procedures when Individual Foreign-Ownership Limit exceeded     14  
 
           
8
  Telstra’s obligations to notify the Exchange     14  
 
  8.1 Obligation to notify Exchange on exceeding certain limit     14  
 
  8.2 Obligation to notify Exchange when cease to exceed certain limit     15  
 
           
9
  Co-operation with Company     15  
 
           
10
  IR Registrar may act on the Trustee’s behalf     15  
 
           
11
  Operation of IR Foreign Ownership Rules     15  
IR Foreign Ownership Rules   page 1

 


 

1   Definitions
 
1.1   Definitions
 
    Capitalised terms used but not defined below have the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed, or, if the term is not defined in the IR Trust Deed, the meaning given in the Company’s constitution or the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations, as the context requires. The meanings of the terms used in this document are set out below.
     
Term   Meaning
 
ADRs
  American Depository Receipts
 
   
Aggregate Foreign
  the meaning in rule 8.1(b)
Ownership Limit
   
 
   
Application Form
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Breach IRs
  the meaning given in rules 6.1(b) and rule 7
 
   
Breach Shares
  the meaning given in Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations 6.1(b) and 7
 
   
CHESS
  the Clearing House Electronic Subregister System
 
   
CHESS participant
  a participant in CHESS
 
   
Company
  Telstra Corporation Limited (ACN 051 775 556)
 
   
Disposal Notice
  a notice issued by the Trustee to a Foreign IR Holder under rule 5.1(a) or 6.1(b) containing the information set out in rule 5.1(c)
 
   
Divestment Date
  the last day of a period specified in a Disposal Notice as the date by which IRs must be disposed or the date determined under rule 6.2, as the case may be
 
   
Domestic IR Holder
  an IR Holder who in relation to a HIN or SRN holds only Domestic IRs. Such an IR Holder is to be considered a Domestic IR Holder in relation to that HIN or SRN only
 
   
Domestic IRs
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
IR Foreign Ownership Rules   page 2

 


 

     
Term   Meaning
 
Final Instalment
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Final Instalment Due
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
Date
   
 
   
Foreign IR Holder
   
 
  (a) the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed; and
 
  (b) any person who is deemed a Foreign IR Holder under rule 1.2
 
   
Foreign IR Holding
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Foreign IR Register
  the meaning given in rule 2.1(a)
 
   
Foreign Member
  the meaning given in the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations
 
   
Foreign Ownership
  the form required to be lodged by certain new IR Holders upon initially acquiring
Notification Form
  IRs under rule 3.3
 
   
Initial IR Holder
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Initial Trustee
  Telstra Sale Company Limited (ACN 121 986 187)
 
   
International Offering
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
IR Trust Deed
  the Trust Deed dated 8 October 2006 between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Initial Trustee under which the Trustee holds shares in the Company
 
   
IRs
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Joint Foreign Register
  the meaning given in rule 2.5
 
   
level of foreign
  the meaning given in rule 8.1(b)
ownership
   
 
   
Mixed IR Holder
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Non-Commonwealth
Shares
  the total number of shares in the Company held by persons other than the Commonwealth
IR Foreign Ownership Rules   page 3

 


 

     
Term   Meaning
 
Notification Date
  the meaning given in rule 6.4(a)
 
   
Offer
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Special SRNs
  the meaning given in rule 6.1(a)
 
   
Specified Day
  the meaning given in rule 6.1(a)
 
   
Telstra’s Foreign
  the regulations relating to foreign ownership of the Company’s shares adopted
Ownership Regulations
  by the Company under rule 11.2 of its constitution
 
   
Telstra’s Foreign
  the meaning given in rule 2.4
Register
   
 
   
Trustee
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Warning Notice
  a notice issued by the Trustee to a Foreign IR Holder under rule 5.1(a) informing the Foreign IR Holder that the Foreign IR Holder may be required to dispose of IRs
1.2   IR Holders who will be deemed Foreign IR Holders
 
(a)   For the purposes of these rules, the following persons shall be deemed a Foreign IR Holder:
  (1)   the depository for the ADRs or its custodian or nominee;
 
  (2)   those persons holding an interest in IRs represented by ADRs;
 
  (3)   IR Holders holding IRs registered on any New Zealand branch IR register, in respect of those IRs only;
 
  (4)   Mixed IR Holders in respect of their Foreign IR Holding only (unless the Trustee determines otherwise);
 
  (5)   IR Holders:
  (A)   whose registered address is not in Australia; and
 
  (B)   who the Trustee elects to treat as a Foreign IR Holder because the IR Holder is required, but fails to return a Foreign Ownership Notification Form within the time period specified in rule 3.3(a) or 3.4(c), as the case may be; and
  (6)   IR Holders who the Trustee elects to treat as a Foreign IR Holder because a response has not been received from the IR Holder under rule 3.4 (other than rule 3.4(c)) within 30 days after the date the response was required by that rule.
IR Foreign Ownership Rules   page 4

 


 

(b)   Where a person has given notice (whether physically or electronically through CHESS) that it is (or where the person is deemed by the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations to be):
  (1)   a Foreign Member;
 
  (2)   not a Foreign Member; or
 
  (3)   a Mixed Member,
in respect of any shares held in a particular HIN or SRN, the Trustee and the Company may, notwithstanding anything else in these regulations, also treat the person as being, respectively:
  (4)   a Foreign IR Holder;
 
  (5)   not a Foreign IR Holder; or
 
  (6)   a Mixed IR Holder,
 
  in respect of any IRs held in that HIN or SRN.
(c)   Where a person has given notice (whether physically or electronically through CHESS) that it is (or where the person is deemed by the these rules to be):
  (1)   a Foreign IR Holder;
 
  (2)   not a Foreign IR Holder; or
 
  (3)   a Mixed IR Holder,
in respect of any IRs held in a particular HIN or SRN, the Trustee and the Company may, notwithstanding anything else in these regulations, also treat the person as being, respectively:
  (4)   a Foreign Member;
 
  (5)   not a Foreign Member; or
 
  (6)   a Mixed Member,
in respect of any shares held in that HIN or SRN.
2   Foreign IR Register
 
2.1   Establishment of Foreign IR Register
 
(a)   The Trustee may establish and maintain a register (Foreign IR Register) which will record, amongst other things, those IR Holders who are Foreign IR Holders and the number of IRs in the Foreign IR Holding of each Foreign IR Holder.
 
(b)   The Foreign IR Register does not form part of the IR Register.
 
(c)   The Foreign IR Register may be prepared or kept by recording or storing the information by means of a mechanical, electronic or other device.
 
2.2   New Zealand branch IR register and ADR program
 
(a)   The Trustee may determine that only IRs which are not, and may not become, subject to a Warning Notice or a Disposal Notice under rule 5.1(a) may be:
  (1)   recorded or remain on any New Zealand branch IR register; or
 
  (2)   transferred into the ADR program,
IR Foreign Ownership Rules   page 5

 


 

and may:
  (3)   decline to record on the New Zealand branch IR register or transfer into the ADR program; or
 
  (4)   in the case of IRs already recorded on the New Zealand branch IR register, remove to the IR Register,
IRs which it believes, or is concerned, may become, subject to a Warning Notice or a Disposal Notice.
(b)   Notwithstanding rule 2.2(a), IRs may only be transferred onto the New Zealand branch IR register or into the ADR program if:
  (1)   Disposal Notices have not been issued and are not able to be issued in relation to the relevant IRs; or
 
  (2)   the transfer would not result in the IRs being placed in a Special SRN in accordance with rule 6.1.
2.3   Reliance on information provided by IR Holders and in Foreign IR Register
 
(a)   The information in the Foreign IR Register is to be taken as correct unless proven otherwise.
 
(b)   The Trustee may rely on information in the Foreign IR Register when forming a belief as to whether an Unacceptable Foreign Ownership Situation exists.
 
(c)   For the purposes of the Foreign IR Register, the directors of the Trustee and the Trustee will be entitled to rely on information provided by CHESS participants, IR Holders and persons acting or purporting to act on their behalf, the Company and the IR Registrar under these regulations or otherwise.
 
2.4   Telstra’s Foreign Register
 
(a)   The Company has established and maintains a foreign register (Telstra’s Foreign Register) of holders of shares in the Company (excluding shares held by the Trustee) and the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations.
 
(b)   The Company has agreed, for so long as any IRs remain outstanding, that the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations will parallel these Rules.
 
(c)   The Company may include in Telstra’s Foreign Register information relating to foreign ownership recorded in the Foreign IR Register.
 
2.5   Joint Foreign Register
 
(a)   The Company and the Trustee have agreed that the Foreign IR Register will be maintained jointly (in such manner as the Trustee and the Company may agree from time to time) with Telstra’s Foreign Register. These jointly maintained registers (together the Joint Foreign Register) will contain the information required to be kept by the Trustee in respect of Foreign IR Holders and by the Company in respect of Foreign Members.
 
(b)   The Joint Foreign Register will also, where relevant, contain an aggregation of the numbers of IRs and shares held by each Foreign IR Holder and each Foreign Member. If, for any reason, the Company determines that this is not practicable, the Company’s share registrar will perform this aggregation each day for the 200 Foreign IR Holders having the largest IR Holdings on the Joint Foreign Register and the 200 Foreign Members having the largest share holdings on the Joint Foreign Register (and this daily aggregation will become part of the information comprising the Joint Foreign Register).
IR Foreign Ownership Rules   page 6

 


 

2.6   Transfer of IR Register information to Company
 
(a)   At and after the Final Instalment Due Date, the information contained in the IR Register maintained by the Trustee will be transferred to the Company’s share register, as will information on holdings of IRs by Foreign Persons and any other information relating to foreign ownership incorporated in the Foreign IR Register. This information will supplement information already contained in Telstra’s Foreign Register.
 
(b)   After the Trustee has transferred information to the Company under rule 2.6(a), the Company will give the Trustee access to that information during office hours to the extent the Trustee needs the information to perform its obligations to the Commonwealth under the IR Trust Deed in respect of the sale of shares where the Final Instalment is not paid on the Final Instalment Due Date.
 
3   Obligations of IR Holders to notify Trustee of Foreign IR Holding
 
3.1   IR Holders to provide information regarding foreign ownership of IRs
 
    IR Holders must provide the Trustee with information regarding the foreign ownership of their IRs at the times and in the manner set out in this rule 3.
 
3.2   Initial notification obligations – acquisitions through CHESS
 
    If IRs are initially acquired through CHESS, the CHESS participant must provide the information required by the ASTC Settlement Rules to ensure that the Trustee is notified whether the CHESS participant will be a Foreign IR Holder or a Mixed IR Holder.
 
3.3   Initial notification obligations – acquisitions other than through CHESS
 
(a)   If, for any reason, IRs are initially acquired other than through CHESS and the acquirer will be a Foreign IR Holder or a Mixed IR Holder, the IR Holder (on its own behalf or through an agent) must complete and return a Foreign Ownership Notification Form within 5 business days after the registration of the acquisition of the IRs, except that:
  (1)   acquirers of IRs to be registered on the New Zealand branch IR register;
 
  (2)   the depository for the ADRs (or its custodian or nominee); and
 
  (3)   acquirers of IRs under a transfer from (or from a nominee of) an underwriter of the International Offering on closing of the International Offering (unless the Trustee determines otherwise),
do not need to return a Foreign Ownership Notification Form.
(b)   For the avoidance of doubt:
  (1)   a Foreign Ownership Notification Form is only required in respect of an IR Holder’s initial acquisition of IRs and not in relation to each acquisition of IRs by an IR Holder unless the IRs are to be registered in a different HIN or SRN; and
 
  (2)   an Application Form lodged by an Initial IR Holder, containing the information required by the Trustee, will satisfy the requirements of rule 3.3(a).
(c)   Foreign Ownership Notification Forms are available from brokers, the Exchange, the Trustee and the IR Registrar.
IR Foreign Ownership Rules   page 7

 


 

(d)   A Foreign Ownership Notification Form requires each new IR Holder to indicate if they are a Foreign IR Holder or a Mixed IR Holder. A Foreign Ownership Notification Form is only valid if the relevant HIN or SRN is quoted.
3.4   Continuing notification obligations
 
(a)   Ongoing obligations of IR Holders
 
    IR Holders must notify the Trustee:
  (1)   within 5 business days if they become, or cease to be, a Foreign IR Holder or a Mixed IR Holder;
 
  (2)   within 5 business days if there is a change to their Foreign IR Holding;
 
  (3)   as soon as practicable if they become aware that an Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation exists in relation to any of the IRs held by them;
 
  (4)   as soon as practicable if they become aware that an Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership situation exists in relation to any person who has an interest in any IRs held by the IR Holder (and, if so, the name of the relevant person and total number of IRs in which that person has an interest).
(b)   Annual audit
 
    Each year (or at such other intervals as the Company determines from time to time or to coincide with corresponding enquiries made by the Company of its shareholders from time to time), each IR Holder registered as holding IRs representing more than 0.05% of the Non-Commonwealth Shares will be requested to state in relation to each of their HINs or SRNs:
  (1)   whether they are a Foreign IR Holder or a Mixed IR Holder;
 
  (2)   the number of IRs (if any) in the IR Holder’s Foreign IR Holding;
 
  (3)   to the knowledge of the IR Holder:
  (A)   the identity of each Foreign Person or Associate of a Foreign Person who has an interest in the IRs registered in the name of the IR Holder;
 
  (B)   the total number of IRs in which that person has an interest; and
 
  (C)   if that person is an Associate of a Foreign Person, the name of the relevant Foreign Person; and
  (4)   whether the IR Holder is aware of an Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation of the type referred to in rules 3.4(a)(3) and 3.4(a)(4) (and, if so, details of that situation).
    IR Holders must respond to a request under this rule 3.4(b) within 5 business days after receipt of the request.
 
(c)   Occasional request for information
 
    The Trustee may, at any time, send to an IR Holder who:
  (1)   has an address which is not in Australia;
 
  (2)   has notified the Trustee that they are a Foreign IR Holder or Mixed IR Holder;
 
  (3)   has not provided a notification required to be provided under this regulation 3;
 
  (4)   holds an interest representing more than 0.05% of the Non-Commonwealth Shares;
 
  (5)   the Trustee has reason to believe, or is concerned, may be a Foreign IR Holder; or
IR Foreign Ownership Rules    page 8

 


 

  (6)   the Minister or the Company has requested be sent such a request,
a request for information in a form approved by the Trustee which requires the IR Holder to inform the Trustee of any (or all) of the information set out in rules 3.4(b)(1) to 3.4(b)(4) and any other information relating to foreign ownership as determined by the Trustee. The request may specify a time by which the IR Holder must provide the information and the penalty, if any, for failure to comply with the request.
(d)   Reconciliation with Telstra’s Foreign Register
  (1)   The Company and the Trustee have agreed that if the Company makes a request under regulation 3.4(b) or 3.4(c) of the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations, such request also will be made to IR Holders jointly by the Trustee and the Company under these rules and the request will relate to both shares (in accordance with the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations) and to IRs (in accordance with rule 3.4(b) or 3.4(c) of these rules) held by the IR Holders, and that the answers to such requests (both as regards IRs and shares) will be provided to both the Company and the Trustee.
 
  (2)   The results of any enquiry made under rule 3.4(b), 3.4(c) or 3.4(d)(1) will be reconciled with the Foreign IR Register and Telstra’s Foreign Register may be updated for any information provided as a result of the enquiry (unless the Trustee, the Company or the IR Registrar considers there is a significant risk such information is unreliable) within 5 business days of receipt of such information.
3.5   Consequences of a failure to notify
 
(a)   Subject to any penalty determined by the Trustee under rule 3.4(c), no penalty will be imposed for a failure to provide a Foreign Ownership Notification Form or to otherwise comply with the notification obligations in this rule 3 except that:
  (1)   a Foreign IR Holder may lose priority in the Foreign IR Register for the purposes of rule 6.4; and
 
  (2)   the Trustee may treat all the IRs registered in the IR Holder’s relevant HIN or SRN as constituting a Foreign IR Holding.
(b)   The Trustee is not required to follow-up any IR Holders who have not complied with the notification obligations in this rule 3.
 
3.6   Number of IRs deemed to be in an IR Holder’s Foreign IR Holding
 
(a)   An IR Holder who in relation to a HIN or SRN is, or is deemed to be, a Foreign IR Holder will remain a Foreign IR Holder in relation to that HIN or SRN until notice is received under this rule 3 that the IR Holder is no longer a Foreign IR Holder in relation to all or part of the holding in that HIN or SRN.
 
(b)   The number of IRs in a Foreign IR Holder’s Foreign IR Holding at any time shall be the lower of the number of IRs:
  (1)   deemed to constitute an IR Holder’s Foreign IR Holding under rule 3.5(a)(2);
 
  (2)   registered in the HIN or SRN containing the Foreign IR Holding; and
 
  (3)   notified by the IR Holder under regulations 3.2, 3.3 or 3.4 as constituting the Foreign Holding for that HIN or SRN.
(c)   Notwithstanding any other rule of these rules, a Mixed IR Holder may be treated by the Trustee, for the purposes of these rules, as if the IR Holder were two separate IR Holders, one with Domestic IRs and the other with a Foreign IR Holding, whether or not the Mixed IR Holder has been allocated different HINs or SRNs in relation to their Domestic IRs and their Foreign IR Holding.
IR Foreign Ownership Rules    page 9

 


 

4   Mixed IR Holders to endeavour to use different HINs or SRNs
 
(a)   Where possible, a Mixed IR Holder should maintain two separate HINs or SRNs, with all Domestic IRs held in one of the HINs or SRNs and all IRs constituting the Foreign IR Holding held in the other HIN or SRN.
 
(b)   Where a Mixed IR Holder has been allocated different HINs or SRNs under rule 4(a), the Mixed IR Holder must ensure that only Domestic IRs are recorded in the HIN or SRN allocated to hold the Domestic IRs.
 
5   Procedures for Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation
 
5.1   Trustee’s power to dispose of IRs
 
(a)   If the Trustee believes that an Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation exists, the Trustee may (but is not obliged to) issue:
  (1)   a Warning Notice; or
 
  (2)   a Disposal Notice,
    to the relevant IR Holder in any form approved by the Trustee from time to time.
 
(b)   For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in these rules require the Trustee to issue a Warning Notice to an IR Holder before issuing that IR Holder with a Disposal Notice.
 
(c)   The Disposal Notice may:
  (1)   require the IR Holder to dispose of all or any of the IR Holder’s IRs as specified in the Disposal Notice;
 
  (2)   require disposal to take place by the Divestment Date; and
 
  (3)   specify circumstances, consistent with these rules, in which the IR Holder need not dispose of all or any of the IRs the subject of a Disposal Notice if certain events happen.
(d)   If the terms of a Disposal Notice are not complied with by an IR Holder, the Trustee may, at any time, sell all or any of the IR Holder’s IRs specified in the Disposal Notice in accordance with rule 5.1(e).
 
(e)   For the purposes of rule 5.1(d):
  (1)   the Trustee may sell the IR Holder’s IRs at the best price reasonably obtainable at the relevant time and any sale of IRs by the Trustee on the Exchange will be regarded as discharging this obligation;
 
  (2)   each IR Holder appoints the Trustee and each of the directors of the Trustee jointly and severally as its attorney (with power to appoint sub-attorneys) in the name of the IR Holder and on behalf of the IR Holder to execute any documents and implement any procedures as may be necessary or desirable in the opinion of the attorney to procure the sale and transfer of IRs on behalf of the IR Holder; and
 
  (3)   the title of the transferee to any IRs sold under rule 5.1(d) and 5.1(e) is not affected by any irregularity or invalidity in connection with the sale and transfer of the IRs to the transferee (but nothing in this rule 5.1 prevents the exercise by the Trustee of its powers under these rules if the transferee is a Foreign IR Holder).
IR Foreign Ownership Rules    page 10

 


 

5.2   Treatment of proceeds of sale
 
(a)   The proceeds of any sale of IRs under rule 5.1 will be dealt with in accordance with rule 50.5 of the IR Trust Deed.
 
(b)   The net amount payable to the IR Holder may be paid in any manner determined by the Trustee under rule 50.5 of the IR Trust Deed.
 
6   Procedures for Unacceptable Aggregate Foreign-Ownership Situation
 
6.1   Procedures when Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit exceeded
 
(a)   If, as a result of a day’s (Specified Day) registrations, the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit is exceeded, all IRs registered in the names of Foreign IR Holders as a result of that day’s registrations (including those IRs which are deemed registered on that day under rule 6.4) will be registered in separate SRNs (one for each affected Foreign IR Holder) in the Trustee’s issuer sponsored sub-register (Special SRNs).
 
(b)   The IRs registered in the Special SRNs (Breach IRs) must be divested and the Trustee will send a Disposal Notice to all Foreign IR Holders holding Breach IRs.
 
(c)   No Warning Notices will be issued in relation to Breach IRs.
 
(d)   The Company has agreed that similar steps will be taken by the Company in respect of shares registered in the names of Foreign Members as a result of that day’s registrations or deemed registrations under the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations.
 
(e)   Notwithstanding rules 6.1(a) and 6.1(b), IRs registered in the names of Initial IR Holders on settlement of the Offer (Offer Registrations) shall not be registered in Special SRNs or treated as Breach IRs.
 
(f)   Rule 6.1(e) does not affect the treatment of other registrations and deemed registrations occurring on the same day as the Offer Registrations, which will be dealt with in accordance with this rule 6.
 
(g)   If, even after the Breach IRs have been dealt with in accordance with this rule 6, the Company’s level of foreign ownership still exceeds the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit, the limit shall be treated as also having been exceeded on the day preceding the Specified Day, and so on until the Company’s level of foreign ownership does not exceed the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit.
 
6.2   Foreign IR Holders must dispose of Breach IRs
 
(a)   Subject to rule 6.2(b), Foreign IR Holders must dispose of Breach IRs and register a transfer to give effect to that disposal prior to the 5th business day of the month following the month in which the Disposal Notice was issued (also a Divestment Date). However, if that 5th business day is less than 30 calendar days after the date the Disposal Notice was issued, the Foreign IR Holder must dispose of the Breach IRs and register a transfer to give effect to that disposal prior to the 5th business day of the next month (also a Divestment Date)1.
 
1   These examples assume the registration or deemed registration which led to the issue of the Disposal Notice occurred more than 30 days after the IRs were first traded on the Exchange and, therefore, rule 6.2(b) does not apply.
IR Foreign Ownership Rules    page 11

 


 

  Example 1:     If a Disposal Notice is issued to a Foreign IR Holder on 6 August, the Breach IRs must be disposed of and the transfer registered prior to the 5th business day of September.
 
  Example 2:   If a Disposal Notice is issued to a Foreign IR Holder on 20 August, the Breach IRs must be disposed of and the transfer registered prior to the 5th business day of October.
(b)   This rule 6.2(b) applies if the registration (or deemed registration) which led to the issue of the Disposal Notice occurred:
 
(1) on or after the day IRs were first traded on the Exchange; and
 
(2) on or before the day 30 after the day IRs were first traded on the Exchange.
 
If this regulation 6.2(b) applies, Foreign IR Holders must dispose of Breach IRs and register a transfer to give effect to that disposal prior to the day 6 months after the day IRs were first traded on the Exchange (also a Divestment Date).
 
6.3   Trustee’s power to dispose of Breach IRs
 
(a)   If a transfer of Breach IRs has not been registered before the relevant Divestment Date, the Trustee may sell all or any of the Breach IRs.
 
(b)   For the purposes of rule 6.3(a), the Trustee may transfer the relevant Breach IRs from the Special SRN to another holding for the purposes of sale by the Trustee so that the Foreign IR Holder will not be able to settle any transaction involving the Breach IRs (and this will apply to prevent settlement, even if a transaction has been entered into, but not settled before the relevant Divestment Date).
 
(c)   The timing and manner of the sale of Breach IRs will be solely within the discretion of the Trustee but may not be more than 20 business days after the relevant Divestment Date.
 
(d)   The proceeds of any funds required to be remitted to the relevant IR Holder under this rule 6.3 will be dealt with in accordance with rule 50.5 of the IR Trust Deed.
 
(e)   Disposal Notices issued in relation to Breach IRs will not be withdrawn prior to the relevant Divestment Date. However, Breach IRs will not be divested if, on the relevant Divestment Date, the level of foreign ownership is at or below the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit. In this event, an announcement will be made to the Exchange and notices will be sent to the holders of the relevant Breach IRs informing them that the Disposal Notices previously issued have been withdrawn.
 
(f)   The Trustee and the directors of the Trustee will be under no liability to any IR Holder for any loss or disadvantage suffered by the IR Holders as a result, whether directly or indirectly, of any divestment (including the timing of the divestment).
 
6.4   Determining priority among Foreign IR Holders – date on which IRs considered “registered”
 
(a)   For the purposes of these rules, regardless of the date of registration of an IR in the name of an IR Holder, the date of registration of an IR in the name of an IR Holder shall be the notification date as determined under rule 6.4(b) (Notification Date).
 
(b)   For the purposes of rule 6.4(a):
  (1)   Initial notifications of the status of an IR Holder (ie. Foreign IR Holder or Mixed IR Holder) in relation to a HIN or SRN will be treated as if the Notification Date for that HIN or SRN by the IR Registrar was the date of registration of all the IRs then held by that IR Holder in that HIN or SRN;
IR Foreign Ownership Rules    page 12

 


 

  (2)   Notifications of a change of status of an IR Holder (eg. Foreign IR Holder to Domestic IR Holder or Domestic IR Holder to Mixed IR Holder) in relation to a HIN or SRN will be treated as follows:
  (A)   notification of a change of status from domestic to foreign will be treated as if the Notification Date was the date of registration of all of the IRs then held by that IR Holder in that HIN or SRN;
 
  (B)   notification of a change of status from domestic to mixed will be treated as if the Notification Date was the date of registration of that portion of the IRs held by that IR Holder in that HIN or SRN which, upon notification, will constitute a Foreign IR Holding;
 
  (C)   notification of a change of status from mixed to foreign will be treated as if the Notification Date was the date of registration of that portion of the IRs held by that IR Holder in that HIN or SRN which immediately prior to notification constituted Domestic IRs; and
 
  (D)   notification of a change of status from foreign to domestic, foreign to mixed or mixed to domestic will not increase the level of foreign ownership and the IRs the subject of such a notification will, following registration of the change and receipt of any supporting material requested, not be liable to be divested.
  (3)   The Notification Date for a response by a Mixed IR Holder to a notice given by the Trustee under rules 3.4(b) or 3.4(c) will be treated as if it were the date of registration of that portion of the IRs held by that IR Holder which equals the increase (if any) in the number of IRs notified in the relevant notice as constituting that IR Holder’s Foreign IR Holding over the number of IRs then treated as being in that IR Holder’s Foreign IR Holding under rule 3.6.
 
  (4)   The date on which the Trustee elects to treat an IR Holder as a Foreign IR Holder in relation to a HIN or SRN in accordance with rules 1.2(a)(5) or 1.2(a)(6) or rule 1.2(b) will be treated as the date of registration of all the IRs then held by that IR Holder in that HIN or SRN.
(c)   For the purposes of rule 6.4(b), the Notification Date means:
  (1)   in relation to notifications given through CHESS, the date an electronic notification received through CHESS is processed in accordance with the scheduled times specified in the ASTC Settlement Rules; and
 
  (2)   in relation to notification not given through CHESS (including, but not limited to, Foreign Ownership Notification Forms) the date of processing of the Foreign Ownership Notification Form or other notification, such date being within 5 business days of the receipt of the notification.
(d)   For the purposes of these divestment procedures:
  (1)   a notification (including, without limitation, a Foreign Ownership Notification Form) will only be valid if the relevant HIN or SRN is quoted;
 
  (2)   for the purposes of non-CHESS transactions, Foreign Ownership Notification Forms and other notifications will be treated as being processed on the date the IR Registrar matches the Foreign Ownership Notification Form or other notification with the relevant transfer or transmission application, and in any event no earlier than the date of registration of that transfer or transmission application; and
 
  (3)   both notifications given through CHESS and otherwise may be treated by the Trustee as being given in relation to both IRs and shares in the relevant HIN or SRN, even if not so expressed.
IR Foreign Ownership Rules    page 13

 


 

6.5   Treatment of foreign to foreign transactions
 
(a)   For transactions other than through CHESS, there will be no special facility through which “foreign to foreign” transfers may be quarantined from the divestment procedures in this rule 6.
 
(b)   Transfers of IRs not held in a Special SRN, and which are traded through the special CHESS “foreign to foreign allocation system”, will not be recorded in a Special SRN and, therefore, will not potentially be liable to divestment. These purchases will be recorded in the normal CHESS HINs or SRNs.
 
(c)   Disposal Notices will not be issued in relation to IRs registered on the New Zealand branch IR register or represented by ADRs (except pursuant to rule 5).
 
7   Procedures when Individual Foreign-Ownership Limit exceeded
 
(a)   The Company and the Trustee have agreed that if the directors of the Company, as a result of the enquiries and notifications described in the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations and these rules, and having regard to the information recorded in the Joint Foreign Register in relation to both shares and IRs, believe that an Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation exists, the directors of the Company:
  (1)   will identify the number of IRs in which they believe the Foreign Person and its Associates have an interest and which are in excess of the individual foreign ownership limit (Breach IRs) and inform the Trustee of their determination;
 
  (2)   may direct the Trustee to register any Breach IRs in a separate SRN in the Trustee’s issuer sponsored sub-register under rule 6.1(a);
 
  (3)   direct the Trustee to issue a Disposal Notice to the Foreign IR Holder in respect of the Breach IRs under rule 6.1(b); and
 
  (4)   if such disposal does not occur within 30 days of the date of the Disposal Notice, will direct the Trustee to sell the relevant number of IRs and rule 6.3 will apply.
(b)   The Trustee has agreed that, upon being informed by the Company that IRs are Breach IRs, it will follow the Company’s directions under rule 7(a) in respect of Breach IRs.
 
8   Telstra’s obligations to notify the Exchange
 
8.1   Obligation to notify Exchange on exceeding certain limit
 
(a)   By 9.00 am each day, the Company will determine, by reference to the Joint Foreign Register:
  (1)   the total number of shares held or treated as being held by Foreign Members (excluding shares held by the Trustee) (the share level of foreign ownership); and
 
  (2)   the total number of IRs held or treated as being held by Foreign IR Holders (the IR level of foreign ownership).
(b)   The Company will aggregate the share level of foreign ownership with the IR level of foreign ownership (together, the level of foreign ownership) and will, in accordance with the Listing Rules, inform the Exchange (and the market) when it becomes aware that the level of foreign ownership:
IR Foreign Ownership Rules    page 14

 


 

  (1)   is equal to or exceeds a number of shares and/or IRs representing a percentage of Non-Commonwealth Shares which is 5 percentage points below the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit and, thereafter, where it has changed by a number of shares and/or IRs representing more than 1% of Non-Commonwealth Shares; or
 
  (2)   equals or exceeds a number of shares and/or IRs representing the percentage of shares which is 35% of all Non-Commonwealth Shares (the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit).
8.2   Obligation to notify Exchange when cease to exceed certain limit
 
The Company will, on its own behalf, and on behalf of the Trustee, in accordance with the Listing Rules, inform the Exchange (and the market) when the level of foreign ownership has ceased to equal or exceed a number of shares and/or IRs representing the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit of Non-Commonwealth Shares or falls to less than 5% below that limit.
 
9   Co-operation with Company
 
(a)   The Company and the Trustee have agreed to cooperate in respect of the implementation of these rules and the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations.
 
(b)   Anything required or permitted to be done by the Trustee under these rules may be done by the Company or by the Company’s share registrar on its behalf.
 
(c)   The Company may direct the Trustee in respect of anything to be done by the Trustee under the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations or these rules. The Trustee has agreed that it will act on the Company’s instructions.
 
(d)   Information provided to the Trustee under these rules will be made available to the Company, and the Company has agreed to make information provided to it under the Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations or these rules available to the Trustee.
 
10   IR Registrar may act on the Trustee’s behalf
 
Anything required or permitted to be done by the Trustee under these rules may be done by the Trustee or by the IR Registrar on its behalf.
 
11   Operation of IR Foreign Ownership Rules

These rules become operative on the date on which IRs are first traded on the Exchange, then remain operative as long as IRs are on issue.
IR Foreign Ownership Rules    page 15

 


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
20 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager
  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
 
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Facsimile   03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
Telstra 3 Share Offer – Final Institutional Offering Memorandum
In accordance with the listing rules, I attach a copy of an announcement for release to the market.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

INSTITUTIONAL OFFERING MEMORANDUM
Telstra Corporation Limited
(A.B.N. 33 051 775 556)
467,785,111 ordinary shares
in the form of instalment receipts
(TELSTRA LOGO)
 
     The Commonwealth of Australia (the “Commonwealth”) is offering 3,693,955,817 shares of Telstra Corporation Limited (“Telstra”) in a global offering (the “Global Offering”). This Institutional Offering Memorandum relates to an offering of shares to qualified institutional buyers in the United States in reliance on the exemption from registration under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) afforded by Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) thereunder (the “US Offering”), and to institutional investors in the rest of the world (excluding Australia, New Zealand and Japan) in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”) (the “ROW Offering” and, together with the US Offering, the “International Offering”). The ROW Offering also includes an offer to investors in Japan via a “public offering without listing”, or “POWL”, under a Japanese Prospectus. The Global Offering includes an offering by the Commonwealth of 3,226,170,706 shares by way of a general public offering to retail and institutional investors in Australia and New Zealand (the “Australian Offering”). The retail component of the Australian Offering is referred to as the “Retail Offering”, the institutional component of the Australian Offering is referred to as the “Australian Institutional Offering” and the International Offering and the Australian Institutional Offering are referred to collectively as the “Institutional Offering”.
     Purchasers of the shares must pay for them in two instalments. Payment of the shares will be in Australian dollars. The first instalment is due on or before closing of the Global Offering and the final instalment is due on or before 29 May 2008 (Sydney time). Purchasers may prepay the final instalment before its due date. After payment of the first instalment, purchasers will receive instalment receipts. After payment of the final instalment, purchasers will receive shares.
     Telstra is admitted to the official list of the Australian Stock Exchange (“ASX”) and the ordinary shares of Telstra are quoted on the ASX and the New Zealand Stock Exchange (“NZSX”). On 17 November 2006, the closing sale price of the shares on the ASX was A$3.75 per share. The trading symbol for shares quoted on the ASX and the NZSX is “TLS”. Application has been made for the instalment receipts and shares to be approved for official quotation on the ASX. Application has been made for the instalment receipts and shares to be approved for official quotation on the NZSX.
     The Commonwealth has granted an option to the Joint Global Coordinators to purchase up to an additional 554,093,373 shares, representing up to 15% of the offer size, to cover over-allotments, if any (the “Over-allotment Option”). The Over-allotment Option is exercisable within 30 days from the commencement of trading of the instalment receipts on the ASX.
     Read the risk factors beginning on page 18 of this Institutional Offering Memorandum to learn about certain factors you should consider before buying shares.
 
First instalment: A$2.10 per share
Final instalment: A$1.60 per share
Final price: A$3.70 per share
 
     Neither the instalment receipts nor the shares have been or will be registered under the Securities Act, or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. The instalment receipts and shares may only be offered and sold (1) within the United States to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on the exemption from registration under the Securities Act afforded by Rule 144A and (2) outside the United States in offshore transactions to non-US persons (as such terms are defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S. Investors in the United States are hereby notified that the sellers of the instalment receipts and shares may be relying on the exemption from the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act afforded by Rule 144A. For further details about eligible offerees, deemed representations and transfer and resale restrictions, please refer to the sections of this Institutional Offering Memorandum titled “Important Notices”, “Notice to Investors” and “Plan of Distribution”.
 
     It is expected that delivery of the instalment receipts will be made in Australia in book entry form on or about 24 November 2006 against payment of the first instalment.
Joint Global Coordinators
         
ABN AMRO Rothschild   Goldman Sachs JBWere   UBS Investment Bank
Co-lead Managers
             
Citigroup
  Credit Suisse   Daiwa Securities SMBC   JPMorgan
 
  Lehman Brothers   Morgan Stanley    
Co-Manager
RBC Capital Markets
The date of this Institutional Offering Memorandum is 18 November 2006.

 


 

IMPORTANT NOTICES
     This Institutional Offering Memorandum is confidential and is being furnished to prospective investors by the Commonwealth in connection with an offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act solely for the purpose of enabling a prospective investor to consider the purchase of instalment receipts or shares as described herein. The information contained in this Institutional Offering Memorandum has been provided by Telstra and other sources identified herein. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by the Commonwealth, the Joint Global Coordinators, the Co-Lead Managers, the Co-Manager or any adviser named herein or any of their respective affiliates or representatives as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. Nothing contained in this Institutional Offering Memorandum is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation by the Joint Global Coordinators, the Co-Lead Managers, the Co-Manager or any such advisers, affiliates or representatives. Any reproduction of this Institutional Offering Memorandum, in whole or in part, and any disclosure of its contents or use of any information herein for any purpose other than considering an investment in the instalment receipts or shares is prohibited. By accepting delivery of this Institutional Offering Memorandum, each offeree of the instalment receipts or shares agrees to the foregoing.
     Notwithstanding anything in this Institutional Offering Memorandum to the contrary, each prospective investor (and each employee, representative or other agent of the prospective investor) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the United States federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the offering and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the prospective investor relating to such United States federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure, other than any information for which nondisclosure is reasonably necessary in order to comply with applicable securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” is any fact that may be relevant to understanding the United States federal or state income tax treatment of the offering.
     In making an investment decision, you must rely on your own examination of Telstra, the instalment receipts and shares and the terms of the offering, including the merits and risks involved. The contents of this Institutional Offering Memorandum are not to be construed as legal, business or tax advice. Each prospective investor should consult its attorney, business adviser and tax adviser as to legal, business or tax advice. The instalment receipts and the shares offered hereby have not been approved by any United States federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority. Furthermore, the foregoing authorities have not confirmed the accuracy or determined the adequacy of this Institutional Offering Memorandum. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence.
     No dealer, salesperson or other individual has been authorised to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this Institutional Offering Memorandum and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorised by Telstra, the Commonwealth, the Joint Global Coordinators, the Co-Lead Managers, the Co-Manager or their respective affiliates. Neither the delivery of this Institutional Offering Memorandum nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstance create an implication that there has been no change in the affairs of Telstra since the date hereof.
     The distribution of this Institutional Offering Memorandum and the offer or sale of the instalment receipts or shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Any person who receives this Institutional Offering Memorandum is required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. This Institutional Offering Memorandum does not constitute an offer of, or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any of the instalment receipts or shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer or invitation would be unlawful. See “Plan of Distribution — Restrictions on Offers and Sales”.
     In connection with the offering of the instalment receipts and the shares, the Joint Global Coordinators, or agents thereof, may over-allot or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the instalment receipts at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail for a limited period of time after the commencement of conditional and deferred settlement of the instalment receipts on the ASX. However, there may be no obligation on the Joint Global Coordinators or their respective agents to do this. Such stabilisation, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time, and must be brought to an end after a limited period.
 ii

 


 

NOTICE TO NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS
     NEITHER THE FACT THAT A REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR AN APPLICATION FOR A LICENCE HAS BEEN FILED UNDER CHAPTER 421 B OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REVISED STATUTES (ANNOTATED) (RSA 421 B) WITH THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE NOR THE FACT THAT A SECURITY IS EFFECTIVELY REGISTERED OR A PERSON IS LICENCED IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE CONSTITUTES A FINDING BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT ANY DOCUMENT FILED UNDER RSA 421 B IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND NOT MISLEADING. NEITHER ANY SUCH FACT NOR THE FACT THAT AN EXEMPTION OR EXCEPTION IS AVAILABLE FOR A SECURITY OR A TRANSACTION MEANS THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS PASSED IN ANY WAY UPON THE MERITS OR QUALIFICATIONS OF, OR RECOMMENDED OR GIVEN APPROVAL TO, ANY PERSON, SECURITY OR TRANSACTION. IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE, OR CAUSE TO BE MADE, TO ANY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER, CUSTOMER OR CLIENT ANY REPRESENTATION INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
     Some of the information contained in this Institutional Offering Memorandum constitutes forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “continue”, “plan”, “intend”, “believe”, “objectives”, “outlook”, “guidance” or other similar words, including statements relating to our outlook for fiscal 2007 and strategic management objectives set forth in “Operational and Financial Review and Prospects”, including under the captions “Operational and Financial Review and Prospects — Strategic Management Objectives” and “— Outlook”. Our actual results, performance or achievements could be significantly different from the results or objectives expressed in, or implied by, those forward-looking statements.
     Our fiscal 2007 outlook and strategic management objectives contained in this Institutional Offering Memorandum are based on a large number of assumptions concerning future events, including without limitation the successful implementation of our transformation strategy and no further adverse regulatory outcomes, as well as a number of assumptions and estimates relating to factors affecting our business. As a result, these assumptions and estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to a wide variety of risks, including significant regulatory, business, economic and competitive risks, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our fiscal 2007 outlook and strategic management objectives. Investors should note that our Board established the strategic management objectives in order to measure the performance of management, particularly in relation to the implementation of our transformation strategy. See “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Strategic Management Objectives”. It is important to note that our outlook for fiscal 2007 and strategic management objectives are not forecasts or projections, and should not be regarded as such by investors. Investors should also note that any movement in an assumption may offset or compound the effect of a change in any other assumption. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the fiscal 2007 outlook and strategic management objectives will be indicative of our future performance or that actual results will not differ materially. We can not give any assurance that either our fiscal 2007 outlook or strategic management objectives will be achieved and their inclusion in this Institutional Offering Memorandum should not be regarded as a representation by any person that they will be achieved.
     Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our fiscal 2007 outlook and strategic management objectives and other forward-looking statements in this Institutional Offering Memorandum are set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Institutional Offering Memorandum, including under the captions “Operational and Financial Review and Prospects — Outlook” and “ — Strategic Management Objectives”. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place an undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.
Where to Find More Information
     We file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These reports and other information about us can be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street,
 iii

 


 

N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. In addition, these materials may also be inspected and copied at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Our filings are also available over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We intend to deregister from the SEC reporting obligation and delist our American Depositary Receipt (“ADRs”) from the NYSE as soon as feasible following adoption of new SEC regulations on deregistration. Following the deregistration and delisting, we will cease to file periodic and current reports to the SEC, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and instead will only be required to comply with Australian reporting obligations. See “Risk Factors” for a further discussion.
Presentation of Financial Information
     In July 2002, the Financial Reporting Council in Australia formally announced that Australian reporting entities would be required to comply with Australian accounting standards equivalent to International Financial Reporting Standards (“A-IFRS”) as adopted by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (“AASB”) and other pronouncements set by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) for financial years commencing on or after 1 January 2005.
     Our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2006 were prepared in accordance with A-IFRS, and comparative information for the year ended 30 June 2005 has been restated in accordance with A-IFRS, except for AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement”, where comparative information was not required to be restated. In addition, we have elected to early adopt AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures”, which supersedes the disclosure requirements of AASB 132. Certain financial information for the years ended 30 June 2004, 2003 and 2002 has been reconciled to US-GAAP and is derived from our audited consolidated financial data for those periods, which is not included herein. A-IFRS differs in some material respects from US-GAAP. For a reconciliation of the material differences between A-IFRS and US-GAAP as they relate to our audited consolidated financial statements, see note 37 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
     Information based on Australian generally accepted accounting principles in existence prior to the adoption of A-IFRS is not comparable to information prepared in accordance with A-IFRS.
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities
     We are an Australian public corporation having limited liability. Most of our directors and executive officers and certain of the experts named herein are residents of Australia. All or a substantial portion of our assets and these persons are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service within the United States upon us, our directors, executive officers or experts, or to enforce against us or any of these persons in United States judgements predicated solely upon civil liability under United States federal or state securities laws. In addition, it may be difficult for investors to enforce, in original actions brought in courts in jurisdictions located outside the United States, liabilities predicated upon United States federal or state securities laws. We have been advised by our Australian counsel, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, that there is doubt as to the enforceability in Australia, in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgements of United States courts, of civil liabilities predicated upon the federal or state securities laws of the United States.
     The Commonwealth of Australia is a sovereign entity and, therefore, may be entitled to sovereign immunity from civil liability predicated under the United States federal or state securities laws and the laws of other jurisdictions. It may be difficult for investors to effect service within the United States upon the Commonwealth of Australia, or to obtain or realise upon judgements of courts in the United States or other jurisdictions against the Commonwealth. The Australian Government has been advised by Freehills, its Australian legal counsel, that there is doubt as to the enforceability in Australia, in original actions or in actions for the enforcement of judgements of courts of the United States, of civil liabilities predicated solely upon federal or state securities laws of the United States.
 iv

 


 

Table of Contents
         
Summary Overview
    1  
Risk Factors
    18  
Dividends
    27  
Exchange Rates
    28  
Listing Information
    29  
Major Shareholders and Related Parties
    31  
Relationship with the Commonwealth
    33  
The Future Fund
    36  
Use of Proceeds
    37  
Selected Consolidated Financial and Statistical Data
    38  
Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
    42  
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
    110  
Information on the Company
    114  
Competition
    134  
Regulation
    137  
Directors and Management
    146  
Exchange Controls and Foreign Ownership
    167  
Description of Shares and our Constitution
    173  
Relationship between Shares and Instalment Receipts
    179  
Description of the Instalment Receipts and Trust Deed
    179  
Taxation
    188  
Notice to Investors
    198  
Plan of Distribution
    200  
Validity of Securities
    209  
Independent Auditors
    209  
Glossary
    210  
Index to Financial Statements
    F-1  
Annex A: Remuneration Report
    A-1  
 v

 


 

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Summary Overview
     This summary highlights key aspects of the offering of our shares contained elsewhere in this Institutional Offering Memorandum. This summary is not a substitute for the more detailed information contained in the rest of this Institutional Offering Memorandum. For a more comprehensive description of the offering of our shares, you should read the entire Institutional Offering Memorandum including “Risk Factors”. The terms “we”, “our”, “us”, and other like terms refer to Telstra Corporation Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. The Commonwealth of Australia is referred to as the “Commonwealth” and the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia is referred to as the “Australian Government” or the “Government”.
General
     We are Australia’s leading telecommunications and information services company, offering a full range of services in these markets. We also operate in certain overseas countries.
     Our main activities include the provision of:
    basic access services to most homes and businesses in Australia;
 
    local and long distance telephone calls in Australia and international calls to and from Australia;
 
    mobile telecommunications services;
 
    broadband access and content;
 
    a comprehensive range of data and Internet services including through Telstra BigPond®, Australia’s leading Internet service provider (“ISP”);
 
    management of business customers’ information technology and/or telecommunications services;
 
    wholesale services to other carriers, carriage service providers (“CSPs”) and ISPs;
 
    advertising, search and information services through Sensis; and
 
    cable distribution services for FOXTEL’s cable subscription television services.
     One of our strengths in providing integrated telecommunications services is our extensive geographical coverage through both our fixed and mobile network infrastructure. This underpins the carriage and termination of the majority of Australia’s domestic and international voice and data traffic.
     We own 50% of FOXTEL, and our international businesses include interests in CSL New World Mobility Group (“CSL”), Hong Kong’s leading mobile operator, TelstraClear Limited (“TelstraClear”), the second largest full service carrier in New Zealand, and Reach Ltd (“REACH”), a provider of global connectivity and international voice and satellite services, as well as SouFun Holdings Limited, a leading real estate and home furnishings website in China.
Corporate Objective
     Our corporate objective is to create long-term shareholder value through providing integrated communication, information and entertainment services and customer-focused solutions.
Vision and Mission
     Our vision is to do for our customers what no one else has done. That is, create a world of 1-click, 1-touch, 1-button, 1-screen, 1-step solutions that are simple, easy and valued by individuals, businesses, enterprises and governments.
     Our mission is to know our customers and meet their needs better than anyone else. We aim to give customers a personalised, seamless experience that makes it easy for them to do what they want, when they want it.
      

1


 

Strategy
     Following a comprehensive review of our operations during the first half of fiscal 2006, from customer-facing to back-office operations, we announced a whole-of-company, five year transformation strategy in November 2005. The key elements of this transformation strategy are:
    building a next-generation fixed network to support the growing demand for IP-based services and simplifying IT systems;
 
    rolling out next-generation wireless services over our recently launched NEXT GTM national wireless broadband network (“NEXT GTM wireless network”);
 
    implementing market-based management using extensive customer research and knowledge to differentiate our product and service offerings tailored for particular customer segments;
 
    providing customers with an integrated user experience across all devices and platforms — fixed, wireless and Internet;
 
    removing costs from operations, by reducing complexity, making business systems more efficient and simplifying operations;
 
    expanding and enhancing our Sensis business through organic growth and targeted acquisitions of advertising, search and information businesses; and
 
    undergoing cultural transformation, including large investments in training staff and reforming the way we do business.
     Our transformation strategy involves a complex and fundamental change to our business, operations, networks and systems and we are undertaking the transformation on an accelerated schedule. A transformation of this size, speed and complexity has not been attempted by any other telecommunications company around the world. The initiatives associated with our transformation strategy involve significant capital expenditure and extensive management attention and resources and entail substantial risks. Our ongoing investment in this transformation has significantly reduced income and free cash flows. We believe we have to undertake these major changes at this time and under our proposed schedule in order to maintain our competitiveness and improve our financial results in an increasingly competitive, technologically challenging and highly regulated environment. The main initiatives of our transformation strategy are described below.
Strengthening our fixed line telecommunication network and services
     We intend that our next-generation fixed network will deliver new, better and faster services to our customers. This next-generation fixed network will include an IP core network that will offer increased platform capacity compared to our current network. We intend to provide users with more reliable and stable media and telephony services and expand the number and range of services available to customers.
     The development of our IP core network is well advanced. We are beginning to deploy advanced services to upgrade business customers, including IP telephony and conferencing, IP-based call centres, reliable higher-speed broadband, web-hosting and security services. We will offer new multimedia applications to residential customers when higher speed services become available.
     The new next-generation fixed network is expected to provide us with the ability to address increasing customer demand and the growing market for Virtual Private Networks (“VPNs”) to connect organisations and enterprises to the Internet. The new next-generation fixed network is expected to reduce overall unit costs, allow proactive management of actual and predicted network demand and permit network upgrades to be implemented simultaneously across the nation rather than sequentially over many months. We are also investing in technology that greatly improves the speed of ADSL.
      

2


 

Deploying NEXT GTM — our national wireless broadband network for Australians
     In October 2006, we launched our new NEXT GTM wireless network to replace our existing CDMA network. Our NEXT GTM wireless network customers will enjoy access to a greater range of content and services as well as many enhanced features, such as improved video calling services and faster broadband access speeds, in addition to better in-building coverage. We will continue to operate services over both our existing GSM and CDMA networks until the national NEXT GTM wireless network provides the same or better coverage than the CDMA network, and in any event at least until January 2008. From that time, once the software upgrades are complete and the new service matches or betters the current range and performance of CDMA and any necessary Government agreements have been gained, we will close our CDMA network. We expect that this initiative will reduce duplication of both capital and operational expenditure.
Implementing market-based management
     We are implementing a market-based management approach focused on our customers’ needs. We believe that extensive customer research will allow us to differentiate ourselves from competitors by creating offers that are more relevant to the lifestyles and needs of particular customer segments. Our ongoing customer research has guided the restructure of our consumer and small business sales and marketing teams around seven consumer and five small and mid-sized enterprise segments.
Creating integrated solutions for customers
     We are seeking to provide individual and business customers with an integrated user experience across devices and platforms — fixed, wireless and Internet. Our transformation strategy involves the integration of services across mobiles, BigPond®, and Sensis and is designed to facilitate product differentiation tailored to customer needs, increasing the value of our products and services for our customers.
Rationalising product and network platforms using a “one factory” approach
     We are endeavouring to remove costs from our operations in part by reducing complexity, making business systems more efficient and simplifying operations. We are removing or capping obsolete, duplicated and ageing products and network platforms. Working with the customer is a crucial part of this program as the customers move off legacy systems. Cutting complexity and the associated cost from our operations is a critical first step to deliver customers a powerful and seamless user experience, integrating devices and platforms in a simpler way.
Expanding and enhancing Sensis’ online offerings
     Sensis, our advertising, search and information services business, is building on its search and transaction business and over time integrating its applications and services business with other products such as BigPond® and Telstra Mobile. Sensis is seeking to achieve rapid user and advertiser growth by increasing online and wireless usage with a wide range of new content, services and improvements across Sensis’ online network and through targeted acquisitions.
Transforming our culture
     We are also undergoing a cultural transformation, with large investments in training employees and improving the way we do business.
     We have recast leadership, talent management and performance incentives to deliver essential culture change. Our technical field workforce is becoming more mobile and responsive to customer needs with new tools and equipment to support its operational performance. We are investing an additional A$210 million over three years in a new training program for technical, engineering and marketing staff in order to equip them with the right skills to build, operate and maintain next-generation networks and better serve customers.
      

3


 

Achieving regulatory reform
     We remain committed to working towards a new regulatory environment that is pro-investment, pro-consumer, pro-innovation and pro-competition. That is the kind of environment that we believe is good for our business, our shareholders, our customers and the Australian telecommunications industry overall. We will continue to invest considerable time and resources in a dialogue with policy-making and regulatory authorities seeking to achieve a regulatory environment that safeguards shareholder investments in next-generation networks and services.
      

4


 

The Global Offering
     The Commonwealth is offering 3,693,955,817 shares in the Global Offering. If the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full, the offer size will increase by an additional 554,093,373 shares.
     
Retail Offering
  An offering of 2,422,818,374 shares comprising:
    an offer to eligible Australian and New Zealand resident retail shareholders in Telstra of an allocation benefit of 1 share for every 2 shares held; and
 
    a general public offer and a broker firm offer to Australian and New Zealand resident retail investors.
     
 
  Retail investors subscribing under the Retail Offering will be entitled to (i) a discount of A$0.10 on the amount of the first instalment payable by institutional investors and (ii) 1 bonus loyalty share for every 25 instalment receipts purchased under the Australian component of the Retail Offering and held until 15 May 2008, subject to certain conditions. The final instalment price for Australian retail investors who hold their instalment receipts until 15 May 2008 is A$1.60.
 
   
Institutional Offering
  An offering of 1,271,137,443 shares consisting of an invitation to:
    institutional investors in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and certain other overseas jurisdictions who are eligible Telstra shareholders to bid for shares and be entitled to receive an initial allocation benefit of 1 share for every 2 shares held, as further described below;
 
    other institutional investors in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and certain other overseas jurisdictions to bid for shares; and
 
    investors in Japan to subscribe for shares via a “public offer without listing”, or POWL.
     
 
  The Institutional Offering therefore comprises (i) the US Offering and the ROW Offering, made pursuant to this Institutional Offering Memorandum, (ii) the Australian Offering, made pursuant to the Australian Prospectus or the New Zealand Investment Statement, as applicable and (iii) the POWL, made pursuant to a Japanese Prospectus that has been lodged with the relevant Japanese regulatory authorities.
 
   
Selling shareholder
  The Commonwealth currently owns approximately 51.8% of Telstra, or 6,446,207,123 shares.
 
   
Future Fund
  Any shares not sold by the Commonwealth under the Global Offering will be transferred to the Future Fund, a Commonwealth investment fund set up to strengthen the Commonwealth’s long-term finances by providing for its unfunded superannuation liabilities. The Future Fund Board is a separate legal entity from the Commonwealth, responsible for investment decisions and holds the Future Fund’s investments.
 
   
 
  The exact number of shares to be transferred to the Future Fund and the date of transfer will depend on whether or not the Over-allotment Option is exercised and other administrative mechanisms. The Commonwealth will initially retain sufficient shares to meet the bonus
 
   

5


 

     
 
  loyalty obligations available to certain retail investors in the Retail Offering. Assuming no exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Future Fund will hold approximately 21% of Telstra shares upon the completion of the Global Offering.
 
   
 
  The shares transferred to the Future Fund will be subject to the lock-up provisions described below.
 
   
Offer size
  The offer size is 3,693,955,817 shares, unless increased through the exercise of the Over-allotment Option.
 
   
Initial allocation benefits
  Institutions holding Telstra shares as of 6.00 pm Sydney time on 17 November 2006, that lodged a valid bid by that time, were entitled to an initial allocation benefit of 1 share for every 2 shares held in Telstra as at the close of the bookbuild, or such lesser number of shares for which the institution had lodged a valid bid.
 
   
Over-allotment Option
  The Commonwealth has granted the Joint Global Coordinators an option exercisable within 30 days from the date of commencement of conditional and deferred settlement trading of the instalment receipts on the ASX, to cover over-allotments, if any, under the Institutional Offering. A full exercise of the Over-allotment Option would increase the offer size by an additional 554,093,373 shares.
 
   
Final price
  A$3.70 per share. Payment for shares is to be made in Australian dollars. The first instalment payment per share is A$2.10. The final instalment payment per share, due on 29 May 2008, will be A$1.60.
 
   
Institutional allocation policy
  The allocation of shares among institutional investors in the Global Offering was determined by the Commonwealth after consultation with the Joint Global Coordinators and the Commonwealth’s financial adviser. There is no assurance that any institutional investor has been allocated any shares or the number of shares for which it has bid.
 
   
 
  The first determinant was the final price. Bids for shares that were submitted at prices lower than the final price received no allocation of shares. After disregarding bids at prices lower than the final price, the institutional allocation policy reflected a number of factors. Following the provision of the initial allocation benefit described above, the balance of the institution’s bid, if any, was subject to allocation on the basis of various allocation criteria, which included investor quality, quality of bid, participation in marketing activities and provision of feedback in connection therewith and any other criteria as considered by the Commonwealth. In addition, institutions believed to have engaged in adverse market behavior prior to or during the Global Offering may have been penalised.
 
   
 
  Institutions (and retail investors bidding via broker-sponsored bids) who were entitled to receive an initial allocation benefit and who bid for shares at or above the final price generally received their initial allocation benefit, although the Commonwealth has reserved the right to withhold the initial allocation benefit from persons it considers have engaged in adverse market behaviour.
 
   
Instalment payment arrangements
  Payment for the shares is to be made in two instalments. It is important to recognise that the partial payment characteristics of instalment receipts
 
   

6


 

     
 
  may make percentage price movements in them, other things being equal, greater than percentage price movements in fully paid shares.
 
   
Prepayment option
  Holders of instalment receipts (other than holders with a New Zealand registered address) may prepay the final instalment for some (in minimum parcels of 2,000 instalment receipts) or all of their registered holding on or by 28 February 2007 and on or by the last day of every month thereafter (each a prepayment date) until 31 March 2008 and will receive a prepayment discount if they do so. Such prepayment must be paid in Australian dollars. To prepay, institutional investors will need to contact the instalment receipt and share registrar to obtain notification of the amount payable and the applicable prepayment discount described below. A prepayment notification must be requested by the eighth business day of the month during which prepayment is intended to be made. Payment must be submitted to the instalment receipt and share registrar by 5:00 pm Sydney time on the last business day of the relevant month.
 
   
Prepayment discount
  The prepayment discount is calculated by discounting the final instalment payable by institutional investors, for the period between the relevant prepayment day (the last day of the month in which payment is received) and 29 May 2008, using the yield to maturity of the benchmark Government bond 8.75% Coupon, maturing 15 August 2008, applicable as at the end of the previous month.
 
   
Instalment receipts
  Upon payment of the first instalment, purchasers of the shares will be issued instalment receipts. Each instalment receipt will evidence beneficial ownership in a particular share, subject to a security interest in favor of the Commonwealth securing payment of the final instalment for that share. Upon payment of the first instalment, the underlying shares will be transferred to the instalment receipt trustee, Telstra Sale Company Limited (A.C.N. 121 986 187) under the trust deed, dated on or about 8 October 2006, among the Commonwealth, the trustee and the holders of instalment receipts. The trustee will be the registered holder of the shares and will hold them in trust for the benefit of the holders of instalment receipts until payment of the final instalment, subject to a security interest in favour of the Commonwealth securing payment of the final instalment.
 
   
 
  The trust deed allows for the holder of the instalment receipt to exercise the voting rights attached to the share underlying each instalment receipt and to receive all dividends and other benefits paid or given on that share.
 
   
 
  Upon payment of the final instalment, the instalment receipts will be cancelled and investors will become registered holders of the underlying shares.
 
   
Lock-ups
  Telstra has agreed that it will not offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares) or deposit any such securities in an American depositary receipt facility, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or deposit, except under the Global Offering, for a period of 180 days after the date of the International
 
   

7


 

     
 
  Purchase Agreement without the prior written consent of the Joint Global Coordinators. This lock-up does not prohibit (and no consent will be required for) any offer to sell, sale, contract to sell, pledge or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by Telstra of any shares pursuant to or in connection with any employee, executive, director or agent share option or purchase plans, or any dividend reinvestment plan.
 
   
 
  On the day that shares are transferred to the Future Fund, the Minister of Finance and Administration (the “Finance Minister”) will direct the Future Fund Board not to dispose of or agree to dispose of the Future Fund’s Telstra shares for a period of two years from the date instalment receipts are first listed on the ASX except (a) in order to satisfy demand from eligible Telstra shareholders under a Telstra initiated dividend reinvestment plan; (b) as part of any Telstra capital management initiative, such as a buy-back or capital reduction or (c) to a single investor, provided that (i) the disposal involves at least 3% of Telstra’s issued ordinary shares at the time of the disposal; (ii) the disposal does not take place until at least six months after the date instalment receipts are first listed on the ASX; (iii) the investor provides an acceptable undertaking for at least the balance of the escrow period; (iv) the price per share is no less than the final price payable by institutional investors; and (v) Telstra is advised prior to such disposal. After the two year lock-up period, the Future Fund Board will be required to sell down its Telstra shareholding over the medium term as directed under its investment mandate. The current Government intends that the lock-up direction will not be varied or revoked. However, a future Government may take a different approach.
 
   
Use of proceeds
  The Commonwealth will receive all of the net proceeds of the Global Offering. We will receive none of the proceeds.
 
   
Dividends
  Our Board has considered the level of future dividends. In the interests of shareholders, it is the current intention of the Board to declare fully franked ordinary dividends of A$0.28 per share for fiscal 2007. This assumes the company continues to be successful in implementing its transformation strategy and there are no further material adverse regulatory outcomes during the course of fiscal 2007.
 
   
 
  The Board is unable to give guidance on ordinary dividends for fiscal 2008 owing to the continuing uncertainty attached to regulatory outcomes and impacts on our business as well as transformation and market place risks. The final amount of dividends declared for any year is a decision for the Board to make twice a year in its normal cycle having regard to, among other factors, the company’s earnings and cash flow as well as future regulatory impacts and all other factors that affect the operation of the company.
 
   
United States taxation
  If you are a US holder, as defined in “Taxation — United States Taxation”, your obligation to pay the final instalment will be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a debt obligation (a “purchase obligation”), which will bear original issue discount (“OID”) to the extent that the amount of the final instalment exceeds the difference between the fair market value of a share at the date of the issuance of the instalment receipt and the amount of the first
 
   

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  instalment, all calculated in Australian dollars. In addition, whether you are a cash-basis or accrual-basis taxpayer, you will be entitled to deduct as interest expense, subject to various limitations discussed below, the OID with respect to each purchase obligation you have issued. See “Taxation — United States Taxation”.
 
   
Tax exempt US holders
  If you are a US holder that is exempt from United States federal income tax, such as an individual retirement account, Keogh plan or pension or other employee benefits plan with tax exempt trusts, the obligation to pay the final instalment constitutes “acquisition indebtedness” as defined in the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Accordingly, dividends and gains, if any, on the sale of shares may be taxable, in part, as unrelated business taxable income to you. See “Taxation — United States Taxation”.
 
   
Australian taxation
  The application of Australian income tax to investors who are non-residents of Australia for tax purposes (“tax non-residents”) on the disposal of their investment depends on the individual circumstances of the taxpayer as well as the provisions of any tax treaty between Australia and the investor’s resident jurisdiction. The Australian Government has announced proposed changes to the capital gains tax provisions, which have not yet become law. In general, since the holding of an instalment receipt constitutes an interest in an Australian resident trust estate, under current capital gains tax provisions, a capital gain on the disposal of instalment receipts by tax non-residents will be subject to Australian income tax.
 
   
 
  In general, under the current capital gains tax provisions a capital gain on disposal of shares by tax non-residents should not be subject to Australian income tax where the tax non-resident’s holding, together with the holding of associates, over a prescribed period is less than 10% of issued shares in Telstra. Restrictions on the extent of foreign ownership in Telstra should ensure that non-resident investors qualify for exemption from Australian income tax on capital gains on disposal of shares because the holding will be less than 10%.
 
   
 
  Tax non-residents subject to such Australian income tax would also be required to file an income tax return in Australia.
 
   
 
  The applicable Australian double tax treaty may exempt a gain from taxation, if the gain represents “business profits” and the tax non-resident does not have a permanent establishment in Australia to which those business profits are attributable. There is a question as to whether or not a gain on instalment receipts will represent “business profits”. Certain of Australia’s tax treaties specifically exclude capital gains from “business profits”. Investors who wish to rely on a double tax treaty for relief from liability to pay Australian tax are urged to consult their tax advisers.
 
   
 
  Under the proposed changes, a capital gain from an instalment receipt or a share by a tax non-resident should be subject to Australian income tax only in limited circumstances. This is, in general terms, where the value of the relevant interest is wholly or principally attributable to Australian real property. Investors should seek their own advice in relation to the potential impact of the proposed changes to take into account their own circumstances.
 
   
 
  See “Taxation — Australian Taxation”.
 
   

9


 

     
Australian stamp duty
  The stamp duty laws of the Australian Capital Territory are relevant to dealings in the instalment receipts or shares of Telstra. Under those laws, the transfer of marketable securities or an interest in marketable securities is a dutiable transaction and liable to duty at the rate of 0.6% on the greater of (i) the consideration (if any); and (ii) the market value of the marketable securities (or interest in them).
 
   
 
  The transfer of shares from the Commonwealth to the trustee and from the trustee to the holder of an instalment receipt on payment of the final instalment are, however, exempt from duty under the Commonwealth legislation relating to the privatisation of Telstra.
 
   
 
  No duty is payable in respect of an agreement for sale or transfer of shares which are quoted on the ASX, another stock exchange which is a member of the World Federation of Exchanges or another stock exchange which has been approved by the relevant Minister (a “Relevant Stock Exchange”), or an interest in shares where the underlying shares are quoted on a Relevant Stock Exchange (whether the interest is quoted on such an exchange or not).
 
   
 
  Therefore, stamp duty will not be payable by a subsequent acquirer of the instalment receipts or shares if at the time of both any agreement for sale and any transfer, the instalment receipts or shares that are the subject of the transfer are quoted on a Relevant Stock Exchange.
 
   
 
  If at the time of a transfer or agreement for transfer of the instalment receipts or shares, Telstra shares have been suspended from quotation, this exemption may not apply. The ACT Revenue Office is currently considering whether to treat “marketable securities” as being quoted when there is a suspension from quotation. If the exemption does not apply, any duty payable would be payable by the subsequent acquirer of the instalment receipts or shares.
 
   
 
  Apart from the exemptions referred to above, other exemptions may apply depending on the circumstances.
 
   
 
  See “Taxation — Australian Taxation”.
 
   
Voting rights
  Shareholders have one vote on a show of hands and one vote for each share held by them on a poll. Under the trust deed, the trustee will appoint the holders of the instalment receipts to exercise the voting rights attached to the shares underlying the instalment receipts.
 
   
 
  The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (the “Communications Minister”) has discretionary powers to direct us in some circumstances regarding matters involving the public interest. To date, the Communications Minister has not used this power. Our Board must ensure that we comply with any direction from the Communications Minister given under these powers.
 
   
Foreign ownership restrictions
  The Telstra Corporation Act 1991 imposes limitations on the ownership of shares by “foreign persons”. Foreign persons and their “associates” may not in total have interests in more than 35% of our shares not held by the Commonwealth, referred to as the aggregate limit, and no single foreign person and its associates may have an interest in more than 5% of our shares not held by the Commonwealth, referred to as the individual limit. Telstra shares transferred to the Future Fund following the completion of the Global Offering will not be considered to be held by the Commonwealth for the purposes of these restrictions
 
   

10


 

     
 
  on foreign ownership. If all of the shares currently held by the Commonwealth are sold or transferred to the Future Fund, the effective aggregate limit will be 35% rather than the current 16.87%, and the effective individual limit will be 5% rather than the current 2.41%. In the event that either of the foregoing limitations is exceeded, a person or persons who acquired instalment receipts or shares which resulted in the limits being exceeded, or further increased the level of interests held by foreign persons and their associates in excess of these limitations, may be subject to fines. Under the trust deed and our constitution, Telstra and the trustee will have the power to divest instalment receipts or shares in which foreign persons or their associates have interests in excess of the limitations described above in accordance with rules to be approved and published from time to time by Telstra and the trustee. Telstra or the Commonwealth may also request judicial intervention for remedies which could include directing the disposal of instalment receipts or shares, restraining the exercise of any rights attaching to instalment receipts or shares and prohibiting or deferring the receipt of sums payable on instalment receipts or shares.
 
   
Restricted securities
  The instalment receipts and shares sold in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act will constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, and for so long as they remain “restricted securities”, such securities may not be transferred except in compliance with certain transfer restrictions. See “Notice to Investors”. Furthermore, such securities may not be deposited into any unrestricted depositary receipt facility in respect of Telstra’s ordinary shares, including but not limited to Telstra’s American Depositary Receipt facility for which the Bank of New York acts as depositary, unless and until such time as such securities are no longer “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3).
 
   
Listing
  Application has been made for the instalment receipts and the underlying shares to be approved for official quotation on the ASX. Application has been made for the instalment receipts and the underlying shares to be approved for official quotation on the NZSX.
 
   
 
  Neither the instalment receipts nor the shares will be listed, or eligible for trading, on the NYSE, and neither may be deposited into any unrestricted depository receipt facility in respect of Telstra’s ordinary shares for such time as the instalment receipts and shares are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act. See “Restricted Securities” above. As discussed elsewhere in this Institutional Offering Memorandum, in the event that the SEC adopts the proposed rules permitting foreign private issuers to deregister and terminate their reporting obligations under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and if we are eligible to deregister under such rules as adopted, we intend to deregister our ordinary shares and delist our ADRs from the NYSE at such time. In such case, we would no longer continue to prepare and file with the SEC annual reports on Form 20-F, or otherwise be subject to reporting obligations under the Exchange Act. We will continue to be subject to our continuous ASX disclosure obligations in Australia under the Corporations Act, but investors should note that such disclosure obligations differ in certain material respects from the continuing reporting obligations for foreign private issuers under the Exchange Act. See “Risk Factors”.
 
   

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ASX symbols
  Shares   TLS
 
       
 
  Instalment receipts   TLSCA
 
       
NZSX symbols
  Shares   TLS
 
       
 
  Instalment receipts   TLSCC
     
Settlement of first instalment
  Payment of the first instalment and delivery of the instalment receipts is expected to take place on or about 24 November 2006. Application has been made for clearance of the instalment receipts through the Clearing House Electronic Subregister System, or “CHESS”.
 
   

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Summary Consolidated Financial and Statistical Data
     The following summary consolidated financial data comes from our audited consolidated financial statements. The statistical data represent management’s best estimates. The following information should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the other information contained in this Institutional Offering Memorandum. Our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2006 were prepared in accordance with A-IFRS, and comparative information for the year ended 30 June 2005 has been restated in accordance with A-IFRS, except for AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement”, where comparative information was not required to be restated. In addition, we have elected to early adopt AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures”, which supersedes the disclosure requirements of AASB 132. The financial information for the years ended 30 June 2004, 2003 and 2002 has been reconciled to US-GAAP and is derived from our audited consolidated financial data for those periods, which is not included herein. A-IFRS differs in some material respects from US-GAAP. For a reconciliation of the material differences between A-IFRS and US-GAAP as they relate to our audited consolidated financial statements, see note 37 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Financial data in accordance with A-IFRS for the two-year period ended 30 June 2006
                         
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2006(1)   2005
    A$   US$   A$
    (In millions, except per
    share amounts)
Income Statement data
                       
Total Income (excluding finance income)(2)
    23,100       17,147       22,442  
Expenses (excluding depreciation, amortisation and finance costs)(2)(3)
    13,516       10,032       11,978  
Depreciation and amortisation
    4,087       3,034       3,529  
Net finance costs
    936       695       880  
Profit before income tax expense
    4,561       3,386       6,055  
Profit for the year
    3,181       2,362       4,309  
Basic earnings per share(4)
    0.26       0.19       0.35  
Dividends paid(5)
    4,970       3,689       4,124  
Dividends declared for the fiscal year
    4,224       3,135       4,970  
Dividends declared per share
    0.34       0.25       0.40  
Total income comprises
                       
Sales revenue
    22,750       16,888       22,161  
Other revenue
    22       16       20  
Other income
    328       243       261  
Finance income
    66       49       83  
 
                       
 
    23,166       17,196       22,525  
 
                       
 
                       
Balance Sheet data
                       
Total assets
    36,175       26,853       35,211  
Current borrowings
    1,969       1,462       1,507  
Non-current borrowings
    11,409       8,469       10,941  
Share capital
    5,569       4,134       5,536  
Equity/net assets
    12,832       9,525       13,658  
 
(1)   Unless otherwise noted, all amounts have been translated at the noon buying rate on 30 June 2006 of A$1.00 = US$0.7423.
 
     

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(2)   For a breakdown of operating revenue by product group and a breakdown of operating expenses by expense category, see “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”.
 
(3)   Includes our share of net (profit)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities.
 
(4)   Calculated based on the weighted average number of issued ordinary shares that were outstanding during the fiscal year. Refer to note 3 in our consolidated financial statements for further details. Basic earnings per share for each year was materially consistent with diluted earnings per share. As at 30 June 2006, we had ordinary shares of 12,443,074,357 (2005: 12,443,074,357). During fiscal 2005, we completed a share buy-back of 185,284,669 ordinary shares.
 
(5)   During fiscal 2006, we paid dividends of A$4,970 million, being the previous year’s final dividend A$1,739 million, a special dividend of A$746 million paid with the previous year’s final dividend, the fiscal 2006 interim dividend of A$1,739 million and a special dividend of A$746 million paid with the interim dividend.
Financial data in accordance with US-GAAP for the five-year period ended 30 June 2006
                                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2006(1)   2005(4)   2004(4)   2003(4)   2002(4)
    A$   US$   A$   A$   A$   A$
    (In millions, except per share amounts)
Income Statement data
                                               
Operating revenue
    22,779       16,909       22,167       20,737       20,495       20,196  
Net income, before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    2,718       2,019       4,204       1,265       3,847       3,922  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle(2)
    (245 )     (181 )           4       (309 )      
 
                                               
Net income
    2,473       1,838       4,204       1,269       3,538       3,922  
Basic earnings per share, before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    0.22       0.16       0.34       0.10       0.29       0.31  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle(2)
    (0.02 )     (0.01 )                 (0.02 )      
 
                                               
Basic earnings per share(3)
    0.20       0.15       0.34       0.10       0.27       0.31  
Proforma net income(2)
    2,718       2,019       4,184       1,228       3,569       3,936  
Proforma basic earnings per share(2)
    0.22       0.16       0.34       0.10       0.28       0.31  
Balance Sheet data
                                               
Total assets
    35,777       26,557       37,040       35,670       40,529       42,948  
Current borrowings
    1,984       1,473       1,524       3,246       1,323       1,866  
Non current borrowings
    11,734       8,710       11,641       9,095       11,580       12,372  
Share capital
    5,954       4,420       5,921       6,164       6,568       6,536  
Equity/net assets
    11,803       8,761       14,196       15,082       17,899       18,363  
 
(1)   Unless otherwise noted, all amounts have been translated at the noon buying rate on 30 June 2006 of A$1.00 = US$0.7423
 
(2)   During fiscal 2006, we changed our accounting principles under US-GAAP in relation to mobile handset subsidies and capitalisation of pension costs. Refer to note 37(b) in our financial statement for further details. The proforma amounts for net income and basic earnings per share assume that these changes in accounting principle were applied retroactively.
 
(3)   Calculated based on the weighted average number of issued ordinary shares that were outstanding during the fiscal year. Refer to note 3 in our consolidated financial statements for further details. Basic earnings per share
 
     

14


 

 
    for each year was materially consistent with diluted earnings per share. As at 30 June 2006, we had issued ordinary shares of 12,443,074,357. As at 30 June 2005, we had issued ordinary shares of 12,443,074,357 after completing a share buy-back of 185,284,669 ordinary shares. As at 30 June 2004, we had issued ordinary shares of 12,628,359,026 after completing a share buy-back during fiscal 2004 of 238,241,174 ordinary shares. As at 30 June 2003 and 30 June 2002, we had 12,866,600,200 issued ordinary shares.
 
(4)   Certain US-GAAP amounts in 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002 have been restated as a result of a number of immaterial adjustments that were identified as part of our adoption of A-IFRS. Refer to note 37(a) in our consolidated financial statements for further details.
 
     

15


 

Statistical Data as at the end of the period (except for traffic data)
                                         
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   2004   2003   2002
Billable Traffic Data (in millions)
                                       
Local calls (number of calls)
    7,432       8,469       9,397       9,794       10,269  
National long distance minutes(1)
    7,215       7,743       8,520       9,161       9,170  
Fixed to mobile minutes
    4,491       4,375       4,226       3,944       3,691  
International direct minutes
    534       580       651       740       781  
Mobile voice telephone minutes(2)
    7,311       6,746       6,145       6,335       5,780  
Inbound Calling Products — B Party minutes
    2,922       2,773       2,708       2,655       3,345  
Inbound Calling Products — A Party minutes
    1,012       940       938       918       N/A  
Number of short messaging service (SMS) sent
    3,019       2,289       1,944       1,413       N/A  
Network and Operations Data (in millions)
                                       
Basic access lines in service(3)
                                       
Residential
    5.46       5.60       5.87       6.20       6.35  
Business
    2.32       2.45       2.57       2.71       2.72  
 
                                       
Total retail customers
    7.78       8.05       8.44       8.91       9.07  
Domestic wholesale
    2.16       2.07       1.84       1.55       1.33  
 
                                       
Total basic access lines in service
    9.94       10.12       10.28       10.46       10.40  
 
                                       
 
ISDN access (basic lines equivalents) (in thousands)(4)
    1,214       1,208       1,288       1,213       1,268  
 
                                       
 
                                       
Mobile Services in Operation (SIO) (in thousands)(5)
                                       
3G
    317                                
GSM
    6,468       6,894       6,653       5,812       5,346  
CDMA
    1,703       1,333       951       757       596  
 
                                       
Mobile services in operation
    8,488       8,227       7,604       6,569       5,942  
 
                                       
 
Total Wholesale mobile SIOs (in thousands)
    119       83       61       N/A       N/A  
 
                                       
 
                                       
Online subscribers (in thousands)
                                       
Narrowband subscribers
    1,027       1,205       1,194       1,158       1,056  
 
                                       
Broadband subscribers — Retail
    1,476       856       427       121       168  
Broadband subscribers — Wholesale(6)
    1,427       888       379       240       N/A  
 
                                       
Total Broadband subscribers
    2,903       1,744       806       361       168  
 
                                       
Total online subscribers
    3,930       2,949       2,000       1,519       1,225  
 
                                       
Total FOXTEL subscribers (in thousands)
    1,130       1,023       904       836       800  
Employee Data
                                       
Domestic full-time staff(7)
    37,599       39,680       36,159       37,169       40,427  
Full time staff and equivalents(8)
    44,452       46,227       41,941       41,941       44,977  
Total workforce(9)
    49,443       52,705       N/A       N/A       N/A  
 
(1)   Includes national long distance minutes from our public switched telephone network (“PSTN”) and independently operated payphones. Excludes minutes related to calls from non-PSTN networks, such as ISDN and virtual private networks.
 
     

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(2)   Includes all calls made from mobile telephones including long distance and international calls, excludes data, messagebank, international roaming and CSL New World.
 
(3)   Excludes Incontact service (a free service with restrictive calling access) and advanced access services, such as ISDN services.
 
(4)   Expressed in equivalent number of clear voice channels. Comparatives have been restated to reflect updated assessment of channels per SIO on ISDN 10/20/30. The previous assessment was based on a calculation of channel configurations across sample services. The revised assessment is based on the entire customer base.
 
(5)   Excludes CSL New World SIOs.
 
(6)   Within Broadband, retail products include cable, satellite, BigPond Wireless, HyperConnect, ADSL and Symmetrical HDSL, while wholesale products include DSL Layer 1, DSL Layer 2, DSL Layer 3, Spectrum Sharing and vISP Broadband. Total Broadband subscribers exclude Broadband component of ULL and Mobile Broadband which form part of intercarrier services and mobiles revenue respectively.
 
(7)   Excludes offshore, casual and part time employees.
 
(8)   Includes all domestic and offshore employees, including controlled entities.
 
(9)   Includes all domestic and offshore employees, including controlled entities, as well as contractors and agency staff.
 
     

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Risk Factors
     The following describes some of the significant risks that could affect us. Additionally, some risks may be unknown to us and other risks, currently believed to be immaterial, could turn out to be material. Some or all of these could materially adversely affect our business, profits, outlook and management objectives, assets, liquidity and capital resources. These risks should be considered in conjunction with any forward-looking statements in this Institutional Offering Memorandum and the cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements in this Institutional Offering Memorandum.
We operate in a highly regulated environment that negatively affects our business and profitability. In particular, we believe that regulation limits our ability to pursue certain business opportunities and activities affecting the returns we can generate on our assets. We are required to give our competitors access to certain services and infrastructure in which we have invested significant shareholder funds, even though the competitors could have invested in developing their own capabilities but chose not to do so.
     A further description of Australia’s telecommunications regulatory regime is contained in “Relationship with the Commonwealth — The Commonwealth as regulator” and “Regulation”.
     Telstra believes that regulation is the most significant ongoing risk to the company. There can be no assurances as to future policies, ministerial decisions or regulatory outcomes. These may be significantly adverse to our shareholders.
     We are focused on building competitive advantage. This may however be undermined by adverse policies, decisions or regulatory outcomes.
     We believe the current regulatory regime is value destroying. Regulatory reform is an issue with which management is seriously engaged and although recent history does not give us any indication that regulatory risks will be reduced, we are committed to seek regulatory reform on behalf of our shareholders.
     We face substantial regulatory risks that we believe have, and will continue to have, substantial adverse effects on our operations and financial performance. The key risks include:
    Access pricing: The ACCC can require us to provide certain services to our competitors using our networks, at a price based on the ACCC’s calculation of the efficient costs of providing these services if the parties fail to agree a price. In many cases we believe that the ACCC proposes prices that are below our efficient cost of supply. The ACCC is yet to issue its final ruling on the prices it will allow us to charge for various wholesale services including unconditioned local loop service (“ULLS”) and spectrum sharing service (“SSS”). We believe that these are extremely important matters for the financial performance of our business. The ACCC has recently issued several interim determinations in ULLS arbitrations to which we are a party, reducing the price from A$22 to A$17.70 per line per month in band 2 (metropolitan areas, where the greatest number of ULLS services will be provided). We are effectively required by law to charge the same price for a basic line rental service for all retail customers across Australia, but the ACCC will not follow the same principle for wholesale customers, instead setting prices which differentiate between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas (de-averaged prices), well below our calculation of the efficient costs. This will enable our competitors to target customers in higher density areas where access prices are low, leaving us to provide services to some customers in high cost, low density areas at the same retail price as in metropolitan areas. The ACCC may reduce access prices further which would adversely affect our revenues, earnings and shareholder returns, including dividends. In addition, the ACCC recently issued two draft interim decisions in SSS arbitrations significantly reducing the monthly charge to A$3.20. We believe such a price would lead to accelerated growth in SSS enabling our competitors to provide broadband and VoIP services with greater growth opportunities while we are restricted to supplying basic access services. In addition, we believe such reduced access prices would be likely to lead to a reduction in our retail prices.
 
    Mandated access to Telstra networks: A key part of our transformation strategy involves deploying next- generation networks, including our recently launched NEXT GTM wireless network. The ACCC may hold a public inquiry at any time into whether compulsory competitor access to the network should be required. We believe such compulsory competitor access would not be appropriate because of the wide availability of

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      competing wireless networks. Were such access to be required this would deprive our shareholders of the benefits of the wider coverage of our network and we believe this would materially adversely affect our investment returns, earnings and shareholder returns, including dividends. This may undermine our commercial incentives to continue to invest in the NEXT GTM wireless network, for example, to increase data speeds.
    Conduct regulation: On 12 April 2006, the ACCC claimed that we engaged in anti-competitive conduct when we raised our wholesale basic access prices to allow greater recovery of our estimated costs of providing the service without a similar increase in retail prices, in breach of the Trade Practices Act. The ACCC may take us to the Federal Court for this alleged breach. The maximum potential penalties that the Federal Court could impose exceed A$470 million as at 30 September 2006 and are increasing at A$3 million per day. Optus Networks Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of one of our principal competitors, has issued proceedings in the Federal Court in the same matter seeking damages and an injunction. We will vigorously defend these proceedings and any enforcement proceedings that may be brought by the ACCC, on the basis that we have not acted anti-competitively and that we believe we should be allowed to move our prices closer to our costs. The ACCC may in the future reach the view that other of our conduct is a breach of the Act. For example, a refusal by us to supply services to our competitors for what we believe to be normal commercial reasons may in the ACCC’s view, be a breach of the Act. We believe that, should the ACCC allege that we have engaged in anti-competitive conduct, it will rely upon the potential for very large fines in an endeavour to have us modify what we believe to be normal commercial behavior. We will defend our right to act in what we believe to be a normal commercial manner.
    Wide ministerial and regulatory discretion: The Communications Minister has broad and largely discretionary powers to impose and vary licence conditions and other obligations on us. For example, the requirement to operate separate retail, wholesale and network business units (“operational separation”) places a burden on us with many restrictions imposed on the way we run our business. Refer “Regulation —Operational separation”. However, the real risk with operational separation lies in the power of the Communications Minister to determine the way we conduct our business by directing us to vary our operational separation plan, subject only to the aims and objects of the legislation which are very broad. In addition, we are subject to retail price controls — for example, we are not allowed to charge for directory assistance (even to customers of our competitors), but there is no such restriction on our competitors charging for these services. Also, we are obliged to make certain uneconomic services available in rural and remote areas, without receiving what in our opinion is a fair contribution to our costs from our competitors. Further, the ACCC has broad discretionary powers and is in general not subject to ministerial oversight or direction.
     Because of these regulatory factors, there is a risk that we are, and could be, exposed to significant limitations, uncommercial imposts, penalties and compensation payments in relation to our current and future activities and assets. This may make it prudent on some occasions for us to cease, or choose not to engage in, business activities in which we might otherwise engage; or avoid, defer or abandon certain capital projects as was the case with our fibre to the node (FTTN) project, where we chose not to build this network because in our view the access price likely to be set by the ACCC would not enable us to earn a competitive return for our shareholders. These regulatory risks could therefore have an adverse effect on our ability to pursue certain business opportunities and activities and the returns we can generate on our assets, and could benefit our competitors. This may in turn adversely affect our financial performance.
     For more detailed information regarding our regulatory environment and our obligations and potential liabilities under Australian regulations, see “Regulation”.
We may not succeed in implementing our transformation strategy. Even if successfully implemented, our transformation strategy may not achieve the expected benefits, or may not be achieved within the intended timeframe.
     We have invested substantial capital and other resources in the development, streamlining and modernisation of our networks and systems and have embarked upon a substantial transformation of the company. Our transformation strategy involves a complex and fundamental change to our business, operations, networks and

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systems, and we are undertaking the transformation on an accelerated schedule. A transformation of this size, speed and complexity has not been attempted by any other telecommunications company around the world. There is a significant risk that we may not be successful in the implementation of our transformation strategy. In particular, there are substantial risks that:
    our next-generation technologies and network, including our recently launched NEXT GTM wireless network, and IT support systems and processes will not function as anticipated;
 
    key vendors on which we are dependent may not perform as expected;
 
    customer take-up of and planned large-scale migration to our new products and services are significantly less than planned;
 
    extended delays and other execution problems in implementing our transformation strategy may develop;
 
    competitors may in time offer similar services and capabilities; and
 
    our actual capital and operating costs turn out to be substantially greater than those budgeted.
     The occurrence of any or all of these risks may have a material adverse impact on our competitiveness, earnings and shareholder returns, including dividends.
Our next-generation technologies and network and IT support systems may not function as planned and the timetable for implementation is aggressive.
     Our next-generation technologies span across our fixed line and wireless networks, including our switching and transmission systems, as well as all our network and IT support systems and processes. We face significant risks that the technology may not be installed in a satisfactory manner, on time or within budget, and that the technology may not perform as expected and represented by our key vendors. The risks of non-performance include those relating to speed of transmission, quality of service, costs to deploy and operate the new networks and systems, the ability to create and effectively implement new product and service offerings and the capability to integrate applications and create seamless interfaces with front office order-entry systems and back office billing and customer support systems. As more customers are migrated to our next-generation networks and systems, some of these operational risks will increase. Any substantial delays in completing the new IT systems, or the customer migration, will lead to an extended period where we face the additional cost of operating old and new systems in parallel and delay the benefits from decommissioning the old systems.
     One of the most complex and highest risk elements of our transformation strategy is the rationalisation of our network platforms and IT systems, including our operational support systems and business support systems. Our plan to cap or exit 65% of our network platforms and reduce the number of our IT systems by at least 80% by 2010 is in its early stages and we have not yet delivered the initial release. If we are unable to simplify and rationalise our networks and systems or if we are substantially delayed in achieving this objective, we may not be able to achieve the full benefits of our transformation strategy.
     Our transformation strategy also depends upon the installation of new and untested support systems that we expect will allow us to price and sell services efficiently and bill and care for the customers who purchase them. The systems we are deploying are largely untested in the applications and the environments we intend for them. There is therefore substantial risk that our planned system installation and the migration of our customers to the new systems may not be successful or that we may not be able to integrate the systems supporting the multiple technologies and services we plan to operate. In addition, the migration of our CDMA customers to our NEXT GTM wireless network may be more costly or take longer than anticipated, leading to unanticipated costs in operating the CDMA network for longer than expected.
We are dependent on key vendors which may not perform as expected.
     We are dependent on key vendors for the implementation of our transformation strategy, such as Accenture, Alcatel, Cisco, Ericsson, Siebel, Kenan Systems and IBM. Our dependence on key vendors for the implementation of our next-generation technologies creates a number of risks, including risks that key vendors may not deliver or

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perform as promised or may fail, and the products we have chosen may be discontinued or become unsupported. Also, our ability to use other vendors, obtain contractual recourse or secure intellectual property rights should one of our chosen vendors fail to deliver or perform as promised may be limited.
Customer acceptance and take up of our new product and service offerings and our planned large-scale customer migration to new platforms, including in relation to our recently launched NEXT GTM wireless network, may be significantly less than planned.
     The success of our transformation strategy depends upon the large scale customer take-up of newly-created products and services enabled by our next-generation networks, including our NEXT GTM wireless network. No other major international telecommunications company has proven the commercial viability of creating and marketing the next-generation products and services we are planning to roll out. There is a substantial risk that we will not be able to create and develop appropriate or commercially attractive products and services that take advantage of these new network capabilities and meet market demand or that we will not develop appropriately tailored bundles of products and services compared to our competitors. Even if we do, there is a risk that customers will not purchase them in sufficient quantities or at high enough prices to recoup our investment.
     The take-up of new next-generation products and services also depends on our ability to successfully migrate our substantial customer base to our new network platforms. There is a risk that we may be unable to migrate our customers to our new networks and systems successfully and that we experience excessive churn of customers to other providers during the migration process. We may also be unable to suppress continuing demand for development of existing or legacy IT systems. The occurrence of any of these risks could also complicate the build and integration of new systems and hamper the application of sufficient resources to build and integrate the new systems and cause us to have to operate old and new systems for an extended period.
We may face extended delays and other execution problems in implementing our transformation strategy.
     Our transformation strategy calls for more deployments of more network technologies and IT support systems than we have ever attempted or that any major telecommunications company worldwide has successfully accomplished. The risks of executing all aspects of these deployments and the integration process on time and on budget, with high quality results, are significant. The risks associated with any one such deployment increase significantly as multiple deployments are being pursued simultaneously, each dependent in some measure upon the others being performed. In addition, our transformation is being executed in a relatively short period by a company that has not experienced a transformation process of this magnitude. There is substantial risk that our installation of these systems and the conversion of our embedded base of customers to them will take longer, be more expensive and cause more disruption than we anticipated, leading to lower sales, higher costs and widespread customer dissatisfaction. The risks associated with the execution of our transformation strategy also include the lack of suitable personnel and resources to implement our transformation, an inability of new IT systems and processes to deliver productivity gains and targeted workforce reductions and the potential for industrial disputes, each of which could significantly delay the transformation or limit its effectiveness.
Competitors may in time offer similar services and capabilities.
     We expect our competitors to continue to adapt their product offerings and technical capabilities. As a result, there is a risk that our ability to differentiate ourselves from our competitors on the basis of our planned next-generation technologies, network and IT support systems may be reduced, affecting our revenues, margins and profits. In addition, the relative advantages expected of our NEXT GTM wireless network’s geographic and in-building coverage and speed may be offset by competitors offering similar services and capabilities.
Our actual capital and operating costs may turn out to be substantially greater than budgeted.
     Our transformation strategy is very costly and has resulted in significant declines in our net income and our cash flow available for reinvestment or the payment of dividends. The foregoing risks could cause additional costs and expenses, delays in the availability of new technology and new products and services, fewer than expected customers buying fewer new products at lower than expected prices, and asset write-downs. These risks could lead

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to us not generating profits or cash flow to the levels prevailing when the transformation began and could also result in a significant reduction in earnings and shareholder returns, including dividends. In addition, while our transformation strategy is designed to respond to current market changes through the modernisation of our networks and systems, future technology and market changes may create the need for other network and systems changes and therefore require us to spend more than currently budgeted.
The success of our transformation strategy is highly dependent on our key personnel and the loss of one or more of these key executives could materially impact the timely and effective implementation of this strategy.
     Our CEO and a number of key members of his senior management team have joined the company within the last eighteen months and bring with them extensive telecommunications expertise. The transformation strategy that we are now pursuing is an enormous enterprise formulated by our current senior management team. Given the breadth of the strategy and the significant undertakings associated with it, the loss of one or more of these key executives, in particular the CEO or COO, could have a material adverse impact on our ability to achieve some or all of the objectives of the transformation strategy and consequently our earnings and shareholder returns, including dividends. There is also a risk that if the CEO were to leave us one or more of the overseas executives he has recruited may also leave.
We could experience difficulty in retaining and attracting skilled and experienced people.
     As technology evolves we will need to attract, retain and train our workforce. The relevant skills are in short supply worldwide. There is a risk that an inability to attract and retain skilled and experienced people and hence to embrace new technology and retain our corporate knowledge could impact our ability to remain competitive.
     For more information on our workforce, see “Directors and Management”.
If we are not successful in addressing the decline in revenues from our traditional high-margin fixed-line (PSTN) products and services and in increasing the revenues and profitability of our emerging products and services, our overall profitability will decline.
     Our PSTN revenues declined by 6.7% in fiscal 2006. This decline will continue and may accelerate. The decline has been caused by increasing competition, substantial regulatory impacts and the continued growth and development of technologies that offer increasingly viable alternatives to our PSTN services. This trend is present across telecommunications markets globally, and it is expected to continue. PSTN revenues comprise a significant portion of our revenues and provide high margins and strong cash flows that enable us to invest in and develop our business. If we are unable to arrest or slow the rate of decline in our PSTN revenues or grow alternative revenue sources, manage costs and minimise margin erosion in newer lower-margin products and services, such as mobiles, Internet, IP solutions, advertising and directory services and pay TV bundling, our earnings and shareholder returns, including dividends, could be materially adversely affected.
Rapid technological changes and the convergence of traditional telecommunications markets with data, Internet and media markets expose us to significant operational, competitive and technological risks.
     Rapid changes in telecommunications and IT are continuing to redefine the markets in which we operate, the products and services required by our customers and the ability of companies to compete in the telecommunications industry in Australia and elsewhere in the world. These changes are likely to broaden the range, reduce the costs and expand the capacities and functions of infrastructure capable of delivering these products and services. We are responding to current market changes through the modernisation of our networks and systems, including the deployment of our new nationwide NEXT GTM wireless network, but future technology and market changes may create the need for other network and systems changes at considerable cost to Telstra.
     To address the continuing changes in converging telecommunications, data, Internet and media markets, we may be required to devote considerable resources to enhancing our ability to deliver services required by these markets. There is a risk that competitors may leverage both their own and our infrastructure or deploy or develop technologies or infrastructure that provides them with a lower cost base or other operating advantages that may

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drive down market prices. This could give these competitors an advantage if we are unable to promptly and efficiently provide equivalent services.
Competition in the Australian telecommunications market could cause us to continue to lose market share and reduce our prices and profits from current products and services.
     The Australian telecommunications market has become increasingly competitive since the Commonwealth introduced open competition on 1 July 1997. Although the overall market has experienced growth to date, we have lost substantial market share in some key markets particularly as a result of aggressive price competition, the development of new technologies and facilities by competitors, the market entry of non-traditional competitors with access to significant content and resources and increased regulatory action. In response to increased competition, we have lowered the prices of our products and services, particularly the prices for our local calls, national long distance calls and international telephone services and calls to and from mobile services.
     There is also a risk that non-traditional competitors with greater access to content, substantial resources and/or alternative delivery platforms, such as Internet search engine and Internet trading companies, VoIP and media companies, may enter and compete effectively in our telecommunications markets.
     We expect vigorous price and facilities or network-based competition to continue or accelerate. We also expect that our competitors will continue to market aggressively to our high value customers. The continued loss of market share or downward pressure on prices would have an adverse effect on our financial results in the market or markets in which this type of competition occurs.
     The Australian Government has announced Connect Australia, a A$1.1 billion package to subsidise the supply of broadband, mobile and fixed line services for people living in regional, rural and remote areas in Australia. In addition, nine of our competitors have outlined a possible model for the building of a jointly owned FTTN network to deliver broadband services to a large number of customers. Connect Australia is likely to increase facilities and network-based competition in these areas.
     For more information on our competitive environment, see “Competition”.
Our ability to pursue our strategy with some joint investments may be limited.
     Some of our domestic and international activities are conducted through subsidiaries, joint venture entities and other equity investments. These include our interests in FOXTEL, REACH, our 3GSM 2100 network sharing partnership with Hutchison (3GIS), CSL and SouFun. Under the governing documents for some of these entities, certain key matters such as the approval of business plans and decisions as to capital invested and the timing and amount of cash distributions require the agreement of our co-participants. Our co-participants may have different approaches with respect to the investment and the markets in which they operate and on occasions we may be unable to reach agreement with them. Any dispute or disagreement from time to time with our partners may negatively affect our ability to pursue our business strategies.
     In some cases, strategic or venture participants may choose not to continue their participation. In addition, our arrangements with our co-participants may expose us to additional investment, capital expenditure or financing requirements. There are also circumstances where we do not participate in the control of, or do not own a controlling interest in an investment and our co-participants may have the right to make decisions on certain key business matters with which we do not agree.
     All of these factors could negatively affect our ability to pursue our business strategies with respect to the concerned entities or business objectives and the markets in which they operate. For more information on some of our investments, see “Information on the Company — International investments” and “Information on the Company — Products and services — Mobiles — 3G wireless service” and “Information on the Company —Products and services — Subscription television”, and “Information on the Company — Networks and Systems”.

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Network and system failures could damage our reputation and earnings.
     Our technical infrastructure is vulnerable to damage or interruption from a range of factors including floods, wind storms, fires, power loss, telecommunication failures, cable cuts and/or intentional wrongdoing. The networks and systems that make up our infrastructure require regular maintenance and upgrade that may cause disruption. The occurrence of a national disaster or other unanticipated problems at our facilities or any other damage to or failure of our networks and/or systems could result in consequential interruptions in service across our integrated infrastructure. Network and/or system failures, hardware or software failures or computer viruses could also affect the quality of our services and cause temporary service interruptions.
     There is a risk that our major customers’ capacity requirements will be in excess of our ability to supply, resulting in lost revenue, customers moving to competitors and possibly claims by customers against us.
     Our IT systems are complex and there is a risk that our ability to support strategic priorities in customer service and growth products may be delayed by our transformation program and the complexity of changing our systems. Our IT systems are also vulnerable to viruses, denial of service and other similar attacks which may damage our systems and data and that of our customers. Any of these occurrences could result in customer dissatisfaction and damages or compensation claims as well as reduced earnings.
Future sales of a substantial portion of our shares by the Future Fund could depress the market price for our shares and other equity interests.
     The Commonwealth has indicated it will transfer its Telstra shares not sold in the Global Offering to the Future Fund, a Commonwealth investment fund. Following the Global Offering the Future Fund will have a substantial shareholding in Telstra. The shares held by the Future Fund will be subject to an escrow or lock-up period of two years (with certain exceptions). After the escrow or lock-up period, the Future Fund will be required to sell down its shareholding over the medium-term to a level consistent with its investment strategy (at least below 20% of our issued share capital). See “Future Fund — General investment mandate”. Future disposals by the Future Fund of our shares or the perception that such disposals may occur could reduce our share price, and adversely affect the timing and effectiveness of our capital raisings, which could have an adverse impact on our cost of capital.
     The Finance Minister may issue directions to the Board of the Future Fund in relation to Telstra shares held by the Future Fund, including specifying how disposals, voting and other rights relating to the shares are to be exercised. While the current Government does not intend to issue directions specific to Telstra shares (except to impose the escrow and require the sell-down), a future Government might take a different approach, using its direction power to require the disposal or voting of the Telstra shares held by the Future Fund to pursue Government objectives. There is also a risk that the interests of the Future Fund and/or the Commonwealth may not be aligned with the interests of our other shareholders, and the Future Fund could take actions that we may not regard as being in the best interests of our shareholders.
There are significant differences between the Commonwealth and the Telstra Board with respect to the election as a director of Mr Geoffrey Cousins.
     Telstra’s annual general meeting was held on 14 November 2006 shortly before the completion of the Global Offering, at which time the Commonwealth still owned approximately 51.8% of Telstra shares. The Commonwealth sought the nomination of Mr Geoffrey Cousins for election as a director of Telstra at the annual general meeting and voted its shares in favour of the election of Mr Cousins. Mr Cousins has more than 26 years experience as a company director and is currently a director of Insurance Australia Group Limited. Mr Cousins was previously the Chairman of George Patterson Australia and is a former director of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, the Seven Network, Hoyts Cinemas group and NM Rothschild & Sons Limited. He was the first Chief Executive of Optus Vision and before that held a number of executive positions at George Patterson, including Chief Executive of George Patterson Australia. Mr Cousins is a director of the Cure Cancer Australia Foundation.
     Mr Cousins was a part-time consultant to the Prime Minister for nine years resigning upon his nomination for the Board.

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     The Government believes that Mr Cousins has the necessary qualifications to serve as a director given his broad experience across the telecommunications, broadcasting and advertising sectors and will be an effective director. It does not intend or believe that Mr Cousins will act as a representative of the Government on the Telstra Board. It is not the Government’s intention to issue additional directions specific to Telstra shares to the Future Fund (see “The Future Fund”). The Government raised Mr Cousins’ nomination with Telstra at the beginning of the week commencing 11 September 2006 and believes that it gave Telstra ample time to consider his nomination, having regard to his extensive experience.
     The Telstra Board did not seek Mr Cousins’ nomination and did not have the opportunity to adequately assess Mr Cousins’ candidacy in accordance with its governance processes, which include assessing a proposed director having regard to the independence requirements of the Board’s Charter and the ASX Principles of Good Corporate Governance. The Board’s Charter states that it is the Board’s current intention that non-executive directors should be independent directors. While the Board has not reached a concluded view, the Board is concerned that there is a risk that Mr Cousins’ previous consulting role with the Government could interfere with his capacity to be considered an independent director. In the Telstra’s notice of meeting for the annual general meeting, the Board did not recommend that shareholders vote in favour of Mr Cousins.
     To be satisfied that a director is independent the Board would need to conclude, among other things, that the director is not “associated directly with a substantial shareholder of Telstra” and “is free from any interest and any business or other relationship which could, or could reasonably be perceived to, materially interfere with the exercise of his or her unfettered and independent judgement and ability to act in the best interests of the company”. The Board has been very careful to ensure that it does not, and is not seen to, prejudge in any way whether Mr Cousins would meet these requirements. However, it is clear from the circumstances of Mr Cousins’ nomination and his previous association with Government that these issues will require careful examination in accordance with best practice and that this is likely to take some time to conduct appropriately. The Board has commenced a process to assist it reaching a conclusion on these issues.
     The Government believes that Mr Cousins will act independently as a director and not as a representative of the Government on the Telstra Board.
     However, Telstra operates in a highly regulated environment and the Commonwealth and its agencies are the key regulators. While Telstra acknowledges that Mr Cousins has served as a public company director, Telstra believes that there is a risk if Mr Cousins cannot be considered an independent director that this could prove disruptive to the smooth and effective functioning of the Board. Were this to occur, this could also affect Telstra’s ability to attract and retain qualified directors.
Actual or perceived health risks relating to the emission of electromagnetic energy (“EME”) by mobile handsets and transmission equipment could lead to decreased mobile communications usage.
     While certain reports have suggested that EME emissions from mobile handsets and transmission equipment may have adverse health consequences, the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence is that there are no adverse health effects when wireless equipment is used in accordance with applicable standards. Nonetheless, any widespread perception of EME risks may lead to decreased mobile communication usage, which would decrease our wireless business.
The price at which Telstra instalment receipts trade may be higher or lower than the price you pay for them.
     Numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, may affect the price of the instalment receipts and the underlying shares, including overall economic conditions, changes in government policies, movement in interest rates and stock markets and general operational and business risks relating to Telstra, including investor perception of the success of the transformation strategy. The price at which instalment receipts trade may be higher or lower than the amount of the first instalment. In addition, when the underlying shares begin to trade on the ASX and NZSX (after the final instalment is due), they may trade below the total price paid. Further, the partial payment characteristics of instalment receipts may make percentage price movements in them, other things being equal, greater than percentage price movements in fully paid shares. The Commonwealth, Telstra and the Joint Global

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Coordinators cannot assure you that the public trading market price of the instalment receipts will not decline below the price you pay for them in or after the Global Offering.
There may not be an active trading market for the instalment receipts.
     Prior to the Global Offering, there has been no public market for the instalment receipts. Application has been made to have the instalment receipts and underlying shares quoted on the ASX and the NZSX. These securities will not be quoted on the NYSE. There is a risk that an active trading market in the instalment receipts may not develop or be sustained after completion of the Global Offering. In addition, holders have the option to prepay these securities before the final instalment is due. If a substantial number of these holders decide to prepay the final instalment, there is a risk that the liquidity of the trading market of instalment receipts may be adversely affected. Instalment receipts may trade at a price reflecting a premium or discount to the price of fully paid Telstra shares.
There may be a lower level of dividends.
     The Board’s current intention is to declare dividends totaling A$0.28 per share fully franked for fiscal 2007, subject to continued success in implementing our transformation strategy and no further material adverse regulatory outcomes during the course of the year. There is a risk that if we are unsuccessful in implementing our transformation strategy or there are further material adverse regulatory outcomes, the amount of dividends in any year may be reduced or not fully franked, which would negatively affect yield.
There are limits on foreign ownership of our shares
     The Telstra Corporation Act 1991 imposes limitations on the ownership of shares by “foreign persons”. Foreign persons and their “associates” may not in total have interests in more than 35% of our shares not held by the Commonwealth, and no single foreign person and its associates may have an interest in more than 5% of our shares not held by the Commonwealth. If either of these limitations is exceeded, the person who acquired shares or instalment receipts which resulted in the limits being exceeded may be subject to fines.
     Under the trust deed and our constitution, we and the trustee have the power to compel the sale of the shares or instalment receipts held by foreign persons or their associates that exceed these limits. We or the Commonwealth may also seek relief from the courts, which could include:
    directing the disposal of shares or instalment receipts;
 
    restraining the exercise of any rights attaching to shares or instalment receipts; and
 
    prohibiting or deferring receipt of sums payable on shares or instalment receipts.
We intend to deregister from the SEC and delist our ADRs from the NYSE as soon as feasible following adoption of new SEC regulations on deregistration.
     In December 2005, the SEC proposed rules that, if adopted, would make it easier for foreign companies to terminate their SEC registration. If these rules are adopted, we intend to deregister from the SEC and to delist our ADRs from the NYSE at the earliest opportunity, which may be accomplished by the end of the 2006 calendar year. Following the deregistration and delisting, we will no longer prepare annual reports on Form 20-F and instead will only be required to comply with the Australian reporting obligations. Investors should note that such disclosure obligations differ in certain material respects from our SEC ongoing reporting obligations. In addition, the public trading market for our ADRs on the NYSE would then no longer exist.
Other risks
     We also face other risks with respect to economic exposure to movements in market risks and the environment which are discussed in “Information on the Company” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”. In addition, the government of the Australian Capital Territory is seeking to charge rates on our infrastructure, which could lead to an additional cost burden on us if this practise were to spread.

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Dividends
     Our Board has considered the level of future dividends. In the interests of shareholders, it is the current intention of the Board to declare fully franked ordinary dividends of A$0.28 per share for fiscal 2007. This assumes that we continue to be successful in implementing our transformation strategy and there are no further material adverse regulatory outcomes during the course of fiscal 2007.
     The Board is unable to give guidance on ordinary dividends for fiscal 2008 owing to the continuing uncertainty attached to regulatory outcomes and impacts on our business as well as transformation and market place risks. The final amount of dividends declared for any year is a decision for the Board to make twice a year in its normal cycle having regard to our earnings and cash flow as well as future regulatory impacts and all other factors that affect our operations.
     See also “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Liquidity and capital resources” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Outlook”.
     It is our policy to pay dividends to Australian and New Zealand shareholders by direct credit to the shareholder’s or another nominated person’s account with a bank or other financial institution. We consider that payment by direct credit is fast, efficient and secure and significantly reduces our administrative costs in relation to payment of dividends.

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Exchange Rates
     Our consolidated financial statements are shown in Australian dollars (“A$”) except where another currency is specified. For convenience, this Institutional Offering Memorandum has translations of certain A$ into US dollars (“US$”) at an exchange rate as at 30 June 2006 of A$1.00 = US$0.7423. These translations are indicative only and do not mean that the A$ amounts could be converted to US$ at the rate indicated.
     The following tables show, for the periods and dates indicated, information concerning the rates of exchange at the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. On 14 November, the noon buying rate was A$1.00 = US$0.7656.
                 
    High   Low
May 2006
    0.7781       0.7509  
June 2006
    0.7527       0.7284  
July 2006
    0.7664       0.7407  
August 2006
    0.7699       0.7568  
September 2006
    0.7704       0.7461  
October 2006
    0.7743       0.7434  
                                 
Year Ended 30 June   At Period End   Average Rate(1)   High   Low
2002
    0.5628       0.5240       0.5748       0.4841  
2003
    0.6713       0.5884       0.6729       0.5280  
2004
    0.6952       0.7155       0.7979       0.6930  
2005
    0.7618       0.7568       0.7974       0.6880  
2006
    0.7423       0.7472       0.7781       0.7056  
 
(1)   The average of the noon buying rates on the last day of each month during the year.
     Fluctuations in the A$ to US$ exchange rate will affect the US$ equivalent of the A$ price of the shares and the instalment receipts on the ASX.

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Listing Information
Markets in which our shares are traded
     We are listed on the ASX and the NZSX. We also have ADRs listed on the NYSE.
     In December 2005, the SEC proposed rules that, if adopted, would make it easier for foreign companies to terminate their SEC registration. If the SEC’s proposed deregistration rules are adopted, we intend to deregister from the SEC ongoing reporting obligations and to delist our ADRs from the NYSE at the earliest opportunity, which may be accomplished by the end of this calendar year.
     The stock market operated by the ASX is the principal stock exchange in Australia. The exchange operates by way of the Stock Exchange Automated Trading System (“SEATS”), which is a fully computerised system.
     Trading on SEATS takes place each business day between the hours of 10:00am and 4:05pm, Australian Eastern Standard Time or Australian Eastern Standard Summer Time. At 4:05pm each day, the ASX subsequently matches any buy and sell orders in the system that satisfy both buyers and sellers. The prices of all listed shares are continuously quoted while the market is open and the system prioritises orders first by price and second by time of placement in the system. Exchange participants can cross stock between buying and selling orders, at the buy or sell quote, provided those quotes are no more than one marketable bid apart and can cross outside this range in amounts of A$1 million or more. Transactions on the ASX are settled on the third business day following the trade date.
     Our securities were initially listed on 17 November 1997. This followed the sale by the Commonwealth of 33.3% of its shares in Telstra. Subsequently on 18 October 1999, the Commonwealth sold an additional 16.6% of the shares in Telstra.
Price history of our shares
     The following tables give the price history of our shares as derived from the daily official list of the ASX.
High and low closing price for shares — on an annual basis — for a period of five years or time of trading if less than five years
                 
    A$ per Share
Period   High   Low
Fiscal 2002
    5.68       4.48  
Fiscal 2003
    5.04       3.96  
Fiscal 2004
    5.15       4.45  
Fiscal 2005
    5.49       4.63  
Fiscal 2006
    5.14       3.63  

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High and low closing price for shares — on a quarterly basis for the two most recent full financial years
                 
    A$ per Share
Period   High   Low
2004
               
1 July — 30 September
    5.05       4.63  
1 October — 31 December
    4.94       4.63  
2005
               
1 January — 31 March
    5.49       4.81  
1 April — 30 June
    5.17       4.79  
1 July — 30 September
    5.14       4.04  
1 October — 31 December
    4.32       3.76  
2006
               
1 January — 31 March
    4.10       3.63  
1 April — 30 June
    3.97       3.64  
High and low closing prices for the most recent six months
                 
    A$ per Share
Period   High   Low
2006
               
April
    3.94       3.65  
May
    3.97       3.71  
June
    3.82       3.64  
July
    3.87       3.67  
August
    3.94       3.45  
September
    3.71       3.53  
October
    3.97       3.57  
     There were 5,997,078,863 shares issued and available for trading on the market as at 30 June 2006. This includes 211,629 shares held by the Commonwealth and listed for trading.
     We successfully completed a A$1 billion off-market share buy-back in November 2003, and a A$750 million off-market share buy-back in November 2004.
     Before the buy-backs, we had 12,866,600,200 shares outstanding, including those held by the Commonwealth. As a result of the 2003 buy-back, the number of shares outstanding reduced to 12,628,359,026 and the number of shareholders reduced from approximately 1.805 million to 1.769 million. Following the 2004 buy-back, the number of shares outstanding reduced to 12,443,074,357 and the number of shareholders reduced to 1.634 million. The Commonwealth did not participate in the buy-backs.
     On 1 September 2006, the number of shareholders was 1,524,532.
     The closing price for our shares on the ASX on 17 November 2006 was A$3.75.

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Major Shareholders and Related Parties
Major shareholders
     The following table shows the number of unlisted and listed shares on issue at 1 September 2006. The table also shows, as a group, the shareholdings of our directors and officers:
                     
Title of Class   Identity of Person or Group   Amount Owned   % of Class
Shares  
The Commonwealth
    6,446,207,123 (1)     51.8  
Shares  
Listed shareholders
    5,996,867,234       48.2  
   
 
               
   
 
    12,443,074,357       100.0  
   
 
               
Shares  
Directors and officers as a group
    788,794 (2)        
 
(1)   All shares held by the Commonwealth are unlisted, except for 211,629 listed shares.
 
(2)   Refers to direct and indirect holdings.
     The shareholdings of each person known by us to be the owner of more than 5% of our voting securities, as at 1 September 2006, is shown in the table titled “Twenty largest registered shareholders as at 1 September 2006”. As at 1 September 2006, we are not aware of any individual beneficial holder, other than the Commonwealth, whose shares represent more than 5% of the issued and outstanding shares. The Commonwealth has equal voting rights with all other shareholders.
Distribution of shares
     The following table summarises the distribution of our public listed shares as at 1 September 2006:
                                 
    Number of Registered    
    Shareholders(1)   Shares(2)
Size of Holding   Number   %   Number   %
1-1,000
    901,435       59.13       553,474,596       9.23  
1,001-2,000
    282,364       18.52       441,534,735       7.36  
2,001-5,000
    230,715       15.13       733,462,077       12.23  
5,001-10,000
    68,991       4.53       500,420,837       8.34  
10,001-100,000
    39,807       2.61       856,073,764       14.27  
100,001 and over
    1,219       0.08       2,912,112,854       48.56  
 
                               
Total
    1,524,531       100       5,997,078,863       100  
 
                               
 
(1)   Number of shareholders holding less than a marketable parcel of shares was 10,184, holding 885,786 shares.
 
(2)   Not including those shares held by the Commonwealth, except for 211,629 listed shares which are held by the Commonwealth.

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Twenty largest registered shareholders as at 1 September 2006
     The following table sets out the top 20 shareholders other than the Commonwealth when multiple holdings are grouped together:
                         
            Number of   % of Issued
Shareholders   Shares   Shares(1)
  1    
National Nominees Limited
    503,728,673       8.40 %
  2    
J P Morgan Nominees Australia Ltd.
    482,830,142       8.05 %
  3    
Westpac Custodian Nominees Ltd.
    394,323,133       6.58 %
  4    
ANZ Nominees Limited
    242,189,871       4.04 %
  5    
Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited
    205,576,971       3.43 %
  6    
RBC Global Services Australia Nominees Pty Ltd.
    117,990,972       1.97 %
  7    
Cogent Nominees Pty Limited
    103,922,712       1.73 %
  8    
Telstra ESOP Trustee Pty Ltd.
    53,645,950       0.89 %
  9    
UBS Nominees Pty Ltd.
    49,303,938       0.82 %
  10    
Queensland Investment Corporation
    37,914,163       0.63 %
  11    
HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited
    34,732,295       0.58 %
  12    
Australian Foundation Investment Company Limited
    31,928,338       0.53 %
  13    
AMP Life Limited
    31,536,393       0.53 %
  14    
Australian Reward Investment Alliance
    29,169,224       0.49 %
  15    
Merrill Lynch (Australia) Nominees Pty Ltd.
    22,700,965       0.38 %
  16    
Dervat Nominees Pty Limited
    19,322,000       0.32 %
  17    
Argo Investments Limited
    19,204,800       0.32 %
  18    
Telstra Growthshare Pty Ltd.
    19,079,654       0.32 %
  19    
Westpac Financial Services Ltd.
    17,239,314       0.29 %
  20    
Questor Financial Services Limited
    13,851,999       0.23 %
       
 
               
       
Total
    2,430,191,507       40.53 %
       
 
               
 
(1)   Not including those shares held by the Commonwealth.
Substantial shareholders
     As at 1 September 2006, other than the Commonwealth, we did not have any substantial shareholders.

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Relationship with the Commonwealth
     We have a number of distinct relationships with the Commonwealth, including as shareholder, regulator and customer. The Commonwealth is currently our controlling shareholder and has special rights and privileges under the Telstra Act. Our relationship with all of our shareholders (including the Commonwealth) is, in general, regulated by the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and our constitution. Commonwealth departments and independent agencies are also responsible for the regulation of the telecommunications industry generally and us in particular under the Telstra Act, the Trade Practices Act, the Telecommunications Act and the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act.
The Commonwealth as shareholder
     As of the date of this Institutional Offering Memorandum, the Commonwealth owns approximately 51.8% of our shares. In September 2005, the Commonwealth amended the Telstra Act by passing the Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Act 2005 (the “Transition to Full Private Ownership Act”) to enable the Commonwealth to undertake a sale of all or part of its stake in Telstra.
     The Commonwealth has issued requests to us and our Board under section 8AQ of the Telstra Act for us and our Board to assist the Commonwealth and its advisers with the Global Offering. The Telstra Act provides that, in providing such assistance, we are not subject to restrictions that would otherwise apply under the Corporations Act, the listing rules of stock exchanges regulated under Australian law, or rules of common law or equity (except for administrative law rules). The Commonwealth has agreed to indemnify us and our directors and senior management for certain liabilities that may be incurred in relation to the Global Offering, and to reimburse us for our reasonable costs incurred in relation to the Global Offering.
     Following completion of the Global Offering, the Commonwealth intends to transfer all of its remaining Telstra shares to the Future Fund. See “The Future Fund” and “Risk Factors”. While the Commonwealth continues to hold its stake in us, we are required under the Telstra Act to provide it with certain information that we would not generally be required to disclose concurrently, if at all, to other shareholders. This information includes:
    annual provision of our three-year corporate plan;
 
    interim financial statements, if requested by the Communications Minister; and
 
    reports regarding significant proposed events, including corporate restructurings, acquisitions and divestitures or joint venture and partnership activities.
     Under the Telstra Act, we are also required to keep the Communications Minister and the Finance Minister generally informed about our operations and to give them such information about our operations as they require.
     The Communications Minister has the power under the Telstra Act to give us, after consultation with our Board, such written directions as appear to the Communications Minister to be necessary in the public interest. To date, no directions have been issued under this power. Our Board must ensure that we comply with any such direction. The Telstra Act also deems the Commonwealth Auditor-General to have been appointed as our auditor for the purposes of the Corporations Act.
     Under the Telstra Act, as a result of new requirements introduced by the Transition to Full Private Ownership Act, we must also notify the Finance Minister if we intend to issue securities or financial products or otherwise engage in conduct that is likely to result in a dilution of the Commonwealth’s equity in us. The Finance Minister may direct us not to engage in that conduct.
     Our management is also required to appear before and, with limited exceptions, provide information to Parliamentary committees.
 Consequences of the Global Offering
     Under the amendments to the Telstra Act made by the Transition to Full Private Ownership Act, certain provisions in the Telstra Act and other Commonwealth legislation will cease to have effect or apply to us once the Commonwealth’s ownership of Telstra falls below one of two particular levels. Those two ownership thresholds are

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below 50% and 15% or less. For this purpose, Telstra shares transferred to the Future Fund following completion of the Global Offering will not be considered to be owned by the Commonwealth. This means that these thresholds will be triggered following the Global Offering.
     The Commonwealth’s ownership of Telstra will fall below 50% on completion of the Global Offering. As a result, we will lose our Australian capital gains tax (CGT) exempt status on assets that we acquired before 20 September 1985. Accordingly, any future gains in the value of these assets after completion of the Global Offering will be taxable upon disposal of the asset by us. Since we do not currently intend to dispose of any material assets acquired before 20 September 1985, the loss of CGT exempt status for these assets is not expected to have a material impact on Telstra.
     The legislative consequences of the Commonwealth’s ownership of Telstra falling below 50% are not considered to have a material impact on Telstra but include:
    our employees who are members of the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) will cease to be “eligible employees” for the purposes of the Superannuation Act 1976, and will no longer be entitled to contribute to the CSS; and
 
    our auditor, currently the Commonwealth Auditor-General, may (and is expected to) resign. In any event, the Auditor-General will cease to be our auditor on the earlier of his resignation or the end of the first annual general meeting held after the Commonwealth’s ownership of Telstra falls below 50%. This means that we and our shareholders can decide who to appoint as our auditor.
The Commonwealth has advised Telstra that it will introduce legislation into parliament that maintains coverage for Telstra employees under existing Commonwealth long service leave legislation for three years after the Commonwealth’s ownership in Telstra falls below 50%.
     The Commonwealth’s ownership of Telstra is expected to fall to 15% or less no later than when the Commonwealth transfers to the Future Fund Telstra shares not sold as part of the Global Offering. This is intended to occur as soon as practicable after the exercise or expiry of the Over-allotment Option, and in any event, no later than 24 February 2007. The main consequences of the Commonwealth’s ownership of Telstra falling to 15% or less are:
    we will no longer be subject to the obligations to provide financial and other information to the Commonwealth;
 
    we will no longer be subject to the Communications Minister’s power to direct us (as appears to the Communications Minister to be necessary, in the public interest); and
 
    we will no longer be subject to the Finance Minister’s power to direct us not to dilute the Commonwealth’s equity in Telstra or to issue securities or financial products.
     The closing of the Global Offering and the transfer of the Commonwealth’s remaining shares to the Future Fund may require regulatory or governmental approval under regulatory licenses of Telstra’s international operations. For more information, refer to “Regulation — Offshore subsidiaries”.
     Upon completion of the Global Offering, we expect to no longer have a standing obligation to appear before and provide information to Parliamentary committees.
The Commonwealth as regulator
     We are currently regulated by the Commonwealth, its Ministers and independent agencies under a number of statutes including:
    the Telstra Act;
 
    the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999;
 
    the Trade Practices Act; and
 
    the Telecommunications Act.
     The Commonwealth has stated that the telecommunications regulatory regime is intended to promote the long-term interests of telecommunications consumers, including through promoting competitive telecommunications

34


 

markets and encouraging economically efficient investment in infrastructure. The telecommunications regime also supports industry self-regulation and is intended to minimise the financial and administrative burdens on the telecommunications industry.
     The Commonwealth believes that since the market was fully opened to competition in 1997, consumers have benefited through a wider range of services and significant reductions in prices.
     The Commonwealth considers that the telecommunications industry is currently in transition to full competition and that appropriately targeted regulation is in place to facilitate this outcome. Overall, the Commonwealth regards the regulatory legislation as settled. However, the Commonwealth has announced that it will review the telecommunications competition regulatory regime in 2009.
Refer to “Regulation” for details of the regulatory regime and its effect on our business.
The Commonwealth as customer
     The Commonwealth is a major user of our services. The Commonwealth, as a result of telecommunications liberalisation, is increasingly seeking to take advantage of open competition when purchasing telecommunications services in such a competitive environment.
Related party transactions
     A discussion of our related party transactions is contained in “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Related party transactions”.

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The Future Fund
     In February 2006, the Commonwealth passed legislation to establish the Future Fund. The Future Fund is a Commonwealth investment fund set up to strengthen the Commonwealth’s long term finances by providing for its unfunded superannuation liabilities. Following completion of the Global Offering, the Commonwealth intends to transfer to the Future Fund all of its Telstra shares which are not transferred under the Global Offering. The exact number of shares to be transferred to the Future Fund and the date of transfer will be determined by the size of the Global Offering, whether or not the Over-Allotment Option is exercised and other administrative mechanisms. The Commonwealth will initially retain sufficient shares to meet the bonus loyalty obligations available to certain retail investors in the Retail Offering. These retained shares will be held for the Commonwealth by the trustee until they are transferred to those entitled, and will not be voted while they are so held. Any of these shares which are ultimately not required, because holders have transferred instalment receipts or otherwise lost the right to receive bonus loyalty shares, will be transferred to the Future Fund after the date the final instalment is due.
     Assuming no exercise of the Over-allocation Option, the Future Fund will hold approximately 21% of our outstanding shares following the completion of the Global Offering, or approximately 17% assuming full exercise of the Over-allotment Option.
The Future Fund
     The Future Fund is a Commonwealth investment fund set up to strengthen the Commonwealth’s long-term finances by providing for its unfunded superannuation liabilities. The Future Fund Board is responsible for investment decisions and holds the Future Fund’s investments (for and on behalf of the Commonwealth).
     The Future Fund Board is a separate legal entity from the Commonwealth. The members of the Future Fund Board are appointed by the Commonwealth for terms of up to 5 years. Their appointment may only be terminated in certain limited circumstances. The Future Fund Board members are subject to duties similar to those of company directors.
     Currently, the Chair of the Future Fund Board is Mr. David Murray. Other members of the Future Fund Board are Mr. Jeffrey Browne, Ms. Susan Doyle, Dr. John Mulcahy, Mr. Trevor Rowe AM and Mr. Brian Watson. There is currently one vacancy on the Future Fund Board.
No specific direction
     The Future Fund Act 2006 (Cth) provides that, subject to its obligations under that Act and any directions from the Commonwealth, the Future Fund Board must seek to maximise the return earned over the long term, consistent with international best practice for institutional investment.
     The Government does not intend to issue directions specific to Telstra shares held by the Future Fund Board, other than the escrow direction and changes to the general investment mandate discussed below. However, a future Government may take a different approach.
     In the absence of such specific directions, the Future Fund Board may vote the Future Fund’s Telstra shares as it sees fit, subject to complying with the Future Fund’s obligations under the Future Fund Act and the general investment mandate issued by the Government.
Escrow direction
     On the day that shares are first transferred to the Future Fund, the Finance Minister will direct the Future Fund Board not to dispose of or agree to dispose of the Future Fund’s Telstra shares for a period of two years from the date instalment receipts under the Global Offering are first listed on the ASX except:
    in order to satisfy demand from eligible Telstra shareholders under a Telstra initiated dividend reinvestment plan (if any); or

36


 

    as part of a Telstra capital management initiative, (if any); such as a buy-back or capital reduction; or
 
    to a single investor, provided that:
    the disposal involves at least 3% of Telstra’s issued ordinary shares at the time of the disposal;
 
    the disposal does not take place until at least six months after the date instalment receipts are first listed on the ASX;
 
    the investor provides an acceptable undertaking for at least the balance of the escrow period;
 
    the price per share is no less than the final price in the Institutional Offering; and
 
    Telstra is advised prior to such disposal.
     After the two-year escrow period the Future Fund Board will sell down its Telstra shareholding as directed under the investment mandate. The Government intends that the escrow direction will not be varied or revoked, however, a future Government may take a different approach.
General investment mandate
     The current investment mandate requires, among other things, the Future Fund Board to adopt a benchmark for returns on the Future Fund of at least an average return of the Consumer Price Index + 4.5% to +5.5% per annum over the long term.
     Prior to the shares being transferred to the Future Fund, the Commonwealth intends to amend the investment mandate. The revised directives will be consistent with the following principles:
    after the two-year escrow, the Future Fund Board will be required to sell down its Telstra shareholding over the medium term to a level consistent with its investment strategy (at least below 20% of Telstra’s issued share capital);
 
    the sell down is to be on a best endeavours basis with a view to optimising the long-term value of the Future Fund;
 
    the performance of the Future Fund Board’s Telstra shareholding will be assessed and reported separately to the rest of the Future Fund until the sell down is completed; and
 
    the investment mandate will no longer prohibit the Future Fund Board from purchasing Telstra shares.
     The Finance Minister and the Treasurer of the Commonwealth will formally invite the Future Fund Board to make a submission on the revised directions to be issued and must consider any submission that the Future Fund Board chooses to make, consistent with the Future Fund Act.
Use of Proceeds
     The Commonwealth will receive all of the net proceeds from the Global Offering. We will receive none of the proceeds of the Global Offering.

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Selected Consolidated Financial and Statistical Data
     The following selected consolidated financial data comes from our audited consolidated financial statements. The statistical data represent management’s best estimates. The following information should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the other information contained in this Institutional Offering Memorandum. Our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2006 were prepared in accordance with A-IFRS, and comparative information for the year ended 30 June 2005 has been restated in accordance with A-IFRS, except for AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement”, where comparative information was not required to be restated. In addition, we have elected to early adopt AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures”, which supersedes the disclosure requirements of AASB 132. The financial information for the years ended 30 June 2004, 2003 and 2002 has been reconciled to US-GAAP and is derived from our audited consolidated financial data for those periods, which is not included herein. A-IFRS differs in some material respects from US-GAAP. For a reconciliation of the material differences between A-IFRS and US-GAAP as they relate to our audited consolidated financial statements, see note 37 to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Financial data in accordance with A-IFRS for the two-year period ended 30 June 2006
                         
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2006 (1)   2005
    A$   US$   A$
    (In millions, except per share
    amounts)
Income Statement data
                       
Total Income (excluding finance income)(2)
    23,100       17,147       22,442  
Expenses (excluding depreciation, amortisation and finance costs)(2)(3)
    13,516       10,032       11,978  
Depreciation and amortisation
    4,087       3,034       3,52  
Net finance costs
    936       695       880  
Profit before income tax expense
    4,561       3,386       6,055  
Profit for the year
    3,181       2,362       4,309  
Basic earnings per share(4)
    0.26       0.19       0.35  
Dividends paid(5)
    4,970       3,689       4,124  
Dividends declared for the fiscal year
    4,224       3,135       4,970  
Dividends declared per share
    0.34       0.25       0.40  
Total income comprises
                       
Sales revenue
    22,750       16,888       22,161  
Other revenue
    22       16       20  
Other income
    328       243       261  
Finance income
    66       49       83  
 
                       
 
    23,166       17,196       22,525  
 
                       
Balance Sheet data
                       
Total assets
    36,175       26,853       35,211  
Current borrowings
    1,969       1,462       1,507  
Non current borrowings
    11,409       8,469       10,941  
Share capital
    5,569       4,134       5,536  
Equity/net assets
    12,832       9,525       13,658  
 
(1)   Unless otherwise noted, all amounts have been translated at the noon buying rate on 30 June 2006 of A$1.00 = US$0.7423.
 
(2)   For a breakdown of operating revenue by product group and a breakdown of operating expenses by expense category, see “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”.

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(3)   Includes our share of net (profit)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities.
 
(4)   Calculated based on the weighted average number of issued ordinary shares that were outstanding during the fiscal year. Refer to note 3 in our consolidated financial statements for further details. Basic earnings per share for each year was materially consistent with diluted earnings per share. As at 30 June 2006, we had issued ordinary shares of 12,443,074,357 (2005: 12,443,074,357). During fiscal 2005, we completed a share buy-back of 185,284,669 ordinary shares.
 
(5)   During fiscal 2006, we paid dividends of A$4,970 million, being the previous year’s final dividend of A$1,739 million, a special dividend of A$746 million paid with the previous year’s final dividend, the fiscal 2006 interim dividend of A$1,739 million and a special dividend of A$746 million paid with the interim dividend.
Financial data in accordance with US-GAAP for the five-year period ended 30 June 2006
                                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2006 (1)   2005(4)   2004(4)   2003(4)   2002(4)
    A$   US$   A$   A$   A$   A$
    (In millions, except per share amounts)
Income Statement data
                                               
Operating revenue
    22,779       16,909       22,167       20,737       20,495       20,196  
Net income, before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    2,718       2,019       4,204       1,265       3,847       3,922  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle(2)
    (245 )     (181 )           4       (309 )      
 
                                               
Net income
    2,473       1,838       4,204       1,269       3,538       3,922  
Basic earnings per share, before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    0.22       0.16       0.34       0.10       0.29       0.31  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle(2)
    (0.02 )     (0.01 )                 (0.02 )      
 
                                               
Basic earnings per share(3)
    0.20       0.15       0.34       0.10       0.27       0.31  
Proforma net income(2)
    2,718       2,019       4,184       1,228       3,569       3,936  
Proforma basic earnings per share(2)
    0.22       0.16       0.34       0.10       0.28       0.31  
Balance Sheet data
                                               
Total assets
    35,777       26,557       37,040       35,670       40,529       42,948  
Current borrowings
    1,984       1,473       1,524       3,246       1,323       1,866  
Non current borrowings
    11,734       8,710       11,641       9,095       11,580       12,372  
Share capital
    5,954       4,420       5,921       6,164       6,568       6,536  
Equity/net assets
    11,803       8,761       14,196       15,082       17,899       18,363  
 
(1)   Unless otherwise noted, all amounts have been translated at the noon buying rate on 30 June 2006 of A$1.00 = US$0.7423.
 
(2)   During fiscal 2006, we changed our accounting principles under US-GAAP in relation to mobile handset subsidies and capitalisation of pension costs. Refer to note 37(b) in our financial statement for further details. The proforma amounts for net income and basic earnings per share assume that these changes in accounting principle were applied retroactively.
 
(3)   Calculated based on the weighted average number of issued ordinary shares that were outstanding during the fiscal year. Refer to note 3 in our consolidated financial statements for further details. Basic earnings per share for each year was materially consistent with diluted earnings per share. As at 30 June 2006, we had issued ordinary shares of 12,443,074,357. As at 30 June 2005, we had issued ordinary shares of 12,443,074,357 after completing a share buy-back of 185,284,669 ordinary shares. As at 30 June 2004, we had issued ordinary shares of 12,628,359,026 after completing a share buy-back during fiscal 2004 of 238,241,174 ordinary shares. As at 30 June 2003 and 30 June 2002, we had 12,866,600,200 issued ordinary shares.
 
(4)   Certain US-GAAP amounts in 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002 have been restated as a result of a number of immaterial adjustments that were identified as part of our adoption of A-IFRS. Refer to note 37(a) in our consolidated financial statements for further details.

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Statistical Data as at the end of the period (except for traffic data)
                                         
    Year Ended 30 June  
    2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
Billable Traffic Data (in millions)
                                       
Local calls (number of calls)
    7,432       8,469       9,397       9,794       10,269  
National long distance minutes(1)
    7,215       7,743       8,520       9,161       9,170  
Fixed to mobile minutes
    4,491       4,375       4,226       3,944       3,691  
International direct minutes
    534       580       651       740       781  
Mobile voice telephone minutes(2)
    7,311       6,746       6,145       6,335       5,780  
Inbound Calling Products — B Party minutes
    2,922       2,773       2,708       2,655       3,345  
Inbound Calling Products — A Party minutes
    1,012       940       938       918       N/A  
Number of short messaging service (SMS) sent
    3,019       2,289       1,944       1,413       N/A  
 
                                       
Network and Operations Data (in millions)
                                       
Basic access lines in service(3)
                                       
Residential
    5.46       5.60       5.87       6.20       6.35  
Business
    2.32       2.45       2.57       2.71       2.72  
 
                             
Total retail customers
    7.78       8.05       8.44       8.91       9.07  
Domestic wholesale
    2.16       2.07       1.84       1.55       1.33  
 
                             
Total basic access lines in service
    9.94       10.12       10.28       10.46       10.40  
 
                             
ISDN access (basic lines equivalents) (in thousands)(4)
    1,214       1,208       1,288       1,213       1,268  
 
                             
Mobile Services in Operation (SIO) (in thousands)(5)
                                       
3G
    317                                
GSM
    6,468       6,894       6,653       5,812       5,346  
CDMA
    1,703       1,333       951       757       596  
 
                             
Mobile services in operation
    8,488       8,227       7,604       6,569       5,942  
 
                             
Total Wholesale mobile SIOs (in thousands)
    119       83       61       N/A       N/A  
 
                             
Online subscribers (in thousands)
                                       
Narrowband subscribers
    1,027       1,205       1,194       1,158       1,056  
 
                             
Broadband subscribers — Retail
    1,476       856       427       121       168  
Broadband subscribers — Wholesale(6)
    1,427       888       379       240       N/A  
 
                             
Total Broadband subscribers
    2,903       1,744       806       361       168  
 
                             
Total online subscribers
    3,930       2,949       2,000       1,519       1,225  
 
                             
Total FOXTEL subscribers (in thousands)
    1,130       1,023       904       836       800  
Employee Data
                                       
Domestic full time staff(7)
    37,599       39,680       36,159       37,169       40,427  
Full-time staff and equivalents(8)
    44,452       46,227       41,941       41,941       44,977  
Total workforce(9)
    49,443       52,705       N/A       N/A       N/A  
 
(1)   Includes national long distance minutes from our public switched telephone network (PSTN) and independently operated payphones. Excludes minutes related to calls from non-PSTN networks, such as ISDN and virtual private networks.
 
(2)   Includes all calls made from mobile telephones including long distance and international calls; excludes data, messagebank, international roaming and CSL New World.

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(3)   Excludes Incontact service (a free service with restrictive calling access) and advanced access services, such as ISDN services.
 
(4)   Expressed in equivalent number of clear voice channels. Comparatives have been restated to reflect updated assessment of channels per SIO on ISDN 10/20/30. The previous assessment was based on a calculation of channel configurations across sample services. The revised assessment is based on the entire customer base.
 
(5)   Excludes CSL New World SIOs.
 
(6)   Within Broadband, retail products include cable, satellite, BigPond Wireless, HyperConnect, ADSL and Symmetrical HDSL, while wholesale products include DSL Layer 1, DSL Layer 2, DSL Layer 3, Spectrum Sharing and vISP Broadband. Total Broadband subscribers exclude Broadband component of ULL and Mobile Broadband which form part of intercarrier services and mobiles revenue respectively.
 
(7)   Excludes offshore, casual and part-time employees.
 
(8)   Includes all domestic and offshore employees, including controlled entities.
 
(9)   Includes all domestic and offshore employees, including controlled entities, as well as contractors and agency staff.

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Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
     The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated financial statements, including the notes to these consolidated financial statements, which are included with this International Offering Memorandum. These annual consolidated financial statements have been prepared for the first time in accordance with Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (“A-IFRS”). Our comparatives have been restated to reflect the adoption of A-IFRS, with the exception of the accounting standards on financial instruments that were subject to an exemption and adopted from 1 July 2005. A-IFRS differs in certain respects from Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“US-GAAP”). A discussion of the principal differences between A-IFRS and US-GAAP as they relate to us and a detailed reconciliation of net income and equity to US-GAAP, is provided in note 37 to our consolidated financial statements. Refer to the 2005 Annual Report for the financial results of the prior periods determined under previous Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“AGAAP”).
     The Operating and Financial Review and Prospects includes statements of future expectations and forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of some of the principal risks that could affect our business is presented in this Institutional Offering Memorandum refer to “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.
     In this section, we refer to our fiscal years ended 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2005 as fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 respectively. We have referred to the two fiscal years ended 30 June 2006 as the two-year period.
Our transformation strategy
     At the beginning of fiscal 2006, our new CEO and management team initiated a comprehensive review of our operations and strategies. Based on this review, we determined that our networks, systems and products and service offerings were outdated and lagging behind our international peers and that our costs were escalating due to increasing costs of goods and labour costs as well as rising costs associated with maintaining and supporting complex legacy systems. In addition, revenues from our traditional high margin PSTN products and services have been declining due to a combination of increased competition and customers migrating to lower margin emerging products and services.
     In November 2005, we decided to implement wholesale changes to our networks, systems and operations under a five-year transformation strategy. The key elements of this transformation strategy are:
    building a next generation fixed network to support IP-based services;
 
    rolling out next generation wireless services over our recently launched NEXT GTM wireless network;
 
    implementing market-based management and using customer research to differentiate our product offerings;
 
    providing customers with integrated services across fixed, wireless and Internet platforms;
 
    simplifying systems and operations to reduce costs;
 
    expanding and enhancing our Sensis advertising, search and information services business; and
 
    instituting cultural changes through business reform and increased training.
     We believe that if we can successfully transform our business, it will improve our competitiveness and financial results.
     Our transformation strategy is significantly more extensive than similar initiatives undertaken by other telecommunications companies, involves significant capital spend and is subject to significant execution risks. In addition, we are endeavouring to accomplish this transformation on an accelerated timetable. As a result, during the early years of the transformation our earnings and cash flows will be significantly reduced, and we have needed to increase borrowings to fund our capital expenditures, investments and dividends. However, we believe that we need

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to undertake these major changes now and under our proposed timetable in order to remain competitive and improve the financial results and position of our company in the future.
Strategic Management Objectives
     Together with the announcement of our transformation strategy in November 2005, our Board set strategic management objectives to measure the successful implementation of our five year transformation strategy. We have linked our remuneration structure to the transformation strategy, with the aim of increasing the focus and understanding by senior executives of the key strategic objectives and motivating employees to execute on the strategy. In October 2006, our Board revised these strategic targets in order to reflect the current regulatory environment and market conditions and the experience of the first year of our transformation plan, and approved the following:
    revenue compound annual growth in the range of 2.0% to 2.5% (to fiscal 2010 from the fiscal 2005 base level), to be achieved by offsetting the expected substantial deterioration in traditional PSTN revenues with revenues from new products and services delivered through our next-generation networks;
 
    new product revenue exceeding 30% of sales revenue by fiscal 2010;
 
    limiting compound annual growth of operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortisation) to 2.0% to 3.0% (to fiscal 2010 from the fiscal 2005 base level);
 
    EBITDA compound annual growth in the range of 2.0% to 2.5% (to fiscal 2010 from the fiscal 2005 base level) and EBITDA margins of between 46% to 48% by fiscal 2010. We are expecting EBITDA during the five year transformation strategy to decrease in the early years of the transformation, and are then targeting improvement in the later years of the transformation;
 
    cash capital expenditure falling to a range of 10% to 12% of sales revenue by fiscal 2010;
 
    free cash flow increasing to between A$6,000 million and A$7,000 million by fiscal 2010; and
 
    work force reductions of approximately 12,000 over five years of the transformation strategy.
     It is important to understand that these are internal objectives set by our Board in order to measure our management’s performance in implementing the transformation strategy, and are not financial forecasts or projections and should not be regarded as such. The strategic management objectives are primarily based on:
    our decision not to roll-out an FTTN network, and instead offer high-speed broadband products and services through our existing networks;
 
    successfully rolling out our NEXT GTM wireless network services and migrating CDMA customers to the new network;
 
    successfully deploying our next-generation fixed line network;
 
    existing regulatory settings, including the ACCC interim determination establishing ULLS pricing of A$17.70 per month in band 2, and no mandated competitor access to our NEXT GTM wireless network;
 
    successfully implementing short, medium and long-term revenue initiatives in key PSTN, mobile and broadband markets and customer segments;
 
    our ability to differentiate ourselves and obtain new revenues from our new networks and new products and services to replace declining revenues from our traditional high-margin PSTN products and services;
 
    rationalising our operational support systems (OSS) and business support systems (BSS), and achieving an 80% reduction in the number of such systems by the end of fiscal 2010;
 
    key vendors in connection with our transformation performing on-time and as contracted;
 
    growing our Sensis business organically and by targeted acquisitions;

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    competitors not engaging in sustained and extreme price competition or investing in substantial new infrastructure or disruptive technologies; and
 
    our workforce embracing our cultural transformation.
     The strategic management objectives are based on the current regulatory environment and market and competitive conditions, which are expected to change over time. Our ability to achieve our strategic management objectives is subject to significant risks. See “Risk Factors” for a description of these key risks. Investors should note that many of these risks are outside of our control, and that no assurance can be given that we will successfully complete our transformation or achieve our strategic management objectives.
Revenue and products
     During the two-year period, our increase in sales revenues was due mainly to revenue growth in mobiles, Internet and IP solutions, advertising and directory services, and pay TV bundling. Our challenge moving forward will be to continue and to consolidate the growth in these areas, while controlling costs, minimising margin erosion and managing the decline in our PSTN revenues. Competition has continued to intensify and, as a result, we have seen our revenues decline in a number of areas despite increasing volumes. We have continued to focus on maximising returns from our higher margin traditional products such as PSTN products, while managing the shift in customer demand for our lower margin emerging products, such as mobiles, broadband and other Internet based products. We have aligned our investment strategies with our growth products and continue to focus on simplifying our existing processes to identify cost efficiencies and protect operating margins, while improving our customer service levels. Our overall operating margins are under constant pressure from the product mix change to lower margin products. However, we are building a software-based cost efficient infrastructure that we expect will enable us to deliver new products at low incremental costs and good margins.
     Most of our revenues are generated from basic access, fixed and mobile call charges, specialised data, Internet and IP solutions, advertising and directories services, solution management services and our international operations. We are focusing on a range of key products and services within these categories in order to grow our revenues. This is further described below:
    PSTN products: We first experienced a significant decline in overall PSTN revenues in the second half of fiscal 2005. Performance in this market has been depressed by competition and product substitution. Our PSTN revenue was also adversely impacted by ULL as carriers have reached customer density thresholds to be able to undertake viable ULL investment, which has further been assisted by falling equipment prices reducing the capital required.
 
      This market remains a focal point and a significant part of our company in terms of sales revenue. It continues to provide us with strong cash flows.
 
      We continue to focus on maximising returns and improving customer service in this area by offering a broad range of product packages that include bundling traditional products with new products. In addition, in June 2006 we introduced new capped calling plans on our basic access lines, which includes untimed local and national long distance calls. Despite a positive response to these initiatives, total PSTN revenues declined in fiscal 2006, led by competitive pricing pressures and the continued migration of customers to mobiles and other products and services.
 
    Mobiles: While the rate of growth has slowed, mobile revenue growth has been driven by low access fee plans, value added services including mobile data and the increasing popularity of prepaid offerings. We continue to increase revenues by providing more innovative products on our mobile networks including access to a wide range of Internet products and content through mobile handsets and the provision of high-speed wireless services, including 3G mobile services. In addition, revenues continue to increase with the higher number of mobile users.
 
    Internet and IP services: Growth in this area was attributable to an increase in both retail and wholesale broadband subscribers. We expect the Internet and IP solutions products to continue their expansion as a result of large increases in the number of broadband subscribers and robust competition as providers compete for market share. This market is in a growth phase and our strategy to capitalise on this growth

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      involves the provision of high speed, innovative Internet products such as the launch of Australia’s first legal movie download service. The ability to offer a suite of product and services, combined with value based pricing, is a key to our strategy.
 
      We expect take up of ADSL and other emerging broadband Internet services via HFC cable and satellite to increase in future reporting periods as the market becomes more aware of their performance capabilities.
 
    Advertising and directories: Growth in our Sensis business has been led by an increase in revenue from our Yellow® and White Pages® printed and online advertising solutions. This was predominantly driven by product innovation and customer demand. In addition, we have continued to grow our Yellow® and White Pages® Online directory businesses.
 
      As telecommunications, computing and media technologies continue to converge, we are focused on enhancing our capabilities to provide new and innovative application and content services and to expand further into these converging markets.
 
    Solutions management: We have continued to strengthen our position in the managed services and information and communication technology (ICT) market. During fiscal 2005, we acquired KAZ, a provider of business process outsourcing, systems integration, consulting, applications development and IT management services. During fiscal 2005, we also acquired PSINet, a provider of e-business infrastructure solutions and corporate IP based communication services. These acquisitions expanded our IT services capability to both our Australian and international customers, complementing our core strength in telecommunications. These acquisitions combined with our pre-existing solutions management business have significantly broadened our solutions management services, which we believe will assist us to achieve our goal of becoming an Australian leader in the ICT market.
 
    International operations: Our offshore controlled entities contributed 7.7% of our total sales revenue in fiscal 2006 and 7.3% in fiscal 2005. This is primarily attributable to the CSL New World Mobility Group operations in Hong Kong and the TelstraClear operations in New Zealand, which generate revenues mainly from the mobile market and from fixed network services respectively.
 
      During fiscal 2006, we merged our 100% owned Hong Kong mobile operations (CSL) with the Hong Kong mobile operations of New World Mobility Group to form the CSL New World Mobility Group (CSLNW). Under the merger agreement, CSL issued new shares to New World Mobility Holdings Limited in return for 100% of the issued capital of the New World Mobility Group and A$42 million in net proceeds. The share issue diluted our ownership in the merged group to 76.4%. This merger was undertaken because the two entities have complementary services in providing mobile telecommunication products and services in Hong Kong. We believe CSLNW will be able to leverage their strong brand recognition and common network to improve its operating performance. The merged entity is now the largest wireless service provider in the Hong Kong market.
 
      During fiscal 2006, TelstraClear unveiled a new strategic focus for growth through the delivery of differentiated services and investment in high value voice and data services. New Zealand is a strategically important market for our trans-Tasman customers and the combination of TelstraClear and Telstra enables us to provide customers on both sides of the Tasman with seamless communication and IT solutions.
     We have maintained our attention on managing the performance of our individual product and service categories. However, as a fully integrated telecommunications company, we are building on our existing customer base and capturing the market trend towards integrated access and seamless voice, data and content offerings. To achieve this, we continue to bundle our individual products and provide customers with price discounts. In addition, we are expanding the integrated content services provided through our BigPond® and Sensis applications to enable our customers to access content across multiple devices including mobiles, personal computers and home phones.
     In fiscal 2006, we implemented a number of revenue initiatives, particularly in our PSTN, mobile and broadband businesses. These initiatives include subscription pricing plans, targeted “win-back” campaigns, differentiated customer propositions and distribution channel optimisation. Achievement of our strategic

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management objectives, particularly during the later years of our transformation, depends in part on our success in implementing these initiatives.
     On 31 August 2006, we announced our acquisition of a 51.0% shareholding (on a fully diluted basis) in SouFun Holdings Limited (SouFun) for a total cash consideration of US$254 million (approximately A$334 million plus acquisition costs). SouFun is a leading real estate and home furnishing and improvement website in China. It provides information, advertising and listing services to China’s growing online real estate and home furnishing and improvement sectors. This investment is integral to Sensis’ growth strategy of expanding into new geographic markets through the pursuit of partnerships or acquisitions that can deliver value to our shareholders. On 31 August 2006, we also announced the sale of Australian Administration Services (AAS), the superannuation administration business of our subsidiary KAZ, for A$235 million, giving rise to a profit on sale of A$55 million. The sale followed our comprehensive review that determined that superannuation administration services were no longer strategic to our business in future reporting periods. As a result of these transactions, we have divested a non core asset and redeployed the funds into one of our growth areas.
Costs and operational efficiency
     In fiscal 2006 we began our transformation program as outlined by the strategic review. During this review, we identified complexity in the business involving our cost and operational structure, resulting in an upward pressure on costs. The transformation program will occur over a five-year period, with cost reduction being a major objective of the overall program.
     Our total expenses grew during the two-year period, led by the recognition of additional expenses incurred as part of the transformation program, including a provision at year end for restructuring and redundancy costs of A$427 million. We also experienced expense growth across various categories to support our emerging business areas such as broadband, 3G mobile services and pay television, as well as to meet our customer service requirements, partly offset by previous cost reduction programs. In addition, our depreciation and amortisation expense increased reflecting the impact of a review of the service lives of our assets as part of the transformation strategy. The accelerated depreciation and amortisation was mainly in relation to adjusting the service lives of the CDMA network, our switching systems, certain business and operational support systems and related software.
     We are committed to continuing our review of areas of the business where cost and operational efficiencies can be achieved, while improving the customer experience. We believe opportunities to achieve this include:
    rationalising our various IT and network platforms;
 
    streamlining our business operations;
 
    obtaining better value from our capital expenditure;
 
    extracting synergies from our recent investment acquisitions;
 
    improving network efficiency; and
 
    managing total labour costs more efficiently.
     During the two-year period, we have devoted increased capital expenditure to upgrade our telecommunications networks, eliminate components that are no longer useful and improve the systems used to operate our networks. We continue to upgrade and simplify our telecommunications networks to meet customer demands, particularly for new growth product areas such as broadband.
     As part of our strategic review, we have introduced the “one factory” approach to consolidate and simplify the way we operate at all levels of the business. The company is very dependent on business and operational support systems. Historically, significant time and investment has been required to meet changing market conditions. The IT transformation will provide an integrated platform that is much more flexible and is expected to require lower costs to maintain. The objective is an 80% reduction in the number of systems over five years from November 2005. In addition to operational efficiency, overall effectiveness is expected to improve. We believe the deployment of our new IP core network will reduce the cost of installing new applications and will provide our customers with better

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and faster services. We believe incremental change is not enough to meet our strategic objectives and as a result we are looking to transform our IT capability.
     On 6 October 2006, we launched our new NEXT GTM wireless network. This network will replace our existing CDMA network, and over time we will migrate all of our mobile customers onto the NEXT GTM wireless network. The move will reduce duplication of both capital and operational expenditure and the digital divide between our regional and metropolitan customers. In addition to current services already experienced on existing networks, we believe our NEXT GTM wireless network customers will enjoy access to a greater range of content and services, as well as many enhanced features, such as improved video calling services and faster broadband access speeds, in addition to better in-building coverage. We plan for the CDMA network to be available until replacement services and coverage provided by our NEXT GTM wireless network are the same as or better than the CDMA network and in any event at least until January 2008.
Customer service
     We strive to continually improve our customer service. During fiscal 2006, we announced a A$210 million training initiative to ensure our staff have the best available training to enable and maintain next generation networks. In addition, we are achieving service delivery innovations that cater to the needs of our customers such as providing and improving our online billing facilities. Our focus for continual improvement in customer service is in the following key areas:
    upgrading our networks and reducing fault incidence;
 
    placing additional trained staff in our call centres to directly deal with our customers;
 
    providing tools to sales representatives that help them consult with customers;
 
    improving the self service technology;
 
    enhancing the skills of our staff, enabling them to solve a customer’s problem on the first call;
 
    ensuring customer appointments are met and reducing response times and queue lengths; and
 
    further improving our performance under the customer service guarantees.
Business segments
     During fiscal 2006, we changed our business segments to improve the way our business is structured and operates to meet the needs of our customers. We have restated all our comparative segment information to reflect the current financial reporting position as if all our new business segments and segment accounting policies existed in the prior year. Our significant changes included:
    the creation of a new business segment named Telstra Business to specifically cater for the full provision of telecommunication products and services to small and medium enterprises;
 
    the creation of a new business segment named Telstra Operations. This group consolidated Telstra Services (formerly known as Infrastructure Services), Telstra Technology, Innovation and Products and Operations Support, which was previously reported within our corporate areas. The consolidation of these operational areas reflects our move to the “one factory” approach;
 
    the creation of the Telstra Product Management Group within Telstra Operations to focus on the management and performance of our existing and future products; and
 
    the creation of the Strategic Marketing Group to implement the market based management approach adopted to better understand the needs of our customers and provide better products and services to meet their requirements.
     The Telstra Country Wide® business unit ensures we continue to have a strong commitment to telecommunication services in the major rural, minor rural and remote areas of Australia. In addition, under the USO regime, we deliver the standard telephone service and prescribed carriage services to all people, wherever they reside or

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carry on business. Through our continued focus on providing excellent customer service, we aim to satisfy our existing customers and drive future revenue growth by providing quality services to all our customers.
     Refer to “Information on the Company — Organisational structure” for details on our organisational structure.
Returns to shareholders
     During the two-year period, in addition to continuing ordinary dividends, we have also returned A$2,988 million to shareholders through special dividends and share buy-backs as part of our capital management program. During fiscal 2006, we announced that the third year of the capital management program, whereby A$1,500 million was to be returned each year to shareholders through special dividends and share buy-backs, would not occur to allow the funds to be diverted to our transformation program.
     In fiscal 2006, we paid special dividends totalling A$1,492 million (A$0.12 per share). In fiscal 2005, we paid a special interim dividend of A$746 million (A$0.06 per share) and also undertook a share buy-back that resulted in the buy-back of 185,284,669 ordinary shares. In total, 1.47% of our total issued ordinary shares, or 3.00% of our non-Commonwealth owned ordinary shares, were bought back. The cost of the share buy-back comprised the purchase consideration of A$750 million and associated transaction costs of A$6 million. The shares bought back were subsequently cancelled, reducing the number of fully paid ordinary shares on issue. The Commonwealth did not participate in the share buy-back and as a result its shareholding increased from 51.0% before the buy-back to 51.8%. The share buy-back improved our earnings per share as we have fewer shares outstanding and has not hindered our ability to take advantage of profitable investment opportunities when they arise.
Outlook
Overview
     Whether our future financial performance will improve is largely dependent on our ability to implement and execute our transformation strategy successfully and generate the increased volumes and usage rates for our products and services we seek to achieve. In addition, our transformation is a five-year plan, with the early years involving the deployment of large amounts of capital, the roll-out of new networks and systems and the incurrence of additional operating costs and provisions associated with the fundamental changes we are implementing throughout our systems and operations. Our ability to successfully implement our transformation strategy is subject to significant risks. See “Risk Factors”.
     We are involved in continuing discussions over the current and future regulatory environment impacting the Australian telecommunications industry in general and us in particular. There are several key regulatory issues, which include:
    regulated wholesale access pricing;
 
    retail price controls;
 
    any potential competitor access to our NEXT GTM wireless network; and
 
    the use by the ACCC of the conduct rules in the Trade Practices Act to affect the way we price our products and services.
     Some of the key factors that we believe may impact our future financial results include:
    our ability to implement and execute our transformation strategy, including the deployment of our NEXT GTM wireless services, and the rationalisation of our various IT and network platforms;
 
    our ability to introduce new value-added products and services to compensate for lower prices, volumes and earnings we expect to realise from our traditional higher margin product and service lines;
 
    the difficulties for us in predicting regulatory outcomes and, in our view, the unpredictable actions of the key regulators; and
 
    changes to our competitive environment as markets and technologies evolve and competition intensifies, and the actions and initiatives of our major competitors.

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General trends
     Our traditional high margin PSTN revenues have been and will continue to be negatively affected by both intense competitive pressure and customers migrating to alternative platforms, such as wireless, high bandwidth Internet, IP telephony, and web and managed services. We expect these trends to continue. The overall volume of telecommunications services purchased in Australia has continued to increase and the range of products and services offered has continued to expand. One of the central objectives of our transformation is to position the company to have the networks, systems and capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our customer base. With our planned next-generation networks, we are building the infrastructure to reduce our reliance on our traditional high-margin PSTN revenue stream and to grow our mobile, Internet and other next-generation revenues.
     We intend to streamline our businesses, systems and operations to reduce the high operating costs associated with maintaining and supporting complex legacy IT systems, products and services. However, we expect depreciation and amortisation to increase as we invest heavily in transforming our IT base, together with the acceleration of depreciation for certain assets that are being phased out.
     A number of key regulatory decisions and determinations are still unresolved. In August 2006, for example, the ACCC made several interim determinations reducing ULLS access pricing for some of our largest wholesale customers to A$17.70 per month in band 2 (representing the metropolitan area, where the greatest number of ULLS services will be provided). These decisions are only interim determinations by the ACCC and the ACCC’s final determinations can be higher or lower than this price. We are uncertain as to the ACCC’s timeframe for making these final determinations. We no longer propose to build an FTTN network because we disagreed with the ACCC as to the costs which could be taken into account in setting a price at which our competitors could use that network.
Fiscal 2007 outlook
     We are currently in the early years of our transformation, which has required increased capital and operating expenditures to roll out new networks and implement our planned system and operational changes, resulting in significant reductions to our earnings and cash flow.
     Accordingly, we expect that our fiscal 2007 financial results will show:
    reported revenue (total income) growth of between 1.5% and 2.0% compared with our fiscal 2006 total income of A$23,100 million;
 
    reported earnings before interest and income tax expense (“EBIT”) growth in the range of 2.0% and 4.0% compared with our fiscal 2006 EBIT of A$5,497 million, but we expect fiscal 2007 reported EBIT will be in the range of 18% to 20% lower than fiscal 2005 EBIT of A$6,935 million. Note 7(b) of our 2006 audited financial statements discloses that in explaining our fiscal 2006 financial performance, it is relevant to note that expenses associated with the implementation of the strategic review initiatives of A$1,126 million were incurred. We expect similar net costs of approximately A$800 million to be incurred in fiscal 2007; and
 
    reported cash capital expenditure (excluding investments) in the range of A$5,400 million to A$5,700 million.
     Importantly, our ability to achieve the fiscal 2007 outlook described above, as well as our outlook for the first and second halves of fiscal 2007 described below, is subject to a number of key assumptions, including:
    not building an FTTN network;
 
    a band 2 ULLS price of A$17.70 per month applying to all wholesale customers for the remainder of fiscal 2007;
 
    no additional redundancy and restructuring provision;
 
    slowing the decline in PSTN revenues;
 
    retail volume growth in mobiles voice and data traffic, dependent in part on the successful roll-out of our NEXT GTM wireless network services;

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    growth in the retail broadband market and in our market share;
 
    growth in Sensis print and online revenues;
 
    not exceeding budgeted net transformation related operating expenditure costs of approximately A$500 million; and
 
    general productivity gains from our reduced workforce.
     Our ability to achieve our fiscal 2007 outlook is also subject to significant risks. Refer to “Risk Factors” for a description of these key risks.
     We expect fiscal 2007 to be the largest transformation spend year in terms of operating and capital expenditure. Provided there are no further material adverse regulatory outcomes and we continue to be successful in implementing our transformation strategy, we expect our free cash flow to improve in fiscal 2008 compared with fiscal 2007.
     It is the current intention of the Board to declare fully franked ordinary dividends of A$0.28 per share for fiscal 2007. This assumes that we continue to be successful in implementing our transformation strategy and there are no further material adverse regulatory outcomes during fiscal 2007. The Board will make its final decision on the future amount of dividends in its normal cycle having regard to, among other factors, our earnings and cash flow, as well as regulatory impacts on our business and all other factors that affect our operations. On 10 August 2006, the directors declared a fully franked final dividend of A$0.14 per share (A$1,739 million), which will be recognised in our accounts for fiscal 2007.
Two months ended 31 August 2006 review
     Our unaudited operating results for the two-month period ended 31 August 2006 compared with the prior corresponding period show the following:
    sales revenue growth of 3.3% reflecting continued growth in retail broadband of 41.0%, mobiles of 9.0% and advertising and directories revenue of 10.6%. This growth was partially offset by the decline in PSTN revenues of 5.9% as the market continues its trend from high-margin PSTN products and services to lower-margin emerging telecommunication products and services. In addition, the rise in sales revenue reflected the inclusion of revenues for the New World Mobility Group.
 
    EBIT decline of 8.6% as our income growth during the two months was offset by higher expenses mainly due to an increase in cost of good sold led by additional take up of our 3G mobile handsets and a rise in the number of subscribers to our services and higher depreciation and amortisation expenses attributable to our transformation initiatives. The increase in expenses was partially offset by lower labour expenses reflecting a reduction in the number of staff.
     We believe that our results for the first two operating months of fiscal 2007 are consistent with the trends identified during fiscal 2006 and we are on track to achieve our fiscal 2007 outlook. Investors should note, however, that these results are only for two months and are not necessarily indicative of what our results will be for the year.
First half fiscal 2007 outlook
     We expect that our reported results for the first half of fiscal 2007 will be impacted by the following factors:
    revenue will be impacted by the distribution of Melbourne Yellow® being completed in the second half of fiscal 2007, therefore the revenue will be recognised in the second half of fiscal 2007. In fiscal 2006, distribution of Melbourne Yellow® was completed in the first half of fiscal 2006 and as a result, the revenue was recognised in the first half of fiscal 2006;
 
    expenses will include significant transformation related costs in the first half of fiscal 2007 compared with no transformation expenses in the first half of fiscal 2006;
 
    revenue and expenses for the CSL New World Mobility Group will be included for the full year in fiscal 2007; and

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    accelerated depreciation and amortisation expenses in the range of A$150 million to A$175 million will be reported in the first half of fiscal 2007, reflecting our transformation, compared with no accelerated depreciation and amortisation in the first half of fiscal 2006.
     As a result of these factors, we expect our reported EBIT to be 17% to 20% lower in the first half of fiscal 2007 compared with the first half of fiscal 2006.
Second half fiscal 2007 outlook
     We expect that our reported results for the second half of fiscal 2007 will be impacted by the following factors:
    revenue will be impacted by the distribution of Melbourne Yellow® being completed in the second half of fiscal 2007, therefore the revenue will be recognised in the second half of fiscal 2007. In fiscal 2006, distribution of Melbourne Yellow® was completed in the first half of fiscal 2006 and as a result, the revenue was recognised in the first half of fiscal 2006;
 
    expenses will reduce in the second half of fiscal 2007 compared with the second half of fiscal 2006. During fiscal 2006, transformation costs were only incurred in the second half of fiscal 2006 including the redundancy and restructuring provision. We do not expect to raise a redundancy and restructuring provision during fiscal 2007; and
 
    revenue and expenses for the CSL New World Mobility Group will be included for the full year in fiscal 2007.
     As a result of these factors, we expect our EBIT to be 37% to 40% higher in the second half of fiscal 2007 compared with the second half of fiscal 2006.
     Due to the combination of our expected first half and second half reported results for fiscal 2007, we expect reported EBIT for fiscal 2007 to increase between 2.0% and 4.0% compared with fiscal 2006 as previously outlined.
Management estimates and judgements in the application of our critical accounting policies
     Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with A-IFRS. Our basis of preparation and significant accounting policies are fully described in note 1 and note 2 to our consolidated financial statements respectively.
     During fiscal 2006, we adopted A-IFRS in the preparation and presentation of our consolidated financial statements. Our accounting policies for both fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 are compliant with all aspects of A-IFRS. As a result, we remeasured and restated our fiscal 2005 comparative financial information to be consistent with A-IFRS. We have taken the exemption available under AASB 1: “First time adoption of Australian Equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards” to only apply AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” from 1 July 2005. In addition, we elected to early adopt AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures”, which supersedes the disclosure requirements of AASB 132.
     In all material respects, our accounting policies are applied consistently across the Telstra Group of companies and to all business segments. Where there is no conflict with A-IFRS, we align our accounting policies with US-GAAP to reduce the number of A-IFRS/US-GAAP reconciliation differences required to be adjusted in note 37 to our consolidated financial statements.
     The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgements that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of off balance sheet arrangements, including commitments and contingent liabilities. We continually evaluate our estimates and judgements. We base our estimates and judgements on historical experience, various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances and, where appropriate, practices adopted by international telecommunications companies. Actual results may differ from these estimates in the event that the scenarios on which our assumptions are based proves to be different.

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     The following are the critical accounting estimates and judgements we have applied in producing our A-IFRS consolidated financial statements:
Carrying value and amortisation of investments, goodwill and acquired intangible assets
     We assess the carrying value of our goodwill and other indefinite useful life assets for impairment annually at each reporting date. In respect of other assets, an assessment of the carrying value is only required in instances where there is some indication of impairment. Our assessment of the carrying value covers both goodwill and other assets, as it would be difficult to separate the cash flows generated from the other assets as distinct from the cash flows supporting the carrying value of goodwill. In addition, we have allocated goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite useful life to cash generating units (CGUs) for the purposes of undertaking impairment testing.
     Our assessment of the carrying value generally applies the discounted cash flow analysis approach, except in the case of listed investments, where we use market prices. The discounted cash flow analysis is based on the value in use calculation, representing the present value of the future amount expected to be recovered through the cash inflows and outflows arising from the assets continued use and subsequent disposal, discounted to its present value by an applicable discount rate.
     In determining our value in use, we apply management judgement in establishing our forecasts of future operating performance of the assets in their current condition, as well as the selection of an appropriate discount rate and terminal value growth rate. These judgements are based on past experience and expectations for the future. The discount rate reflects the market determined discount rate adjusted for specific risks relating to the CGU and the country in which it operates. Our terminal value growth rate represents the growth rate applied to extrapolate our cash flows beyond the five year forecast period.
     We acquire intangible assets either as part of a business combination or through separate acquisition. Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition and recognised separately from goodwill. On initial acquisition, we apply management judgement to determine the appropriate allocation of purchase consideration to the assets being acquired, including goodwill and identifiable intangible assets.
     The carrying value of goodwill was A$2,073 million as at 30 June 2006 compared with A$2,037 million as at 30 June 2005. On initial acquisition, and at each subsequent reporting date, we assess the useful life of goodwill and other acquired intangible assets as part of our assessment of the carrying value of our investments. The increase in the carrying value of goodwill was mainly attributable to the acquisition of controlled entities and foreign exchange movements.
     The carrying value of our investments in jointly controlled and associated entities was A$23 million as at 30 June 2006 compared with A$48 million as at 30 June 2005. The carrying amount has reduced during fiscal 2006 due to the sale of our 35.0% shareholding in Xantic B.V.
     The carrying value of our acquired intangible assets including patents, trademarks, licences, brandnames, customer bases and mastheads was A$1,686 million as at 30 June 2006 compared with A$1,702 million as at 30 June 2005. The carrying value of these intangible assets are assessed annually and adjusted down where it exceeds recoverable amount.
     Our acquired intangible assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over the period of expected benefit starting from the commencement date of use, with the exception of assets assessed as having an indefinite useful life (predominately relating to mastheads). We apply management judgement to determine the amortisation period based on the expected useful lives of the respective assets. In some cases, the useful lives are supported by external valuation advice at the time of acquisition. As at 30 June 2006, the remaining amortisation period of our acquired intangible assets was reviewed and deemed appropriate. The mastheads of A$447 million were acquired as part of our acquisition of the Trading Post®. The mastheads are deemed to have an indefinite life, the appropriateness of which is reassessed at each reporting date.

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     If our forecasts and assumptions prove to be incorrect or circumstances change, we may be required to impair the carrying value of our investments, goodwill and acquired intangible assets. In applying our assessments, we have not written down significant amounts of these assets during the two-year period. We believe that as at 30 June 2006 our investments, goodwill and acquired intangible assets are recoverable at the amounts at which they are stated in the consolidated financial statements.
Carrying value and depreciation of property, plant and equipment
     Property, plant and equipment assets made up 65.3% of our total assets in fiscal 2006 compared with 65.0% in fiscal 2005. We therefore consider our accounting policies in relation to the carrying value and depreciation of these assets to be critical. We have adopted the cost basis of recording our property, plant and equipment, rather than the fair value basis. Land and buildings are subject to valuation at least every three years, except properties that are on a disposal program, which are subject to valuation each year.
     We assess whether there is an indicator of impairment in our property, plant and equipment at each reporting date. Where assets can be shown to be working together to generate net cash flows, this assessment is performed over the group of assets rather than individually. When considering this assessment we exclude the HFC cable network, as we do not consider this network to be integrated with the rest of our ubiquitous telecommunications infrastructure in Australia. As at 30 June 2006, our assessment of the ubiquitous network and the HFC cable network did not identify any impairment triggers and therefore it was not necessary to perform a recoverable amount test in relation to the carrying value of the network assets.
     We assess the appropriateness of the service lives of our property, plant and equipment assets on an annual basis. This assessment includes a comparison against international trends for other telecommunications companies. In relation to communications assets, our assessment includes a determination of when the asset may be superseded technologically. We use a ‘end date lifing’ methodology where we believe technologies will be replaced by a certain date. Assets are grouped into classes based on technologies when making the assessment of useful lives.
     The review of service lives was carried out at the commencement of the year and updated in November 2005 to take into account the impacts associated with the transformation. As part of our review, certain assets are reassessed with lives being extended or in some cases being reduced. The net effect of the reassessment for fiscal 2006 was an increase in our depreciation expense of A$66 million compared with a decrease of A$60 million in fiscal 2005. The fiscal 2006 net increase comprised a reduction in depreciation of A$196 million based on the review of services lives at 1 July 2005 and accelerated deprecation of A$262 million as a result of our transformation initiatives. Any reassessment in a particular year will affect the depreciation expense (either increasing or decreasing) for both that current year and future years through to the end of the reassessed useful life.
     If our forecasts and assumptions prove to be incorrect or circumstances change, we may be required to impair the carrying value of our property, plant and equipment. Our impairment for property, plant and equipment was A$69 million in fiscal 2006 compared with A$17 million in fiscal 2005. The increase in fiscal 2006 was mainly due to our decision to shut down certain networks and platforms that are no longer considered recoverable as part of our transformation program. This also includes our decision to cancel certain projects relating to the construction of property, plant and equipment. We believe that as at 30 June 2006 our items of property, plant and equipment are recoverable at the amounts at which they are stated in our consolidated financial statements.
Capitalisation of costs
     Costs are classified as either operating or capital expenditure. We expense operating expenditure to the income statement as it is incurred. We capitalise expenditure where it is expected to generate future economic benefits. Capital costs are recorded as assets and reported in our balance sheet based on the asset class considered most

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appropriate to those costs. Management judgement is applied in determining costs to be capitalised in relation to the following major asset categories:
Capitalisation of costs related to construction activities
     The cost of our constructed property, plant and equipment includes directly attributable costs such as purchased materials, direct labour and direct overheads required to bring the asset to the location and condition necessary for its intended use. Satisfying the directly attributable criteria requires an assessment of those unavoidable costs that, if not incurred, would result in the asset not being constructed or installed.
     The cost of our constructed property, plant and equipment also includes an allocation of indirect overheads. Indirect overhead costs are directly attributable to the construction of assets, but can only be allocated to specific projects on an arbitrary basis, as they do not usually vary with construction activity volumes. Examples of indirect overhead costs include planning and design of construction projects and the management of construction contracts. Management judgement is applied in determining the indirect cost pool and allocating it to each project.
Capitalisation of software assets developed for internal use
     We capitalise costs associated with the development of network and business software for internal use where future benefits embodied in the particular asset will eventuate and can be reliably measured. Management applies judgement to assess the costs to be capitalised in the development of software assets and the amortisation period applied.
     Costs capitalised as software assets for internal use include:
    external direct costs of materials and services consumed;
 
    payroll and direct payroll related costs for employees associated with a project; and
 
    internal indirect costs directly attributable to the software asset being developed.
     Capitalised software assets totalled A$1,782 million as at 30 June 2006 compared with A$1,970 million as at 30 June 2005. The recoverability of capitalised software assets is assessed semi-annually at each reporting date. If our estimates prove to be incorrect or circumstances change, we may be required to impair the carrying value of our software assets.
     The service lives of software assets are reviewed each year with reference to global industry practices. Software assets have a weighted average life of six years in both fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, despite the changes resulting from the impact of transformation on certain software asset lives in the current year. Major systems such as certain billing systems may have a longer life. The net effect of the reassessment of the useful life of software assets for fiscal 2006 resulted in an increase in amortisation expense of A$160 million in fiscal 2006 compared with A$nil in fiscal 2005, reflecting the impact of transformation initiatives in the current year.
     If these assumptions prove to be incorrect or circumstances change, we may be required to impair the carrying value of capitalised software assets. Our impairment for capitalised software assets was A$65 million in fiscal 2006 compared with A$nil in fiscal 2005. The increase in fiscal 2006 was led by our decision to shut down certain networks and platforms that are no longer considered recoverable as part of our transformation program. This also includes our decision to cancel certain projects relating to the development of software. We believe that as at 30 June 2006, our capitalised software assets are recoverable at the amounts at which they are stated in our consolidated financial statements.
Deferred expenditure
     Our deferred expenditure relates to costs deferred for basic access installation and connection, major service solution contracts and the generation of Yellow® and White Pages® revenue. In addition, incentive and administration fees associated with acquisition of certain mobile subscribers are also recorded as deferred expenditure.
     We defer expenditure where it is probable that the future benefits embodied in the particular asset will eventuate and can be reliably measured. As a result, we are required to identify future benefits expected to arise

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from the deferral of expenses, which relate to the revenue that is to be recognised in future periods. Each year we use management judgement to determine the average period over which the related benefits of our deferred expenditure are expected to be realised. We also review expenditure deferred in previous periods to determine the amount, if any, that is no longer recoverable. The amount of deferred expenditure that is no longer recoverable is recorded as an expense immediately in the income statement.
     A substantial portion of our deferred expenditure relates to basic access installation and connection costs. These costs are taken to the income statement in line with the release of installation and connection fee revenues, which are deferred and recognised over the average estimated customer life. Based on our reviews of historical information and customer trends, we have determined that the average estimated customer life is five years for both fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005. Our deferred expenditure after amortisation was A$582 million as at 30 June 2006 compared with A$620 million as at 30 June 2005.
Defined benefit assets and actuarial gains/losses
     We currently sponsor two post employment defined benefit plans. The Telstra Entity and some of our Australian controlled entities participate in the Telstra Superannuation Scheme (“Telstra Super”). Our controlled entity, CSL, participates in the HK CSL Retirement Scheme. We recognise a defined benefit asset for the net surplus recorded in each of our post employment defined benefit plans. The net surplus represents the fair value of the plan assets less the present value of the defined benefit obligations, adjusted for contributions tax. The fair value of plan assets approximates its net market values. Defined benefit obligations are based on expected future payments required to settle the obligations arising from current and past employee services. This obligation is significantly influenced by factors such as estimates on final salaries and employee turnover.
     All of the actuarial gains/losses associated with our defined benefit plans are recognised directly in retained profits in the period in which they occur. For financial reporting purposes, we engage an actuary to assist in the determination of our net defined benefit asset and the associated actuarial gains/losses at each reporting date. The following represent the main assumptions used in the actuarial calculations of the pension expense, plan assets and defined benefit obligations:
    the discount rate to determine the defined benefit plan expense;
 
    the discount rate used for reporting defined benefit obligations;
 
    the rate of increase on future salary levels for both the defined benefit plan expense and the defined benefit obligations; and
 
    the expected long term rate of return on plan assets.
     The assumptions applied in our calculation have a significant impact on the reported amount of our defined benefit plan assets of A$1,029 million as at 30 June 2006 and A$247 million as at 30 June 2005. In fiscal 2006, the increase was mainly due to higher investment returns than expected and a reduction in accrued benefits as a result of a large number of defined benefit members leaving the scheme, mainly reflecting the redundancies during the current year. In applying our estimates, we have recorded an actuarial gain of A$962 million in fiscal 2006, compared with an actuarial loss of A$90 million in fiscal 2005, directly in retained profits in accordance with the applicable accounting standard. Refer to note 28 to our consolidated financial statements for details on the assumptions applied to each of our defined benefit plans, the method of determining these assumptions and sensitivity analysis of a one percentage point decline in these key assumptions on our defined benefit expense and asset.
     If our current estimates proves to be incorrect, the carrying value of our defined benefit assets as at 30 June 2006 may be materially impacted in the next reporting period. Additional volatility may also be recorded in retained profits to reflect differences between actuarial assumptions of future outcomes applied at the current reporting date and the actual outcome in the next annual reporting period. Based on the assumptions applied at year end, we believe that as at 30 June 2006, our defined benefit assets are fairly stated in our consolidated financial statements.

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Valuation of receivables
     We maintain allowances for doubtful debts based on an estimate of the inability of our customers to pay amounts due to us for services rendered to them. These allowances are based on historical trends and management’s assessment of general economic conditions. An allowance for doubtful debts is raised when it is considered that there is a credit risk, insolvency risk or incapacity to pay a legally recoverable debt. We have adopted a number of methodologies depending on the different customer portfolio to determine the appropriate allowance for doubtful debts in each of our business segments. If the financial condition of our customers deteriorates, these provisions may not be sufficient and may lead to an increase in bad and doubtful debt expenses. We have no reason to believe that the allowances raised will not sufficiently cover bad debts arising from the receivables we currently have on hand.
     Our allowance for doubtful debts was A$144 million as at 30 June 2006 compared with A$159 million as at 30 June 2005. Trade debtors before any allowance for doubtful debts was A$2,565 million as at 30 June 2006 compared with A$2,434 million as at 30 June 2005.
     Included in our receivables is the loan to REACH of A$210 million as at 30 June 2006 and A$204 million as at 30 June 2005. We fully provided for this loan to REACH in both fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 due to the uncertainty of repayment in the medium term.
Provisions
     Our provision for employee benefits predominantly relates to the provisions for annual leave and long service leave entitlements. The calculation of annual leave entitlements should be based on remuneration rates expected to be paid when the obligation is settled. Ordinarily this would require the provision for annual leave entitlements to use estimated remuneration rates at the time leave is expected to be settled or taken. We use nominal remuneration rates in determining the annual leave provision on the basis that the difference between the nominal rates and applying the estimated future rates would not be material to our provision.
     We accrue for long service leave entitlements not expected to be paid or settled within one year of balance date at present values of the future amounts expected to be paid. The calculation is actuarially determined and includes the following estimates:
    the projected increases in wage and salary rates over an average of ten years;
 
    the probability of employees reaching their long service leave entitlement at year 10;
 
    the employee leave taking rate; and
 
    the weighted average discount rate.
     In relation to the discount rate, we apply the weighted average government bond rate for the one year period ended 30 June, rather than the government bond rate as at 30 June. This approach is taken to limit the impact of volatility in government bond rates. Our provision for employee benefits was A$892 million as at 30 June 2006 compared with A$946 million as at 30 June 2005.
     We self-insure for workers’ compensation liabilities. A provision is taken up for the present value of the estimated liability, based on an actuarial review of the liability. This review includes an assessment of actual accidents and estimated claims incurred but not yet reported. Our provision for workers’ compensation was A$216 million as at 30 June 2006 compared with A$214 million as at 30 June 2005.
     Our provision for redundancy of A$186 million and provision for restructuring of A$209 million was recorded in fiscal 2006 as part of our transformation program. A provision has been raised for only those redundancy and restructuring costs where a detailed formal plan has been approved and we have raised a valid expectation in those affected that the plan will be carried out. Management judgement was applied in determining the extent that future transformation activities were likely to result in restructuring costs and in estimating those future costs. These provisions extend beyond a period of 12 months, and as a result we applied the pre-tax government bond rate for the redundancy provision and the Telstra pre-tax weighted average cost of capital for the restructuring provision as the discount rate to reflect the present value of these provisions as at 30 June 2006.

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Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting
     Under A-IFRS, we are required to recognise the fair value of all our derivative financial instruments on the balance sheet from 1 July 2005. As a result, we apply management judgement to determine the application of an appropriate valuation technique, which includes references to prices quoted in active markets, discounted cash flow analysis, recent arm’s length transactions involving the same or similar instruments and option pricing models.
     When using a discounted cash flow analysis, our assumptions are based on market conditions existing at balance date and we use an appropriate market based yield curve, which is independently derived and representative of our cost of borrowing.
     We use various derivative financial instruments to hedge the following risks:
    changes in the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities;
 
    variability of future cash flows attributable to foreign currency fluctuations; and
 
    the foreign currency risk when we translate the net assets of our foreign investments.
Revenue recognition
     We recognise revenues when they are earned through the delivery of a product or service. Telecommunications revenues are recorded at amounts billed plus an appropriate accrual for calls made since the last billing date. Revenues that relate to more than one period are deferred and amortised into sales revenue over the expected period of benefit.
     All of our Yellow® and White Pages® print directory advertising revenues are recognised on delivery of the published directories. We apply our management judgement to determine that our directories are delivered when they have been published and delivered to our customers’ premises. Revenue from online directories is recognised over the life of service agreements, which is on average one year. Voice directory revenues are recognised at the time of providing the service to customers.
     Accrued revenue comprises mainly the recognition of unbilled amounts relating to telephone usage, service and maintenance. Our major billing system generates most of the accrued revenue and automatically accrues revenue for billing cycles that remain unbilled as at the reporting date.
     Where multiple revenue generating deliverables are sold under a single arrangement each deliverable that is considered to be a separate unit of accounting is accounted for separately. We allocate the consideration from the revenue arrangement to the separate units based on the relative fair values of each unit. If the fair value of the delivered item is not readily available, revenue is allocated based on the difference between the total arrangement consideration and the fair value of the undelivered items. We currently have a number of arrangements that are considered to be distinguishable into separate units of accounting, including mobile handsets offered as part of a mobile network contract or sold as part of a prepaid package, broadband Internet installation kits where the modem is provided and advertising in the Yellow® printed and online directories.
Management estimates and judgements applied in our US-GAAP reconciliation
     We disclose our A-IFRS/US-GAAP reconciliation differences in detail in note 37 to our consolidated financial statements. During fiscal 2006, the conversion to A-IFRS required us to restate our fiscal 2005 comparative financial information, including our US-GAAP reconciliation. The management estimates and judgments that we believe have the most significant impact on the US-GAAP reconciliation are as follows:
Capitalisation of indirect costs and borrowing costs before 1 July 1996 for property, plant and equipment
     Under previous AGAAP, we did not capitalise indirect costs and borrowing costs prior to 1 July 1996. In addition, under A-IFRS we no longer capitalise borrowing costs. However, under US-GAAP we are required to capitalise borrowing costs and those indirect costs associated with operations and personnel directly involved in the construction of our communication assets. This involved the use of estimation techniques and the reconstructing of records as far back as 1980. Due to the fact that we used estimation techniques to reconstruct the balances, the actual

57


 

balance may have been greater or less than the adjustment calculated. This impacts the adjustment made to property, plant and equipment each fiscal year and the resulting annual depreciation expense in our US-GAAP reconciliation.
     Property, plant and equipment with a net book value of A$834 million as at 30 June 2006 and A$894 million as at 30 June 2005 was capitalised for US-GAAP purposes, which was not capitalised under A-IFRS. Additional depreciation and disposals have also been recorded of A$147 million in fiscal 2006 and A$168 million in fiscal 2005 as a result of this difference.
Net pension asset/liability and actuarial gains/losses
     We engage an actuary to assist in the determination of our prepaid pension asset/liability and retirement benefit gains and losses. Many of the assumptions used under A-IFRS are also applied under US-GAAP. These assumptions have a significant impact on the calculations and adjustments made. The discount rate applied under US-GAAP is different to the discount rate applied under A-IFRS due to the differing treatment of investment tax, with A-IFRS accounting for investment tax of the fund by adjusting the pre-tax discount rate.
     Under A-IFRS we have elected to recognise all our actuarial gains/losses directly in retained profits. Under US-GAAP, the recognition of certain gains/losses are delayed in the income statement using the corridor approach. Under this approach, the aggregated unrecorded gains and losses exceeding 10% of the greater of the aggregated projected benefit obligation or the market value of the plan assets are amortised over the average expected service period of active employees expected to receive benefits under the plan.
     As at 30 June 2006, the net pension liability for US-GAAP was A$167 million, comprising the net deficit of Telstra Super of A$172 million, partially offset by a surplus of A$5 million in relation to the HK CSL Retirement Scheme. Refer to note 37(f) for further details on the accounting treatment under US-GAAP.
Impairment of goodwill
     During fiscal 2006, the balance of our goodwill in CSL was impaired prior to the merger with New World Mobility Group. Due to historical US-GAAP adjustments, our CSL goodwill balance for US-GAAP has always been higher than under A-IFRS and previous AGAAP. For the purposes of recording the impairment, we have applied management judgement with the assistance of external advisers, in calculating an implied fair value of CSL and allocating that fair value to CSL’s identifiable assets and liabilities, including the intangible assets. The impairment of CSL’s goodwill for US-GAAP purposes does not impact the carrying value assessment of the goodwill recognised under A-IFRS.
Changes in accounting policies
     Australian entities reporting under the Corporations Act 2001 must prepare their financial reports for financial years commencing on or after 1 January 2005 under A-IFRS as adopted by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB). This involved preparing our first full year set of consolidated financial statements applying A-IFRS for the financial year ended 30 June 2006.
     The transitional rules for first time adoption of A-IFRS require that we restate our comparative financial report using A-IFRS applied as of 1 July 2004, except for AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement”, where comparative information was not required to be restated. In addition, we have elected to early adopt AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures”, which supersedes the disclosure requirements of AASB 132.
     For reporting in the current year, comparatives were remeasured and restated for the financial year ended 30 June 2005. Most of the adjustments on transition were made to opening retained profits at the beginning of the first comparative period (i.e., at 1 July 2004).
     Our adoption of A-IFRS has significantly impacted the accounting policy and reported amounts of the following items:
    share based payments;

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    business combinations;
 
    income taxes;
 
    property, plant and equipment;
 
    leases;
 
    employee benefits;
 
    changes in foreign exchange rates;
 
    borrowing costs;
 
    investments in associates and joint ventures;
 
    impairment of assets; and
 
    intangible assets.
     Under A-IFRS, our net profit after tax may be more volatile compared with previous Australian accounting standards. The volatility in net profit after tax could be caused by the accounting requirements in areas such as impairment of goodwill balances and hedging. However, the adoption of A-IFRS has not affected our net cash flows, our ability to borrow funds or our capacity to pay dividends to our shareholders. In note 36 to our consolidated financial statements, we have:
    identified and explained the key differences in accounting policy;
 
    provided our differences on the date of transition (i.e., 1 July 2004) and for the current comparative period (i.e., 30 June 2005);
 
    provided full reconciliations of our reported results under previous AGAAP to those comparatives reported in our current year consolidated financial statements under A-IFRS; and
 
    provided qualitative information on the exemptions applied under AASB 1 on first time adoption of A-IFRS.
     Other than the adoption of A-IFRS, we have had no significant change in accounting policy during the two-year period.

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Results of operations
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Sales revenue
    22,750       22,161       589       2.7 %
Other revenue (excl. finance income)
    22       20       2       10.0 %
 
                               
Total revenue
    22,772       22,181       591       2.7 %
Other income
    328       261       67       25.7 %
 
                               
Total income (excl. finance income)
    23,100       22,442       658       2.9 %
 
                               
 
                               
Operating expenses (excl. interest expense and depreciation and amortisation
    13,521       11,884       1,637       13.8 %
Share of net (gain)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities
    (5 )     94       (99 )     (105.3 )%
 
                               
Earnings before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)(1)
    9,584       10,464       (880 )     (8.4 )%
Depreciation & amortization
    4,087       3,529       558       15.8 %
 
                               
Earnings before interest & income tax expense (EBIT)(1)
    5,497       6,935       (1,438 )     (20.7 )%
Net finance costs
    936       880       56       6.4 %
 
                               
Profit before income tax expense
    4,561       6,055       (1,494 )     (24.7 )%
Income tax expense
    1,380       1,746       (366 )     (21.0 )%
 
                               
Net profit for the year
    3,181       4,309       (1,128 )     (26.2 )%
 
                               
Effective tax rate
    30.3 %     28.8 %             1.5 %
EBITDA margin on sales revenue
    42.1 %     47.2 %             (5.1 )%
EBIT margin on sales revenue
    24.2 %     31.3 %             (7.1 )%
                                 
    Change
    A$ (cents)   A$ (cents)   A$ (cents)   % change
Basic earnings per share(2)
    25.7       34.7       (9.0 )     (25.9 )%
Diluted earnings per share(2)
    25.7       34.6       (8.9 )     (25.7 )%
Dividends paid or declared:
                               
Interim dividend paid
    14.0       14.0                  
Special dividend paid with interim dividend
    6.0       6.0                  
Final dividend declared (2005 paid)
    14.0       14.0                  
Special dividend to be paid with final dividend (2005 paid)
          6.0                  
 
(1)   EBITDA reflects our profit prior to including the effect of interest revenue, borrowing costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortisation. We believe that EBITDA is a relevant and useful financial measure used by management to measure our operating profit. Our management uses EDITDA, in combination with other financial measures, primarily to evaluate our operating performance before financing costs, income tax and non-cash capital related expenses. In consideration of the capital intensive nature of our business, EBITDA is a useful supplement to net income in understanding cash flows generated from operations that are available for payment of income taxes, debt service and capital expenditure. In addition, we believe EBITDA is useful to investors because analysts and other members of the investment community largely view EBITDA as a key and widely recognised measure of operating performance. EBITDA is not a US-GAAP measure of income or cash flow from operations and should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication of our financial performance, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. EBIT is a similar measure to EBITDA, but takes into account the effect of depreciation and amortisation.
 
(2)   Basic and diluted earnings per share are impacted by the effect of shares held in trust for employee share plans and instruments held under executive remuneration plans.

60


 

     In fiscal 2006, sales revenue growth was driven by Internet & IP solutions, mobile revenues, advertising & directories, CSL’s merger with New World PCS and pay TV bundling. Growth was partially offset by a decline in revenues mainly from PSTN calling products, specialised data and ISDN products. Sales revenue grew by 2.7% as we continue to manage the shift in customer demand from our traditional products such as PSTN to our emerging products such as broadband.
     In April 2006, CSL and New World Mobile Holdings Limited merged, however this had minimal impact on the overall sales revenue in fiscal 2006. Apart from this transaction, there was little activity in the mergers and acquisitions area in 2006.
     Sales growth was marginally impacted by acquisitions that took place in fiscal 2005, with current year revenue figures including a full twelve months of operation for acquired entities KAZ, PSINet, Universal Publishers Pty Ltd (Universal Publishers) and Telstra Business Systems Pty Ltd (formerly known as Damovo (Australia) Pty Ltd).
     Our expenses have been impacted by the initial stages of our transformation strategy and our focus continues to be on executing our strategy as announced to the market in November 2005. Our total expenses increased due to higher labour costs, in particular redundancy costs, higher goods and services purchased supporting revenue growth, and higher other expenses, primarily as a result of the transformation program. These expense categories were also impacted by the recognition of a provision at year end for redundancy and restructuring of A$427 million to cover activity in future years relating to our business transformation. Depreciation and amortisation also increased, primarily due to accelerated depreciation after a review of asset service lives impacted by our transformation strategy.
     As a result of these factors, our profit before income tax expense was A$4,561 million in fiscal 2006 compared with A$6,055 million in fiscal 2005, and our net profit decreased by 26.2% in fiscal 2006.
Operating revenues
     In the following discussion, we analyse revenue for each of our major products and services. The principal areas of operating revenue growth for fiscal 2006 were:
    mobiles;
 
    internet and IP solutions;
 
    advertising and directories; and
 
    pay TV bundling.
     In fiscal 2006, our sales revenue growth was partially offset by a 6.7% decline in PSTN product revenues as customers continue to move towards new products and services to satisfy their requirements and competition further intensifies in the market.
     Competition has continued to intensify and, as a result, we have seen our revenues decline in a number of areas despite increasing volumes. We have also experienced a continued shift in revenue from our traditional higher margin retail operations (such as our PSTN products) to our lower margin retail products (such as mobiles and broadband). We have continued to concentrate on product bundling initiatives and managing the migration of customers to other products. In the second half of fiscal 2006, we introduced our first subscription price based offers into the consumer market to help address the decline of our traditional product revenues and to make pricing easier for our customers. We have also introduced market based management to enable us to better serve our customers’ needs.
     We expect that there will be continued competitive pressure in some of our traditional product areas. However, the volume of telecommunications services purchased in Australia has increased and the range of products and services offered continues to expand.

61


 

Categorisation of our operating revenue
     We categorise revenue from the products and services we derive from wholesale customers according to the nature of the product or service provided. For example, we categorise operating revenue from interconnect and access charges relating to PSTN and mobiles, within those categories as appropriate. Products resold are also within the relevant product categories. This is a revised approach from how interconnect and access charge revenues were presented in the prior year.
     We are actively promoting alternative access services that are faster and have more capabilities than our basic access service. As more of our customers purchase these alternative services, operating revenue will continue to move from one category to another. For example, as our customers continue to switch from buying basic access services to buying other forms of access services, such as ADSL, operating revenue from some customers will shift from the basic access category to the Internet and IP solutions category.
     The rates we charge our retail customers are subject to regulated retail price controls
     The rates we charge our retail customers for selected fixed network telephony products are subject to retail price controls. The retail price control regime, set by the Commonwealth, applies to us and no other telecommunications provider. The new price control regime commenced on 1 January 2006.
     These retail price controls require us to:
    ensure parity in the local call prices offered to regional and metropolitan customers;
 
    ensure there is a package of PSTN services targeted and available to low income customers;
 
    notify and seek the consent of the ACCC when price increases to residential line rental rates are proposed; and
 
    report on compliance to the ACCC no later than three months after 30 June 2007 and subsequently each year until 30 June 2009.
     In addition, we are required to apply the following price controls:
    the price of a bundle of services including basic access, local calls, national long distance calls, fixed-to-mobile calls and international calls will not increase;
 
    basic residential and business access charges will not increase by more than the consumer price index (CPI) with current basic residential access charges maintained until 30 June 2007;
 
    charges for connections capped to increases in CPI;
 
    the charge for charity organisations not to be increased to a level which exceeds the price of the standard residential line rental rate;
 
    the price for local calls made from one of our public payphones will not exceed A$0.50 (GST included) per call; and
 
    the price for untimed local calls and dial-up Internet calls are capped at A$0.22 (GST included) per call, except for untimed local or dial-up calls which form part of a subscription pricing package or a discounted line rental arrangement.
     Despite these restrictions, we have been able to innovate and recently introduced a range of calling plan options, including new capped calling plans. We continue to reduce prices on a range of telephony services in order to respond to customer needs and market conditions. We also monitor our pricing to ensure that we comply with the price control requirements.
     The previous price control determination that applied up until 31 December 2005 had required our revenues from line rentals and calling products to be separately measured. These price controls imposed a cap of CPI plus 4% for line rental, and CPI minus 4.5% on a basket of calls comprising local, long distance, international and fixed-to-mobile. The previous regime also required the price for local calls made from one of our public payphones not to exceed A$0.40 (GST included) per call. Business customers on negotiated contractual arrangements are excluded from the new price controls.

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Operating Revenues
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
PSTN Products
                               
Basic access
    3,318       3,362       (44 )     (1.3 )%
Local calls
    1,023       1,284       (261 )     (20.3 )%
PSTN value added services
    246       250       (4 )     (1.6 )%
National long distance calls
    913       1,013       (100 )     (9.9 )%
Fixed to mobile
    1,491       1,566       (75 )     (4.8 )%
International direct
    201       234       (33 )     (14.1 )%
Fixed interconnection
    286       309       (23 )     (7.4 )%
 
                               
Total PSTN
    7,478       8,018       (540 )     (6.7 )%
 
                               
 
                               
Mobiles
                               
Mobile services — Retail
    3,846       3,736       110       2.9 %
Mobile services — Wholesale
    36       24       12       50.0 %
Mobile services — Interconnection
    623       547       76       13.9 %
Mobile handsets
    467       381       86       22.6 %
 
                               
Total Mobiles
    4,972       4,688       284       6.1 %
 
                               
 
                               
Internet and IP solutions
                               
Narrowband
    220       275       (55 )     (20.0 )%
Retail broadband
    730       463       267       57.7 %
Wholesale broadband
    461       261       200       76.7 %
Internet direct
    143       123       20       16.3 %
IP solutions
    285       207       78       37.7 %
Other
    68       48       20       41.7 %
 
                               
Total Internet and IP solutions
    1,907       1,377       530       38.5 %
 
                               
ISDN products
    807       890       (83 )     (9.3 )%
Specialised data
    884       966       (82 )     (8.5 )%
Advertising and directories
    1,711       1,585       126       7.9 %
Intercarrier services
    351       290       61       21.0 %
Inbound calling products
    449       449              
Solutions management
    989       931       58       6.2 %
HKCSL New World
    830       734       96       13.1 %
TelstraClear
    620       625       (5 )     (0.8 )%
Offshore services revenue
    295       252       43       17.1 %
Payphones
    104       121       (17 )     (14.0 )%
Pay TV bundling
    320       263       57       21.7 %
Customer premises equipment
    274       231       43       18.6 %
Other sales & service
    759       741       18       2.4 %
 
                               
Sales revenue
    22,750       22,161       589       2.7 %
Other revenue
    22       20       2       10.0 %
 
                               
Total revenue
    22,772       22,181       591       2.7 %
Other income
    328       261       67       25.7 %
 
                               
Total income
    23,100       22,442       658       2.9 %
 
                               

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PSTN Products
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Basic access revenue
                               
Retail
    2,592       2,725       (133 )     (4.9 )%
Domestic wholesale
    726       637       89       14.0 %
 
                               
Total basis access revenue
    3,318       3,362       (44 )     (1.3 )%
Local call revenue
    1,023       1,284       (261 )     (20.3 )%
PSTN value added services revenue
    246       250       (4 )     (1.6 )%
National long distance call revenue
    913       1,013       (100 )     (9.9 )%
Fixed to mobile revenue
    1,491       1,566       (75 )     (4.8 )%
International direct revenue
    201       234       (33 )     (14.1 )%
Fixed interconnection
    286       309       (23 )     (7.4 )%
 
                               
Total PSTN revenue
    7,478       8,018       (540 )     (6.7 )%
 
                               
 
                               
Basic access lines in service (in millions)
                               
Residential
    5.46       5.60       (0.14 )     (2.5 )%
Business
    2.32       2.45       (0.13 )     (5.3 )%
Total Retail
    7.78       8.05       (0.27 )     (3.4 )%
Domestic wholesale
    2.16       2.07       0.09       4.3 %
 
                               
Total access lines in service
    9.94       10.12       (0.18 )     (1.8 )%
 
                               
Number of local calls (in millions)
    7,432       8,469       (1,037 )     (12.2 )%
National long distance minutes (in millions)(1)
    7,215       7,743       (528 )     (6.8 )%
Fixed to mobile minutes (in millions)
    4,491       4,375       116       2.7 %
International direct minutes (in millions)
    534       580       (46 )     (7.9 %)
 
Note: statistical data represents management’s best estimates.
 
(1)   Includes national long distance minutes from our public switched telephone network (PSTN) and independently operated payphones. Excludes minutes related to calls from non-PSTN networks, such as ISDN and virtual private networks.
     Total PSTN products revenue in fiscal 2006 was A$7,478 million, which declined by 6.7% or A$540 million from fiscal 2005. This compares with a decline of 3.6% in fiscal 2005 (inclusive of fixed interconnection).
     There has been a general reduction in PSTN volumes, with a decline in retail basic access lines, and volume reductions across local calls, national long distance calls, international direct calls and fixed interconnection. Yields have also declined in local calls, national long distance, fixed-to-mobile, international direct and fixed interconnection due to competitive pricing pressure. The decline in the first half of the fiscal year was 7.6% which was slowed to 5.8% for the second half of the fiscal year.
     Work continues on the integration of mobile, fixed and broadband services to add value to the fixed line. This is aimed at arresting the decline in fixed line use.
     Late in the second half of the year, we introduced subscription pricing plans for our PSTN customers, which offer greater choice and value from the home phone, including untimed national long distance calls and low or no charge local calls. These plans did not have any significant impact on our PSTN revenues in fiscal 2006 with the benefits expected to be seen in the next fiscal year.

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Basic access
     Our basic access revenue includes monthly rental fees, installation charges and connection charges, from telephone service connections between a customer’s premises and our PSTN network.
     Basic access revenues are affected by:
    housing growth;
 
    competition;
 
    demand for telephone services and additional lines;
 
    regulatory constraints in relation to wholesale basic access;
    migration to other products such as Broadband and mobiles; and
 
    price changes.
     Under our basic access pricing structure, we have a range of access and call pricing packages to give our residential and business customers choice in the plan they select, along with a range of reward options. These pricing packages are reviewed regularly to reflect the changing needs of customers. For the most part, wholesale customers receive the pricing plan which only incorporates the basic telephone service with local call rates, excluding long distance and fixed-to-mobile calls (with a “residential” and “business” differentiation still applying).
     Our operating revenue from basic access services was also affected by competition during fiscal 2006. During fiscal 2006, the number of retail residential and business basic access lines decreased due to strong competition and migration to alternative products such as broadband and mobiles. Domestic wholesale basic access lines in service grew, reflecting the increased penetration of our competitors into the retail basic access market. In the retail segment, we saw a decline of 270,000 lines in service or 3.4%, mainly driven by the migration to other technologies which is underpinning the retail trend across PSTN revenues. This decline was partially offset by an increase of 90,000 lines in service or 4.3% in the wholesale market.
     Overall our operating revenue from basic access services decreased by A$44 million or 1.3%. During fiscal 2006, we introduced various basic access packages, which reduced the decline in revenue in this area, despite an overall decrease in basic access lines in service.
     Rental revenue increased due to a rise in line rental price charges from December 2005, which included a rise in basic access prices for wholesale and non preselected retail residential customers. In addition, penetration of higher value HomeLine plans including HomeLine Ultimate, a new subscription based plan introduced in April 2006, is also expected to contribute positively. Partly offsetting this was an increase in the discounts to Whole of Business customers and pensioners.
Local calls
     Our local call revenue from local call charges, consists of revenue from local calls on our PSTN network and includes revenue from our megapop product which allows ISPs to offer untimed local call PSTN dial up access for their customers via a single national dial up 019 number. For the most part we charge for local calls without a time limit.
     Our local call revenue is affected by:
    the number of basic access lines in service and customers moving from our basic access service to our other access services, such as mobiles and broadband;
 
    competition;
 
    increasing use of email;

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    customers migrating to mobile and fixed-to-mobile calling; and
 
    pricing changes and regulatory retail price restrictions.
     Local call revenue decreased by A$261 million or 20.3% in fiscal 2006, with both our retail and wholesale revenues being negatively impacted by ongoing product substitution from fixed calling to mobile voice calls and SMS, which is accelerated by the take up of capped mobile plans currently being heavily promoted by competitors. Substitution of data local calls continues to occur due to the migration of dial up Internet customers to broadband. The price in the wholesale market also declined as a result of a rise in volume discounts.
     Generally, call volumes have continued to fall during fiscal 2006, reflecting the impact of customers migrating to other products, such as mobiles, fixed-to-mobile, and broadband products, and fewer basic access lines in service. This is highlighted by the fact that the number of local calls reduced by 12.2% during the year.
PSTN value added services
     Our revenue from PSTN value added services declined by A$4 million or 1.6% during fiscal 2006. This decrease was driven by a reduction in a number of mature products, such as Indial, Siteline, Enhanced faxstream and other access products nearing the end of their lifecycle. Customers are also migrating to product offerings such as Internet products and premium voice communication applications.
     Messaging and call completion products increased marginally during fiscal 2006. Calling number display continued to grow due to attractive packaging discounts resulting in subscriber numbers increasing by 10%. This has been partially offset by call return revenue which declined by 14% due to lower overall call volumes and substitution to other products.
National long distance calls
     Our operating revenue from national long distance consists of revenue from national long distance calls made from our PSTN network to the fixed network.
     We generally charge for national long distance calls based on the time of day, day of week, destination and duration of the call, but packages are also offered on a capped price basis and under subscription pricing arrangements. A variety of promotions and pricing options are offered to encourage our customers to use our service and to inform them about the price and value of our service. The majority of our operating revenue from national long distance calls comes from our residential and small business customers.
     General economic conditions and customer perceptions about the cost and value of our service relative to competitor alternatives, largely drive our national long distance call revenue. Competitive activity continues to negatively affect this revenue category directly through override and preselection, and indirectly through competition for access lines. In addition, national long distance calls are impacted by customers migrating to mobile, broadband and fixed-to-mobile calling.
     Our operating revenue from national long distance calls declined by A$100 million or 9.9% in fiscal 2006 compared with fiscal 2005. Competitor activity in the fixed line market continues to be high and most carriers have a fixed or mobile cap, or a combination of both, in the market. This is having a direct impact on our national long distance revenues, particularly where competitors are bundling these calls with broadband offerings. Volumes are down as a result of lower basic access services in operation and the impact of fixed-to-mobile substitution and other calling options available to customers. We have increased discounts compared to fiscal 2005 in order to retain and win back customers.
     We continue to respond to competition with competitively priced packages. However, with the strong growth in mobile and Internet services in the Australian market, we expect national long distance call revenue to continue to be negatively impacted by ongoing migration of customers to mobile and Internet products, and by the continued growth of subscription pricing plans.

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Fixed-to-mobile calls
     Our fixed-to-mobile revenue is generated by calls originating on our fixed networks and terminating on any mobile network. We generally charge for fixed-to-mobile calls based on time of day and mobile carrier, however packages are also offered on a capped price basis. Our operating revenue for fixed-to-mobile calls is approximately split evenly between business and residential customers. The growth of the Australian mobile telecommunications market has driven revenue expansion in this product category in recent times. However, the introduction of capped plans in the mobile market has now impacted the volume of fixed-to-mobile activity as customers continue to slowly move their usage from our PSTN products. The fixed-to-mobile environment is influenced by fixed-to-mobile preselection, whereby the carriage service provider (“CSP”) selected by a customer for national long distance calls automatically becomes the customer’s provider for fixed-to-mobile calls.
     During fiscal 2006, fixed-to-mobile revenue declined by A$75 million or 4.8%. We experienced a decline of A$114 million due to lower revenue per minute resulting from higher discounts from ongoing competitive pressure, including incorporating fixed-to-mobile calls in reward offerings and the changing mix in services in operation (“SIOs”) from PSTN to ISDN and CustomNet. This increase in the level of discounting is representative of our increased campaign activity aimed at reducing customer churn to other providers and win customers in the market place.
     This decline in revenue was partially offset by growth in call volumes mainly due to the continued expansion of mobile services in the Australian market. The positive volume growth for fiscal 2006 contributed A$38 million due to higher calls and minutes of use. This growth is consistent with the growth in the total market mobile SIOs, meaning there is a higher number of mobiles on which fixed calls can terminate, and hence a higher number of calls.
International direct calls
     Our operating revenue from international direct relates to revenue we generate from international calls made from Australia to a destination outside Australia (outbound). This revenue is largely driven by general economic conditions, customer perceptions about the cost and value of our service, competition, migration to broadband alternatives and promotion and advertising.
     Our international direct revenue declined by 14.1% to A$201 million in fiscal 2006 primarily as a result of lower volumes and continued competitive pressure on price. Factors which have influenced this trend include the competitive pressures from calling cards, fixed-to-mobile substitution and the growth of Voice over IP in the market place. Despite major international events and the occurrence of unfortunate circumstances which have provided short term stimulus to call traffic, international direct minutes declined 7.9% for the year.
Fixed Interconnection
     Fixed interconnection is made up of local and non local PSTN/ISDN access interconnection services provided to other carriers. This category is a highly regulated area of the Australian telecommunication market. Our operating revenue from fixed interconnection decreased by 7.4% to A$286 million during fiscal 2006 driven by reduction in both volume and price. Volume declines are in line with cross company trends in PSTN traffic and have been particularly impacted by migration to mobiles and, to a smaller degree, ULL build.
Mobiles
     Our operating revenue from mobiles consists of revenue from access fees and call charges, as well as value added services comprising international roaming, mobile MessageBank® and mobile data. It also includes revenue from the sale of mobile handsets and interconnection charges where calls from other carriers’ customers terminate on our network.
     During fiscal 2006, we commenced the construction of our new NEXT GTM wireless network. We launched this network on 6 October 2006. Until recently, we operated two primary mobile networks, GSM and CDMA. Over time we will migrate our customers from our old networks onto our new NEXT GTM wireless network. We continue to offer 3G services to our customers over our existing 3G 2100 network, a network jointly owned through our joint venture with Hutchison Telecommunication (Australia) Limited (Hutchison).

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     The mobile telecommunications market continued to grow during fiscal 2006, although at a lower rate of growth than in the prior year. The growth was slowed by the increase in capped price plans by all the major mobile competitors, heightened campaign activity particularly around 3G services, and the increasing use of mobile data services such as Blackberry and EVDO. While voice continues to be the largest contributor to mobiles revenue, value added services, including mobile data, is the fastest growing, now representing 25.4% of mobile services revenue in fiscal 2006. With competition intensifying, we have introduced a comprehensive and broad reaching program of segment based customer management to enable us to provide the best service and solutions to all of our customers.
Mobiles
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Access fees and call charges
    2,703       2,765       (62 )     (2.2 )%
 
                               
Value added services:
                               
— International roaming
    266       243       23       9.5 %
— Mobile messagebank
    199       187       12       6.4 %
— Short message service (SMS)
    494       457       37       8.1 %
— Other mobile data
    184       84       100       119.0 %
 
                               
Total value added services
    1,143       971       172       17.7 %
 
                               
Total mobile services revenue — retail
    3,846       3,736       110       2.9 %
Mobile services revenue — wholesale
    36       24       12       50.0 %
Mobile services revenue — mobiles interconnection
    623       547       76       13.9 %
 
                               
Total mobile services revenue
    4,505       4,307       198       4.6 %
Mobile handset sales
    467       381       86       22.6 %
 
                               
Total mobile goods and services revenue(1)
    4,972       4,688       284       6.1 %
 
                               
3G mobile SIO (thousands)
    317             317        
GSM mobile SIO (thousands)
    6,468       6,894       (426 )     (6.2 )%
CDMA mobile SIO (thousands)
    1,703       1,333       370       27.8 %
 
                               
Total mobile SIO (thousands)
    8,488       8,227       261       3.2 %
 
                               
Mobile Wireless — EVDO SIO (thousands) (included in CDMA SIO above)
    60       19       41       215.8 %
Prepaid mobile SIO (thousands)
    3,597       3,570       27       0.8 %
Postpaid mobile SIO (thousands)
    4,891       4,657       234       5.0 %
 
                               
Total mobile SIO (thousands)
    8,488       8,227       261       3.2 %
 
                               
CDMA wholesale mobile SIO (thousands)
    73       62       11       17.7 %
GSM wholesale mobile SIO (thousands)
    46       21       25       119.0 %
 
                               
Total wholesale mobile SIO (thousands)
    119       83       36       43.4 %
 
                               
Number of SMS sent (in millions)
    3,019       2,289       730       31.9 %
Deactivation rate
    23.4 %     19.2 %           4.2 %
Mobile voice telephone minutes (in millions)(2)
    7,311       6,746       565       8.4 %
Average revenue per user per month A$’s(3)
    38.35       39.33       (0.98 )%     (2.5 )%
Average prepaid revenue per user per month A$’s(3)
    10.85       12.24       (1.39 )     (11.4 )%
Average postpaid revenue per user per month A$’s(3)
    58.99       59.06       (0.07 )     (0.1 )%
Average mobile data revenue per user per month(4)
    6.77       5.70       1.07       18.8 %
 
Note:   statistical data represents management’s best estimates.

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(1)   Excludes revenue from:
    calls from our fixed network which we categorise as fixed-to-mobile; and
 
    CSL New World which is recognised separately as controlled entity revenue.
(2)   Includes all calls made from mobile telephones including long distance and international calls, excludes data, MessageBank®, international roaming and CSL New World.
 
(3)   Average retail revenue per user per month is calculated using average retail SIO and includes mobile data, MessageBank® and roaming revenues. It excludes interconnection and wholesale revenue.
 
(4)   Includes mobile wireless EVDO revenue, excludes BigPond® wireless.
     During fiscal 2006, mobile service revenue increased by A$198 million or 4.6% mainly due to the continued growth in the number of mobile telephone subscribers and expanding minutes of use, offset by continued pressure on prices. In addition, we experienced strong growth in our value added services revenue for example MessageBank®, SMS, Blackberry and EVDO.
     Access fees and call charges declined by 2.2% to A$2,703 million in fiscal 2006 reflecting a decrease in GSM revenues partially offset by an increase in CDMA revenues. Both technology categories have been impacted during the year by the competitive environment and the growth in capped price plans which has directly impacted yields. CDMA prepaid was also impacted by lower revenues attributable to a promotion which gave CDMA subscribers half price calls for a year. During the year we moved from 1% of our mobile customers on capped plans to 4.3% on capped plans.
     SIOs increased overall, but it was CDMA that drove the growth with a 27.8% increase while GSM (including 3G) reduced marginally by 1.6%. The CDMA revenues benefited from a increased activations during the first half of fiscal 2006 and the availability of more competitively priced handsets. Call minutes generally increased for each technology, but these benefits did not outweigh the impact on price for the period. Average revenue per user (ARPU) dropped by A$0.98 over the year led by a reduction in prepaid ARPUs by 11.4% or A$1.39, with postpaid ARPUs stable.
     Revenue from international roaming grew by 9.5% to A$266 million in fiscal 2006. The rise was primarily due to an increase in outbound roaming minutes and a marginal increase in revenue per call. In addition, inbound roaming revenue remained steady as price increases offset decreased usage.
     Revenue from MessageBank® increased by 6.4% to A$199 million in fiscal 2006 primarily due to growth in minutes resulting from higher mobile usage and SIOs.
     During fiscal 2006, SMS and Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) revenues increased by 8.1% to A$494 million after a significant increase in the number of messages sent. There is a component of migration from voice communication to message communication which is evident in the reported growth rates. This was stimulated by a A$0.01 text offer and other rewards and bonus options offered during the year. In addition, mobile data growth was also experienced in the corporate segment through the Blackberry and Telstra Mobile BroadbandTM products on the CDMA network. This is reflected in the average mobile data revenue per user per month increasing over fiscal 2006.
     Revenue from handset sales increased by 22.6% to A$467 million in fiscal 2006 primarily due to growth in the number of GSM mobile handsets sold. This growth was attributed to an increase in marketing campaign activity focusing on the sale of 3G handsets, particularly in the second half of the year.
     Mobiles interconnection revenue has grown 13.9% to A$623 million during fiscal 2006. The main product driving this growth is GSM wholesale domestic roaming which grew in fiscal 2006 by A$43 million after Hutchison 3G roaming commencing in April 2005. This corresponds directly to an A$8 million drop in CDMA roaming after Hutchison introduced their 3G product as an alternative to CDMA. SMS interconnect has grown A$17 million due to an increase in traffic resulting from growth in mobile SIOs as well as a continued increase in the popularity of text messaging as a cheaper alternative to mobile voice calling. In addition, mobiles terminating revenue grew by A$24 million due to a 12% increase in termination volumes, partially offset by price reductions resulting from regulatory pricing pressures on mobile terminating rates. The increase in termination volumes has resulted from growth in retail SIOs, particularly in CDMA and pre-paid services.

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     Wholesale mobile service revenue increased in fiscal 2006 by 50.0% or A$12 million due to growth in the wholesale GSM resale product introduced in fiscal 2005. It enabled resellers to develop and market their own branded mobile solutions including voice, text, multimedia messaging and MessageBank® on the GSM network which they could only previously do on the CDMA network. Minutes of use have grown significantly since this product was introduced.
     The level of deactivations increased by 4.2% which was driven by prepaid activity. After we changed systems for managing prepaid SIO’s in fiscal 2005, all relevant prepaid SIOs were automatically given a recharge period of 12 months, extended from the normal 6-month period, to ensure no customers were disadvantaged while we consolidated the new system. In the last quarter of fiscal 2006, these SIOs reached the end of this period and many were subsequently deactivated. This contributed to the deactivation of 1.1 million prepaid SIOs in fiscal 2006. This change in recharge period has not impacted the year on year growth rate but has impacted the timing of deactivations occurring throughout the year.
Internet and IP solutions
     Our operating revenue from Internet and IP solutions is driven primarily by:
    demand for capacity to support business networking;
 
    the increased use of IP services by business customers (small to medium enterprises);
 
    the introduction of new products to meet customer needs;
 
    the movement of our customers from basic access and associated calling products to other access services such as ADSL; and
 
    demand for greater bandwidth services such as broadband.
     While the IP and Internet markets have been experiencing growth, competition has put pressure on our prices. We expect that these trends will continue.
Internet and IP solutions
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Narrowband
    220       275       (55 )     (20.0 )%
Retail broadband(1)
    730       463       267       57.7 %
Wholesale broadband
    461       261       200       76.6 %
Internet direct
    143       123       20       16.3 %
IP solutions
    285       207       78       37.7 %
Other
    68       48       20       41.7 %
 
                               
Total internet & IP solutions revenue
    1,907       1,377       530       38.5 %
 
                               
Broadband subscribers — retail (in thousands)(1)
    1,476       856       620       72.4 %
Broadband subscribers — wholesale (in thousands)
    1,427       888       539       60.7 %
 
                               
Total broadband subscribers (in thousands)
    2,903       1,744       1,159       66.5 %
Narrowband subscribers — retail (in thousands)
    1,027       1,205       (178 )     (14.8 )%
 
                               
Total online subscribers
    3,930       2,949       981       33.3 %
 
                               
Average revenue per retail broadband subscriber per month (A$’s)
    52.16       60.10       (7.94 )     (13.3 )%
 
Note:   statistical data represents management’s best estimates.
 
(1)   Telstra mobile broadband and Telstra internet direct (Retail ADSL) are not included in retail broadband revenue and subscriber numbers.

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     Our narrowband products allow customers to connect to the Internet from any telephone line in Australia. Our broadband products allow customers to experience an “always on” connection to the Internet, although this is not available to all lines due to technology limitations. In fiscal 2006, continued demand for capacity combined with competitive pricing has resulted in customers migrating their narrowband services to broadband. This trend placed additional price pressure on our dial-up products and resulted in a decline in our narrowband revenues.
     We offer a range of Internet products and packages under our BigPond® brand. Telstra BigPond® home and business packages offer dial-up modem services to residential and business customers across Australia. Telstra BigPond® broadband provides broadband Internet services to consumer and business customers via HFC cable, ADSL, satellite and mobile access technologies.
     During fiscal 2006, our Internet and IP solutions revenue grew by 38.5% or A$530 million to A$1,907 million, despite a reduction in prices. The subscriber base for our broadband products grew significantly during this time, partially due to migration from narrowband products but also due to growth in the overall online market. As at 30 June 2006, we had approximately 2.9 million broadband customers of which nearly 1.5 million were retail customers. There has been a significant rise in demand resulting from competitive pricing strategies.
     Narrowband revenue decreased by 20.0% to A$220 million in fiscal 2006. This decline highlights the growing impact of dial-up to broadband migration as the dial-up market proceeds with its decline. We expect this trend to continue with further price adjustments likely to occur as broadband prices fall and customers require higher speeds.
     Retail broadband revenue increased by 57.7% to A$730 million in fiscal 2006, mainly due to strong increases in SIOs. SIO growth has occurred across all technologies but ADSL has been the key driver of the growth. We have introduced a number of key price and value campaigns to stimulate broadband take up including a combination of discounting access and installation offers. We have also introduced new products and plans including a wireless EVDO offer and enhanced focus on our cable offerings. The Australian Government’s Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS) and broadband regional connect packages have also enabled affordable broadband and higher bandwidth to be provided to regional and remote locations and encourage take up in those areas. Given this strong take up, increased competition and resultant price offerings, average revenue per user has declined.
     Wholesale broadband revenue increased by 76.6% to A$461 million in fiscal 2006 driven by a continuing strong market demand for high bandwidth services and increased demand at the retail level. Wholesale DSL Internet grade has grown by A$180 million driven by volume increases with a 60.7% growth in SIOs.
     Internet direct is our business oriented Internet access product with a range of data access options and features to meet the needs of business. Internet direct revenue increased by 16.3% during fiscal 2006 to A$143 million. The result was driven by our virtual ISP product which increased by A$14 million, mainly because of a new commercial deal signed resulting in a significant increase in data usage. SIOs for this product category increased by 258% in fiscal 2006.
     IP solutions revenue increased by 37.7% to A$285 million in fiscal 2006, mainly due to the products in this category being in the growth phase of their lifecycle. Fiscal 2006 saw an increase of A$48 million in IP MAN/ Ethernet, our ‘next generation’ data access services which provide high speed IP and Ethernet access solutions respectively for large and medium corporate enterprises. The government sector has been the key user and driver of this product. IP WAN grew by A$29 million, after growth was stimulated through competitive pricing and improved network performance. It is also evident that customers now appear more willing to move towards IP based solutions.
     Other Internet and IP solutions revenue grew by A$20 million in fiscal 2006 due to growth in wholesale Internet and data traffic, in particular in our Wholesale Ethernet product, and increased revenue from our wholly owned entity, Chief Entertainment, which is a media production house that provides Internet content.
ISDN
     ISDN is a flexible, switched network based on digital technology. It can support many applications at one time (such as voice, data and video) while using a single access point to the network. ISDN services are offered to residential and business customers across Australia. Our ISDN products revenue is impacted by offerings and

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packages in the broadband market, growth in the number of DSL enabled exchanges and migration to advanced data products such as IP solutions.
ISDN
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Access
    418       421       (3 )     (0.7 )%
Data calls
    118       165       (47 )     (28.5 )%
Voice calls
    271       304       (33 )     (10.9 )%
 
                               
Total calls
    389       469       (80 )     (17.1 )%
 
                               
Total ISDN revenue
    807       890       (83 )     (9.3 )%
 
                               
ISDN access lines (basic access line equivalents (in thousands))(1)
    1,214       1,208       6       0.5 %
 
Note: statistical data represents management’s best estimates.
 
(1)   Statistical data — we have adjusted comparative data to show a more accurate reflection of the market. Conversion factors have been adjusted in calculating ISDN access lines.
     ISDN access revenue has declined marginally to A$418 million in fiscal 2006. Growth in access lines has slowed in recent years from 3.3% in fiscal 2005 to 0.5% in the current year. Data access line declines in the consumer segment have been driven by customer movement to broadband, while declines in the business segment have arisen as a result of the migration to alternative technologies such as ADSL and symmetrical HDSL. Data access line declines have been offset by voice access line growth, driven by customers taking up ISDN as a stepping stone towards a full IP environment. Whole of customer discounts in the enterprise segment have also impacted the result in the current year.
     ISDN voice calls revenue, which is made up of local, national and international voice calls made on the integrated services digital network, declined by 10.9% or A$33 million in fiscal 2006, mainly due to declines in the local and national categories. National voice calls revenue was negatively impacted by competitor price pressure during the year. Local voice calls revenue was negatively impacted by a decrease of 14% in minutes of use primarily because calls on our Priority® One3 and 1300 A Party products have been reclassified from ISDN to inbound calling revenues. This reclassification amounted to A$13 million in fiscal 2006.
     ISDN data calls revenue declined in fiscal 2006 by 28.5% or A$47 million. Both ISDN local and national data calls contributed to the decline. ISDN local data and ISDN national local data calls revenue declined by 28% and 32% respectively due to customers migrating to alternative products such as ADSL and symmetrical HDSL, as a result of improved bandwidths at reduced prices in each of these products.

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Specialised data
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Frame Relay
    305       351       (46 )     (13.1 )%
ATM
    90       89       1       1.1 %
Digital data services
    198       227       (29 )     (12.8 )%
Leased lines
    229       235       (6 )     (2.6 )%
International private lines
    30       26       4       15.4 %
Other specialised data
    32       38       (6 )     (15.8 )%
Total data revenue
    884       966       (82 )     (8.5 )%
Domestic Frame access ports (in thousands)
    30       34       (4 )     (11.8 %)
 
Note: statistical data represents management’s best estimates.
     Specialised data revenue is comprised mainly of revenue from frame relay, digital data services and leased lines. Frame relay offers high speed data transmission from 64kb to 45Mb per second to customers connecting any number of sites to other national or international locations. It is frequently used as a building block to construct corporate wide area networks. Digital data services provide high quality, leased line digital data transmission offering dedicated bandwidth from 1.02Kb to 1,984Kb per second, which may be used for communication between all major capital cities, and most regional and country areas in Australia. Analogue leased lines provide high quality, low cost, low bandwidth and dedicated end-to-end connections between customer sites.
     During fiscal 2006, total specialised data revenue decreased to A$884 million, reflecting a decline in mature products such as frame relay, digital data and leased line services. This decline has been driven by product substitution to more technologically advanced IP and DSL based product options, included with our Internet and IP solutions revenue category.
     Frame relay revenue decreased as this product enters the declining stages of its product life cycle with customers migrating to new technologies such as Business DSL which offers the same coverage and similar assurance, but at a lower price. In addition, we introduced price discounting to retain existing customers. Reduced frame relay revenue was due to a combination of a reduction in ports by 11.8% with a similar reduction in revenue per customer.
     Digital data services are mature products that declined 12.8% to A$198 million during fiscal 2006 primarily due to customers transferring to newer technologies and price pressures experienced from alternative products.
     Leased line revenues experienced a 2.6% reduction to A$229 million, mainly due to customers with voice graded dedicated lines moving to DSL, wireless or IP telephony based solutions. Other high capacity products such as wideband have grown. New business has also been generated by offering premium packages in combination with Internet Direct but they tend to be short distance services which are low revenue generating.
Advertising and directories
     Our advertising and directories revenue is predominantly derived from our wholly owned Sensis group. Sensis provides innovative advertising and local search solutions through a print, online, voice, wireless and satellite navigation network.
     The majority of Sensis’ revenue is derived from its print and online directories — Yellow® and White Pages® — which have grown steadily overall due to the introduction of new print and directory advertising initiatives.
     Product innovation and customer demand continue to drive growth in our broader online and electronic advertising and non-directories advertising business.

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Advertising and directories
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Advertising and Directories revenue
    1,711       1,585       126       7.9 %
 
                               
     Yellow® revenue increased by 5.8% to A$1,172 million in fiscal 2006, primarily due to the strong performance in our non-metropolitan books and 54% growth in Yellow® OnLine revenue to A$124 million. The growth in non-metropolitan books has been driven by new category guides and subheadings, higher uptake of half page advertisements and the release of three new local directories. Online performance was driven by a 25% rise in Yellow OnLine display customer numbers and higher uptake of Platinum advertising, leading to increased revenue per customer.
     During fiscal 2006, White Pages® revenue grew by 12.2% to A$302 million, reflecting continued growth in both print and online, with improved sales force effectiveness through better “go to market” strategies. Growth has continued with the success of coloured listings and logos resulting in higher revenue per customer.
     Our emerging businesses delivered 17.1% revenue growth, driven by strong growth in Whereis® location-based search revenues and in MediaSmart®. Fiscal 2006 includes a full year of revenue for our mapping and travel related products company Universal Publishers (purchased December 2005).
     Overall revenue performance was impacted by a decline in classifieds revenue over the period. This was driven by competition and economic weakness in the Sydney and Melbourne markets. However, we regard our advertising and directories business as a growth area, with improving margins especially online, and strong market presence accounting for almost 14% of the Australian main media advertising market.
     Sensis’ Trading Post® business is experiencing strong growth in online classifieds revenues while print based classifieds revenues are declining. This trend is expected to continue, and as a result the achievement of continued online revenue growth is critical to the future performance of the business.
Intercarrier services
     Our operating revenue from intercarrier services comprises a number of products and services relating to the provision of telecommunications services to other carriers (including REACH), CSPs and ISPs. The majority of this revenue base is derived from interconnect and access services which is a highly regulated area of the Australian telecommunications market. Interconnection revenues relating to our PSTN and mobile products are included in those product categories.
     The remaining revenue component in intercarrier services is derived from wholesale specific product offerings such as facilities access, wholesale transmission and ULL which, while they are subject to significant price pressures resulting from ongoing oversupply of capacity in the market place, are a focus for delivering incremental revenue growth for us in the coming years. This growth, however, will be negatively impacted by the recent interim determinations by the ACCC regarding a reduction in the amount we can charge wholesale customers for ULL access.
Intercarrier services revenue
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Intercarrier services revenue
    351       290       61       21.0 %
 
                               
     Intercarrier Services revenue has grown by 21.0% to A$351 million during fiscal 2006 due to increases in facilities access, wholesale transmission solutions and other wholesale revenues mainly consisting of ULL.

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     Our growth in facilities access was 39.8% or A$24 million during fiscal 2006 for the year largely driven by demand for equipment building and mobile tower access as other carriers and service providers have sought to expand their infrastructure over time.
     Growth in wholesale transmission relates to leased transmission services led by a rise in demand from Internet service providers for backhaul transmission to expand their DSL network coverage. Partly offsetting these increases in intercarrier revenue was the unfavourable impact of a backdated rate adjustment for MCI Worldcom in September 2005 as well as a decline in services leased by the same customer.
     Other wholesale intercarrier revenue growth of A$18 million was due to ULL driven by a number of factors such as:
    carriers have reached customer density thresholds on wholesale DSL and resale PSTN to be able to undertake viable ULL; and
 
    falling equipment prices have reduced the capital required by carriage service providers to undertake ULL build.
Inbound calling products
     Our operating revenue from inbound calling products consists principally of the fees we charge our business customers for the provision of inbound calling numbers:
    for FreecallTM 1800, the cost of the call, charged to the party called, with no cost incurred by the caller;
 
    for Priority® 1300 and Priority® One3:
    the calling party from a PSTN service incurs a cost of A$0.25 (including GST) from anywhere in Australia. Different charges apply for calls made from ISDN, mobiles and payphones; and
 
    the service owner incurs the other components of the call charges as applicable.
     Also included is revenue from enhanced call centre products using network voice processing, which provides access to advanced call handling capabilities, without customers having to purchase and maintain their own networks.
     Our inbound calling products revenue therefore is driven by two different streams, the caller (A party) and the lessee of the inbound service (B party). The A party revenues are affected by substitution to other voice products such as mobiles and the Internet. B party revenues are affected by increased customer competition impacting prices.
     Revenue from inbound calling products remained steady at A$449 million in fiscal 2006 mainly due to an increase in Priority® One3 and 1300 A Party products offset by Priority® One3 and 1300 B Party products.
Inbound calling products
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Inbound calling products revenue
    449       449              
 
                               
B Party minutes (in millions)
    2,922       2,773       149       5.4 %
A Party calls (in millions)
    1,012       940       72       7.7 %
 
                               
 
    3,934       3,713       221       6.0 %
 
                               
 
Note: statistical data represents management’s best estimates.
     Our overall revenue from Priority® One3 and 1300 B Party products declined in fiscal 2006 due to very competitive market pressures resulting in lower returns. Minutes of use and services in operation have actually increased in this category of calls, but large customers are being won or retained at lower prices resulting in reduced revenues. This is offset by higher call volumes on our Priority® One3 and 1300 A Party products after calls from our

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ISDN and Siteline products to these numbers were reclassified in the current year to inbound calling. This amounted to A$13 million in fiscal 2006. There is also an increasing trend for calls to these numbers from mobile phones which are recorded as mobiles revenue.
     Revenue from FreecallTM 1800 has declined mainly due to intense price competition leading to reduced price and a declining customer base. Our other inbound calling products, such as Enterprise Speech Solutions, have continued to grow strongly throughout fiscal 2006.
Solutions management
     Our operating revenue from solutions management is derived from managing all or part of a customer’s communications and IT solutions and services covering:
    managed network services, which is network based voice and data products, including IP based networks and IP telephony, CPE management, radio networks and new wireless based technologies;
 
    IT services, which is managed customer infrastructure (e.g. desktop and end user devices), managed storage and security services, in addition to hosting and application development. IT services also includes the provision of professional consulting and deployment services; and
 
    other refers to our eBusiness solutions and global data centre.
Solutions management
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Managed network services
    337       337              
IT services
    632       572       60       10.5 %
Other
    20       22       (2 )     (9.1 )%
 
                               
Solutions management revenue
    989       931       58       6.2 %
 
                               
     In fiscal 2006, solutions management revenue increased 6.2% or A$58 million mainly due to increases in IT services.
     IT services grew by 10.5% or A$60 million in the current year, mainly due to our wholly owned entity KAZ winning major contracts, one of which was a five-year contract for an estimated A$200 million to provide the Department of Defence’s Central Office IT Infrastructure Support Services. Fiscal 2006 IT services revenue also included an additional A$12 million due to a full 12 months of results for KAZ compared to only 11 months in the previous fiscal year. Managed professional services revenue also contributed to the growth in IT services, with an increase of A$16 million due mainly to increased project work on an existing contract.
     In addition to increases in IT services, managed data, managed WAN and managed radio, which are in ‘managed network services’, all contributed positively to the revenue growth due mainly to increases in a number of contracts. Managed voice however offset this growth in revenue, declining due to a reduction in contracts in this area.
Offshore controlled entities
     The offshore controlled entities category relates to our offshore subsidiaries, which provide a variety of products and services within their various regions of operation. Included in this category are the following significant offshore controlled entities:
    CSLNW, which generates its revenues from the Hong Kong mobiles market. CSLNW was formerly known as CSL. In March 2006, this entity merged with Hong Kong based mobile company New World PCS. As result of this transaction, we now own 76.4% of the merged entity;

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    TelstraClear, which generates its revenues from providing full integrated services to the New Zealand market; and
 
    other offshore controlled entities predominantly in the Telstra Enterprise and Government segment, which mainly generate revenues from the provision of global communication solutions to multinational corporations through our interests in the United Kingdom, Asia and North America.
Offshore controlled entities — revenue
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
CSL New World
    830       734       96       13.1 %
TelstraClear
    620       625       (5 )     (0.8 )%
Other offshore controlled entities
    295       252       43       17.1 %
 
                               
Total offshore controlled entities revenue
    1,745       1,611       134       8.3 %
 
                               
     Consolidated revenue from offshore controlled entities increased in fiscal 2006 by 8.3% to A$1,745 million primarily due to the following factors:
    CSLNWexperienced revenue growth across the majority of its revenue streams, except for local voice which continues to be impacted by sustained pricing pressure. The merger between CSL and New World PCS resulted in increased revenue in the current year of A$66 million. Excluding this component, revenue has grown in both prepaid and postpaid categories after increased subscribers and handset revenue due to recent promotional activity. Revenue growth was also assisted by a A$11 million favourable foreign exchange rate impact.
 
    TelstraClear experienced a net decline in revenue of 0.8% to A$620 million. There were significant declines in calling revenues largely due to price erosion and pricing plan reductions in the Internet and IP business due to heavy retail competition. Revenue was also negatively impacted by the NZ$/A$ exchange rate, causing a A$22 million decline. These declines were mostly offset by strong growth in the business sector and an increased contribution from a full year’s ownership of the Sytec business. There were also a number of one-off implementation revenues from the provision of new and/or additional services to a number of key customers.
 
    The 17.1% growth in revenue to A$295 million from other offshore controlled entities was mainly due to growth in Europe, Asia and the US. In Europe, the inclusion of a full 12 months ownership of PSINet contributed A$15 million in revenue growth. Both Telstra Singapore and Telstra Hong Kong started to grow revenue by selling the full suite of international data products in the Asian market. KAZ also exhibited strong growth in the same region due to the synergies gained by combining this business with our telecommunications business in one bundle to customers. Growth in the US of A$15 million was mainly the result of a major contract to provide telecommunications solutions over an integrated global IP-based network, contributing A$12 million to revenue growth.
     For further detail regarding our major off shore subsidiaries CSLNW and TelstraClear refer to the business summaries that follow.

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Payphones
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Payphone revenue
    104       121       (17 )     (14.0 )%
 
                               
Telstra owned and operated payphones (thousands)
    30       31       (1 )     (3.2 )%
Privately owned and operated payphones (thousands)
    27       30       (3 )     (10.0 )%
 
                               
Total number of payphones (in thousands)
    57       61       (4 )     (6.6 )%
 
                               
 
Note: statistical data represents management’s best estimates.
     Payphone revenue declined by 14.0% to A$104 million in fiscal 2006, impacted by substitution to other products, particularly prepaid mobile phones and competitors’ prepaid calling cards. As a result of this migration, we removed a number of low usage phones resulting in a 3.2% reduction in the number of Telstra owned and operated payphones.
     There has also been a decline in privately owned and operated payphones of 10.0%, as private operators removed their support for unprofitable payphones. Telstra owned and operated payphones also reduced due to the loss of some payphones to private operators and lower demand in new growth locations.
Pay TV bundling
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Pay TV Bundling revenue
    320       263       57       21.7 %
 
                               
FOXTEL Pay TV Bundling subscribers (thousands)
    292       280       12       4.3 %
Austar Pay TV Bundling subscribers (thousands)
    51       55       (4 )     (7.3 )%
 
                               
Total Pay TV Bundling subscribers (thousands)
    343       335       8       2.4 %
 
                               
 
Note: statistical data represents management’s best estimates.
     Total pay TV bundling revenue grew by A$57 million, comprising increases in revenue for FOXTEL of A$46 million and AUSTAR of A$11 million.
     FOXTEL bundled services revenue grew by 20.0% or A$46 million during fiscal 2006 after an increase in subscribers and higher revenue per user. As customers have migrated from analogue to digital services, discount plans have been phased out and customers are upgrading their packages. It is intended that full customer migration will be completed by March 2007. The growth in subscribers was driven by low price installation/upgrade offers made to the market along with the FOXTEL 10th Anniversary promotion, which targeted both new customers and existing customers through digital migration. FOXTEL IQ, an interactive digital feature available to all FOXTEL digital subscribers also performed well, aided by a low installation price point campaign. At 30 June 2006, analogue services in operation represented 14.7% of FOXTEL bundled customers compared with 36.8% at the start of the year.
     Austar bundled services revenue growth for fiscal 2006 of A$11 million was driven by an increase in the average revenue per user after a change in the subscription offerings. Subscriptions, however, fell due to lower advertising activity, which resulted in slower sales rates while the disconnection rate remained consistent.

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Customer premises equipment
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Customer premises equipment revenue
    274       231       43       18.6 %
 
                               
     CPE revenue increased by 18.6% to A$274 million during fiscal 2006 mainly driven by strong growth in the sales of PBX equipment and communication packages known as Telstra Business Systems (TBS) packages. TBS sales more than tripled in the current fiscal year due to an expansion of the vendor base combined with new carriage pricing plans and investment made in support tools that enabled improved processing and reduced transaction time.
     The current year’s revenue also includes a full 12 months of operations for Telstra Business Systems Pty Ltd (formerly known as Damovo (Australia) Pty Ltd) as it was acquired September 2004. We also acquired Converged Networks Pty Ltd, Western Australia’s largest CPE dealer in April 2006.
     This growth was partially offset by an A$11 million decline in first phones/extensions due to continued substitution of rental phones due to sales of CPE and mobiles.
Other sales and services
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Telstra information and connection services
    120       134       (14 )     (10.4 )%
Customnet and spectrum
    110       112       (2 )     (1.8 )%
Virtual private network
    17       15       2       13.3 %
Card services
    50       59       (9 )     (15.3 )%
Security products
    34       33       1       3.0 %
HFC cable usage
    84       65       19       29.2 %
Conferlink
    48       47       1       2.1 %
Commercial and recoverable works
    57       58       (1 )     (1.7 )%
External construction
    108       85       23       27.1 %
Other
    131       133       (2 )     (1.5 )%
 
                               
Total other sales and services revenue
    759       741       18       2.4 %
 
                               
     In fiscal 2006, operating revenue from other sales and services increased by 2.4% or A$18 million mainly due to HFC cable usage and external construction revenue.
     HFC cable usage includes revenue received from FOXTEL for carriage services, cable installations and service calls. Revenue increased by A$19 million this year due to FOXTEL promotional activity which resulted in an increase in services in operation. There was also a scheduled FOXTEL contract rate increase during the period.
     External construction, which delivers communications network infrastructure solutions, had revenue growth of 27.1% or A$23 million in fiscal 2006. This growth can be mainly attributed to increased activity relating to the construction of the 3G 2100 network in conjunction with our joint venture partner, Hutchison.
     The above increases were partially offset by a A$14 million decline in information and connection services revenue as a result of lower call volumes. Also, card services declined by 15.3% or A$9 million. This was due to products such as Homelink 1800 and telecard being mature products and impacted by substitution to more cost effective convenient products such as pre-paid cards and mobiles.

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Other income
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
    46       51       (5 )     (9.8 )%
Proceeds from sale of investments
    93       252       (159 )     (63.1 )%
 
                               
Asset/investment sales
    139       303       (164 )     (54.1 )%
 
                               
Cost of property, plant & equipment
    (23 )     (42 )     19       (45.2 )%
Cost of investment
    (31 )     (173 )     142       (82.1 )%
 
                               
Cost of asset/investment sale
    (54 )     (215 )     161       (74.9 )%
 
                               
Net gain/loss on assets/investment sale
    85       88       (3 )     (3.4 )%
 
                               
USO Levy Receipts
    58       63       (5 )     (7.9 )%
Government subsidies
    135       71       64       90.1 %
Miscellaneous income
    50       39       11       28.2 %
 
                               
Other income
    243       173       70       40.5 %
 
                               
Total other income
    328       261       67       25.7 %
 
                               
     In fiscal 2006, total other income increased by 25.7% or A$67 million.
     In fiscal 2006 proceeds from sale of investments of A$93 million were due mainly to the sale of Xantic B.Vand Fundi Software Pty Ltd, with Xantic yielding a net gain of approximately A$58 million. In fiscal 2005, proceeds from the sale of our investments was mainly made up of the sale of our interests in Intelsat Limited, Infonet Services Corporation and the redemption of the convertible note issued by PCCW.
     The majority of the growth in government subsidy revenue was sourced from Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS) receipts and the broadband Connect Australia scheme, which can be attributed to an increase in the provision of broadband services to regional, rural and remote areas of Australia. Refer to the Internet and IP products section for further details regarding HiBIS.
Operating expenses
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Labour expense
    4,364       3,858       506       13.1 %
Goods and services purchased
    4,730       4,211       519       12.3 %
Other expenses
    4,427       3,815       612       16.0 %
 
                               
 
    13,521       11,884       1,637       13.8 %
 
                               
Share of net (gain)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities
    (5 )     94       (99 )     (105.3 )%
 
                               
 
    13,516       11,978       1,538       12.8 %
Depreciation and amortization
    4,087       3,529       558       15.8 %
 
                               
Total operating expenses
    17,603       15,507       2,096       13.5 %
 
                               
     In fiscal 2006, our total operating expenses (including share of net (gain)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities) was A$17,603 million, compared with A$15,507 million in fiscal 2005. One of the major drivers of the 13.5% increase was the inclusion of a restructuring and redundancy provision of A$427 million, which has impacted all three of the expense categories. Our operating expenses have been impacted by the following factors:
    costs associated with transformational initiatives and certain project write-offs;

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    increased costs associated with network rehabilitation;
 
    higher redundancy expense as a result of reduced staff numbers as efficiencies have been implemented;
 
    higher goods and services purchased costs due to increased marketing campaign activities and new offers aiming to stimulate sales growth in a range of our products and services;
 
    the benefit of ongoing cost control programs, including the consolidation of vendors and IT systems;
 
    growth in our communications plant asset base, along with the impact of a service life review of our asset base to align with the transformation program, has increased our depreciation and amortisation expense during fiscal 2006; and
 
    the consolidation of additional operating expenses in fiscal 2006 from our acquisition activity, including the merger between CSL and New World PCS, as well as the inclusion of a full fiscal year of expenses relating to entities we acquired in fiscal 2005. These included Universal Publishers from December 2004, Telstra Business Systems (formerly Damovo (Australia) Pty Ltd) from September 2004, PSINet from August 2004, and KAZ from July 2004.
Labour expense
    salary, wages and related on-costs, including superannuation costs, share based payments, workers’ compensation, leave entitlements and payroll tax;
 
    costs of engaging contractor labour and agency costs; and
 
    restructuring costs, including redundancy expenses.
     In the table below, our domestic full time employees include domestic full time staff, domestic fixed term contracted staff and expatriate staff in overseas subsidiary entities. Domestic full time employees do not include employees in our offshore subsidiary entities, or casual and part time employees. Our full time employees and equivalents include the total of our domestic and offshore full time employees, and casual and part time employees measured on an equivalent basis. Our total workforce includes domestic and offshore full time, casual and part time employees as well as contractors and staff employed through agency arrangements measured on an equivalent basis.
Labour expense
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Labour expense
    4,364       3,858       506       13.1 %
 
                               
Domestic full time employees (whole numbers)(1)
    37,599       39,680       (2,081 )     (5.2 )%
Full-time employees and employed equivalents (whole numbers)(2)
    44,452       46,227       (1,775 )     (3.8 )%
Total workforce, including contractors and agency staff (whole numbers)(3)
    49,443       52,705       (3,262 )     (6.2 )%
Reduction in total workforce in fiscal 2006
    (3,262 )                        
Reduction in total workforce in fiscal 2006 excluding impact of New World merger
    (3,859 )                        
 
Note: statistical data represents management’s best estimates
 
(1)   Excludes offshore, casual and part time employees.
 
(2)   Includes all domestic and offshore employees, including those of our subsidiary entities.
 
(3)   Includes all domestic and offshore employees, including subsidiary entities as well as contractors and agency staff.

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     During fiscal 2006, our total workforce decreased by 6.2% or 3,262 full time equivalent staff, contractors and agency staff. This decrease is predominantly due to specific efforts across the business to rationalise the number of people working for the Telstra Group as part of our business transformation initiatives. During the year, CSL merged with New World PCS, which resulted in the Telstra Group acquiring 597 new employees. Excluding the impact of the New World PCS merger on staff numbers, our total full time equivalent staff, contractors and agency staff reduced by 3,859 full time equivalent staff.
     We incurred redundancy expenses of A$348 million in fiscal 2006 compared with A$91 million in fiscal 2005. The higher redundancy expense reflects the implementation of cost control initiatives to improve the efficiency of our operational structure. In addition, a further A$186 million of redundancy expense is included as part of a restructuring and redundancy provision as at year end to account for redundancies expected to occur as part of the restructuring over the next two years.
     Our labour expense increased by 13.1% in fiscal 2006 mainly due to:
    the increased levels of redundancy and the redundancy provision referred to above;
 
    salary increases averaging between 2% and 4% for employees as specified in our enterprise agreements and as per the normal annual salary review process; and
 
    a full year of ownership of several subsidiaries acquired part way through fiscal 2005 (such as KAZ and Telstra Business Systems), and acquisition of new entities such as the New World Mobility group and a controlling interest in Adstream.
     The above increases in labour expense were partially offset by cost reductions associated with the 6.2% decrease in the number of employed staff, contractors and agency staff.
     Excluding the impact of redundancy expense, labour expense increased by 1.7%.
     Based on the latest detailed actuarial report provided on the financial position of Telstra Super as at 30 June 2003, we have reported that a surplus in this superannuation fund continues to exist. In accordance with the recommendations within the actuarial investigation, we were not expected to, and did not make employer contributions to Telstra Super during fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005. The detailed actuarial report is undertaken every three years. The next detailed actuarial investigation of Telstra Super is due to be completed by 30 June 2007 based on the scheme’s financial position as at 30 June 2006.
     As at 30 June 2006, the vested benefits index (the ratio of fund assets to members’ vested benefits) of the defined benefit divisions of Telstra Super was 115%. Our contributions to Telstra Super will recommence when the vested benefit index of the defined benefit divisions falls to 103%. The continuance of our contribution holiday is dependent on the performance of the fund and the level of contributions required to meet employer obligations, and we are monitoring the situation on a monthly basis. Based on the latest actuarial advice, we do not expect to make any contributions to Telstra Super during fiscal 2007.
     In fiscal 2006, we recognised A$185 million of pension costs in our labour expenses compared with A$203 million in fiscal 2005. This expense is due to the relevant A-IFRS standard requiring us to recognise the actuarially determined movement in our defined benefit pension plans in our operating results.
Goods and services purchased
     Goods and services purchased includes core costs of our business that vary according to business activity. The largest component of this expense category is network payments, which are payments made to other carriers to terminate international and domestic outgoing calls and international transit traffic. Other significant items include the costs of mobile handsets and Internet modems, costs of mobile sales (including subsidy costs, usage commissions and dealer incentives), managed services costs (including service contractors, sub-contractors and leases), service fees (predominantly in relation to our pay television services) and paper purchases and printing costs.

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Goods and services purchased
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Cost of goods sold
    917       726       191       26.3 %
Usage of commissions
    281       289       (8 )     (2.8 )%
Handset subsidies
    504       424       80       18.9 %
Network payments
    2,002       1,904       98       5.1 %
Service fees
    319       273       46       16.8 %
Managed Services
    242       190       52       27.4 %
Dealer performance commissions
    113       41       72       175.6 %
Paper purchases and printing
    147       159       (12 )     (7.5 )%
Other
    205       205              
 
                               
Total goods and services purchased
    4,730       4,211       519       12.3 %
 
                               
     Our goods and services purchased increased by 12.3% to A$4,730 million in fiscal 2006 mainly due to higher cost of goods sold, mobile handset subsidies, network payments and dealer performance commissions. Increases were experienced across most categories within goods and services purchased except for usage commissions and paper costs. Additionally, a restructuring provision of A$54 million has been raised in relation to the replacement of EVDO cards and additional customer and dealer costs associated with the shut down of our CDMA network in the future.
     Our goods and services purchased increased by 12.3% to A$4,730 million in fiscal 2006 due to the following factors:
    the inclusion of the full financial year of expenses relating to our subsidiary entities acquired part way through the prior fiscal year, including KAZ, Telstra Business Systems (formerly Damovo (Australia) Pty Ltd), PSINet and Universal Publishers. In fiscal 2006, CSL merged with New World PCS, the consolidation of which has caused an increase of goods and services purchased expense of A$29 million;
 
    a rise in cost of goods sold mainly due to higher sales volumes for mobile handsets, primarily driven by increased market campaign activity, strong BigPond® broadband demand, costs of supporting the Commonwealth Games, together with sales growth in other product categories such as EVDO, CPE for small business customers, Managed WAN equipment and voice related products. Also contributing to the increase are payments made to Brightstar, in accordance with our procurement agreement with them to centrally source wireless devices from global suppliers with a view to achieving cost savings. Inclusive of these payments, the Brightstar arrangement has provided net savings of approximately A$70 million, primarily relating to handset costs;
 
    an increase in mobile handset subsidies, attributable to a rise in the take up of handsets on subsidised plans as well as higher average subsidies offered, especially following a significant campaign undertaken in the last quarter, whereby a greater range of handsets are being subsidised. As a result, our average subscriber acquisition cost has increased from A$120 to A$137. In addition, the CSLNW has implemented a more aggressive handset subsidy policy in order to increase handset sales. In fiscal 2006, we have also made an A-IFRS accounting policy change to expense handset subsidies as incurred, as opposed to previously deferring and amortising them over the contract period. The prior year comparative figure has been adjusted to allow a like for like comparison;
 
    network payments continued to grow due to volume increases of domestic mobile and SMS traffic terminating on other carriers’ networks, partially offset by a reduction in the average mobile terminating rate. Additionally, expansion and growth in our UK, USA and Asian operations, which drove both growth in our offshore outpayments and higher outbound roaming revenue, partly offset by a reduction of costs through routing traffic to overseas carriers that offer lower prices and favourable foreign exchange variations

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      in our New Zealand operations. Additional Network Access Charges were also incurred as a result of our 3G 2100 partnership activities with Hutchison;
 
    service fees increased by 16.8% to A$319 million in fiscal 2006 led by a rise in bundling of pay TV services due to growth in bundled FOXTEL subscribers;
 
    managed services costs grew by 27.4% to A$242 million in fiscal 2006, mainly attributable to increased third party maintenance and service costs for the support of customer contracts. There are also a number of reclassifications from other expenses such as service contracts, service fees and consultancy amounting to A$26 million. Offsetting these increases are decreases due to lease renegotiations;
 
    increase in dealer performance commissions, mainly attributable to increased proactive sales activity in our personal calling program. New dealer payments resulting from the implementation of the new dealer remuneration model have also contributed to the growth; and
 
    an increase in other goods and services purchased due to the inclusion of a restructuring provision of A$54 million in fiscal 2006, offset by a decrease in commercial project payments as described below.
     These increases were partially offset by a decrease in other goods and services expenses such as usage commissions, commercial project payments and paper purchases and printing costs.
    usage commissions decreased by A$8 million mainly as a result of the discontinuation of commission payments to Keycorp following our acquisition of their Transaction Network Solutions business during the year. This was partly offset by increased dealer commissions mainly associated with non-mobile related products, including BigPond® products;
 
    commercial project payments declined from A$59 million in fiscal 2005 to A$34 million in fiscal 2006 mainly relating to a lower level of deferral and amortisation of its basic access installation costs. The expense fluctuates in accordance with our installations over the five prior years. An equivalent amount is amortised into revenue and hence there is no EBIT impact. Also contributing to the decline was a change in the line usage billing arrangement for outsourced faxstream costs; and
 
    paper purchase and printing costs decreased from A$159 million in fiscal 2005 to A$147 million in fiscal 2006 due to savings achieved through printing contract discounts, together with a reclassification of expenses into cost of goods sold. There was also a reduction in printing costs relating to superannuation industry contracts after a push towards the use of online notifications.
Other expenses
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Property and IT rental expense
    559       572       (13 )     (2.3 )%
Net foreign currency conversion losses/(gains)
    2       (40 )     42       (105.0 )%
Audit fees
    8       7       1       14.3 %
Service contracts and other agreements
    1,836       1,556       280       18.0 %
Promotion and advertising
    356       330       26       7.9 %
General and administration
    793       806       (13 )     (1.6 )%
Other operating expenses
    544       394       150       38.1 %
Impairment and diminution expenses
    329       190       139       73.2 %
 
                               
Total other expenses
    4,427       3,815       612       16.0 %
 
                               
     Our other expenses were A$4,427 million in fiscal 2006 and A$3,815 million in fiscal 2005, representing a 16.0% increase year on year. A restructuring provision of A$137 million was raised at year end mainly relating to property rationalisation, cancellation of server leases, the decommissioning of certain IT platforms and operational

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and business support systems and related stock obsolescence. Excluding the impact of the provision, our total other expenses grew by 12.5% to A$4,290 million.
     Our other expenses in fiscal 2006 include an additional A$17 million of expenses attributable to the merger of CSL with New World PCS during the period. In addition, a full twelve months of expenses have been included in fiscal 2006 for KAZ, PSINet, Universal Publishers, and Telstra Business Systems (formerly Damovo (Australia) Pty Ltd), which were acquired part way through fiscal 2005.
     The movement in the significant categories of other expenses is discussed below.
     The largest component within this expense category is service contracts and other agreements. This expense increased from A$1,556 million in fiscal 2005 to A$1,836 million in fiscal 2006, mainly driven by the following factors:
    increased network maintenance and rehabilitation activity;
 
    costs associated with transformational initiatives;
 
    maintenance of the existing 3G 2100 MHZ network and the operational expenditure relating to the construction of our new NEXT GTM wireless network;
 
    volume based increases including installations for digital pay television, as well as increased activations and fault rectifications for BigPond® products due to product growth; and
 
    a rise in consultancy costs associated with our transformation strategy and increased market research activity due to a focus on understanding customer needs.
     The above increases are partly offset by savings from the renegotiation of a major vendor contract, a reduction in mainframe server lease charges as well as the completion of consulting work from fiscal 2005.
     General and administration expenses decreased from A$806 million in fiscal 2005 to A$793 million in fiscal 2006. This was driven by lower IT costs resulting from savings achieved in repairs and maintenance through continued infrastructure consolidation. The closure of an IT system and the decommissioning of an IT platform have also contributed to reduced IT related costs. Discretionary costs such as seminars and conferences, travel and entertainment costs have decreased in fiscal 2006 as a result of a strong focus on cost reduction. Legal costs have however risen in the year due to increased litigation and other legal work, especially around the C7 case (refer to note 27 of the annual report for further details), operational separation issues and various project initiatives.
     Other operating expenses increased from A$394 million to A$544 million during fiscal 2006 primarily due to the provision for restructuring of A$105 million raised in this category. Excluding the impact of the provision, our other operating expenses increased by A$45 million. This was largely driven by lower construction activity resulting in higher operations and maintenance activity being expensed.
     Property and IT rental expense decreased by 2.3% to A$559 million during fiscal 2006, mainly due to reduced PC leasing costs driven through a consolidation of server leases, which has enabled us to negotiate contracts at a more competitive rate. The decommissioning of an old IT platform and the consolidation of various vendor contracts have also contributed to the decrease in IT rental costs.
     Our promotion and advertising costs increased by 7.9% to A$356 million during fiscal 2006 mainly due to increased spend during the Commonwealth Games, as well as more marketing activity in the face of increased competition and efforts to stimulate revenue.
     Our impairment and diminution expense has increased from A$190 million in fiscal 2005 to A$329 million in fiscal 2006, mainly attributable to the retirement of a number of IT assets and increased costs associated with the cancellation of partially completed capital projects after a review of project direction as part of our transformation strategy. Also included in fiscal 2006 was a provision relating to business restructure of A$32 million. Our inventory write down expense also rose due to increased write-offs in our construction business, as well as the impact of our active promotion of mobile handsets, causing slow moving stock to be written off more quickly. This increase was partly offset by the decrease in our bad and doubtful debts, which decreased from A$150 million in fiscal 2005 to

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A$139 million in fiscal 2006. Improved credit management performance has led to lower provision requirements and write-offs, as well as fewer payments to external debt collection agents.
     Net foreign currency conversion costs represents the remaining foreign currency exposure after taking into account our hedging activities. The loss of A$2 million in fiscal 2006 compared with a gain of A$40 million in fiscal 2005 is mainly due to an A-IFRS accounting adjustment relating to the REACH capacity prepayment, which was processed in fiscal 2005.
Share of net (gain)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Share of net (gain)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities
    (5 )     94       (99 )     (105.3 )%
     Our share of net (gain)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities includes our share of both profits and losses from equity accounted investments.
     In fiscal 2005, we entered into an agreement with our joint venture entity, REACH, which included a commitment to fund half of REACH’s committed capital expenditure for a period until 2022. Under A-IFRS, this transaction was deemed to be part of our investment in REACH and resulted in equity accounted losses being recognised in fiscal 2005. REACH contributed A$102 million in equity accounted losses in fiscal 2005.
     The current year equity accounting gain has arisen after improved performance from our joint venture entity Xantic prior to its sale.
Depreciation and amortisation
     Our depreciation and amortisation expense remains a major component of our cost structure, reflecting our expenditure on capital items.
Depreciation and amortisation
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Depreciation
    3,183       2,876       307       10.7 %
Amortisation
    904       653       251       38.4 %
 
                               
Total depreciation and amortization
    4,087       3,529       558       15.8 %
 
                               
     Our depreciation and amortisation expense has risen by 15.8% to A$4,087 million in fiscal 2006. During fiscal 2006, we have undertaken a strategic review of the service lives of our assets as part of the transformation strategy. As a result, we have accelerated depreciation and amortisation by A$422 million mainly in relation to adjusting service lives of the CDMA network, our switching systems, certain business and operational support systems and related software.
     Excluding the impact of the accelerated depreciation, our depreciation and amortisation grew by 3.9% to A$3,665 million, mainly attributable to:
    growth in our communications plant asset base, which is consistent with our level of capital expenditure over recent years; and
 
    consolidation of A$16 million of depreciation and amortisation expenses from our newly merged entity, CSLNW, along with the inclusion of a full 12 months of depreciation and amortisation expenses relating to entities acquired in fiscal 2005.

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Net finance costs
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Finance costs
    1,002       963       39       4.0 %
Finance income
    (66 )     (83 )     17       (20.5 )%
 
                               
Net finance costs
    936       880       56       6.4 %
 
                               
     Our borrowing costs are influenced by:
    our debt level;
 
    interest rates;
 
    our debt maturity profile;
 
    our interest payment profile; and
 
    our level of cash assets (affects net debt).
     In fiscal 2006, our net debt levels increased from A$11,771 million to A$13,057 million. This increase was driven by our cash requirements to fund the payment of the fiscal 2005 final dividend and the fiscal 2006 interim dividend, both of which included a 14c per share ordinary dividend and a 6c per share special dividend. This level of dividend payments is higher than in previous periods and hence, required an increase in our borrowing levels.
     The higher level of net debt has driven an increase in our net finance costs despite the fact that our net cost of debt has declined marginally during the year. The reason for the decline in average cost of debt is that long term bonds which were issued at historically high interest rates are maturing and being refinanced at the current, comparatively lower, interest rates.
Income tax expense
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
Income Tax Expense
    1,380       1,746       (366 )     (21.0 )%
 
                               
Effective Tax Rate
    30.3 %     28.8 %           1.5 %
     In fiscal 2006, our income tax expense decreased by 21.0% to A$1,380 million. The primary driver of the reduction in tax expense is lower profits for the year compared to fiscal 2005.
     In fiscal 2006, the effective tax rate increased to 30.3% compared with the effective tax rate of 28.8% in fiscal 2005. The higher effective tax rate is due to a change in the taxation adjustments for items that have different treatments for accounting and taxation purposes, such as equity accounted FOXTEL losses and the depreciation of certain items of plant and equipment. In addition, the current year tax expense includes an amount for under provision of tax in the prior year that is A$34 million higher than the amount included in fiscal 2005 for under provision in fiscal 2004.
Major subsidiaries — financial summaries
     Below is a summary of the major reporting lines for our three largest subsidiaries: Sensis, TelstraClear and CSLNW. This information is in addition to the product analysis previously provided in the document and is intended to show these businesses as stand alone entities.

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Sensis financial summary
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Sales revenue
    1,826       1,708       118       6.9 %
Total income
    1,827       1,708       119       7.0 %
Total expenses
    (917 )     (863 )     (54 )     6.3 %
EBITDA
    1,001       908       92       10.2 %
EBIT
    910       845       65       7.7 %
CAPEX
    100       83       17       20.5 %
EBITDA margin
    54.8 %     53.2 %           1.6 %
 
Amounts included for Sensis represent the contribution included in Telstra’s consolidated result.
     We are a leading provider of advertising and search services through our advertising business Sensis and its respective subsidiaries. Sensis provides advertising and local search solutions through a print, online, voice, wireless and satellite navigation network.
     The 6.9% increase in sales revenue to A$1,826 million during fiscal 2006 has primarily been driven by advertising and directories revenue as described in the Advertising and Directories product discussion. The growth in this area has been driven by good performance in White Pages and Yellow print and online. The inclusion of acquired entities in fiscal 2006 has also contributed to growth in the current year.
     Operating expenses increased by 6.3% due mainly to the following:
    Labour expenses grew by A$18 million during fiscal 2006 due to organic growth of the workforce, redundancy costs and a A$10 million write back of a deferred expense provision.
 
    Cost of goods sold increased by A$14 million after the inclusion of a full 12 months of results from Universal Publishers acquired mid way through fiscal 2005; and
 
    Increased depreciation and amortisation expense by A$27 million after commissioning new software, the inclusion of amortisation for Universal Publishers and Adstream and the revision of certain software service lives as part of our transformation strategy.
     Cost management and growing yields and margins in print and online led to underlying EBITDA growth of 10.2% in fiscal 2006.
CSL New World Mobility Group financial summary
     In February 2001, we acquired a 60% ownership interest in CSL. We paid A$3,085 million, including incidental acquisition costs, to acquire this controlling interest. In June 2002, we acquired the remaining 40% ownership interest in CSL as part of our redemption of a convertible note from PCCW. In March 2006, we merged the CSL entity with New World PCS to form CSLNW. This transaction involved us exchanging a 23.6% share in CSL and receiving a controlling interest in the merged entity of 76.4%.
     CSLNW operates in the highly competitive Hong Kong mobile market and has delivered revenue growth in fiscal 2006 despite a difficult operating environment, characterised by significant market competition and local voice price erosion. CSL and New World PCS have retained their own brandings as they target different market segments. CSL remains Hong Kong’s premium provider of mobile voice and data services while New World PCS targets value conscious customers with a low cost business model. The merged entity provides a much broader customer base for growth.

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CSL New World financial summary
                                                 
    Year Ended 30 June   Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006   2005   Change
    A$m   A$m   %   HK$m   HK$m   %
Total income
    833       735       13.3 %     4,831       4,308       12.1 %
Total expense
    (757 )     (648 )     16.8 %     (4,145 )     (3,583 )     15.7 %
EBITDA
    240       217       10.6 %     1,390       1,272       9.3 %
EBIT
    77       87       (11.5 )%     686       725       (5.4 )%
CAPEX
    98       128       (23.4 )%     568       755       (24.8 )%
EBITDA margin
    28.8 %     29.5 %     (0.7 )%     28.8 %     29.5 %     (0.7 )%
 
Note: Amounts presented in HK$ have been prepared in accordance with A-IFRS.
Amounts presented in A$ represent amounts included in our consolidated result including additional depreciation and amortisation arising from consolidation fair value adjustments.
Amounts include three months of New World PCS in fiscal 2006.
     Total income increased by 12.1% or HK$523 million in fiscal 2006. The majority of the increase resulted from the inclusion of the New World PCS business from March 2006. This resulted in an 8.7% increase in total income year on year. The remaining revenue growth was driven by rising data, international voice, and prepaid revenues offset by a decline in local voice revenues after sustained pressure on prices. Mobile handset revenue also increased after recent handset promotions.
     Total operating expenses increased by 15.7% mainly due to the following:
    the incorporation of costs after the merger with New World PCS;
 
    increased subsidies as part of heightened promotional activity to drive sales; and
 
    higher offshore outpayments associated with higher international voice revenues.
     Depreciation and amortisation expense increased as CSLNW is now carrying higher network assets due to the roll out of its 3G network. EBITDA increased by 9.3% or HK$118 million while EBIT decreased by 5.4% or HK$39 million due to the impact of higher depreciation.
     CSLNW continues to enhance its 3G network and promote 3G services through the deployment of pioneering technology and innovative applications. In February 2006, we announced the launch of Hong Kong’s first 3G Mobile TV service enabling customers to enjoy a variety of news and “infotainment” stations.
TelstraClear financial summary
     TelstraClear, the second largest full service carrier in New Zealand, has been operating in its current form since December 2001. In December 2001, we merged our 50% owned joint venture, TelstraSaturn and CLEAR Communications, to form TelstraClear. As part of this transaction, we acquired an additional 8.4% interest in the merged entity and began the consolidation of 58.4% of TelstraClear’s results. In April 2003, we acquired the remaining 41.6% interest in TelstraClear and consolidated 100% of TelstraClear’s results from that date.

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TelstraClear financial summary
                                                 
    Year Ended 30 June   Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006   2005   Change
    A$m   A$m   %   HK$m   HK$m   %
Total income
    620       625       (0.8 )%     693       676       2.5 %
Total expense
    (645 )     (648 )     (0.5 )%     (713 )     (695 )     2.6 %
EBITDA
    111       112       (0.9 )%     124       122       1.6 %
EBIT
    (25 )     (24 )     4.2 %     (20 )     (19 )     5.3 %
CAPEX
    126       115       9.6 %     141       125       12.8 %
EBITDA margin
    17.8 %     18.0 %     (0.2 )%     17.9 %     18.0 %     (0.1 )%
 
Note: Amounts presented in NZ$ represent the New Zealand business excluding intercompany transactions and have been prepared in accordance with A-IFRS.
Amounts presented in A$ represent amounts included in our consolidated result and include the Australian dollar value of adjustments to consolidate TelstraClear into the Group result.
     In fiscal 2006, revenue increased by 2.5% to NZ$693 million for the following reasons:
    the full year impact of the national HomePlan offering in the consumer segment; and
 
    the current year included the first whole year of Sytec Resources Limited and its controlled entities (Sytec) revenue after its acquisition in November 2004.
     These increases were offset by:
    access and call revenue declines in the wholesale and small to medium enterprise segments due to price erosion caused by competition in the market. This was moderated by growth in our customer bases in those segments; and
 
    Internet revenues have declined, particularly in the second half, as reduced pricing plans have impacted yield in the consumer segment.
     Total operating expense increased by 2.6% to NZ$713 million due to the following:
    an increase in outpayments due to higher revenue; and
 
    a small increase in labour expenses driven by the inclusion of a full year of Sytec costs.
     TelstraClear’s acquisition of local ICT service provider, Sytec in November 2004 and its controlled entities was an important step to leverage TelstraClear’s existing service capability and provided growth and opportunities in this segment in fiscal 2006. New Zealand is a strategically important market for our trans-Tasman customers and the combination of TelstraClear and Telstra enables us to provide customers on both sides of the Tasman with seamless communication and IT solutions.
REACH
     REACH is primarily focused on meeting the increasing needs of its shareholders, Telstra and PCCW, as well as third party voice and satellite services. We are the premier provider of international voice and satellite services in Asia via the operation and management of the most diverse high-speed network in the region.
     In February 2001, we sold our global wholesale business, including certain offshore controlled entities, to REACH in exchange for 50% ownership in REACH.
     Since the original transaction, REACH has been operating in a difficult environment. Prices for international voice and data carriage have fallen, but growth in usage has not been sufficient to compensate for the loss in revenue caused by the price reductions. Consequently, we have previously been required to write down our investment, reducing the carrying value to nil. Equity accounting was suspended at that date and remains suspended. As a result, our share of net profits/(losses) in relation to REACH are not booked in the Telstra Group results.

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     Fiscal 2006 operational performance of the business continued to track according to plan with a focus on consolidation of a new operating model. Data volumes continue to grow strongly and voice business volumes are stable. REACH has also recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a consortium of entities to plan and develop a proposal to build an international undersea cable linking South East Asia with the United States of America. In addition, in October 2005, REACH announced the launch of the first stage of its international IP enabled Next Generation Network.
Cash flow
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Receipts from customers
    25,229       24,526       703       2.9 %
Payments to suppliers/employees
    (14,785 )     (13,848 )     (937 )     6.8 %
 
                               
Net cash generated by operations
    10,444       10,678       (234 )     (2.2 )%
Income tax paid
    (1,882 )     (1,718 )     (164 )     9.5 %
 
                               
Net cash provided by operating activities(1)
    8,562       8,960       (398 )     (4.4 )%
 
                               
Net cash used in investing activities(1) (see table
                               
below)
    (4,012 )     (3,766 )     (246 )     6.5 %
 
                               
Operating cash flow less investing cash flow(1)
    4,550       5,194       (644 )     (12.4 )%
 
                               
Movements in borrowings/finance leases
    493       1,393       (900 )     (64.6 )%
Employee share loans
    24       19       5       26.3 %
Dividends paid
    (4,970 )     (4,124 )     (846 )     20.5 %
Share buy-back
          (756 )     756        
Finance costs paid
    (940 )     (879 )     (61 )     6.9 %
Purchase of shares for employee share plans
    (6 )           (6 )      
 
                               
Net cash used in financing activities(1)
    (5,399 )     (4,347 )     (1,052 )     24.2 %
 
                               
Net increase/(decrease) in cash
    (849 )     847       (1,696 )     (200.2 )%
 
(1)   Due to the implementation of A-IFRS, we have revised the presentation of the cash flow summary and our statutory reported statement of cash flows. This has resulted in some reclassifications between our key cash flow totals (net cash provided by operating activities, net cash used in investing activities and net cash used in financing activities). Consequently, the 2005 comparative totals disclosed for these lines have changed from the amounts disclosed as at 30 June 2005. The most significant change is the reclassification of our finance costs paid from operating into financing, and the reclassification of interest received from operating into investing.
Net cash provided by operating activities
     Our primary source of liquidity is cash generated from our operations. Net cash provided by operating activities includes receipts from trade and other receivables, payments to suppliers and employees, income tax paid, and GST received, paid and remitted to the Australian Taxation Office.
     During fiscal 2006, net cash provided by operating activities decreased by 4.4% to A$8,562 million. Higher revenue and lower working capital items were offset by higher expense payments. The key drivers of our increased revenue were our mobiles and broadband products. Our higher expense payments were mainly due to increased labour costs, in particular redundancy payments, our variable operating expenditure items that increase with revenue and our service contracts and agreements expenditure.
     In addition, our cash paid to the Australian Taxation Office was A$164 million higher in fiscal 2006 than in fiscal 2005 due to a low tax instalment rate requiring us to make a larger final tax payment in respect of fiscal 2005. The final payment in respect of fiscal 2005 was made in fiscal 2006.

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Net cash used in investing activities
     Net cash used in investing activities represents amounts paid for capital assets and investments, offset by cash receipts from the sale of capital assets and investments, and other cash receipts from our investing activities.
Net cash used in investing activities
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Switching
    452       338       114       33.7 %
Transmission
    426       358       68       19.0 %
Customer access
    800       870       (70 )     (8.0 )%
Mobile telecommunications networks
    1,043       497       546       109.9 %
International assets
    338       279       59       21.1 %
Capitalised software
    556       523       33       6.3 %
Specialised network functions
    237       291       (54 )     (18.6 )%
Other
    340       377       (37 )     (9.8 )%
 
                               
Operating capital expenditure
    4,192       3,533       659       18.7 %
Other intangibles
    63       6       57       950.0 %
 
                               
Capital expenditure before investments
    4,255       3,539       716       20.2 %
Add: investment expenditure
    48       590       (542 )     (91.9 )%
 
                               
Capital expenditure and investments
    4,303       4,129       174       4.2 %
Sale of capital equipment, investments and other proceeds
    (139 )     (244 )     105       (43.0 )%
Proceeds from other investments
    (86 )     (76 )     (10 )     13.2 %
Repayment of loans to jointly controlled and associated entities
          37       (37 )      
Interest received
    (66 )     (78 )     12       (15.4 )%
Dividend received
          (2 )     2        
 
                               
Net cash used in investing activities
    4,012       3,766       246       6.5 %
 
                               
     In fiscal 2006, our expenditure on operating capital, intangibles and investments amounted to A$4,303 million, an increase of 4.2% on the previous fiscal year. This growth was driven by our next generation network transformation program, which is part of our ongoing strategy of transforming the business.
     The increases in our operating capital expenditure were across most capital expenditure categories, with the exception of minor decreases in customer access and specialised network functions. The drivers of our operating capital expenditure for fiscal 2006 were as follows:
    higher domestic switching as a result of our fixed line transformation program, which involves building a new IP core and the next generation ethernet transmission network. Further expenditure was also incurred to cater for increasing demand for broadband ADSL and specialised wideband services;
 
    higher transmission expenditure to support the new NEXT GTM wireless network and to provide capacity to support increased broadband demand for digital subscriber line (DSL) technology;
 
    lower expenditure on customer access due to the achievement of operational efficiencies and the use of new IP ADSL technology at a lower unit cost;
 
    significantly higher expenditure on our mobile networks, primarily due to two items: payments to Hutchison amounting to A$312 million for the purchase of a 50% share of its 3G 2100 network, acquired in fiscal 2005 with payments deferred until fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2007; and costs incurred in relation to the roll out of our NEXT GTM wireless network. Most of the expenditure incurred on the NEXT GTM wireless network relates to

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      installing and updating our base stations to enable them to carry the new network. During fiscal 2006 we installed 3,500 base stations out of an intended long term program in excess of 5,000 base stations;
 
    higher expenditure on international assets, predominantly related to the purchase of additional international transmission capacity to facilitate increased Internet traffic with the United States;
 
    marginally higher expenditure on capitalised software as we embark on a three to five year program of transformation projects. In this early stage of the program we have been through a process of rationalising and streamlining our software applications; and
 
    lower expenditure on specialised network functions due to the postponement of a number of projects as we undergo a review to ensure that each project is aligned to our transformation initiatives. The expenditure we incurred during the year was mainly in relation to improving the reliability and robustness of the network and on improving the IP telephony network infrastructure platform.
     Our expenditure on investments and other intangibles amounted to A$111 million in fiscal 2006, compared with A$596 million in fiscal 2005. Investment expenditure was significantly higher in fiscal 2005 predominantly due to our acquisitions of KAZ and PSINet.
     In fiscal 2006 our cash payments for investments and intangibles resulted from the following items:
    A$56 million for the acquisition of the TNS business assets and customer bases from our associated entity Keycorp Limited;
 
    A$21 million for the acquisition of a further 25% of the issued share capital of Adstream Australia Limited, to increase our shareholding to 58% making Adstream a controlled entity;
 
    A$5 million cash contribution to our joint venture entity FOXTEL; and
 
    other minor investments.
     In fiscal 2005, our cash payments for investments resulted from the following items:
    A$340 million for the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of KAZ;
 
    A$124 million for the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of PSINet;
 
    A$66 million for the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of ESA Holding Pty Ltd and its controlled entity Damovo (Australia) Pty Ltd (now known as Telstra Business Systems), and Damovo HK Limited; and
 
    A$46 million for the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of Universal Publishers.
     Our proceeds from the sale of capital equipment, sale of investments and other proceeds amounted to A$139 million in fiscal 2006, compared with A$244 million in fiscal 2005.
     Our cash proceeds from asset sales in fiscal 2006 included the following:
    the sale of our share of Xantic B.V. of A$89 million; and
 
    sale of property, plant and equipment amounting to A$50 million.
     Our cash proceeds from asset sales in fiscal 2005 included the following:
    the sale of our 1.7% shareholding in Intelsat Limited for A$69 million;
 
    proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment of A$68 million; and
 
    the sale of our 5.3% shareholding in Infonet Services Corporation for A$65 million.
     During fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 we also received cash from other investment transactions. These included:
    receipt of A$42 million as part of the settlement of the merger transaction with New World PCS in fiscal 2006;

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    receipt of A$18 million from a share buy-back performed by Xantic prior to our disposal of our interest in Xantic in fiscal 2006;
 
    receipt of A$16 million from our associated entity Keycorp, due to a return of capital in fiscal 2006; and
 
    the redemption of the converting note issued by PCCW with a cash consideration of A$76 million in fiscal 2005.
     Our capital expenditure in fiscal 2007 is expected to be between A$5,400 million and A$5,700 million. This is significantly higher than our traditional expenditure levels which is largely due to transformational expenditure, including further construction of our new NEXT GTM wireless network, and upgrading our customer access network by delivering a new fixed line IP core in the 5 major capital cities.
     We also expect to incur future capital expenditure in the following areas:
    meeting ongoing customer demand for existing products and services, while ensuring service levels are improved;
 
    developing new products and services to meet the changing needs of our customers;
 
    asset lifecycle management;
 
    further development of our broadband and online infrastructure to meet future growth;
 
    providing telecommunications services to rural and remote areas; and
 
    internal business support infrastructure to ensure continued productivity improvements, operational efficiencies and customer relationship process improvements.
     We believe our cash flow from operating activities and available borrowings will be sufficient to meet our anticipated capital expenditure and investment requirements.
Net cash used in financing activities
     Our net cash used in financing activities increased in fiscal 2006 by 24.2%.
     A significant portion of our net financing cash outflows related to the payment of dividends and, in fiscal 2005, a share buy-back. The amount paid to shareholders in fiscal 2006 was largely consistent with the combined amount paid by way of dividends and the share buy-back in fiscal 2005. In fiscal 2006, shareholders received the payment of two special dividends of A$0.06 each per share, amounting to A$1,492 million, one was the final dividend for fiscal 2005 and the other was the interim dividend for fiscal 2006.
     We also receive and repay significant amounts in relation to our borrowings to fund our working capital requirements and other business needs.
     The net increase in cash used in financing activities is due to higher dividends and a share buy-back in fiscal 2005, partially offset by a higher net level of proceeds from our debt issuances in fiscal 2005. Our net proceeds from debt were high during fiscal 2005 due to the refinancing of debt which matured during the year and our need to increase our level of liquidity to fund working capital.
     During the year, we received A$8,641 million in borrowed funds and repaid A$8,141 million. In fiscal 2005, we received A$7,416 million in borrowed funds and repaid A$6,007 million. This resulted in a net increase in cash of A$1,909 million over the two-year period, which assisted in funding the outflows from the payment of dividends and finance costs.

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Balance Sheet
                                 
    As at 30 June
    2006   2005   Change   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Current assets
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
    689       1,548       (859 )     (55.5 )%
Other current assets
    4,190       4,034       156       3.9 %
 
                               
Total current assets
    4,879       5,582       (703 )     (12.6 )%
 
                               
Non current assets
                               
Property, plant and equipment
    23,622       22,891       731       3.2 %
Intangibles — goodwill
    2,073       2,037       36       1.8 %
Intangibles — other
    4,050       4,292       (242 )     (5.6 )%
Other non current assets
    1,551       409       1,142       279.2 %
 
                               
Total non current assets
    31,296       29,629       1,667       5.6 %
 
                               
Total assets
    36,175       35,211       964       2.7 %
 
                               
Current liabilities
                               
Borrowings
    1,969       1,507       462       30.7 %
Other current liabilities
    5,917       4,905       1,012       20.6 %
 
                               
Total current liabilities
    7,886       6,412       1,474       23.0 %
 
                               
Non current liabilities
                               
Borrowings
    11,409       10,941       468       4.3 %
Other non current liabilities
    4,048       4,200       (152 )     (3.6 )%
 
                               
Total non current liabilities
    15,457       15,141       316       2.1 %
 
                               
Total liabilities
    23,343       21,553       1,790       8.3 %
 
                               
Net assets
    12,832       13,658       (826 )     (6.0 )%
 
                               
Equity
                               
Telstra Entity
    12,586       13,656       (1,070 )     (7.8 )%
Minority interests
    246       2       244        
 
                               
Total equity
    12,832       13,658       (826 )     (6.0 )%
 
                               
     We continue to maintain a strong financial position with net assets of A$12,832 million as at 30 June 2006 and A$13,658 million as at 30 June 2005. The decrease in net assets in fiscal 2006 of A$826 million was due to an increase in total liabilities of A$1,790 million, offset by higher total assets of A$964 million.
     The movement in total assets of A$964 million was primarily due to:
    cash assets decreased by A$859 million partially due to the proceeds on our EUR1 billion bond issue being received just prior to 30 June 2005, which was subsequently invested in the short term money market. The current level of cash is more reflective of our normal cash holdings;
 
    our property, plant and equipment increased by A$731 million, largely due to high capital expenditure on our network and our new fixed line IP core driven by our next generation network transformation projects;
 
    other intangibles decreased by A$242 million, due mainly to the amortisation of our software assets exceeding expenditure on new software during the year as we rationalised and streamlined many of our software applications as part of our business transformation; and

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    other non current assets increased by A$1,142 million mainly due to an increase in the actuarially determined value of our defined benefit pension asset.
     The movement in total liabilities of A$1,790 million was primarily due to:
    total borrowings, current and non-current, increased by A$930 million. This increase reflected our need to increase our level of liquidity to fund our working capital and business requirements, along with two special dividend payments made during the fiscal year;
 
    other current liabilities increased by A$1,012 million primarily due to an increase in our trade creditors and accruals, reflecting the large amount of activity, in particular construction activity, undertaken close to the end of the fiscal year. In addition, current and non-current liabilities include a provision for restructuring and redundancy expenses planned to be incurred as part of our transformation of the business mainly over the next two years; and
 
    other non-current liabilities decreased by A$152 million primarily due to a change in our cross currency swap position in line with currency movements and our hedging requirements.
Liquidity and capital resources
     Capitalisation
                 
    As at 30 June 2006
    A$ million   US$ million(1)
Cash and cash equivalents
    689       511  
 
               
Short term debt(2)(3)
               
Bank loans
    111       82  
Bills of exchange and commercial paper
    1,457       1,082  
Other loans
    394       293  
Finance leases
    7       5  
Derivative financial instruments (net)(4)
    (9 )     (7 )
 
               
Short term debt
    1,960       1,455  
 
               
Long term debt(3)
               
Telstra bonds
    2,613       1,939  
Other loans (unsecured)
    8,748       6,494  
Finance leases
    48       36  
Derivative financial instruments (net)(4)
    377       280  
 
               
Total long term debt
    11,786       8,749  
 
               
Equity
               
Share capital
    5,569       4,134  
Reserves
    (160 )     (119 )
Retained profits(5)
    7,177       5,327  
Minority interests
    246       183  
 
               
Total equity
    12,832       9,525  
 
               
Total capitalisation(6)
    26,578       19,729  
 
               
 
(1)   Translated at the noon buying rate on 30 June 2006 of A$1.00 = US$0.7423.
 
(2)   Includes the current portion of long term debt.
 
(3)   No borrowings are guaranteed by third parties. All of our significant borrowings were unsecured, except for finance leases which are secured, as the rights to the leased assets revert to the lessor in the event of default.

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(4)   The presentation of our short term and long term debt is consistent with note 18 to our consolidated financial statements, except for derivative financial instruments which are separately disclosed in note 16 and note 20 respectively.
 
(5)   On 10 August 2006, we declared a fully franked final dividend of A$1,739 million, payable on 22 September 2006. This dividend was not deducted from retained profits as at 30 June 2006 and was disclosed as a post balance date event, refer to note 34 to our consolidated financial statements for further detail.
 
(6)   Total capitalisation consists of short term debt, long term debt and equity, including minority interests.
     Cash and cash equivalents as at 30 June 2006 was A$689 million compared with A$1,548 million as at 30 June 2005. Cash and cash equivalents are predominantly held in Australian dollars. As at 30 June 2006, our total debt (including derivative financial instruments) was A$13,746 million compared with A$13,319 million as at 30 June 2005. After deducting cash and cash equivalents, net debt as at 30 June 2006 was A$13,057 million compared with A$11,771 million as at 30 June 2005. In fiscal 2006, the net debt position increased largely due to higher debt holdings to fund our working capital requirements. We believe our balance sheet continues to have strong capital settings.
     The majority of our total debt consisted of foreign currency denominated borrowings sourced from a variety of foreign currency markets. These borrowings are generally swapped into Australian dollars at draw down through to maturity to generate Australian dollar obligations. Our current borrowings (including derivative financial instruments) that mature in less than 12 months amount to A$1,960 million maturing within the fiscal 2007 year, representing approximately 14.3% of our total debt.
     As at 30 June 2006, we had access to A$625 million, HK$51 million and US$200 million of committed standby bank lines. These comprise bilateral arrangements of approximately one year duration with ten major banks that fall due for renewal at various times throughout the year.
     We have four commercial paper programs with a total nominal borrowing capacity of A$2 billion, US$4 billion, EUR4 billion and NZ$0.5 billion (the New Zealand dollar facility is technically unlimited, but we estimate a practical limit of around NZ$0.5 billion based on the efficient capacity of the New Zealand market). In each case, we issue commercial paper through dealers on a quotation (non underwritten) basis. Our commercial paper facilities are not committed and do not provide guaranteed access to funds. As at 30 June 2006, we had borrowed A$1,123 million under our Australian dollar facility and NZ$406 million under our New Zealand dollar facility. We had no borrowings under our United States dollar and Euro commercial paper facilities at year end. Generally, our facilities are operational unless we default on any terms applicable under the relevant agreements or we become insolvent.
     A key objective with our short term facilities is to provide ready and efficient access to substantial borrowings capacity in order to ensure that we can comfortably meet any reasonable unforeseen demands for funding. We have established commercial paper programs as outlined above that provide diverse and reliable sources of funding. The maturity of our total debt portfolio is generally structured in consideration of expected cash flows from business investments and activities.
     Our current liabilities are typically in excess of our current assets, as is common with most incumbent telecommunications companies. We had negative working capital of A$3,007 million as at 30 June 2006 compared with A$830 million as at 30 June 2005. We define our working capital as the difference between current assets and current liabilities. We believe that our negative working capital position does not create a liquidity risk because we can delay the timing of discretionary capital expenditure should cash inflows from our diverse customer base diminish at any point in time. In addition, our commercial paper programs and standby bank lines provide us with readily available sources of liquidity at short notice when the need arises. As a result, these contributing factors and our existing working capital enables us to meet our present and future expenditure obligations, including the potential realisation of any contingencies, as required.
     In fiscal 2006, the increase in our negative working capital position to A$3,007 million was mainly due to a decrease in our cash and cash equivalents, together with an increase in our trade and other payables. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was mainly due to a higher cash position at 30 June 2005 after the receipt of a substantial Euro borrowing late in June 2005, which generated a one off large cash surplus. This borrowing just prior to year

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end was not repeated in fiscal 2006. The increase in trade and other payables reflects additional accrued expenditure associated with the roll out of the NEXT GTM wireless network.
     In fiscal 2006, net cash provided by operating activities amounted to A$8,562 million compared with A$8,960 million in fiscal 2005. Operational cash flows continue to be our primary source of liquidity and generate funding for capital expenditure, investment acquisitions and dividend payments to our shareholders. Our operating cash flows continue to remain strong and relatively consistent each month. The major spikes in cash flows across our business arise from significant receipts such as asset and investment sales, and from significant outgoings such as the acquisition of large assets and investments, dividend payments and tax instalments. In general, we use our cash generated and other liquid assets, as well as our short term debt, to cover our major outgoings. Refer to “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Cash flow” for further discussion.
     The majority of our funding is generated by the operations of Telstra Corporation Limited, the parent entity in the group. As a result, we are not reliant on dividends from controlled entities for our liquidity needs. We are not aware of any restrictions on the payment of dividends apart from those specified in the Corporations Act 2001, common law requirements or through local jurisdictional obligations.
     During fiscal 2006, we undertook several new long term private placement borrowings that included:
    a JPY5 billion loan that will mature in September 2013;
 
    JPY1 billion, JPY4 billion and JPY3 billion note that will mature in November 2012, November 2015 and June 2016 respectively; and
 
    a USD$20 million and USD$150 million note that will mature in December 2011 and December 2015 respectively.
     During fiscal 2005, we undertook several new long term borrowings that included:
    a EUR500 million ten year bond that will mature in July 2014;
 
    two A$500 million domestic bonds of eight and ten years duration that will mature in November 2013 and April 2015 respectively;
 
    two NZD$100 million bonds of seven and ten years that will mature in November 2011 and November 2014 respectively;
 
    a CHF300 million eight year bond that will mature in April 2013; and
 
    a EUR1,000 million bond, comprising a EUR500 million tranche that will mature in June 2010 and a further EUR500 million tranche that will mature in July 2015.
     In future reporting periods, we believe capital expenditure will continue to be financed largely from our cash flow from operations. Maturing long term debt of A$401 million in fiscal 2007 is expected to be principally refinanced by new debt. While borrowings will increase in fiscal 2007 to fund our working capital requirements, including dividend payments, we continue to be confident of remaining within our financial parameters.
     Our borrowings profile is managed centrally by our treasury department, which is part of our Finance and Administration business unit. For additional information regarding our borrowings profile, refer to note 18 to our consolidated financial statements.
     Our activities result in exposure to a number of financial risks including market risk (interest rate risk, foreign currency risk and other price risk), credit risk, operational risk and liquidity risk. Our overall risk management program seeks to mitigate these risks and reduce overall volatility on our financial performance. We enter into derivative transactions in accordance with Board approved policies to manage our exposure to market risks and volatility of financial outcomes that arise as part of our normal business operations. These derivative instruments create an obligation or right that effectively transfers one or more of the risks associated with an underlying financial instrument, asset or obligation.
     We maintain a portfolio of derivative contracts to manage risks that arise from our business. The derivatives are principally forward foreign currency contracts, interest rate swaps and cross currency swaps. Under A-IFRS, these

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instruments are consolidated on our balance sheet. As at 30 June 2006, our net derivative financial instruments resulted in a net liability of A$368 million recorded in our consolidated financial statements.
     Our derivative instruments are managed centrally by our treasury department, which is part of our Finance and Administration business unit. For additional information regarding the nature, business purposes and importance of our derivative instruments, see “Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk” and note 35 to our consolidated financial statements.
     Our credit ratings by the three major rating agencies are currently:
             
    Long Term   Short Term   Outlook
Standard and Poors
  A   A1   negative
Moody’s
  A2   P1   negative
Fitch
  A+   F1   negative
     During fiscal 2006, Standard and Poors, and Moody’s Investors Service both adjusted their long term ratings down by one grade to reflect the decline in PSTN revenues, the uncertain regulatory outlook and the repositioning of target key financial parameters during the financial year (detailed below). All three rating agencies have Telstra on a negative outlook. Ratings are not a recommendation to purchase, hold or sell securities, and may be changed, superseded or withdrawn at any time.
     We continually review our capital structure and associated financial flexibility in light of our environment, overall operating conditions and future outlook. Factors considered include:
    the strength of our operating cash flows;
 
    requirements for capital expenditure and investments;
 
    access to funding from the capital markets;
 
    our gearing and associated credit rating; and
 
    the regulatory environment and its potential impact.
     The Board has approved a set of target levels for selected key financial parameters, which indicate comfort zones that we consider consistent with the financial flexibility required in light of our overall business and objectives. These parameters are continually reviewed and subject to change at any point. The parameters were last changed at our strategic review announcement on 15 November 2005 and are detailed below:
    debt servicing of 1.7 to 2.1 times, representing our net debt divided by earnings before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA);
 
    net debt gearing of 55.0% to 75.0%, representing net debt divided by total capitalisation (net debt plus equity); and
 
    interest cover of greater than 7 times, representing EBITDA divided by net finance costs.
     Under our previous capital management policy, the Board intended to return an additional A$1,500 million to shareholders for three consecutive fiscal years ending fiscal 2007 through special dividends and share buy-backs, subject to us maintaining our target financial parameters. In November 2005 as part of our company wide strategic review, we decided not to proceed with the A$1,500 million capital return in the third year of the program. We are now directing those funds to our transformation program.
     During the two-year period, we returned the following additional capital returns to our shareholders, in addition to our ongoing ordinary dividends:
    during fiscal 2006, we paid a special dividend of A$0.06 per share (A$746 million) in March 2006 with our interim dividend for fiscal 2006;
 
    during fiscal 2006, we paid a special dividend of A$0.06 per share (A$746 million) in October 2005 with our final dividend for fiscal 2005;

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    during fiscal 2005, we paid a special dividend of A$0.06 per share (A$746 million) in April 2005 with our interim dividend for fiscal 2005; and
 
    during fiscal 2005, we completed an off-market share buy-back of 185,284,669 ordinary shares in November 2004. The cost of the share buy-back comprised purchase consideration of A$750 million and associated transaction costs of A$6 million.
     It is the current intention of the Board to declare ordinary dividends of A$0.28 per share for fiscal 2007. This assumes that we continue to be successful in implementing our transformation strategy and there are no further material adverse regulatory outcomes during fiscal 2007. The Board will make their final decision on the future amount of dividends in its normal cycle having regard to our earnings and cash flow as well as future regulatory impacts and all other factors that affect our operations.
Contractual obligations and commercial commitments
     In the ordinary course of business we enter into agreements for the supply of products and services to support our business needs. While the liability under these agreements only arises on supply, we have a commitment to acquire the particular products and services under the relevant agreements. In addition, we are obligated to meet our long term debt requirements.
Contractual obligations and commercial commitments as at 30 June 2006
                                                         
    Amount of Expiration per Period
    Total           Within   Within   Within   Within    
    Amounts   Within   1-2   2-3   3-4   4-5   After
    Committed   1 Year   Years   Years   Years   Years   5 Years
                    (In A$ millions)                
Expenditure commitments:(1)
                                                       
Property, plant and equipment expenditure
    776       665       62       32       9       6       2  
Intangible commitments
    305       159       130       16                    
Non-cancellable operating leases(2)
    1,530       424       290       201       139       118       358  
Finance leases
    55       7       7       7       4       2       28  
FOXTEL commitments(3)
    1,677       144       113       93       95       92       1,140  
Other expenditure commitments
    704       337       123       83       120       19       22  
 
                                                       
 
                                                       
Total contractual obligations and commercial commitments
    5,047       1,736       725       432       367       237       1,550  
 
                                                       
 
                                                       
Long term debt obligations:(4)
                                                       
Long term debt obligations
    11,791       394       1,373       581       1,315       2,642       5,486  
Unamortised discount
    (36 )                 (2 )     (2 )           (32 )
 
                                                       
 
    11,755       394       1,373       579       1,313       2,642       5,454  
 
                                                       
 
                                                       
Total contractual obligations and commercial commitments (including long term debt obligations)
    16,802       2,130       2,098       1,011       1,680       2,879       7,004  
 
                                                       
 
(1)   The presentation of our commitments is consistent with note 26 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
(2)   In addition to our non-cancellable leases, we have commitments under cancellable operating leases amounting to A$356 million.
 
(3)   On 31 July 2006, FOXTEL entered into a new A$600 million syndicated secured term loan facility to fund the refinancing of previous loan facilities. Refer to “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Related party transactions — FOXTEL” for further details. As a result, we no longer have a share of FOXTEL’s

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    commitments relating to digital set top box units, which reduced our share of the commitments by A$141 million.
 
(4)   Our long term debt obligations include the current portion of long term debt, however it excludes our derivative financial instruments and our finance leases. Our finance lease commitments are included separately in the above table. Additional details regarding the split of our long term debt obligations is provided in note 18 to our consolidated financial statements. Refer to “Liquidity and capital resources” for further discussion regarding our debt obligations.
     Our property, plant and equipment expenditure commitments mainly relate to committed expenditure to build and improve our networks, enhance our network software and meet our future hardware requirements. Our commitments for intangibles mainly relate to committed expenditure for future business software requirements and license obligations. Our commitments include expenditure relating to our transformation program.
     Our operating lease commitments primarily relate to lease agreements we have entered into for the following:
    rental of land and buildings, over an average term of seven years;
 
    rental of motor vehicles, caravan huts, trailers and mechanical aids over an average term of between two and twelve years, depending on the type of vehicle; and
 
    rental of personal computers and related equipment over an average term of three years.
     Our finance lease commitments mainly relate to capitalised property leases and leases for IT equipment to support our client requirements for managed service solutions. In addition to our finance lease commitments, we have previously entered into US finance leases with several entities incorporated in the Cayman Islands relating to communications exchange equipment. We have provided guarantees over the performance of these entities under defeasance arrangements, whereby lease payments are made on our behalf by the entities over the remaining term of the finance leases. Refer to note 26 and note 27 to our consolidated financial statements for further details.
     The FOXTEL commitments primarily relate to our 50% share of the FOXTEL partnership’s commitment to acquire subscription television programming that is subject to minimum subscriber guarantee levels. The minimum subscriber payments fluctuate in accordance with price escalation/reduction formulae contained in the agreements, as well as foreign currency movements. In addition, FOXTEL has other commitments for satellite transponder costs and digital set top box units. Due to the joint and several nature of the FOXTEL partnership agreements, we are also contingently liable to the extent of our FOXTEL partners’ share of certain commitments should FOXTEL and/or the other FOXTEL partners default on their payment obligations under these agreements.
     Our other expenditure commitments of A$704 million relate to various commitments for engineering and operational support services, information technology services and building maintenance. In particular, these commitments include the following items:
    commitments relating to service contracts for general maintenance and support of our hardware and software;
 
    commitments relating to the purchase of wavelengths to enhance our international operational capabilities, amounting to A$70 million;
 
    commitments to provide our call centre partners with a minimum number of calls during the duration of our contracts with these partners, amounting to A$133 million; and
 
    commitments for future sponsorship and advertising expenditure in our marketing area, amounting to A$44 million.
Off balance sheet arrangements
     As at 30 June 2006, we had provided indemnities, performance guarantees, financial support and other arrangements to various entities. Our off balance sheet arrangements include:
    arrangements with our joint venture entities such as REACH, FOXTEL and the 3GIS Partnership; and

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    guarantees over the performance of third parties incorporated in the Cayman Islands under defeasance arrangements, whereby finance lease payments for communications exchange equipment are made on our behalf by the third parties.
     The features and counterparties involved in our indemnities, performance guarantees, financial support and other arrangements are detailed in note 27 to our consolidated financial statements. We do not have any other significant off balance sheet arrangements, other than those disclosed in note 27 to our consolidated financial statements.
Related party transactions
     The following discussion summarises our significant transactions with related parties, other than our controlled entities and key management personnel. For discussion on our related party transactions with controlled entities and key management personnel, refer to note 33 to our consolidated financial statements.
REACH
     In fiscal 2001, we formed REACH, a 50/50 joint venture with PCCW Limited (PCCW), which merged our respective international infrastructure assets. REACH is a major carrier of international voice traffic. It provides outsourcing services in support of Telstra’s and PCCW’s international voice and data services. In addition, it also provides third party voice and satellite services to customers other than PCCW and us. Upon the formation of REACH, we agreed with PCCW to enter into contractual arrangements with the jointly controlled entity for the provision of voice, data and Internet connectivity services. We use these services primarily in connection with our retail international telecommunications business.
     Our purchases from REACH were A$198 million in fiscal 2006 compared with A$226 million in fiscal 2005. These amounts were mainly for both the purchase of, and entitlement to, capacity and connectivity services. The purchases were made in line with market prices. We also made sales to REACH for international inbound call termination services, construction and consultancy of A$61 million in fiscal 2006 and A$71 million in fiscal 2005. These transactions are in the ordinary course of business and are on normal commercial terms and conditions.
     During fiscal 2005, REACH made several improvements to its operating model including the decision that its data capacity would be consumed entirely by its shareholders. PCCW and Telstra continue to experience significant traffic growth in recent years, which will see both companies utilising virtually all of REACH’s capacity. REACH continues to provide its third party voice and satellite services to consumers other than PCCW and us.
     As part of these improvements, REACH allocated its international cable capacity between PCCW and us, via an indefeasible right of use (IRU) agreement. As consideration for the IRU, we discharged our rights under a previous capacity prepayment arrangement and the accrued interest on the prepayment. As a result, the total consideration amounted to A$205 million (US$157 million). For the Telstra Group, the IRU is deemed to be an extension of our investment in REACH resulting in the IRU having a carrying value of A$nil in the consolidated financial statements reflecting the recognition of equity accounted losses in REACH. Over the period of the IRU, we pay REACH an outsourcing fee for managing our cable usage on a cost plus mark up basis.
     As part of the acquisition of the IRU, we agreed to fund half of the committed capital expenditure that REACH is contractually obliged to pay to its capacity providers until fiscal 2022. We have recognised a provision in our balance sheet of A$52 million in fiscal 2006 and A$90 million in fiscal 2005. In fiscal 2006, the decrease in the provision was due to amounts drawn down by REACH for expenditure and the unwinding of the discount rate arising from the passage of time. PCCW has committed to fund the other half of REACH’s capital expenditure. In the event that PCCW fails to make the payments under their commitment, we have no obligation to fund PCCW’s share of the commitment.
     Together with PCCW, we previously bought out a loan facility owed to a banking syndicate by REACH and its controlled entity, Reach Finance Ltd. Our share of the acquisition cost was US$155.5 million, which was recognised as a receivable at the date of the transaction. We provide for the non recoverability of this receivable as we do not consider that REACH is in a position to repay the loan in the medium term. Due to the restructuring of our arrangements with REACH in fiscal 2005, the terms of the maturity were altered such that the facility is now an

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interest free loan and repayable on or after 31 December 2010 upon the giving of 6 months notice by both PCCW and us.
     In addition, we previously agreed with PCCW to provide a US$50 million revolving working capital facility to REACH to assist it in meeting their ongoing operational requirements. Our share of this facility is US$25 million. Draw downs under this facility must be repaid at the end of each interest period and fully repaid by 31 December 2007. As at 30 June 2006, REACH had not made any draw down under this facility. We have no joint or several liability relating to PCCW’s US$25 million share of the working capital facility.
     The revised loan facilities and working capital arrangements in fiscal 2005 provided REACH with greater flexibility and a more viable capital structure. It also certified our ongoing ownership of this core infrastructure, ensuring that we have the continued capacity to meet our international carriage service requirements.
FOXTEL
     Our 50% owned pay television joint venture FOXTEL uses capacity on our HFC cable network. As part of the arrangements with our joint venture partners, News Corporation Limited, and Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, we are the exclusive long term supplier of cable distribution services for FOXTEL’s subscription television services in our cabled areas. We also receive a share of FOXTEL’s cable subscription television revenues. Further details about our arrangements with FOXTEL are included in the “Information on the Company — Subscription television”.
     We have entered into arrangements with FOXTEL, whereby we are able to bundle and resell FOXTEL services to our customers, including pay television content, as part of our ongoing product bundling initiatives. Our purchases from FOXTEL of pay television services were A$250 million in fiscal 2006 compared with A$218 million in fiscal 2005. The increase in fiscal 2006 was primarily driven by growth in bundled FOXTEL subscribers. The purchases enabled us to resell FOXTEL services to our customers and facilitate product bundling initiatives. In fiscal 2006, we generated HFC cable related revenue from FOXTEL of A$84 million compared with A$65 million in fiscal 2005, which includes revenue for carriage services, cable installations and service calls. The increase in fiscal 2006 was mainly due to additional promotional activity which increased services in operation and a scheduled FOXTEL contract rate increase. These transactions are in the ordinary course of business and are on normal commercial terms and conditions.
     FOXTEL has other commitments amounting to A$3,354 million as at 30 June 2006 of which we have a 50% share amounting to A$1,677 million. The majority of these commitments relate to minimum subscriber guarantees for pay television programming agreements, as well as the partnership commitments for satellite transponder costs and digital set top box units. Due to the joint and several nature of the FOXTEL partnership agreements, we are also contingently liable to the extent of our FOXTEL partners’ share of the commitments for minimum subscriber guarantees and satellite transponder costs should FOXTEL and/or the other FOXTEL partners default on their payment obligations under these agreements. Our contingent liability as at 30 June 2006 amounted to A$1,531 million. During the two-year period, FOXTEL has continued to meet its obligations under these arrangements and as a result, we have not paid any significant amounts to meet the minimum subscriber guarantees and other FOXTEL commitments. Refer to “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Contractual obligations” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — commercial commitments” and note 26 and note 27 to our consolidated financial statements for further information.
     Previously, FOXTEL entered into a A$550 million bank facility arrangement to fund its full digital conversion and launch of new digital services. As part of this arrangement, we and FOXTEL’s other ultimate shareholders entered into an Equity Contribution Deed (ECD) whereby FOXTEL is required to call on a maximum of A$200 million in equity contributions in certain specified circumstances, as necessary, to avoid default of a financial covenant. These equity contributions are based on ownership interests and as a result, our maximum contingent liability is A$100 million. We have no joint and several liability relating to our partners’ obligations under the ECD.

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     On 31 July 2006, FOXTEL entered into a new A$600 million syndicated secured term loan facility to fund the refinancing of previous loan facilities (including the A$550 million syndicated facility previously detailed), and to enable it to meet future cash flow and expenditure requirements.
     The ECD entered into by us and FOXTEL’s other ultimate shareholders has been terminated. Under this new arrangement, recourse to our controlled entity Telstra Media Pty Ltd, as a FOXTEL partner, is limited to the assets of the FOXTEL Partnerships.
3GIS Partnership
     During fiscal 2005, we established a joint venture partnership with Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Ltd (H3GA), a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Limited, to jointly own and operate H3GA’s existing 3G radio access network (RAN) and fund network development. The H3GA RAN is the core asset of the joint venture, known as the 3GIS partnership. In return for 50% ownership of the asset, we paid H3GA A$450 million in instalments over two years ending 3 July 2006. We paid A$312 million in fiscal 2006 and A$22 million in fiscal 2005 for the acquisition of these assets. The balance outstanding as at 30 June 2006 was settled on 3 July 2006 and is reflected in our trade and other payables at 30 June 2006.
     During the two-year period, we provided interest free funding to 3GIS for operational expenditure purposes. As a result, we have recognised our share of the loan outstanding by the 3GIS partnership amounting to A$14 million as at 30 June 2006 and A$32 million as at 30 June 2005. The loan is classified as a non current receivable in our consolidated financial statements.
Research and development
     Our research and development activities cover diverse areas of our business and focus on developing:
    new competitive products for our customers;
 
    product innovation and differentiation;
 
    service quality improvements; and
 
    long term strategic positioning.
     Our research and development expenditure includes amounts expensed in the income statement and amounts capitalised in software developed for internal use and property, plant and equipment. Items include:
    research and development carried out directly by us in our research laboratories;
 
    research and development expenditure contracted out by us, for which the resultant intellectual property is owned by the contractor;
 
    research and development expenditure incurred in the development of certain software; and
 
    support and other research and development expenditures.
     For the purposes of this Institutional Offering Memorandum, we estimate the amount of research and development expenditure incurred over the past year. The amount of the actual expenditure is not determined until we complete our research and development assessment process in the following April of each fiscal year. For fiscal 2005, we estimated expenditure of A$148 million, which later was determined to be A$157 million. For fiscal 2006, we estimate that we have spent A$146 million. We have included A$23 million in fiscal 2006 and A$29 million in fiscal 2005 of this total amount spent in the income statement as research and development expenses.
     In future years, we expect our research and development to include expenditure on the following key activities:
    broadband access provision (both fixed and mobile);
 
    convergence of mobile and online services;

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    IP networks; and
 
    network and service management
Segment information
Business segments
     Our business is organised and managed by business unit, as described under “Information on the Company —Organisational structure”. This internal structure provides the initial basis for determining our business segments. Our business segments are predominantly distinguishable by the different type of customers we deliver our key products and services to.
     The main adjustments from our internal management reporting structure to our reported business segments are in relation to certain offshore operations. For internal management reporting purposes, our TelstraClear group (TelstraClear) is included with Telstra Enterprise and Government, CSLNW is a business unit in its own right, and the International Head Office group is included with Strategic Marketing. For segment reporting purposes, these offshore operations are reported as part of a segment that we have called Telstra International.
     Our reportable business segments as at 30 June 2006 were:
    Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels;
 
    Telstra Business;
 
    Telstra Enterprise and Government;
 
    Telstra Wholesale;
 
    Sensis;
 
    Telstra International; and
 
    Telstra Operations.
     In addition, various business units that do not qualify as business segments in their own right have been aggregated into an “Other” category for segment reporting purposes. The ‘Other’ category consists of Telstra Country Wide®, Telstra BigPond®, Telstra Media and the Strategic Marketing business units, as well as our corporate areas. Please refer to note 5 to our consolidated financial statements for details of the major products and services provided by each of our business segments.
     During fiscal 2006, we have restructured our business segments as follows:
    we created a new business segment named Telstra Business. The Telstra Business group was drawn from the Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels (formerly known as Telstra Consumer and Marketing), Telstra Country Wide® and the Telstra Enterprise and Government (formerly known as Telstra Business and Government) business segment;
 
    we created a new business segment named Telstra Operations. This group combined Telstra Services (formerly known as Infrastructure Services), Telstra Technology, Innovation and Products, and Operations Support which moved from being reported within our corporate areas; and
 
    we created a new business unit named Strategic Marketing. This group was drawn from various business units across Telstra comprising mainly Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels. This business unit forms part of the Other category.
     In addition, we restructured our existing business unit, Telstra Country Wide® during fiscal 2006. In prior years, our segment policy was to recognise the results of our consumer, small business, enterprise and some government customers residing outside the mainland state capital cities, in outer metropolitan areas, and in Tasmania and Northern Territory in the Telstra Country Wide® business segment. In fiscal 2006, the results of Telstra Country Wide® were allocated to the Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels, Telstra Business and Telstra Enterprise and Government business units depending on the type of customer served.

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Analysis of segment results
     We have discussed the segment results of each reportable segment separately over the two-year period. A detailed discussion and analysis of the changes in revenue for each of our major product groups and principal operating expense categories is provided in ‘‘Operating revenue’’ and ‘‘Operating expenses’’ respectively.
     The following table provides a summary of our revenue and EBIT for each of our business segments. For additional detailed financial information on our business segment results, including intersegment revenues, see note 5 to our consolidated financial statements.
     During fiscal 2006, we changed our segment accounting policy on interconnection revenue. In previous financial years, our segment accounting policy was to recognise revenue relating to interconnection entirely in our Telstra Wholesale business segment. In fiscal 2006, some parts of the revenue earned from interconnection were allocated to the Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels, Telstra Business and Telstra Enterprise and Government business segments to match the revenue recognised with the associated expense. As a result, revenue in Telstra Wholesale decreased by A$633 million and revenue increased in Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels by A$500 million, Telstra Business by A$52 million and Telstra Enterprise and Government by A$81 million in fiscal 2005 to reflect this change in policy.
     We have restated all our comparative information to reflect the current reporting position as if all our new business segments and segment accounting policies existed in the prior year.
     For segment reporting purposes, we have reallocated certain items between the respective business segments pursuant to the definitions of segment revenues and segment expenses contained in the applicable accounting standard, where a reasonable allocation basis exists. Where no reasonable allocation basis exists, we have not reallocated individual items to alternative segments as outlined below. For segment reporting purposes, these items are reported within the same business segment as for internal management reporting.
     Currently, sales revenue associated with mobile handsets for Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels, Telstra Business and Telstra Enterprise and Government are allocated totally to the Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels segment, with the exception of some products sold in relation to small to medium enterprises which are allocated to Telstra Business. Ongoing prepaid and postpaid mobile revenues derived from our mobile usage is recorded in Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels, Telstra Business and Telstra Enterprise and Government depending on the type of customer serviced. In addition, the majority of goods and services purchased associated with our mobile revenues are allocated to the Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels segment. These allocations reflect management’s accountability framework and internal reporting system and accordingly no reasonable basis for reallocation to the respective business segments exist.
     In addition, revenue derived from our BigPond® Internet products is recorded in the customer facing business units of Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels, Telstra Enterprise and Government and Telstra Business. Certain distribution costs in relation to these products are also recognised in these business segments. Telstra Operations recognises expenses in relation to the installation and running of the HFC cable network. In accordance with our application of the definition of business segment per the applicable accounting standard, we have not reallocated these items to the Telstra BigPond® business segment.

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Segment summary results
                         
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005   2006/2005
    (In A$ millions)   (% change)
Revenue from external customers
                       
Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels
    8,897       8,931       (0.4 )
Telstra Business
    3,053       3,099       (1.5 )
Telstra Enterprise and Government
    4,607       4,570       0.8  
Telstra Wholesale
    2,607       2,267       15.0  
Sensis
    1,826       1,708       6.9  
Telstra International
    1,450       1,360       6.6  
Telstra Operations
    226       161       40.4  
Other(1)
    106       85       24.7  
 
                       
Total revenue
    22,772       22,181       2.7  
 
                       
 
                       
Earnings/(loss) before interest and income tax expense (EBIT)(2)(3)
                       
Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels
    5,721       6,248       (8.4 )
Telstra Business
    2,412       2,488       (3.1 )
Telstra Enterprise and Government
    2,706       2,812       (3.8 )
Telstra Wholesale
    2,693       2,283       18.0  
Sensis
    864       812       6.4  
Telstra International
    156       11       1,318.2  
Telstra Operations
    (4,175 )     (3,371 )     (23.9 )
Other(1)
    (4,909 )     (4,351 )     (12.8 )
Eliminations
    29       3       866.7  
 
                       
Total EBIT
    5,497       6,935       (20.7 )
 
                       
 
(1)   Revenue for our ‘‘Other’’ segment primarily relates to revenue earned by Telstra Media for our share of FOXTEL cable subscriber revenue and for services provided to FOXTEL. The Asset Accounting Group is the main contributor to the segment result for this segment, which is primarily depreciation and amortisation charges. The Asset Accounting Group centrally manages all of the Telstra Entity’s fixed assets, including network assets. EBIT loss grew for the ‘‘Other’’ segment mainly due to increased deprecation and amortisation reflecting the strategic review of the service lives of our assets as part of the transformation strategy.
 
(2)   Most internal charges between business segments are charged on a direct cost recovery basis. For segment reporting purposes, transfer pricing is not used within Telstra. EBIT reflects our intercompany and external charges.
 
(3)   During fiscal 2006, we recognised a one off restructuring and redundancy provision of A$427 million to be incurred as part of the business transformation, as we have provided in this year for future restructuring. This provision was mainly recorded in Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels of A$171 million and Telstra Operations of A$236 million.
Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels
     Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels revenue decreased by 0.4% to A$8,897 million in fiscal 2006. This segment experienced revenue increases in mobile services, primarily international roaming, mobile data usage and handset sales. In addition, strong growth in BigPond® broadband and pay television services were experienced due to increased marketing activities and improved retention of existing customers through bundling initiatives. Offsetting this growth in revenue was a decline in PSTN revenue as a result of competition, product substitution and decreased consumer usage.

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     Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels EBIT decreased by 8.4% to A$5,721 million in fiscal 2006 driven by increased use of BigPond® broadband and a reduced use of high margin PSTN services. The change in customer mix and use of products and a continued shift to higher use of mobiles resulted in expense growth in mobile handsets, dealer costs, network payments and labour in line with revenue and customer growth in emerging products and services. In addition, EBIT was impacted by meeting competition and adjusting to customer needs in line with customer preferences, and one off costs associated with renegotiating dealer contracts and redundancy and restructuring costs resulting from our transformation initiatives.
Telstra Business
     Telstra Business revenue declined by 1.5% to A$3,053 million in fiscal 2006 primarily due to a decline in PSTN revenue. This segment experienced growth in mobile products including voice, data, MessageBank® and international roaming, which partially offset the decrease in PSTN revenues. In addition, Internet and IP products revenue grew in fiscal 2006 reflecting the increase in broadband subscribers.
     Telstra Business EBIT decreased by 3.1% to A$2,412 million in fiscal 2006 predominantly due to a decline in revenues and an increase in expenses. Expenses grew mainly due to a rise in network payments, cost of goods sold and other directly variables costs associated with product offerings. This segment continues to be adversely impacted by a change in product mix from higher margin products such as PSTN to lower margin products such as broadband.
Telstra Enterprise and Government
     Telstra Enterprise and Government revenue increased by 0.8% to A$4,607 million in fiscal 2006 due to strong growth in domestic information and communication technology (ICT) services, Internet and IP products, and offshore revenues. This increase has been partially offset by reductions in sales revenue from the underlying core carriage business, consisting mainly of a decline in traditional PSTN and ISDN revenues. This segment continues to experience change in usage patterns with traditional product usage migrating to alternative access offerings such as wireless, broadband and other IP product offerings.
     Telstra Enterprise and Government EBIT decreased by 3.8% to A$2,706 million in fiscal 2006 reflecting a changing product mix, which resulted in reductions in sales volumes of higher margin core access technologies, and growth in lower margin ICT services and offshore revenues.
Telstra Wholesale
     Telstra Wholesale revenue increased by 15.0% to A$2,607 million in fiscal 2006 driven by continuing demand for broadband and data services and an increase in wholesale basic access revenues. Telstra Wholesale experienced significant revenue growth in several products such as facilities access as a variety of carriers extend their DSL capabilities in preparation for building their own infrastructure via unconditioned local loop and spectrum sharing. Data and Internet service revenues also showed solid growth, which was mainly driven by wholesale broadband offerings and associated ISP related data carriage and transmission services. Growth in revenue was partly offset by a decrease in local call revenues due to ongoing product substitution to mobiles and broadband.
     Telstra Wholesale EBIT increased by 18.0% to A$2,693 million in fiscal 2006 driven by revenue growth and a decrease in expenses. The expense decline consisted of a decrease in Telstra Wholesale’s allocated share of domestic outpayments, reflecting lower rates and a decrease in international voice traffic expenses, which was assisted by an appreciating Australian dollar. Lower labour costs were due to the decrease in staff numbers as part of our transformation project and the movement of staff to other areas in Telstra as part of overall business restructure. In addition, service contract costs were lower due to the discontinuation of a number of contracted activities. The expense decline was partly offset by increased IT professional services costs driven by growth in system support and automation costs to deliver ongoing operational productivity and revenue growth.
Sensis
     Sensis’ revenue increased by 6.9% to A$1,826 million in fiscal 2006 driven by growth in White Pages® and Yellow® print and online services. Growth in Sensis’ emerging businesses included strong results from Whereis®

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and Mediasmart, and a full year of results for Universal Publishers. Overall, online sites continued their improved growth driven by rising usage and customer numbers, leading to increased yields. This growth was partially offset by a decline in revenue from classifieds driven by competition and economic weakness in the Sydney and Melbourne markets.
     Sensis’ EBIT increased by 6.4% to A$864 million in fiscal 2006 as the improved revenue was partly offset by growth in expenses. EBIT growth was supported by higher revenue, strategic re-alignment and a renewed focus on costs. An increase in labour expenses was attributable to growth in staff numbers, higher redundancy costs and a reversal of a deferred expense provision. In fiscal 2006, amortisation expense was also higher as a result of the revision of certain software service lives reflecting the transformation initiatives. For further information, refer to “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Sensis financial summary”.
Telstra International
     Telstra International revenue increased by 6.6% to A$1,450 million mainly due to the CSLNW merger partially offset by a small decline in revenues from TelstraClear. CSLNW revenues grew due to the inclusion of the New World PCS business from March 2006, and rising data, international voice, mobile handset and prepaid mobile revenues partially offset by decreased local voice revenues reflecting sustained competitive pressure on prices. TelstraClear’s revenue primarily decreased as a result of adverse foreign exchange movements. TelstraClear recorded increases in revenue reflecting the full year impact of their national HomePlan offering in the consumer segment, and their controlled entity, Sytec after its acquisition in November 2004. The increase was partially offset by access and call revenue declines in the wholesale and small to medium enterprise segments due to price erosion caused by competition, which was moderated by growth in our customer bases in those segments, and a decline in Internet revenues as reduced pricing plans have impacted business yield in the consumer segment.
     Telstra International EBIT improved by A$145 million to A$156 million due to increased EBIT in our International Head Office Group partially offset by a decline in the CSLNW and TelstraClear. The growth in the International Head Office Group was due to the sale of our shareholding in Xantic B.V. in fiscal 2006 and the recognition of a provision for Reach’s committed capital expenditure in fiscal 2005. Expenses increased in the CSLNW following the incorporation of costs after the merger with New World PCS, increased subsidies as part of heightened promotional activity to drive sales, and larger offshore outpayments associated with higher international voice revenues. In addition, depreciation and amortisation expense was higher due to the rollout of their 3G network. Expenses increased in TelstraClear due to larger outpayments due to higher revenue, and growth in labour expenses driven by the inclusion of a full year of Sytec costs. For further information regarding our significant offshore controlled entities, refer to “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — CSL New World Group financial summary” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — TelstraClear financial summary”.
Telstra Operations
     Telstra Operations revenue increased by 40.4% to A$226 million in fiscal 2006 driven by additional revenue received for maintenance activities, revenue for digital migration of FOXTEL subscribers from analogue to digital services and higher fees for overdue accounts. Operations revenue is essentially limited to cost recovery as afforded by regulatory and commercial arrangements. Product revenue is earned by the customer facing segments.
     Telstra Operations EBIT is a net cost as this segment does not recover all the costs it incurs on behalf other segments. This reflects our “one factory” approach to delivering the infrastructure, services and systems which support the customer experience. EBIT loss grew by 23.9% to A$4,175 million in fiscal 2006 due to significant redundancy and restructuring costs being recognised in the current year associated with our concerted effort to reduce staff numbers and planning for the transformation of our future business. Also, there were other one off transformation costs in the current year associated with the closure of old platforms and project write offs due to the cancellation of certain capital program initiatives. Additionally, expenses grew due to the increased sales activity of our growth products such as broadband, as well as increased costs associated with the FOXTEL digital expansion. The expense increase was partly offset by management’s continued focus on lower discretionary spending and cost reduction initiatives.

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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
     The potential for change in the market value of our financial assets and liabilities is referred to as “financial market risk”. We sometimes enter into financial instruments to manage our exposure to financial market risk such as interest rates and foreign currency rates that arise as part of our normal business operations.
     Derivatives are financial instruments such as interest rate swaps, futures, foreign exchange forwards, options, and cross-currency swaps that derive their value from specified assets, indices, reference rates or a combination of these factors. We use derivative financial instruments, in accordance with Board-approved policies, to hedge the market risks and volatility of financial outcomes arising from the underlying physical business or balance sheet exposure.
We are exposed to interest rate risk due to our borrowings
     Our borrowings are generally for maturities of up to ten years and we manage our debt in accordance with targeted, currency, interest rate, liquidity and debt portfolio maturity profiles.
     Our target currency is principally A$ matching our principal currency of operation. Our borrowings are derived both from A$ and foreign currency sources with foreign currency borrowings in most cases swapped into A$ at commencement through to maturity. A relatively small proportion of our foreign currency borrowings are not swapped into A$, principally where they are used as natural hedges against our translation foreign exchange risk to offshore business investments.
     Where the actual interest rate profile on the physical debt differs substantially from our desired target, we use derivatives, principally interest rate swaps, to adjust the net interest rate position towards the target. Our net debt portfolio includes both physical borrowings (such as bonds and commercial paper) and associated derivative instruments (such as cross-currency and interest rate swaps).
     Our interest rate risk is assessed as the interest rate exposure on our total net debt portfolio, after offsetting any holdings of financial assets whose value is sensitive to interest rates and after applying related derivatives.
     The interest rates on a proportion (approximately A$3.1 billion equivalent face value) of our borrowings is subject to the possibility of a limited increase through “coupon step-up” clauses that would be triggered by credit ratings downgrades from Standard & Poor’s and/or Moody’s Investor Service. The interest rates on this debt will increase by 0.25% up to a maximum of 0.50% per annum if our minimum credit rating falls to A- or below (S&P) and A3 or below (Moodys) depending on the particular trigger points of each borrowing and the extent of the rating change. The interest rate increase will step-down again for some borrowings if the minimum credit rating was to subsequently increase above the previously mentioned trigger points. Our current ratings are A Negative Outlook (S&P) and A2 Negative Outlook (Moodys).
We have exposure to foreign currency risk due to our normal business operations and borrowings
     Foreign currency exchange risk arises from:
    firm or anticipated transactions for receipts and payments for international telecommunications services settled in or dependent on foreign currencies;
 
    purchase commitments for material and supplies with prices dependent on foreign currencies; investments (both business and financial) denominated in foreign currencies; and
 
    borrowings that are denominated in foreign currencies.
     We manage the foreign exchange risk on the major part of our foreign currency-denominated borrowings by effectively converting them to A$ borrowings at drawdown by applying cross-currency swaps to maturity. Where foreign currency borrowings are used to hedge a specific underlying foreign exchange exposure, they are not swapped to A$ (e.g. to hedge financial investments in foreign currency-denominated securities and borrowings raised for offshore ventures).

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     Foreign exchange risks that arise from the purchase of goods and services are managed principally through the use of forward foreign currency derivatives.
     We manage our translation foreign exchange risk to offshore business investments with a combination of foreign currency denominated borrowings (either physical or synthetic) in the currency of the entity concerned and forward foreign currency derivatives. Our economic foreign exchange risk is assessed for each individual currency, calculated by aggregating the net exposure for that currency.
Our economic exposure to movements in market risks is assessed and measured on a market value basis
     Two methods used to assess and present our overall estimated market risk are:
    sensitivity analysis; and
 
    value-at-risk or “VaR”.
     These are undertaken to assess the potential impacts of adverse movements in the market value of the relevant portfolio at the reporting date as shown below. Since market rates move in both directions, these can be advantageous as well as adverse. Hedging to protect against a downside risk can, in its establishment, remove or diminish the potential for upside benefits.
Sensitivity analysis
     We undertake a sensitivity analysis on our net debt and foreign exchange exposure portfolios after application of all hedging transactions. This is based on an instantaneous adverse proportional movement of 10% in interest rates and exchange rates.
     The probability of this occurring is not factored into this sensitivity analysis. Also, the diverse nature of the portfolios is not taken into account and concurrent adverse movements in all exchange rates and interest rates are assumed.
     For these reasons, the analysis may be conservative and may not represent likely market volatility since based on historical movements it is unlikely that there would in the future be a concurrent adverse movement across all factors.
     The numbers in the following tables represent market value movement in the areas concerned after all underlying exposures and related hedges are taken into account. Market value movements can contain profit and loss statement or balance sheet movements or a combination of both.
Adverse proportional movement of 10% across risk categories
                 
    As at 30 June
Market Value Risk   2006   2005
    (A$m
    approximate)
Risk Categories
               
Interest rates
    238       286  
Foreign currency rates
    264       118  
 
               
Total
    502       404  
 
               
     The foreign currency rate numbers include the translation exposure movements generated from our overseas investments which include CSL New World Mobility Group (“CSL New World”) and TelstraClear. A proportion of both these exposures is hedged using a combination of foreign currency borrowings and foreign currency derivatives. This sensitivity analysis assumes that the HKD and USD are free to move in opposite directions against the AUD (i.e., that the “peg”, where the HKD is held to approximately 7.8 to the USD, no longer is in place). If it is assumed that the HKD and USD peg continues and the USD and HKD both move in the same direction against the AUD, then the foreign currency sensitivity quoted in the table above drops from A$264m to A$152m.

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VaR
     VaR is used to assess the potential adverse economic outcome due to market movements over a defined time horizon and with a specified confidence level based on historical volatilities. This potential component is calculated using the current statistical volatility relevant to the particular instrument derived from representative market wide data.
     For the VaR numbers reported below, a one month time horizon and a 99% confidence level were used. This one-month time horizon differs from many financial institutions who hedge for trading purposes and where a shorter one day period may be more appropriate. We consider a one-month holding period appropriate since our hedging activities are of a non-trading nature.
     The monthly figures quoted can be approximately converted to daily assessments by multiplying by 0.22 or to 12 monthly estimates by multiplying by 3.5, these conversion factors assume that the portfolio continues with the same basic profiles such as maturity and debt mix. For example, the VaR monthly result for foreign exchange of $61 million converts to an annual equivalent of approximately $214 million. We derive the potential market value impact by applying historical volatility measures to the identified current market risk.
     Unlike the sensitivity analysis, our overall VaR analysis takes into account the diversified nature of our net debt and net foreign exchange exposure portfolios and incorporates historical correlation between the markets. This projection based on historical volatility is, however, only an estimation of future volatility. The actual future volatility may be substantially different.
     We arrived at the VaR numbers by using a Monte Carlo simulation model developed by our consulting actuaries, Mercer Finance & Risk Consulting which is part of Mercer Human Resources Consulting Pty Ltd, which uses recognised market wide based data sets and volatility calculation methodology. The data sets comprise:
    interest rate and foreign exchange rate volatilities; and
 
    correlations between and within interest rates and foreign exchange rates.
     The simulation model determines the distribution of the market value of our debt portfolio and foreign exchange portfolio plus related hedges at future rates. This is undertaken by simulating interest and foreign exchange movements against our actual transaction portfolio. In deriving the VaR numbers, 50,000 simulations have been undertaken to ensure the production of stable, robust results.
     The VaR is the difference between the median expected value of the portfolio and the value at the 99% confidence level assuming an adverse movement (i.e., there is a 1% chance that the result arising from an adverse movement will be more adverse than the VaR).
VaR
                 
    As at 30 June
Market Value Risk — (One-month holding period)   2006   2005
    (A$m)
Risk categories
               
Interest rates
    130       175  
Foreign currency rates
    61       32  
 
               
Sub-total
    191       207  
Diversification effect (1)
    (31 )     (17 )
 
               
Total
    160       190  
 
               
 
(1)   Equals the difference between the “total composite” monthly VaR and the “sum of the monthly VaRs for the two risk categories assessed independently”.
     VaR calculations were undertaken for portfolio balances (which dynamically change throughout the year) at the end of each quarter during fiscal 2006. The following table shows the high, low and average amounts of the

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combined total portfolio of interest rates and foreign currency rates at these quarterly points through the year. Note that the compositions of the individual portfolios change throughout the year and that the high or low for each of the two component portfolios (i.e., interest rate or foreign exchange rate) may not arise at the same time that the overall combined portfolio is at a high or low value.
VaR analysis
                         
    As at 30 June 2006
Market Value Risk — (One-month holding period)   High   Low   Average(2)
    (A$m)
Risk categories
                       
Interest rates
    172       130       148  
Foreign currency rates
    63       61       67  
 
                       
Sub-total
    235       191       215  
Diversification effect (1)
    (35 )     (31 )     (37 )
 
                       
Total
    200       160       178  
 
                       
 
(1)   Equals the difference between the” total composite” monthly VaR and the “sum of the monthly VaRs for the two risk categories assessed independently.
 
(2)   The high and low quarterly portfolio is defined at the total portfolio level and therefore there may be instances where the average for individual risk categories is either higher than the high or lower than the low for that category.
     Additional information regarding our market risks is provided in note 35 to our consolidated financial statements.

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Information on the Company
History and development of the Company
     Our origins date back to 1901, when the Postmaster-General’s Department was established by the Commonwealth to manage all domestic telephone, telegraph and postal services, and to 1946, when the Overseas Telecommunications Commission was established by the Commonwealth to manage international telecommunications services. Since then, we have undergone many changes and been renamed several times as follows:
    the Australian Telecommunications Commission, trading as Telecom Australia, in July 1975;
 
    the Australian Telecommunications Corporation, trading as Telecom Australia, in January 1989;
 
    the Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation Limited in February 1992;
 
    Telstra Corporation Limited in April 1993, trading internationally as Telstra; and
 
    trading domestically as Telstra in 1995.
     We were incorporated as an Australian public limited liability company in November 1991. Following the opening of Australia’s telecommunications markets to full competition in July 1997, we underwent a partial privatisation in November 1997 under which the Commonwealth sold approximately 33.3% of our issued shares to the public. Following the initial privatisation, those of our shares that are not held by the Commonwealth are quoted on the ASX and NZSX. A further global offering by the Commonwealth of up to 16.6% of our issued shares was launched in September 1999.
Organisational structure
     Our organisational structure has evolved over recent years to meet our business needs and the needs of our customers. The organisational structure currently consists of strategic business units and corporate centre business units as outlined below.
Strategic business units
    Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels is responsible for serving our consumer customers with our full range of products and services including fixed lines, mobiles, Internet access and pay TV services. It also has responsibility for mass marketing channels including Telstra’s call centres, Telstra shops and the dealer network.
 
    Telstra Business is responsible for serving the needs of Australia’s small to medium enterprises with fixed line, mobile, broadband, as well as data and Internet solutions tailored for business.
 
    Telstra Enterprise and Government is responsible for providing innovative ICT solutions to large corporate and government customers in Australia and New Zealand. It is also responsible for KAZ and TelstraClear. KAZ and Telstra service our Enterprise and Government customers’ IT needs. TelstraClear is New Zealand’s second largest full service telecommunications company, providing innovative market leading products and services to the business, government, wholesale and residential sectors. Telstra Enterprise and Government is also responsible for our Global Business operations, recently renamed Telstra International.
 
    Telstra Country Wide® provides telecommunications and information technology services to customers in outer metropolitan, regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.
 
    Telstra BigPond® is responsible for the management and control of our retail Internet products, BigPond® brand and marketing, services and content, contact centres, customer relations and associated functions, for broadband and dial-up delivery.
 
    Sensis is our advertising, search and information services business. Sensis manages three important Telstra brands — YellowTM (formerly Yellow Pages®), White Pages® and Trading Post®, along with the CitySearch® online city guide, the Whereis® online, mobile and satellite navigation services, the GoStayTM print guide and

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      complementary website, the sensis.com.au search engine, the Sensis® 1234 voice service, and the 51% (on a fully diluted basis) owned SouFun investment, a real estate and home furnishings website in China.
    Strategic Marketing is responsible for Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions, and our overall marketing, pricing, brand, sponsorship, promotions and advertising direction. Strategic Marketing is also responsible for Telstra Asia, which manages our international interests in the region and directs our offshore strategy, with a current focus on enhancing the value of our existing investments, profitably rationalising non-core-assets and positioning us to capture high growth opportunities, particularly in China and South East Asia.
 
    Telstra Media is responsible for our FOXTEL investment.
 
    Telstra Operations has responsibility for the core or shared elements of our infrastructure and related support units. Using a “one factory” approach to improve our customer service delivery and customer satisfaction, the group includes Telstra Services, Network and Technology, Wireless, IT Services, Product Management, Procurement, Strategic Supplier Relations, Credit Management, Billing and the corporate Program Office. The Program Office identifies and prioritises opportunities for streamlining, implementing and coordinating all aspects of our transformation strategy.
 
    Telstra Wholesale provides a wide range of wholesale products and services to the Australian domestic market, including fixed, wireless, data and Internet, transmission and IP, interconnection, access to our network facilities, and retail/rebill products. It also serves global wholesale markets to satisfy growing Internet and high bandwidth needs.
Corporate centre business units
    Finance & Administration is responsible for corporate policy and support functions including finance, risk management and assurance, shared services for processing functions, treasury, company secretary, investor relations and other administration services. It is also responsible for the financial management of the majority of our fixed assets, including network assets.
 
    Legal Services provides operational and strategic legal support and advice across Telstra, with lawyers from Legal Services serving clients in all strategic and corporate centre business units.
 
    Public Policy & Communications manages corporate communications and public affairs across Telstra including media relations, employee communications, corporate social responsibility (including the Telstra Foundation), corporate content on the Telstra website (www.telstra.com), Telstra’s website (www.now-wearetalking.com.au) and external relations. Its external relations responsibility includes government relations and regulatory positioning and negotiation, including assessment of regulatory risks, advice and counsel to business units, preparation of submissions to industry regulators, and the facilitation of regulatory compliance through advisory services and the management of a regulatory compliance assurance program.
 
    Human Resources is responsible for developing and implementing our people, culture and capability strategy and providing strategic and operational support and advice to business managers about all human capital matters. This includes organisational design, culture change, employee engagement, leadership development, talent management, performance management, policy, employment, recruitment and health, safety and environment.
     A list of our controlled entities is provided in note 29 to our consolidated financial statements. Our jointly controlled and associated entities are listed in note 30 to our consolidated financial statements.
Marketing and customer service
     We use customer analytics to formulate marketing strategies based on customer needs. This provides a better understanding of customer behaviour and improved customer relationships. Overall, we believe needs-based marketing will provide us with a competitive advantage in the market.

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     Market-based management puts customers at the core of our business focus. We have conducted extensive research that informs us about customers’ needs, priorities and expectations. As a result of this knowledge, we have grouped our residential and small-medium business customers into segments which reflect their specific characteristics. This knowledge forms the basis of a relationship with our customers around which we organise our processes and procedures. Market-based management is used to formulate our marketing strategies for our various strategic business units, and to offer and deliver products and services tailored to customers’ needs across these business units.
Residential customers and small-medium businesses
     We have organised the management structures of Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels and Telstra Business by those segments.
     We segment our residential customers based upon their usage and lifestyle patterns. We segment our small-medium enterprise customers according to the type of business they operate and the way they interact with their customers. This information on customers by segment is used to tailor our marketing campaigns.
     This information on customers by segment is then used to tailor segment specific value propositions by product sets and applications, by channels and by service experience which results in microsegments around each of our product and service areas.
     We are also implementing customer relationship management (“CRM”) technologies to deliver these segment differentiated value propositions. The combination of detailed understanding of customer needs with CRM capabilities enables a customer to experience a personalised and meaningful experience at every touch point, from initial investigation of service through ongoing care.
     We enable customers to interact with us online, through door-to-door sales representatives, telephone sales channels and face to face via our account managed sales team, Telstra shops and Telstra licensed stores as well as indirectly through approximately 4,000 retail outlets nationwide in conjunction with our retail partners.
     We anticipate that changing from a product to a customer segment focus will enable us to uncover previously unseen growth potential as we drive segment-related benefits across product lines that were previously operated in silos.
Enterprise and government customers
     The Enterprise and Government customer base comprises some of our largest customers. All of Telstra Enterprise and Government customers are sophisticated users of ICT. We segment these customers into Integrated (Large ICT outsourcing customers), Multinational and Industry and Government customers with a predominant Trans Tasman or Australian domestic focus. Further customer segmentation in Industry and Government is on the basis of geography and industry verticals. The verticals include Retail, Finance & Insurance, Manufacturing, Media, Business Services & IT, Resource & Utilities, Health, Public Safety & Justice and Local Government. We provide account management and customised solution development along with enhanced service delivery. Our sales team takes a consultative approach with our customers, focusing on delivering enhanced business results through ICT solutions, leveraging the capabilities of KAZ, our ICT services arm.
     We have 20 offices around the world including Asia Pacific, Europe and the USA supporting the global telecommunications requirements of our multi-national customers and global service providers. We provide our customers with managed network solutions including Global WAN, Internet, Back-up and Storage, Security, Mobility, Enhanced voice solutions and more. Other value added solutions include managed CPE, network reporting, consulting, planning, project management and customer support seven days a week.
Regional, rural and remote customers
     Telstra Country Wide® was established to improve service levels, business performance and to strengthen relations with customers and communities in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia. In 2003, this area was expanded to include outer metropolitan areas. In addition, the local management model was further extended in

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January 2006 to incorporate the metropolitan cities of Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. Area General Managers are located throughout Australia to address the sales, marketing and service needs of our customers.
Wholesale customers
     Our wholesale customers include licensed carriers, CSPs and ISPs. Telstra Wholesale provides products and services to more than 500 customers, including more than 400 ISPs (about 80 of which offer broadband digital subscriber line (“DSL”) services).
     Wholesale customers typically buy products and services from Telstra Wholesale, add their own inputs and then sell to the retail market under their own brand.
Advertising customers
     Sensis provides advertising solutions to more than 400,000 Australian businesses (small and medium enterprises (“SMEs”) and large corporates) and Government through a network of print, online, voice and wireless services. Sensis also serves the advertising needs of personal sellers through its print and online classifieds business.
Products and services
     We offer a broad range of telecommunications and information products and services to a diverse customer base. The following table shows our total income by major product and service category and as a percentage of total income for the last two fiscal years. See also “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” for a discussion of the performance of our products and services during the last two fiscal years.
Income by product and service category, including the percentage of total income contributed by each product and service category
                                 
    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005
    A$m   % of Total   A$m   % of Total
PSTN products
                               
Basic access
    3,318       14.4       3,362       15.0  
Local calls
    1,023       4.4       1,284       5.7  
PSTN value added services
    246       1.1       250       1.1  
National long distance calls
    913       4.0       1,013       4.5  
Fixed to mobile
    1,491       6.5       1,566       7.0  
International direct
    201       0.9       234       1.0  
Fixed interconnection
    286       1.1       309       1.4  
 
                               
 
    7,478       32.4       8,018       35.7  
 
                               
Mobiles
                               
Mobile services
    4,505       19.5       4,307       19.2  
Mobile handsets
    467       2.0       381       1.7  
 
                               
 
    4,972       21.5       4,688       20.9  
 
                               
Data and Internet services
                               
Internet and IP Solutions
    1,907       8.3       1,377       6.1  
ISDN products
    807       3.5       890       4.0  
Specialised data
    884       3.8       966       4.3  
 
                               
 
    3,598       15.6       3,233       14.4  

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    Year Ended 30 June
    2006   2005
    A$m   % of Total   A$m   % of Total
Other products and services
                               
Advertising and directories
    1,711       7.4       1,585       7. 1  
Customer premises equipment
    274       1.2       231       1.0  
Pay phones
    104       0.5       121       0.5  
Intercarrier services
    351       1.5       290       1.3  
Inbound calling products
    449       1.9       449       2.0  
Solutions management
    989       4.3       931       4.1  
Offshore controlled entities
    1,745       7.6       1,611       7.2  
Pay TV bundling
    320       1.4       263       1.2  
Other sales and services
    759       3.2       741       3.3  
 
                               
 
    6,702       29.0       6,222       27.7  
 
                               
Total sales revenue
    22,750       98.5       22,161       98.7  
 
                               
Other revenue (1) (excluding finance income)
    22       0.1       20       0.1  
Other income
    328       1.4       261       1.2  
 
                               
Total income (excluding finance income)
    23,100       100.0       22,442       100.0  
 
                               
 
(1)   Other revenue excludes finance income, which is included in net finance costs.
     Sales revenues are derived from domestic and international sales as follows:
                 
    Year Ended
    30 June
    2006   2005
    %   %
Australia
    92.3       92.7  
Hong Kong
    3.7       3.3  
New Zealand
    2.7       2.8  
Other International
    1.3       1.2  
PSTN products
     PSTN includes basic fixed-line access, local calls, value added services, national long distance, fixed-to-mobile and international direct.
Basic Access
     Our Basic Access service includes installing and maintaining connections between customers’ premises and our Public Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”) and providing basic voice, facsimile and Internet services. Basic Access does not include enhanced products like Integrated Services Digital Network (“ISDN”) access and Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (“ADSL”) services.
     Along with basic access services, we provide handsets for sale and rental to help customers use our services more effectively. The latest rental phones have single button access to features such as 3-way chat, Messagebank®, call forward and SMS. We also develop products to assist our customers with disabilities. This ranges from the very popular “big button” phone to Teletypwriter (“TTY”) and TeleBraille products.

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Local calls (including PSTN value-added services)
     We provide local call services to more residential and business customers than any other service provider in Australia, generally charging for calls on an untimed fee basis. The geographical reach of our untimed local call zones, combined with our packages, access and pricing offers, extend the value of our local call service. In addition, we provide value-added services such as voicemail, call waiting, call forwarding, call conferencing and call return.
National long distance calls
     We are the leading provider of national long distance services for residential and business customers in Australia. This comprises national long distance calls made from our PSTN network to a fixed network. Calls are generally charged on a timed basis after a call connection fee. Call details such as duration, destination, time of day and day of the week generally determine charges which are also offered on a fixed or capped price basis. We also offer options that let customers choose between a range of offers to suit individual needs, including the recent addition of subscription plans with included features and calls.
Fixed to mobile
     Fixed to mobile are calls made from our PSTN/ISDN to a mobile network and are charged on a timed basis after a call connection fee. Charges usually depend on the duration of the call and whether the call is to a Telstra mobile service. Calls made within a capped calling option are charged according to duration, time of day, day of week and terminating carrier. Capped calling offers predominantly apply to calls to Telstra mobiles.
International direct
     We are the leading provider of international telephone services in Australia, offering international telephone services to more than 230 countries and territories. Calls are typically charged on a per-second basis after a call connection fee, depending on the duration and destination of the call. REACH provides the connections we use to supply international services to both our retail and wholesale customers. For more information regarding our arrangements with REACH, refer to “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — International business ventures”.
Mobile telecommunications services
     We offer a wide range of mobile services to our customers, including voice calling and messaging, text and multimedia messaging and a range of information, entertainment and connectivity services.
NEXT GTM Wireless Network
     In 2005, we announced that we would build a 3GSM 850 Mhz wireless network with our strategic partner Ericsson. We launched this network, called NEXT GTM, on 6 October 2006, and it provides 3G coverage to 98% of the Australian population. It is the largest 3G network in Australia.
     Using multi-band handsets, customers will be able to access both our NEXT GTM wireless network as well as our existing 3GSM 2100 MHz network.
3GSM 2100
     Our existing 3GSM 2100 MHz network allows additional functionality such as video calling and higher speed data access within its coverage boundary while offering access to the GSM network and services outside of the 3G area. Our 3GSM 2100 MHz network sharing arrangement with Hutchinson covers over 50% of the Australian population in a number of mainland capital cities including Canberra.
GSM digital service
     Our digital GSM network covers around 96% of the Australian population and we continue to improve existing areas of coverage and expand this network, where commercially justified. We have also improved depth of coverage

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in major cities, particularly in-building and underground coverage, as well as offering international roaming in more than 140 countries and 300 networks.
CDMA digital service
     Our existing CDMA network currently provides Australia’s largest cellular mobile phone coverage, spanning more than 1.6 million square kilometres and covering around 98% of the Australian population. The CDMA network will remain in place until our new NEXT GTM wireless service has the same or better coverage as CDMA and until at least January 2008. Our CDMA 1X technology service (“1XRTT”) which was Australia’s first commercial mobile network based on CDMA 1X technology was launched in December 2002. By the end of 2005, CDMA 1X, was made available across the entire CDMA network footprint of over 1.6 million square km covering around 98% of the population.
     We will continue to operate our CDMA network until our NEXT G™ wireless network provides the same or better coverage than the CDMA network, and in any event at least until January 2008, and the software upgrades are complete and any necessary Government approvals have been obtained.
Telstra Mobile Satellite
     In 2002, we launched Telstra Mobile Satellite, a hand-held mobile satellite voice and data service for people living, working or travelling in rural and remote Australia. The service operates off the Iridium Low Earth Orbit satellite system which provides global mobile satellite phone coverage wherever there is a clear view of the sky. We have a service partner agreement to sell the Iridium service.
BigPond®
     We offer a range of Internet products and packages under our BigPond® brand. Telstra BigPond® Dial-Up offers dial-up modem and ISDN Internet services to residential and small and medium business customers across Australia. Telstra BigPond® Broadband provides broadband Internet services to consumer and small and medium business customers via hybrid fibre coaxial cable, satellite, ADSL and wireless technologies.
BigPond® Mobile Services
     With BigPond® Mobile Services customers can browse and purchase a broad range of up-to-date information and entertainment. With a 3G video mobile, customers can access 3D games, receive news bulletins, stock quotes or sport scores, download ringtones, find directions, watch music videos and send and receive emails.
Wireless Broadband Expansion
     In August 2005, we introduced the BigPond® Wireless Broadband product and have expanded our CDMA 1xEVDO network to provide greater coverage for our Wireless Broadband customers. The BigPond® focus on the consumer market provides an addition to the existing business-oriented Telstra Mobile Broadband solution. These two products provide solutions for wireless broadband access. As we move towards closing our CDMA network, we plan to migrate customers from this service to the wireless broadband services provided over our new NEXT GTM wireless network.
Content services
     Telstra BigPond® provides online and mobile content services (including BigBlogTM and BigPond® Movies, BigPond® Sport, BigPond® Games, BigPond® Kids, News and BigPond® TV). These services include music, movies, games, sports entertainment, video on demand and DVD rental offerings. All of these services are available from BigPond.com.

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Internet and IP Services
     In addition to our BigPond® services, we provide new generation data and Internet services including:
    business grade Internet solutions;
 
    IP Solutions;
 
    Business DSL, that offers a broadband data service with symmetric data rates and business grade service levels;
 
    Connect IP solution range which is a standardised, end-to-end, IP-based WAN offering that integrates network management and data connectivity with Customer Premises Equipment (“CPE”), allowing for seamless data transfer between customer sites; and
 
    IP Telephony, an open standard IP communications suite, which delivers hosted IP telephony and IP applications to our corporate customers.
Data Services
     We also provide data and specialised services, including ISDN, digital data services, voice grade dedicated lines, transaction/EFTPOS services and video and audio network services, as well as domestic and international frame relay and ATM products.
     Telstra Internet Direct also provides business customers with dedicated Internet access within Australia at access transmission rates up to one gigabyte per second (“Gbps”).
     We also provide wholesale Internet access products for use by licensed carriers, ISPs and CSPs.
Other services
     We offer other data services, in some cases with business partners, including:
    collaboration services that provide audio, video and web-based conferencing (including the Conferlink® product range);
 
    e-commerce solutions including e-trading, e-payments, EFTPOS/ATM network services and straight-through processing services;
 
    Online Customer Management Facility (“OCMF”) providing a self-service capability for customers to manage user access to their IP networks;
 
    Digital Video Network (“DVN”) initiative allowing our media customers to share content such as news or sporting arena access;
 
    Managed Wide Area Networks services (“WANs”) including design, CPE sales and installation, network establishment and maintenance.
Advertising and directories
     We are a leading provider of advertising and search services through our advertising business and wholly owned subsidiary, Sensis. Sensis’ popular information services include YellowTM, White Pages®, Trading Post®, CitySearch® and Whereis®.
     The YellowTM print directory is Australia’s leading business directory, while White Pages® print directory maintains its position as a leading information source. The YellowTM and White Pages® print directories also feature comprehensive Information Pages, providing valuable information about emergency and community services, activities and resources within the area of coverage. The YellowTM OnLine site and the White Pages® OnLine site extend the print directory’s capabilities.

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     Whereis® maps and directions complement and combine with other Sensis products-including YellowTM OnLine and White Pages® OnLine directories, and the CitySearch® site-to deliver location orientated services across Internet and WAP channels.
     The CitySearch® site provides a range of editorial content, business listings and entertainment and event information in major cities around Australia.
     The Trading Post® is published throughout Australia, providing a classifieds service to most of the Australian population. In addition to print editions, the Trading Post® also has an online site located at tradingpost.com.au.
     During fiscal 2006, Sensis has continued to focus on developing and providing solutions to meet the needs of both consumers and advertisers. In April 2006, Sensis entered the travel and accommodation market with the launch of GoStayTM. With more than 5,500 ads and a national distribution to 3 million households, the GoStayTM print guide has the largest distribution of any printed Australian travel guide. Complementing the GoStayTM Accommodation Guide is a comprehensive website — gostay.com.au — where consumers can search, select and book and pay for accommodation at thousands of properties across Australia.
     In February 2006, Sensis became a majority shareholder of Adstream Australia. This has opened up new advertising options for Sensis’ small and medium enterprise (“SME”) customers, helping Adstream Australia’s customers reach a wider audience through the joint Sensis and Telstra online network, and extending Sensis’ advertising agency relationships to a much deeper level.
     On 31 August 2006, we purchased a 51 per cent shareholding in SouFun, a leading real estate and home furnishings web-site in China.
Wholesale services (including inter-carrier services)
     In addition to providing products for resale, we provide a range of other products specifically tailored for wholesale customers. These include:
    interconnection services, including originating and terminating access to our fixed and mobile networks, preselection services and access to our network facilities such as ducts, towers and exchange space;
 
    domestic and international transmission services;
 
    broadband, IP backbone and traditional data services; and
 
    both GSM and CDMA mobile products and services. Telstra Wholesale has advised customers of the closure of the CDMA network, with the earliest possible closure date being 28 January 2008.
     We also manage and deliver a range of customer processes for wholesale customers. These include product and service provisioning, ordering and activation, billing, fault reporting and end-user and product transfer. In addition, we provide a range of web-based business-to-business services to our customers.
Inbound calling products
     We offer inbound call services including:
    Telstra Freecall® 1800, a reverse-charge call service used widely by small and large businesses to extend market reach and attract sales;
 
    Priority® One3, a shared-cost service offering a six-digit national number used by larger businesses as a front-door to contact centres and franchise operations for service calls;
 
    Priority® 1300 services, a shared-cost service offering a 10-digit number, similar to the Priority® One3 service, where a short-number format is not required;
 
    Contact centre enablement services, including network-based speech recognition and interactive voice response solutions, computer telephony integration, call routing services and speech recognition;

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    InfoCall® 190, a telephone premium-rate service where we bill the calling customer for both content and carriage on our bill and receive a fee from the content provider for these payment and carriage services; and
 
    Phone Words, an inbound number derived from the alphabetic translation of a number, provided by 1300 Australia Pty Ltd.
ICT Solutions, Services and Outsourcing
     KAZ, a wholly owned subsidiary, partners with us in the market to service our medium and large Enterprise and Government customers in Australian and Asia Pacific markets. The combination of KAZ’s IT capabilities and our telecommunications strengths gives us capabilities in the provision of end-to-end ICT services and solutions from within our own group of companies.
     The repositioning of KAZ over the past two years as our ICT Services arm has enabled the business to achieve revenue growth from services such as:
    Applications development, management and maintenance;
 
    Systems Integration: particularly focusing on the integration of our ICT solutions and partner applications in the client environment;
 
    ICTand Business Process Outsourcing: covering servers, desktops, peripherals and other portable devices for some of Australia’s largest companies as well as non core business processes such as credit card processing and cheque processing;
 
    ICT Consulting: designed to support our core business and focusing on ICT Strategy, Network Consulting & Integration, Mobility & Wireless and Security & Business Continuity as well as Information Intelligence and Business Process;
 
    The provision of ICT services supporting our managed voice, data and mobility solutions including IP-based networks and IP Telephony; and
 
    Managed IT Services: covering a range of solutions such as security, hosting, data centre management and managed storage.
     On 31 August 2006, we sold AAS, the superannuation administration business of our KAZ Group subsidiary to Link Market Services Limited for A$215 million. In addition, we took out A$35.5 million in cash from AAS prior to settlement. The transaction was completed after a competitive public sale process had been undertaken. A decision was made to sell AAS after it was determined that it was no longer strategic and not a core part of our business. KAZ continues to be a crucial part of our Information and Communication Technology strategy and service delivery.
Payphones
     We are the leading provider of payphones in Australia. As at 30 June 2006, we operated approximately 30,000 public payphones. Our Universal Service Obligation requires us to make payphone services reasonably accessible throughout Australia including in non-metropolitan and rural areas.
Customer premises equipment
     As part of our customer voice, data, mobile and service solutions, we provide customer premises equipment for rental or sale to our residential, consumer, business and Government customers. In relation to Telstra rental phones, modern new standard and “calling number display” rental phones are available, making phones and phone features easier to use.
     We acquired the Converged Networks Group (“CN”) in March 2006. CN services the Western Australian market as Telstra Business Sales” exclusive franchise in Western Australia. CN’s principal product sets are Ericsson Enterprise (its core business) and more recently, IBM and Nortel. The acquisition effectively allows us to operate in our own right in Western Australia — rather than as a reseller to CN.

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Other sales and services
     The principal components of operating revenue that we record in other sales and services relate to information and connection services, external construction and various other minor products and services.
Subscription television
     We own 50% of FOXTEL, with Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd (“PBL”) and The News Corporation Limited (“News Corporation”) each owning 25%. The FOXTEL partners have committed, with very limited exceptions, to confine their involvement in the provision of subscription television services in Australia to participation in FOXTEL. PBL and News Corporation have also made programming commitments to FOXTEL. Each of these commitments expires in November 2008.
     FOXTEL is Australia’s leading provider of subscription television services, with over one and a quarter million subscribers (including our resale subscribers and those receiving FOXTEL programming through Optus Television and others). FOXTEL markets its services to more than 5 million homes, split approximately equally between those homes passed by our hybrid fibre co-axial cable (“HFC”) and those covered by a satellite distribution.
     FOXTEL DigitalTM offers customers access to around 130 digital channels, superior picture and sound quality, a comprehensive and easy to use electronic program guide (“EPG”), interactive sports and news applications and FOXTEL Box Office® (near video on demand). FOXTEL continues to enhance FOXTEL DigitalTM, launching new channels and interactive features, including additional news, sports and weather applications, as well as launching the FOXTEL iQTM in February 2005. The FOXTEL iQTM is a personal digital recorder (“PDR”) designed to change the way viewers watch television by enabling subscribers to record two programs simultaneously, even while watching a previously recorded program.
     Under arrangements with the FOXTEL partners, FOXTEL may provide, in addition to subscription television services, a range of information and other services. FOXTEL currently only provides subscription television services.
     We are the exclusive long-term supplier of cable distribution services for FOXTEL’s cable subscription television services in our cabled areas and we receive a share of FOXTEL’s cable subscription television revenues. We can independently, or through partnerships and alliances, provide a broad range of communications, data and information services to other parties using our broadband network.
     FOXTEL has entered into various program supply arrangements, including some with minimum subscriber fee commitments. Refer to “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Contractual obligations and commercial commitments” for further details regarding our exposure to these commitments.
     We also resell Austar United Communications Limited (“AUSTAR”) subscription television services, which are eligible for inclusion in the Telstra Rewards Options plan. The bundling and reselling of both the FOXTEL and AUSTAR services broadens the range of telecommunication and entertainment services we offer to our customers. These arrangements allow us to provide a residential subscription television package to most areas in Australia regardless of geography.
     A discussion of competition in the subscription television services market is contained in “Competition —Subscription television”.
International investments
     Our major international investments include:
    CSL New World Mobility Group, Hong Kong’s leading mobile operator of which we own 76.4%. It has around 2.6 million customers, equating to approximately 32% of Hong Kong’s mobile market. CSL New World Mobility has retained all CSL and New World brands thereby addressing all mobile market segments;
 
    TelstraClear, our wholly-owned subsidiary, is the second largest full-service carrier in New Zealand. TelstraClear provides voice, data, Internet, mobile resale, managed services and cable television products

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      and services to the New Zealand market. New Zealand is a an important market for our trans-Tasman customers, and this investment enables these customers to receive end-to-end services;
 
    REACH, a 50/50 joint venture with PCCW, which provides outsourcing services in support of Telstra’s and PCCW’s international voice and data services. REACH is also one of the world’s top carriers of international voice traffic. REACH operates and maintains or uses voice and data switching platforms, satellite earth stations and a network of over a network of over forty submarine cable and international satellite systems, together with associated landing rights, backhaul, operating licences and bilateral agreements in most international markets;
 
      Last year Telstra and PCCW reported a number of improvements to the REACH operating model, whereby REACH would provide voice and data services to the two shareholders in return for an outsourcing fee on a cost plus mark-up basis. This year has focused on a consolidation of the new operating model. Data volumes continue to grow strongly and voice business volumes are stable.
 
      Telstra and REACH will continue to focus on a range of initiatives aimed at securing comprehensive international voice and data services at low unit cost; and
 
    SouFun, a leading real estate and home furnishing website in China, which we purchased a 51 per cent shareholding in on 31 August 2006 as part of our growth strategy for Sensis.
     We also have a 46.9% equity interest in Australia-Japan Cable Holdings Limited, a network cable provider, which owns and operates a fibre optic cable between Australia and Japan.
     Our 35% equity interest in the satellite communications operator, Xantic B.V. (formerly Station 12 B.V.) was divested in fiscal 2006.
Capital Expenditures and Divestitures
     For a discussion of the significant capital expenditures and divestitures we made in the preceding two-year period, refer to “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Cash flow”.
Research and development
     We continue to make significant investment in research and development. In fiscal 2006, the estimated spend was A$146 million. We review our project expenditure annually to determine its actual spend on research and development. The expenditure was determined to be A$157 million in fiscal 2005. For a detailed discussion of our research and development, refer to “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Research and development”.
Networks and systems
Transformation — Simplifying our infrastructure
Next-generation network (“NGN”)
     In November 2005, we outlined our plans to build a next-generation network and rationalise the more than 300 different network platforms provided by an array of vendors. On 7 August 2006 we announced that we had reached an impasse with the ACCC and as a result the FTTN component of the NGN remains on hold.
     Our current plan is to reduce our network platforms by 60% in three years and 65% in five years. As at 30 June 2006, we had capped or exited 48 of our network platforms exceeding our December 2006 target.
     Over the next five years the NGN initiative aims to remove network duplication and the high level of complexity by transforming our network infrastructure in Australia’s five major cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. The transformation will include:
    an Internet Protocol (“IP”) core network which will replace today’s dual cores and add new capacity, greater capability, improved reliability and lower cost per unit;

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    an Ethernet network which will aggregate all traffic onto the new IP core supporting what we anticipate to be high throughput demands of next-generation applications and services;
 
    a multi service edge, providing common services for customers regardless of access network and connectivity for business services including Frame Relay, ATM and Ethernet;
 
    high capacity soft switch platforms which will support voice services and features over the common IP core, provide high capacity and high flexibility platforms.
     We believe the NGN will provide customers a simpler experience, fewer outages, faster services and a consistent experience across multiple devices and networks. This new network will also enable customer access to new and innovative services such as broadband Internet access many times faster than current speeds, multi-channel TV delivered over the Internet and video conferencing.
     This “next-generation network” will continue to be monitored and supported through a largely centralised global operations centre, which has a recovery plan that enables network management to be transferred to an alternate location in the event of an unforeseen disaster.
Mobile telecommunications networks
     We currently own and operate two mobile network platforms, GSM and CDMA. Together, these cover around 98% of the Australian population and serve more than 8 million SIOs. Through CSL New World Mobility Group we also operate mobile services in Hong Kong.
     In November 2005, we committed to simplify our Australian mobile infrastructure and announced the plan to build a national 3GSM 850 MHz wireless network and, therefore, remove duplicate cost of maintaining and upgrading two networks. We launched our 3GSM 850 MHz or NEXT GTM wireless network on 6 October 2006.
     The NEXT GTM wireless network operates on our GSM platform and uses the 850 MHz radio frequency spectrum. The GSM platform will provide access to higher data speeds, better applications and provide economies of scale. The CDMA network will remain in place until the national NEXT GTM wireless network has the same or better coverage than the CDMA network coverage and until at least January 2008. The new network provides coverage to 98% of the Australian population.
     Our GSM digital network operates in the 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum bands. As at 30 June 2006, our GSM network had approximately 4,750 base stations nationally. We are continuing to expand the capacity and coverage of the GSM network, with just under 500 new base stations established in fiscal 2006.
     Our existing 3GSM service operates in the 2100 MHz spectrum band and with multi-band handsets it is compatible with our NEXT GTM wireless network.
Other current networks & infrastructure
Transmission infrastructure
     Our national transmission infrastructure consists of both terrestrial and non-terrestrial transmission systems. Our domestic terrestrial systems are almost exclusively digital and use approximately 4 million kilometres of optical fibre. Our major transmission routes incorporate Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (“SDH”) technology.
     Our international switching and transmission requirements are provided by REACH, which owns international gateway switches in Sydney and an expanding network of switches across Asia, North America and Europe to augment its state-of-the-art global data/IP system. REACH uses satellite communication systems to supplement international traffic capacity where undersea cables are not feasible and to provide route diversity and circuit redundancy, as well as specialist satellite-based applications. REACH utilises satellite earth stations in Australia and Hong Kong, including the largest satellite teleport in Asia.

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Public Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”)
     Our PSTN or fixed network supports voice, facsimile and dial-up data products and we continue to deploy new infrastructure as residential and business areas expand.
     Australia’s geographic characteristics provide unique challenges for the provision of nationwide digital PSTN coverage, overcome by our innovative application of a range of modern technologies. Some 286 digital switching nodes connect customers with each other through a combination of copper, fibre optic, radio and satellite technologies.
     Our network supports a range of switch features which include features such as Call Waiting, Call Return, Abbreviated Dialling and Virtual Private Networks (“VPN”). New types of telephones and customer premises equipment which make these features more accessible and easy to use are continually entering the market.
     The PSTN supports many operator assisted service products such as directory assistance and CallConnect. We are planning to enhance these services with higher levels of automation including the latest in advanced voice recognition technology. The PSTN is also Australia’s lifeline to Emergency 000 services.
     Our PSTN infrastructure in the five major capital cities is expected to evolve over the next five years, from the current technologies to increasingly utilising an IP core network and IP access switching to replace our traditional exchanges.
     We utilise CDMA-based wireless local loop technology in regional Australia as part of our contract with the Commonwealth to improve communications in extended zones. With the deployment of 3G mobile network technology we will have a similar capability after the CDMA network is phased out in early 2008 to ensure continuation of this type of service. In more remote areas satellite will continue to be used for providing calling and internet services.
Integrated Services Digital Network (“ISDN”)
     ISDN is a flexible, switched digital network. The integrated nature of this network means that ISDN can support many applications at the same time while using a single access point to the network, including traditional telephony as well as various data applications such as videoconferencing, Internet access and EFTPOS.
     The ISDN network is available to approximately 96% of the Australian population. ISDN provides an end-to-end digital connection that allows us to deliver minimum 64Kbps connections to customers.
Intelligent Network (“IN”) platforms
     We operate a number of IN platforms that support a range of services across fixed, mobile and messaging services including:
    inbound services such as Telstra Freecall® 1800, Priority® One3, Priority® 1300 and InfoCall® 190;
 
    Telstra prepaid mobile, Pre-paid Plus;
 
    calling cards (Telecard®);
 
    prepaid cards (Phoneaway®, Say G’day®);
 
    information services numbers;
 
    number portability;
 
    mobile VPN, mobile voicemail;
 
    advanced network routing; and
 
    screening functions.

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     Our inbound services are important to our major business customers because they support their call centre and customer service operations. Our Contact centre enablement services, include network-based speech recognition, interactive voice response solutions, computer telephony integration and advanced call routing services.
Data networks
     We operate a number of data networks including a:
    Switched Data Network (“SDN”);
 
    National Transaction Switching Network; and
 
    Digital Data Network (“DDN”).
     Our SDN comprises approximately 857 switches linked to access multiplexers at more than 130 sites around Australia. It is the backbone for numerous IP WAN services, supporting a range of access types from the fixed ATM and frame services for domestic and global use to Dynamic Dial, ADSL, wireless services and value-added features including firewalls, hosting, Messenger, IP Voice and IP Video.
     Our retail customers use ATM and frame relay data services on the SDN to build wide-area corporate data networks. Our wholesale customers use the SDN as an element of their own retail offerings.
     Our National Transaction Switching Network is suitable for electronic funds transfer and inventory applications. This network provides dedicated and dial-up access in a secure environment, suitable for transmitting transactions.
     Our DDN, with its fully integrated management system, provides dedicated secure site-to-site transmission at speeds ranging from 1200bps up to 2Mbps. This network has extensive coverage, with more than 2,500 points of presence nationally across Australia for both Telstra retail DDS and Telstra Wholesale Data Access Radial (“DAR”) products.
     In addition, the DDN is the underlying access infrastructure for our Accelerated Frame Relay product using our large network reach over multiple access technologies such as G.Shdsl, HDSL and optic fibre to enable customer access into the SDN core network.
     The DDN and SDN will be replaced and customers migrated to new products as part of our transformation strategy.
Internet Protocol / Multiprotocol Label Switching (“IP/MPLS”) networks
     We operate a national Internet full IP routed network, which provides the backbone for all of our Telstra Internet Direct services and all Telstra BigPond® Internet offerings, as well as Telstra Wholesale’s Internet products. Our Internet backbone network connects to the rest of the Internet via the international links provided by REACH and connects domestically via peering links with peer ISPs.
     We also operate an MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) based Routed Data Network (“RDN”) which supports both our internal IP network as well as our suite of IP Products under the name of IP Solutions. The RDN is also used to deliver IP Metropolitan Area Network (“IPMAN”) and Ethernet MAN services along with our interstate IP Wide Area Network (“IPWAN”). We offer a Government IP solution providing a direct fibre-based IP Network for use by Government agencies in Metropolitan and regional locations.
     The RDN supports the delivery of retail and wholesale Ethernet based products nationally.
     As part of the transformation, our Internet backbone network and the RDN will be replaced by a single IP/ MPLS core.
IP Voice Solutions
     We have provided a hosted open-standards IP Telephony solution for our corporate customers since 2003.

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     The IP Voice Solutions are delivered using a common Internet Protocol network utilising a Next-generation Network architecture.
Broadband network
     We deliver broadband capability through HFC, ADSL, Wireless and satellite services. Our HFC broadband network passes approximately 2.8 million homes and businesses. The optic fibre component of this broadband network consists of two forward and one return path fibre. The HFC network is designed to provide two-way transmission for interactive services and high-speed data downloads, currently up to 17Mbps via BigPond® Cable Extreme service.
     ADSL is a broadband technology using the existing copper line technology that also delivers PSTN services. ADSL deployment commenced in August 2000 and we achieved our target coverage for fiscal 2006 with over 2,300 ADSL enabled exchanges sites.
     We also offer satellite broadband services via both a two-way satellite service and a satellite download/dial-up backchannel in areas of Australia for customers who are unable to access broadband via cable, ADSL or Wireless.
Digital Video Network
     Our Digital Video Network is an optical fibre network used by video broadcasters and aggregators for the transmission and distribution of their content. The capabilities of the network allow for seamless sharing of content between approved broadcasters as well as transmission of the content by means of high grade encoding techniques.
Electromagnetic energy (“EME”)
     Certain reports have suggested that EME emissions from mobile phone base stations and radio communications facilities (including handsets) may have adverse health consequences for users and the community. We rely on the expert advice of national and international health authorities such as the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (“ARPANSA”) and the World Health Organisation (“WHO”) for overall assessments of health and safety impacts of EME. The current consensus is that there is no substantiated scientific evidence of health effects from the EME generated by radio frequency technology, including mobile phones and base stations, when used in accordance with applicable standards.
     We are committed to being open and transparent on all issues relating to EME emissions. We comply with all relevant radio frequency standards and have comprehensive policies and procedures to protect the health and safety of the community and our employees.
     Together with other Australian mobile carriers, through the Mobile Carriers Forum (“MCF”), we have implemented a process to help ensure compliance with the Australian Communications Media Authority (“ACMA”) electromagnetic radiation framework and the Australian Communications Industry Forum (“ACIF”) code of practice for radio communications infrastructure deployment. We developed tools to assist compliance, such as the National Site Archive and National Antenna database, which have been adopted by the MCF.
     We have developed base station EME software that calculates environmental emission levels in a matter of seconds. Our RF-MAPTM software enables operators, local authorities and community groups to assess the environmental impacts of mobile phone base stations and confirm compliance with safety standards. We have given copies of our RF-MAPTM software to national and international health authorities as well as community and Government organisations, reflecting our commitment to sharing expertise and providing the community with easy to use solutions.
     We are also active participants on national and international EME standards bodies and research institutions.

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Property, plant and equipment
Overview
     A large part of our network is constructed on land occupied under our statutory powers and immunities. We also own and occupy land that includes strategic sites, such as the properties on which our telephone exchanges are located. As at 30 June 2006, we owned 5,233 freehold sites and occupied 8,870 sites on a leasehold or other basis. Most of our sites are related directly to our telecommunications operations and are used for housing network equipment of various types, such as telephone exchanges, transmission stations, microwave radio equipment and mobile radio repeater equipment. Some of our operational sites are on leased land or land that we have access to by statutory right or other formal or informal arrangement. In addition to our operational sites, we own or lease a range of properties used for office accommodation, storage and other miscellaneous purposes which are discussed in “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects-Contractual obligations and commercial commitments”.
Land access powers and immunities
     The land access powers and immunities conferred on carriers by the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cwth) (Telecommunications Act) are limited specific activities involving inspection and survey of land, maintenance of facilities and installation of “low impact” facilities as prescribed by the Telecommunications Low Impact Facilities Determination 1997. For activities not covered by the land access powers and immunities regime, we must obtain all necessary consents, including the consent of the relevant town planning authority as well as from the owner of the land, before network construction activities may commence. Where the network-related activities are to occur in areas of indigenous cultural heritage or on land where native title exists the relevant stakeholders are consulted. In areas of environmental significance, the Department of Environment and Heritage are also consulted and notified. The consultation period must be considered when determining activity timeframes. We have comprehensive land access procedures and systems to enable staff and contractors to comply with relevant legislation when undertaking network related activities.
Environmental issues
     Environmental aspects covering the handling and storage of dangerous goods, noise from fixed plant, visual amenity and disposal of waste (including obsolete and decommissioned equipment) are required to be managed as part of operating and maintaining plant and equipment on occupied sites. We manage the potential risks associated with these environmental aspects through various control procedures. Incident processes are in place to minimise the potential impacts of environmental incidents. New equipment undergoes an environment assessment before being implemented into the network. Sites to be divested undergo environmental assessment and, if appropriate, remediation, prior to sale.
     We are aware of no current significant environmental issues that impede the utilisation or integrity of our network operation.

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Legal Proceedings
C7 litigation
     In November 2002, Seven Network Limited and C7 Pty Limited (“Seven”) commenced litigation against us and various other parties (“the respondents”) in relation to the contracts and arrangements between us and some of those other parties relating to the right to broadcast the Australian Football League and National Rugby League, the contract between FOXTEL and us for the provision of broadband HFC cable services (the “Broadband Cooperation Agreement”) and other matters.
     Seven seeks damages and other relief, including that some of these contracts and arrangements are void. Seven also seeks orders which would, in effect, require a significant restructure of the subscription television/sports rights markets in Australia. Expert reports filed by Seven were at one time used to suggest that Seven sought total damages of around A$1.1 billion. However, some significant components of this expert evidence have since been ruled inadmissible by the trial judge and many of the facts on which Seven’s loss claim is based are contested. In addition to denying liability at all, the respondents have filed expert reports to the effect that, even if liability were found to exist, damages should be assessed at a very significantly lesser amount. If Seven obtained any order for damages or legal costs affecting us, the liability arising from that order may subsequently be apportioned between the relevant respondents, with us bearing only a portion of the total liability. Final oral submissions were completed in early October and we are awaiting judgement. In light of the progress of this case to date, we consider that it is unlikely to have any material effect on our overall business or financial position.
Shareholder class action
     In January 2006, a shareholder commenced a representative proceeding in the Federal Court against us. The statement of claim alleges that we breached the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules between 11 August and 7 September 2005 by failing to disclose to the ASX or in our fiscal 2005 full year accounts (1) that our CEO, Mr Trujillo had formed an opinion that there had been past deficiencies in operating expenditure and capital expenditure on telecommunications infrastructure, (2) that our CEO had forecast a significant and accelerating decline in our PSTN business, and (3) that we had communicated these matters to the Commonwealth. The claim seeks orders for compensation for the class of shareholders who bought shares between 11 August and 7 September 2005. The proceeding is at an early stage, and is considered unlikely to have any material effect on our overall business or financial position. We are vigorously defending the claim.
Competition notice regarding line access
     Refer “Regulation — Conduct regulation”.
Other
     We are also involved in routine litigation. Governmental authorities and other parties threaten and issue legal proceedings against us from time to time.
     We do not consider that there are any current proceedings that could materially adversely affect our overall business or financial position.

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Employees
     We are one of Australia’s largest employers. As at 30 June 2006, the Telstra Group employed 40,996 full-time employees. We also engage employees under flexible work arrangements including casual, supplementary and part-time employees. As at 30 June 2006, the Telstra Group had engaged the equivalent of 3,456 full-time employees under these flexible arrangements. In total, as at 30 June 2006, the Telstra Group’s full-time equivalent (FTE) employee total was 44,452 which is 1,775 less than at the same time in 2005, where the equivalent FTE employee number totalled 46,227.
     We also use contractors and agency arrangements to round out our total workforce. Including IT contractors, non-IT contractors, staff on agency arrangements, full-time employees and employed equivalents, we had a total workforce of 49,443 as at 30 June 2006 and a total workforce of 52,705 as at 30 June 2005.
     More than 90% of our employees work in Australia. However, we also have international interests, with employees in New Zealand, Asia and other locations as follows:
                 
    As at 30 June
    2006   2005
New Zealand
    1,395       1,508  
Asia
    1,884       1,060  
Other
    233       298  
     The following table summarises full-time employees and equivalents in Australia and overseas for the past five financial years:
                                         
    As at 30 June
    2006   2005   2004   2003   2002
Full-time Australian based employees of the Telstra Group
    37,599       39,680       35,774       36,781       40,084  
Full-time equivalent total for the Telstra Group
    44,452       46,227       41,488       41,620       44,595  
Superannuation
     Our employees receive superannuation contributions that are either more generous than or comply with our legal obligations. The majority of our Australian employees are members of the Telstra Superannuation Scheme, our default fund, or in the case of some employees who were employed prior to 1990, the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme. Refer “Relationship with the Commonwealth — The Commonwealth as shareholder”.
     During fiscal 2006, we implemented Choice of Superannuation Fund in accordance with the legislation, which came into effect in July 2005. While the legislation allows for certain categories of our employees to be exempted, we extended this flexibility to as many employees as possible, subject to other legislative restrictions.
Employee Relations
     In September 2005, a new Enterprise Agreement (“EA”) was certified by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. This EA covers approximately 50% of our employees, has a nominal expiry date of September 2008 and provides pay increases of 2.5% each year over a three-year period.
     Amendments to the Workplace Relations Act 2006 (Work Choices) were enacted on 27 March 2006. We have adjusted relevant terms and conditions of employment in accordance with the new Work Choices requirements.
Occupational Health and Safety
     We believe that the successful prevention of work-related injury and illness is achieved through a balance of robust management systems, engaged employees and committed managers. Telstra Care, our health and safety management system, focuses on leadership in safety, together with measurable accountabilities, through all levels of management. Each year we undertake an extensive schedule of occupational health and safety audits with the aim of continually improving safety at work. For the last nine years, the results have shown year-on-year improvement, which has a high correlation to our decrease in Lost Time Injuries.

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     Under our Telstra Care health and safety management system, in fiscal 2006 we have:
    completed more than 57 external occupational health and safety audits across office and field based areas throughout Australia, taking the total to over 723 since the audit program commenced in December 1997;
    included in this are 8 audits of our contractor management systems
    further enhanced and simplified our successful office health, safety and environment planning to assist managers in achieving safe workplaces;
     As a result of the continuous improvement through the Telstra Group’s activities, during fiscal 2006:
    Lost-Time Injuries (“LTIs”) reduced by 21% to 157;
 
    The 12 month moving average of Lost-Time Injury Frequency Rate (measured by the number of LTIs per million hours worked) reduced from 3.2 to 2.7; and
 
    The number of open claims has been reduced to 1796. This is a significant milestone as it is the first time since 1988, when we became a self-insurer that the number of open claims has fallen below 2000.
     In line with Commonwealth OHS Reporting, the following work-related incidents were reported in fiscal 2006:
    42 employees were absent from work as a result of an incident for more than a month;
 
    68 employees required emergency medical treatment or treatment in a hospital; and
 
    201 dangerous occurrences were reported. These are work-related incidents that could have caused death, serious injury or incapacity to a person, but did not. Notably, we have a policy of reporting incidents quickly and often investigation reveals that the potential severity of an incident was less than initially estimated.
     Our focus is to rigorously identify the risks to our people and to manage those risks appropriately.
Annual general meeting
     Telstra’s annual general meeting was held on 14 November 2006. The following items of business were considered at that meeting:
    Chairman and CEO presentations;
 
    Remuneration Report;
 
    discussion of financial statements and reports;
 
    election and re-election of directors; and
 
    proposed new constitution
     At the time of the annual general meeting, the Commonwealth held approximately 51.8% of Telstra’s shares.
     The results of the annual general meeting were as follows:
    adoption of the Remuneration Report;
 
    election of Mr Geoffrey Cousins and re-election of the following persons as directors:
  1.   Mr Charles Macek
 
  2.   Dr John Stocker
 
  3.   Mr Peter Willcox
 
  4.   Mr John Zeglis
    adoption of the proposed new constitution.

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Competition
Overview
     Telstra operates in a number of highly competitive markets. There is no restriction on the number of carriers or carriage service providers (“CSPs”) in the Australian market, or on the types of products and services they may supply. Many of our competitors are subsidiaries of large, foreign-owned multinationals. Their presence in the Australian market, along with a myriad of smaller players (notably hundreds of ISPs), contributes to rigorous competition. There is not only competition within specific product offerings, but between them, as customers are substituting one method of communication for another, such as mobile for basic access at home. While the overall communication market has grown in size, our market share has declined due to competition. Further, the traditionally high-margin PSTN market is shrinking.
     In summary, as at 30 June 2006, we estimate our retail market shares in the products and services we provide to be as follows:
                         
    Retail Market Share  
    2006     2005     2004  
Basic access services
    71 %     73 %     75 %
Local calls
    71 %     73 %     74 %
Domestic long distance minutes
    63 %     62 %     65 %
International long distance minutes
    50 %     51 %     52 %
Mobile services(1)
    43 %     45 %     46 %
Internet services (retail broadband)(2)
    44 %     41 %     41 %
Data revenue(3)
    62 %     62 %     64 %
Subscription television services(4)
    60 %     60 %     58 %
Sensis advertising(5)
    N/A       13 %     13 %
 
(1)   Based on Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Hutchinson data.
 
(2)   Retail broadband includes BigPond® Broadband and retail business broadband services like Telstra Mobile Broadband, Internet Direct and Hyperconnect.
 
(3)   Excludes ISDN but includes some wholesale revenues.
 
(4)   FOXTEL excludes services provided on a wholesale basis to other providers such as Optus TV.
 
(5)   2006 data not available as of the date of this Institutional Offering Memorandum. Figures are for 31 December.
Basic access and local calls
     Historically, we faced limited competition in basic access and local calls services. Today we compete for business and residential customers primarily in large cities, because our competitors have built networks or have access to networks in those areas. Local number portability has contributed to facilities and network-based competition. We also face increasing competition from fixed Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) call operators.
National long distance and international services
     Our market share for national long distance and international telephone services has been eroded by fierce competition as competitors build switching and build or lease transmission capacity. In most cases, the PSTN originating and terminating access is purchased from us on a wholesale basis. We also compete in this market with a number of operators who sell international calling cards direct to the public via retail outlets.
Mobile telecommunications services
     The mobile telecommunications market is highly competitive. Optus, Vodafone and Hutchison own networks, and several CSPs specialise in the resale of mobile services. We estimate that market penetration as of 30 June 2006 was 96%. The rate of growth in voice services in operation is slowing considerably. Mobile service providers are

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looking to future growth in revenue from high speed data usage by existing subscribers. We expect that our new high speed NEXT GTM wireless network will provide differentiation in the mobile market, through greater coverage, faster speeds and new value-added services.
     Spectrum is required for mobile services and is auctioned by ACMA from time to time. Limits may be imposed upon the amounts of spectrum we or other bidders may purchase.
Data access services
     The Australian data access market is competitive. Customer demand for new growth data services based on DSL, Ethernet or IP-based solutions is increasing. Competition is intense in these growth areas, particularly across niche product solutions and specific geographic areas. Several DSL network providers are offering DSL based VPN services as an alternative to frame relay or leased line data connections. Others are offering Voice over DSL (“VoDSL”) and in the future will likely offer integrated voice and data bundles. Nine of our competitors have outlined for consideration a model to build a jointly owned FTTN network to deliver broadband services to a large number of customers. The Commonwealth has announced a A$878 million scheme to subsidise Internet service providers to supply broadband services in regional, remote and rural Australia. This scheme is likely to increase facilities and network-based competition.
Internet access services
     The ISP market in Australia is diverse and highly competitive with over 700 ISPs, ranging in size from very small to substantial. For Internet access services, differentiation includes quality of service, price, speed, voice bundles, value added services, content and availability of local call access and associated information or transaction services.
     We provide both dial-up and broadband Internet access services using a range of ADSL, cable, wireless and satellite technologies.
Online services
     We compete with domestic and international companies for online, content and web hosting services. We seek to differentiate ourselves through factors including brand recognition and the entertainment, educational and commercial value of our content. In response to increasing competition in the market for content, we have formed alliances with providers of content such as sport and music to deliver additional value to our customers.
Wholesale services
     The wholesale market is becoming more competitive with 30 carriers including Optus and PowerTel having invested in infrastructure which enables them to offer wholesale products and services. Telstra Wholesale has more than 500 customers, including approximately 400 ISPs. Telstra Wholesale is focused on the delivery of communication services to intermediaries operating in Australia and offers approximately 40 wholesale-only products. Competition is strong in the wholesale provision of transmission services. Wholesale prices are generally falling as new competitors enter the wholesale services market.
Subscription television
     FOXTEL (of which we own 50%) and Optus are the main providers of subscription television services over cable in largely overlapping areas.
     AUSTAR distributes subscription television through digital satellite systems in regional areas. FOXTEL and AUSTAR compete only in limited areas.
     FOXTEL is the leading subscription television provider in Australia. It has more than 1.25 million subscribers using both cable and satellite (aggregating FOXTEL’s retail and wholesale customers). In fiscal 2006, FOXTEL increased its subscribers by more than 10%. Digital services provide more choice to subscribers and greater revenue to FOXTEL. All FOXTEL services will be digital by March 2007.

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     Subscription television providers compete with free-to-air television operators. Free-to-air television operators are given priority in the telecasting of most major sports programs. From 2007, they will be allowed to broadcast an additional channel each.
Advertising, Directories and Information Services
     Sensis, our directories and search business, operates within the highly competitive Australian advertising market. We face competition in automotive, travel and general merchandise markets from a number of print and online businesses. We also face competition from a variety of print and online directories and search businesses. The brands and intellectual property of Sensis are very important to its business and Sensis will consider all avenues open to it to defend those rights.
     Competing directory providers have access to CSP subscriber contact details from the Integrated Public Number Database (“IPND”) which we maintain as a requirement of our carrier licence.
Payphones
     Our payphones business faces increasing competition from new entrants, the increasing use of calling cards that erode payphones revenues, and increased mobile usage.

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Regulation
Overview
     Current regulations were largely set in 1997 when the structure of the Australian telecommunications market was substantially different than it is today. In our view, those regulations significantly diminish shareholder value by increasing our costs and reducing the opportunity for us to earn revenue and grow, and undermine the development of a sustainably competitive and financially healthy industry. We face substantial regulatory risks in our business which have had, and we expect will continue to have, a significant adverse effect on our operations and financial performance. This is an issue with which management is seriously concerned and committed to seek reform on behalf of our shareholders.
     There are three key areas of regulatory impact:
    Access regulation: the ACCC can require compulsory competitor access to our networks at prices arbitrated by the ACCC if the parties fail to agree. We believe that those prices have been significantly less than our calculations of the efficient costs of supply and effectively provide our competitors with heavily subsidised access to our investments. There is no right to a merits review of ACCC decisions to require access or arbitrate prices. The ACCC may hold a public inquiry at any time into whether compulsory competitor access to our NEXT GTM wireless network should be required. In addition, the uncertainty associated with the access regime meant that we decided we were not able to build our proposed A$3 billion fibre to the node (“FTTN”) network despite the substantial operational savings and incremental revenues for us and the significant benefits for Australia in the widespread availability of high speed broadband services;
 
    Conduct regulation: Telstra and the ACCC differ in critical instances in their views as to what amounts to anti-competitive conduct in breach of the TPA. For example, the ACCC has stated that it has reason to believe that, by raising our basic access prices to competitors without a similar increase in retail prices, we have engaged in anti-competitive conduct. In our view, an increase in access prices to allow a greater recovery of our costs is not anti-competitive conduct. We believe that should the ACCC allege that we have engaged in anti-competitive conduct, it will rely on the potential of very large fines in an endeavour to have us modify what we consider to be normal commercial behaviour.
 
      The ACCC may in the future regard other of our conduct as a breach of the TPA. In addition, the Communications Minister has a broad power to vary our operational separation plan subject only to the aims and objects of the legislation which are very broad. Any such variation could allow the Minister to determine the way we conduct our business; and
 
    Social regulation: as the former national telecommunications carrier, some regulations are specific to us and do not apply to our competitors. For example, we are subject to retail price controls and are obliged to make certain uneconomic services available in rural and remote areas without in our view receiving a fair contribution to costs from our competitors.
     We are regulated as a carrier and as a carriage service provider (“CSP”). A description of principal industry regulators is set out at the end of this Regulation section.
Access regulation
     Part XIC of the TPA is an access regime specific to the telecommunications industry.
Declaration of services
     The ACCC may declare that a particular telecommunications service of a carrier or CSP is a declared service and so must be supplied to access seekers upon request. A carrier or CSP is not able to seek a merits review of such declarations.
     The main services declared by the ACCC are:
    PSTN originating and terminating access (“PSTN OTA”);
 
    mobile terminating access service (“MTAS”);

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    transmission capacity (except links between mainland capital cities and some routes between capital cities and regional centres) on various bandwidths;
 
    certain digital data access service;
 
    an unconditioned local loop service (“ULLS”) allowing access seekers exclusive use of copper wires which connect customer premises;
 
    a spectrum sharing service (“SSS”) allowing an access seeker to supply broadband services to customers while the access provider supplies voice services to the customer;
 
    local carriage services (“LCS”) (except in central business districts);
 
    wholesale line rental (“WLR”) (except in central business districts); and
 
    an analogue subscription television broadcast service.
FTTN
     On 15 November 2005, we announced our next-generation network including an extensive FTTN network to provide high speed broadband services in Australia’s five largest cities. The rollout of the FTTN network was, however, subject to obtaining what we viewed a reasonable regulatory outcome including acceptable guarantees about what services would have to be provided to competitors under the access regime and how much they would be required to pay. No such outcome was achieved, and accordingly, on 7 August 2006, we announced that the discussions with the ACCC to allow this investment to proceed had failed. We have made clear that we would not invest in an FTTN network unless we were satisfied that our costs would be recognised (especially those we incur in providing services to rural, regional and remote Australia) and could be recovered.
3G
     The ACCC may hold a public inquiry at any time into whether mandated competitor roaming on or other access to our NEXT GTM wireless network should be required, despite the market for mobile services being highly competitive. If roaming or other access were mandated, we would lose the competitive advantage of the wider coverage of our NEXT GTM wireless network, despite having made a substantial investment in that network. A loss of this ability would have a substantial impact on our mobile revenues. In fiscal 2006, we grew mobile revenues by A$284 million. We believe future growth in mobile revenues would be severely compromised by mandated roaming as would our ability to grow or even hold mobile market shares. Further, depending on the extent to which competitors acquire mandated roaming rather than invest in their own 3G network, this could result in significant additional mobile and transmission network capital expenditure requirements on us.
LCS
     In July 2006, the ACCC extended the declaration of LCS by three years and declared WLR for the first time for the same period — despite the growing level of facilities and network-based competition and the fact that line rental had for many years been available from us on a commercial basis.
Future declarations
     If the ACCC believes that it would promote the long-term interests of end users, it may declare other services, such as a high-speed broadband service using ADSL2+ or HFC cable network. We believe that such declarations would be unwarranted.
Terms and conditions of access
     Part XIC of the TPA also empowers the ACCC to determine the terms of access to the declared services, taking into account such criteria as the long term interests of end users. For example, the ACCC has issued Model Terms and Conditions (price and non-price) for core declared services, such as the ULLS, PSTN OTA and LCS. It has also

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published pricing principles for various declared services informing the industry of how prices for these services are likely to be determined by the ACCC in an arbitration.
     In most cases, the ACCC proposes that the prices of declared services should be cost based to reflect the total service long run incremental cost (“TSLRIC”) of providing the service. In applying the TSLRIC methodology, we have often disagreed with the ACCC’s calculation of our TSLRIC costs of providing declared services. For some services, such as the LCS and WLR, the ACCC has adopted a Retail Minus Retail Costs (“RMRC”) approach, which has for some services the potential to deliver a price that is below our calculation of the TSLRIC of the service.
     The legislation also allows the Minister to make a pricing determination setting out compulsory principles for establishing access prices that must be followed by the ACCC. To date, no Ministerial pricing determination has ever been issued.
     In relation to bilateral negotiations, Part XIC gives primacy to commercial negotiations; however, if negotiations are unsuccessful, the ACCC has the power to arbitrate the terms and conditions of access which are in dispute. The ACCC can issue interim and final determinations in an arbitration. Final determinations may be backdated to the date negotiations between the parties commenced. In addition, while arbitration proceedings are confidential between the parties, the ACCC has the ability to publish any determination it makes.
     An adverse outcome in an arbitration would harm us in terms of lower wholesale revenues and a greater ability for our wholesale customers to be competitive in retail markets. It would also weaken our position in negotiating access prices with other wholesale customers.
     An access provider of a declared service may also lodge an undertaking with the ACCC, setting out the terms and conditions upon which it proposes to provide a declared service. If that undertaking is accepted by the ACCC, then any determination made by the ACCC in an arbitration must be consistent with the terms of the accepted undertaking. While it is not possible to apply to the Australian Competition Tribunal (“ACT”) for a merits review of an arbitral decision of the ACCC, we have the right to a merits review by the ACT of a rejection by the ACCC of an access undertaking.
Unconditioned Local Loop Service (“ULLS”)
     ULLS allows our competitors to install their equipment in our exchanges and provide voice and broadband services to retail customers, bypassing much of our network and allowing them to compete aggressively in the retail market place. As at 30 June 2006, our competitors had installed equipment in over 80% of exchanges in band 2, giving them coverage of around 92% of PSTN lines in band 2 exchanges. We estimate that this coverage in band 2 will increase to around 95% by 30 June 2007. In total, competitors have installed equipment in around 555 exchanges across Australia, and we estimate that by 30 June 2007, this number will increase to over 1,000 exchanges across Australia.
     The ACCC has over time reduced the prices it believes we should charge for ULLS, although many of our costs of providing ULLS (such as fuel, copper and labour) have increased significantly over that time. In addition, the ACCC has indicated that we should charge different prices in different areas for ULLS, despite the fact that we are effectively required to charge the same residential and business retail prices for a basic line rental service throughout Australia. This will enable our competitors to target customers in higher density areas where access prices are low, leaving us to provide services to many customers in high cost, low density areas at the same retail price as in metropolitan areas — without what Telstra believes to be adequate compensation from the universal service obligation regime (see below).
     In December 2005, we submitted a ULLS access undertaking with a single (or averaged) price of A$30 per month for all areas. On 28 August 2006, the ACCC issued a final decision, rejecting the undertaking on the basis that it was not satisfied that our costs and the averaging of those costs were reasonable. The ACCC did not give an indication of what prices it would regard as reasonable. We have appealed that rejection to the ACT.
     In addition, Primus, Optus, Chime, PowerTel, XYZed, Request and Macquarie are each in arbitration with us claiming that our charges for ULLS are too high. In August 2006, the ACCC made binding interim decisions in

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several of these arbitrations that prices remain deaveraged and that the price in band 2 (the metropolitan area — where the greatest number of ULLS services will be provided) be reduced from A$22 per month to A$17.70 per month. There is a risk of the final decisions setting a lower price. We will consider all avenues open to us to challenge any such outcome.
     Following these decisions, we revised our earnings outlook for fiscal 2007, with EBIT growth revised to between 2% and 4% from between 4% and 6% (subject to various assumptions), illustrating that adverse regulatory decisions by the ACCC can have an immediate and significant adverse effect on Telstra’s business. Refer “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Outlook”.
     As an illustration of the longer term impact of such an adverse regulatory decision, management estimates that ULLS implemented in band 2 in accordance with the ACCC’s interim pricing would lead to an estimated A$2.5 billion reduction in Telstra’s enterprise value. This estimate assumes that 20% of PSTN customers are served by ULLS by 2015 and a band 2 access price of A$17.70 per month as compared with the earlier price of A$22 per month. The calculation considers the first order impacts of the price reduction for wholesale services and assumes a full flow through of the reduced access price to retail PSTN and broadband prices by us and our competitors.
     The impact of such ACCC pricing in subsequent years would be greater due to increased uptake of ULLS by access seekers.
Spectrum Sharing Service (“SSS”)
     The ACCC has applied TSLRIC pricing principles to the SSS. In December 2005, the ACCC rejected our SSS monthly charges undertaking of A$9, which was consistent with the range of indicative prices previously published by the ACCC for the service. We unsuccessfully appealed this rejection to the ACT.
     Primus, Chime and Request are each in arbitration with us claiming that our charges for SSS are too high. The issues covered by these arbitrations relate to the appropriate price payable for the monthly charge for SSS, the connection price for SSS, as well as some non-price terms. On 6 October 2006, the ACCC issued two draft interim decisions reducing the monthly charge to A$3.20. If this significant reduction is confirmed, we believe there will be accelerated growth in SSS enabling our competitors to provide broadband and VoIP services, placing retail pricing pressure on us, while we are restricted to supplying basic access services.
PSTN Originating & Terminating Access (“PSTN OTA”)
     The ACCC has published pricing principles for PSTN OTA, stating TSLRIC as the appropriate methodology for determining the price of the service. We had an access undertaking accepted by the ACCC for the price of PSTN OTA, which expired on 30 June 2006.
     In March 2006, we filed a new undertaking with the ACCC, seeking new prices and a new pricing structure for the service. The undertaking sets out new prices which would operate for two years from 1 July 2006. The prices propose an increase from the previous prices that applied, reflecting our efficient costs of providing the service, and recognizing the falling volume of traffic on the network. In July 2006, the ACCC indicated in its draft indicative prices that the headline rate should be A$0.01 per minute compared to a headline rate in our proposed undertaking of A$0.0218 per minute. In September 2006, the ACCC gave a draft decision rejecting the undertaking.
     Optus has notified an access dispute to the ACCC in relation to the price payable to us for PSTN OTA.
Local Carriage Service (“LCS”) and Wholesale Line Rental (“WLR”)
     In June 2005, our accepted undertaking for the price of the LCS expired. We filed a new undertaking with the ACCC in conjunction with its PSTN OTA price, setting out a lower price for the LCS, which would apply from 1 July 2006. The LCS price reflects our view of the RMRC approach the ACCC might adopt in determining the LCS price for the period of the undertaking.
     In July 2006, the ACCC indicated its draft view that the price of LCS should be A$0.1769 per call, calculated on an RMRC basis, pending the implementation of a cost based pricing approach. While this compares well with the price in our proposed undertaking of A$0.0928 per call, the LCS is usually provided in conjunction with WLR and the ACCC has indicated its draft view that the price of WLR should be A$23.57 per month residential and

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A$26.30 per month business, calculated on an RMRC basis (pending the implementation of a cost based pricing approach) compared with our price charged of A$27.60 residential and A$31.77 business per month. Rebalancing in this way by reducing fixed charges and increasing usage charges would be detrimental to us. In September 2006, the ACCC gave a draft decision rejecting the LCS undertaking.
     Optus has notified access disputes to the ACCC in relation to the terms and conditions of access for the supply by Telstra of LCS and WLR.
Mobile terminating access service (“MTAS”)
     The ACCC has published pricing principles for MTAS of A$0.15 per minute for calendar 2006 and A$0.12 per minute for the first six months of 2007. MTAS is an input into the fixed-to-mobile and mobile-to-mobile services provided by us to our customers. The ACCC has rejected undertakings by Optus, Vodafone and Hutchison, each of which seek to claim prices in excess of the indicative prices published by the ACCC (for example, Optus has sought A$0.17 per minute for calendar 2007). Optus and Vodafone have appealed the ACCC’s rejection of their undertakings to the ACT. We have intervened in these proceedings, and the hearings commenced in August 2006.
     We are also engaged in arbitrations against Optus, Vodafone and Hutchison, claiming that the MTAS prices they are seeking to charge for calendar 2006 are too high. Recently, the ACCC issued draft final decisions broadly consistent with the ACCC’s pricing principles.
Transmission capacity
     Chime has filed an arbitration against us, claiming our transmission capacity charges are too high.
Conduct regulation
Competition rule
     In addition to the general requirements of trade practices law, a carrier must not engage in anti-competitive conduct in breach of the competition rule. A carrier may be in breach of the competition rule if it:
    contravenes general trade practices rules relating to anti-competitive conduct in respect of a telecommunications market (including the use of market power for an anti-competitive purpose); or
 
    has a substantial degree of market power and takes advantage of that power with the effect or likely effect of substantially lessening competition in any telecommunications market, taking into account other conduct with such an effect.
     The ACCC can issue a Part A competition notice if it has reason to believe that a carrier has contravened the competition rule.
     The ACCC can also issue a Part B competition notice which will be more detailed than a Part A notice; and it is the presumptive evidence of the information in it that can be used in court proceedings against the carrier.
     Any person (including competitors) may apply at any time to the Federal Court for an injunction to restrain a contravention of the competition rule, whether or not a competition notice has been issued.
     A carrier may be liable to pay penalties imposed by the Federal Court of up to A$10 million plus A$1 million per day of contravention or, if the contravention lasts for more than 21 days, up to A$31 million plus A$3 million per day (up to a maximum period of one year), and may also be liable for compensatory damages to affected competitors, if:
    it continues to engage in conduct that is the subject of a competition notice after the notice comes into effect; and
 
    the Federal Court finds that the conduct is in breach of the competition rule.
     In Telstra’s view, the amount of any penalty imposed by the Federal Court is likely to be significantly less than the maximums set.

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     In December 2005, we increased our prices for line access provided to our competitors without a similar increase in our retail prices, in order to price closer to our average costs of providing that access. The ACCC appears to allege that these increases left insufficient margin for our competitors in the retail market even though there is still a profit margin for our competitors in reselling line rental as a part of a bundled package along with local, long distance and fixed-to-mobile calls. The ACCC has argued that our conduct is taking advantage of substantial market power which has or is likely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in the retail market, and that therefore we are in breach of the competition rule. On 12 April 2006, the ACCC issued a competition notice against us to this effect. The ACCC may take us to the Federal Court for this alleged breach. The maximum potential penalties that the Federal Court could impose exceed A$470 million as at 30 September 2006 and are increasing at A$3 million per day. Optus Networks Pty Ltd (ACN 008 570 330) has issued proceedings in the Federal Court which, in part, rely on the competition notice and seek damages, a refund and an injunction preventing us from charging the increased prices and recovering our costs. We will vigorously defend these proceedings and any enforcement proceedings which may be brought by the ACCC, on the basis that we have not breached the competition rule simply by moving our prices closer to our average cost of providing access.
     We have also claimed that the competition notice should be set aside for uncertainty and that the ACCC did not accord us procedural fairness by failing to properly consult with us prior to the issue of the notice. The ACCC argues that it has complied with all of its duties of procedural fairness and natural justice. If this challenge is successful, the ACCC will still be able to issue a fresh competition notice but only after proper consultation.
Record-keeping rules
     We are required by the ACCC to keep detailed financial statements in respect of several wholesale and retail services. We must report periodically to the ACCC on imputation testing to establish the adequacy of the margin, between our wholesale and retail prices as part of the accounting separation provisions. If there is an inadequate margin the ACCC can investigate to see if we have breached the competition rule. We are also required to keep detailed records and report to the ACCC comparing our performance in providing and maintaining basic access and ADSL services to retail and wholesale customers. Our imputation tests and performance reports are published by the ACCC.
     We estimate that compliance with the ACCC record-keeping rules costs us A$2.3 million per annum. Most of this expense is associated with accounting separation. To date, there has been no indication whether this requirement will be removed in light of the introduction of operational separation.
Operational separation
     While the Commonwealth has firmly rejected calls for the Telstra wholesale and resale businesses to be placed in separate ownership, in September 2005, legislation was passed mandating the operation of separate retail, wholesale and network business units (operational separation). We prepared an operational separation plan which was adopted by the Communications Minister in June 2006. In general, the plan covers:
    the requirement to keep various business units separate;
 
    measures we have adopted to ensure that the standard of delivery of services and information to wholesale customers is equivalent to that for retail customers;
 
    a price equivalence framework directed towards providing assurance that we are behaving legitimately in the pricing of particular services; and
 
    provisions to ensure that we provide equivalent operational quality, fault detection and rectification and service activation and provisioning for retail and wholesale customers of those services.
     We are also required to establish and publish notional contracts between our network services, wholesale and retail business units as a means of achieving equivalence in operational quality, fault detection and rectification and service activation and provisioning.
     The operational separation provisions place an additional burden on us with numerous restrictions imposed on the way we run our business. An important risk with operational separation lies in the power of the Communications

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Minister to make such variations to our operational separation plan as could allow the Communications Minister to determine the way we conduct our business, subject only to the aims and objects of the legislation which are very broad.
Social Policy Regulations
Retail price restrictions
     The Communications Minister has set retail price controls on some of our services that apply until 30 June 2009. These price controls do not apply to our competitors.
     A basket of our line rentals, local, national, international and fixed-to-mobile calls is subject to an overall price freeze. Up to 30 June 2007, some services are subject to a price cap of 1.5 X CPI, and, between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2009 our basic line rental products and connection services may be increased only by the rate of inflation. These caps may limit our ability to increase line rental charges to recover their full cost and to rebalance our charging between line rentals and call charges. We are required to offer a basic line rental service to residential and business customers at the same price throughout Australia. In addition, we must offer a standard line rental to residential customers, charity customers and schools.
     In addition, we are subject to the following regulations:
    The ACCC has powers to monitor and report on our compliance with price controls and has broad discretion to determine methodologies that specify how the price controls to which we are subject are to operate.
 
    We are not permitted to charge more than A$0.50 (including GST) for a local call from a public payphone or (in most cases) more than A$0.22 (including GST) for an untimed local call from any other service.
 
    Our price for local calls provided in non- metropolitan areas must not exceed the price charged by us in metropolitan areas.
 
    We cannot charge more than A$0.22 (including GST) for certain calls made to an Internet service provider using an 0198 access number.
 
    We cannot impose or alter a charge for a directory assistance service without notifying the Communications Minister who may disallow such changes.
     All CSPs must offer untimed calls to residential and charity customers for all local calls and to business customers for local voice calls.
     The extent to which we face facilities or network-based competition varies significantly across the country. In many areas there is substantial alternative network investment reflecting higher population densities. We are effectively required to charge the same price for a basic line rental service for all retail customers across Australia, without what we believe to be adequate compensation from the universal service obligation regime (see below).
Carrier licences
     All carriers must as a condition of their carrier licence comply with the Telecommunications Act, the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act and their access obligations under the TPA. The Communications Minister has broad powers to impose further conditions on any carrier licence. Any breach of a licence condition is subject to a penalty of up to A$10 million imposed by the Federal Court.
Local presence licence condition
     In 2005, the Communications Minister issued a licence condition requiring us to maintain a local presence in regional, rural and remote Australia, to the extent that this is broadly compatible with our overall commercial interests and does not impose undue financial or administrative burdens on us. The licence condition requires us to prepare a plan setting out how we will fulfil the condition for approval by the Communications Minister. We are required to take all reasonable steps to comply with our approved plan.

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Universal service and digital data service obligations
     We have an obligation to fulfil the universal service obligation (“USO”) and the Digital Data Service Obligation (“DDSO”) throughout the whole of Australia. We must ensure that standard voice services, payphones and a digital data service with a speed broadly equivalent to 64kbps are reasonably accessible to all people in Australia on an equitable basis, wherever they reside or carry on business. We must also take into account the needs of customers with disabilities. We are required to submit plans to ACMA and the Communications Minister for their approval which set out how we will fulfil the USO and DDSO throughout Australia.
     Our net losses that result from supplying services under the USO and DDSO are required to be shared among all carriers according to their size by revenue. The other participating carriers typically pay around 30% of the net USO cost. The universal service subsidies are determined by the Communications Minister and historically have been significantly less than our actual costs in meeting the USO and DDSO and the costs last modelled by ACMA. The last time ACMA undertook a detailed costing of the USO, it estimated the total USO cost to be A$548 million per annum, although we estimate the cost to be significantly higher. The capped costs for fiscal 2006 to fiscal 2008 are A$171.4 million, A$157.7 million and A$145.1 million respectively.
Customer service guarantee (“CSG”)
     ACMA has made mandatory standards for CSPs in relation to the connection and repair of standard voice telephone services and the keeping of customer appointments. From 31 October 2006, the damages payable for CSG breach include: up to A$24.20 for a missed appointment and up to A$24.20 for each working day of delay up to five working days and up to A$48.40 per working day of delay after that for delayed connection or repair. Damages cannot exceed A$25,000 per customer for each contravention.
     We alone must also comply with a network reliability framework set by the Communications Minister which imposes obligations for the monitoring, prevention and remedying of CSG faults.
Principal industry regulators
     The Communications Minister is primarily responsible for telecommunications industry policy and legislation and has very broad discretionary powers to make rules and licence conditions and to give directions, a breach of which is subject to a penalty imposed by the Federal Court of up to A$10 million.
     The ACCC administers the TPA which regulates competition generally and includes specific provisions governing conduct in the telecommunications industry and mandated access to certain telecommunications services. The ACCC also administers retail price control arrangements that apply only to us.
     ACMAwas formed on 1 July 2005, assuming the functions previously held by the Australian Communications Authority and the Australian Broadcasting Authority. ACMA is responsible for regulating the technical aspects of the telecommunications industry. Importantly, ACMA also administers spectrum use policy and the issuing of spectrum licences, which are of critical importance to mobile telecommunications.
     ACMA may give written directions to carriers and CSPs requiring them to comply with various provisions of the Telecommunications Act, the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act and their licence conditions. Breach of such a direction is subject to a penalty imposed by the Federal Court of up to A$10 million.
     The ACCC and ACMA are independent statutory agencies and the ACCC is in general not subject to ministerial oversight or direction. The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman is an industry-funded body established to investigate and resolve retail customer complaints about telecommunications services and carrier land access disputes. Participation is mandatory for all carriers and most CSPs.
     The industry also self-regulates through codes and standards. An industry body, the Australian Communications Industry Forum (“ACIF”), has developed many codes regulating detailed technical and operational aspects

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of the telecommunications industry in areas such as billing accuracy, churn, credit management and customer transfer. On 1 September 2006, ACIF merged with the Service Providers Association Incorporated (“SPAN”) and formed the Communications Alliance.
     ACMA registers ACIF codes under the Telecommunications Act and has the power to direct carriers or CSPs in breach of a code to comply. Breach of a direction is subject to a penalty of up to A$250,000 imposed by the Federal Court.
Offshore subsidiaries
     Our international operations are subject to regulation and licensing requirements in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. We are also subject to regulation and licensing requirements by the US Federal Communications Commission and state regulators in the states of New York, Texas and California.
     Some of these licenses may require notification or approvals from the relevant regulators and related governmental departments in respect of any change in control resulting from the completion of the Global Offering and the Commonwealth’s transfer of its shares in Telstra to the Future Fund. Some of the consents required in relation to our United States and Singapore regulatory licenses and related agreements may not be obtained when required, in which case fines and other penalties may be imposed. There is a risk that these licenses and related arrangements may also be cancelled. While we do not believe that the relevant businesses make a significant contribution to our financial results, if one or more of REACH’s licenses were cancelled, this could have a significant effect on the carriage of our international voice and data traffic.

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Directors and Management
Directors
     As of the date of this Institutional Offering Memorandum, our directors were as follows:
                 
            Year of Initial   Year Last
Name   Age   Position   Appointment   Re-elected(1)
Donald G McGauchie
  56   Chairman   1998   2005
Sol Trujillo(2)
  54   Chief Executive Officer   2005   2005
Geoffrey Cousins
  62   Director   2006       —
Belinda J Hutchinson
  53   Director   2001   2004
Catherine B Livingstone
  51   Director   2000   2005
Charles Macek
  59   Director   2001   2006
John W Stocker
  61   Director   1996   2006
Peter J Willcox
  61   Director   2006       —
John D Zeglis
  59   Director   2006       —
 
(1)   Other than the CEO, one-third of directors are subject to re-election by rotation each year.
 
(2)   Sol Trujillo was appointed Chief Executive Officer 1 July 2005.
     A brief biography for each of the directors and the company secretary as of the date of this Institutional Offering Memorandum, is presented below:
Donald G McGauchie — AO
     Mr McGauchie joined Telstra as a non-executive director in September 1998 and was appointed as chairman in July 2004. He is Chairman of the Nomination Committee and is a member of the Remuneration Committee.
    Experience: Mr McGauchie has wide commercial experience within the food processing, commodity trading, finance and telecommunication sectors. He also has extensive public policy experience, having previously held several high-level advisory positions to the government including the Prime Minister’s Supermarket to Asia Council, the Foreign Affairs Council and the Trade Policy Advisory Council.
 
    Directorships of other listed companies — current: Director, James Hardie Industries NV (since 2003) and Nufarm Limited (since 2003).
 
    Directorships of listed companies — past three years: Deputy chairman, Ridley Corporation Limited (1998-2004); director, National Foods Limited (2000-2005) and Graincorp Limited (1999-2003).
 
    Other: Current: director, Reserve Bank of Australia; Partner, C&E McGauchie — Terrick West Estate. Former: President of the National Farmers Federation (1994-1998); Chairman, Rural Finance Corporation (2003-2004). Awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society through agriculture and business in 2003. Appointed an officer in the general division of the Order of Australia in 2004.
Solomon D Trujillo — BSc, BBus, MBA, Hon Doctor of Law Degrees (University of Wyoming, University of Colorado).
     Mr Trujillo joined Telstra as CEO on 1 July 2005.
    Experience: Mr Trujillo has spent his career in the communications sector where he managed fixed-line, wireless, broadband and directory businesses and served as a leader in the shift to market-based management. He most recently served as CEO of Orange SA, one of Europe’s leading wireless companies. Mr Trujillo was Chairman and CEO of US West until he retired in July 2000 after the company’s merger with Qwest Communications.
 
    Directorships of other listed companies — current: Target Corporation (since 1994).
 
    Directorships of listed companies — past three years: Director, Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS) (2005-2005), PepsiCo Inc. (2000-2005), Orange SA (2001-2005) and Gannett Co Inc (2002-2006).

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    Other: Current: Member, World Economic Forum (since 2005) and UCLA’s School of Public Affairs (since 2000); Trustee, Boston College; Director, Tomas Rivera Policy Institute (since 1991). Recipient, the Ronald H. Brown Corporate Bridge Builder Award in 1999 from President Clinton for his lifetime commitment as an advocate of workplace diversity.
Geoffrey Cousins
     Mr Cousins was elected as a non-executive director of Telstra at the company’s annual general meeting held on 14 November 2006.
    Experience: Mr Cousins has more than 26 years experience as a company director. Mr Cousins was previously the Chairman of George Patterson Australia and is a former Director of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, the Seven Network, Hoyts Cinemas group and NM Rothschild & Sons Limited. He was the first Chief Executive of Optus Vision and before that held a number of executive positions at George Patterson, including Chief Executive of George Patterson Australia.
 
    Directorships of other listed companies — current: Insurance Australia Group Limited (since 2000).
 
    Directorships of listed companies — past three years: Globe International Limited (2001-2003).
 
    Other: Mr Cousins was previously a consultant to the Prime Minster and is a director of the Cure Cancer Australia Foundation.
Belinda J Hutchinson — BEc, FCA
     Ms Hutchinson joined Telstra as a non-executive director in November 2001. She has been a member of the Audit Committee since February 2005.
    Experience: Ms Hutchinson has had a long association with the banking industry and has been associated with Macquarie Bank since 1993 where she was an executive director. She was previously a Vice President of Citibank Ltd.
 
    Directorships of other listed companies — current: Director, QBE Insurance Group Limited (since 1997) and Coles-Myer Ltd (since 2005).
 
    Directorships of listed companies — past three years: Director, TAB Limited (1997-2004) and Crane Group Limited (1997-2004).
 
    Other: Current: Director, St Vincent’s and Mater Health Sydney Limited (since 2001); President, Library Council of New South Wales (since 2005) (member since 1997); and Consultant, Macquarie Bank Limited (since 1997). Former: Director of Energy Australia Limited (1997-2005).
Catherine B Livingstone — BA (Hons), FCA, FTSE
     Ms Livingstone joined Telstra as non-executive director in November 2000. She is a member of the Audit Committee and the Technology Committee.
    Experience: Ms Livingstone has a degree in accounting and has held several finance and general management roles predominantly in the medical devices sector. Ms Livingstone was the Chief Executive of Cochlear Limited (1994-2000).
 
    Directorships of other listed companies — current: Director, Macquarie Bank Limited (since 2003).
 
    Directorships of listed companies — past three years: Director, Goodman Fielder Ltd (2000-2003) and Rural Press Limited (2000-2003).
 
    Other: Current: chairman, CSIRO (2001- ); Member, Business/Industry/Higher Education Collaboration Committee (BIHECC).
Former: Chairman and Director Australian Business Foundation (2000-2005);
Director, Sydney Institute (1998-2005); former Member, Department of Accounting and Finance Advisory Board Macquarie University.

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Charles Macek — BEc, MAdmin, FAICD, FCPA, FAIM, SF Fin, FCA
     Mr Macek joined Telstra as a non-executive director in November 2001. He is a member of the Audit Committee and Nomination Committee and is Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.
    Experience: Mr Macek has a strong background in economics and has had a long association with the finance and investment industry. His former roles include 16 years as founding Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer and subsequently Chairman of County Investment Management Ltd.
 
    Directorships of other listed companies — current: Director, Wesfarmers Ltd (since 2001) and Living Cell Technologies Limited (since 2006).
 
    Directorships of listed companies — past three years: Chairman and director, IOOF Holdings Ltd (2002-2003).
 
    Other: Current: Chairman, Sustainable Investment Research Institute Pty Ltd (since 2002) and Financial Reporting Council (FRC) (since 2003); Director, Williamson Community Leadership Program Limited (since 2004); Victorian councillor, Australian Institute of Company Directors; Member, New Zealand Accounting Standards Review Board and Investment Committee of Unisuper Ltd.
Former: Chairman, Centre for Eye Research Australia Ltd (1996-2003); director of Famoice Technology Pty Ltd
(2001-2004) and Vertex Capital Pty Ltd (2004-2006).
John W Stocker — AO, MB, BSc, BMedSc, PhD, FRACP, FTSE
     Dr Stocker joined Telstra as a non-executive director in October 1996. He is Chairman of the Audit Committee and Technology Committee.
    Experience: Dr Stocker has had a distinguished career in pharmaceutical research and extensive experience in management of research and development, and its commercialisation including in his roles as Chief Executive of CSIRO (1990-1995) and subsequently as chief scientist for the Commonwealth of Australia (1996-1999).
 
    Directorships of other listed companies — current: Chairman, Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (since 2005); director, Circadian Technologies Ltd (since 1996) and Nufarm Limited (since 1998).
 
    Directorships of listed companies — past three years: Chairman, Sigma Company Ltd (1998-2005); director, Cambridge Antibody Technology Group plc (1995-2006).
 
    Other: Current: Principal, Foursight Associates Pty Ltd.
Former: Chairman, Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation (1997-2004).
Peter J Willcox — MA, FAICD
     Mr Willcox joined Telstra as a non-executive director on 17 May 2006.
    Experience: Mr Willcox holds a masters degree in physics from Cambridge University and following a 28 year career in the international petroleum industry was appointed as CEO of BHP Petroleum Limited, from 1986 to 1994. He has wide and diverse experience as a director and Chairman of Australian and American listed companies. He sits on the advisory board of CVC Asia Pacific (Australia) Limited.
 
    Directorships of other listed companies — current: Chairman, Mayne Pharma (since 2005).
 
    Directorships of listed companies — past three years: Director, AMP Limited (2002-2005) and Mayne Group Ltd
(2002-2005).
 
    Other: Current: Director, CSIRO (2006- ).
Former: Director, Energy Developments Ltd (1994-2002), Lend Lease Corporation (1994-2000); F.H. Faulding & Co Ltd (1996-2001), James Hardie Industries Ltd (1992-2001), North Ltd (1994-2000), Schroders (Australia) Ltd (1994-1999), BHP Ltd (1988-1994) and Woodside Petroleum (1986-1993).

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John D Zeglis — BSc Finance, JD Law
     Mr Zeglis joined Telstra as a non-executive director on 17 May 2006.
    Experience: Mr Zeglis has a legal background, and became partner with the law firm Sidley & Austin in 1978. His qualifications include a BSc in finance from the University of Illinois, and a JD in law from Harvard. Mr Zeglis has had a long and distinguished career in the US telecommunications sector. He joined AT&T in 1984, and was elected as President of AT&T in 1998 and Chairman and CEO of the AT&T Wireless Group in 1999. He continued as CEO of AT&T Wireless until retiring in November 2004 following the company’s sale to Cingular Wireless.
 
    Directorships of other listed companies — current: Director, Helmerich & Payne Corporation (since 1989).
 
    Directorships of listed companies — past three years: Director, Georgia Pacific Corporation (2001-2005).
 
    Other: Current: director, AMX Corporation; (since 2005) and State Farm Automobile Insurance (since 2004).
Former: director, Sara Lee Corporation (1998-2000) and Illinois Power Company (1992-1996).
     The following directors resigned or retired during fiscal 2006:
    John E Fletcher resigned as a director on 30 June 2006;
 
    John T Ralph retired as a director on 11 August 2005;
 
    Anthony J Clark retired as a director on 11 August 2005; and
 
    Zygmunt E Switkowski resigned as a director on 1 July 2005.
Qualifications and experience of our company secretary
Douglas C Gration — FCIS, BSc, LLB (Hons), GDip AppFin
     Mr Gration was appointed as our company secretary in August 2001. Before joining us, Mr Gration was a partner in a leading national law firm. He specialised in corporate finance and securities law, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures and other commercial contracts, and played a key role in the T1 and T2 privatisations. Mr Gration also advised on telecommunication regulatory matters. Other roles previously held in Telstra include deputy group general counsel and Infrastructure Services and Wholesale General Counsel.

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Senior executives
     As of the date of this Institutional Offering Memorandum, the senior executives who are not directors are:
             
        Year   Year
        Appointed to a   Appointed to
Name   Position   GMD Position   Telstra
Bruce Akhurst
  Group Managing Director Telstra Media Services & CEO, Sensis   1999   1996
Geoff Booth
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Country Wide®   2006   1973
Phil Burgess
  Group Managing Director, Public Policy & Communications   2005   2005
Andrea Grant
  Group Managing Director, Human Resources   2005   2005
Holly Kramer
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Product Management   2005   2000
Kate McKenzie
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Wholesale   2006   2004
Justin Milne
  Group Managing Director, Telstra BigPond®   2005   2002
David Moffatt
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Consumer Marketing & Channels   2001   2001
Michael Rocca
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Services   2002   1968
Deena Shiff
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Business   2004   1998
John Stanhope
  Group Managing Director, Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer   2003   1967
 
           
William Stewart
  Group Managing Director, Strategic Marketing   2005   2005
David Thodey
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Enterprise and Government   2001   2001
Greg Winn
  Chief Operations Officer   2005   2005
     A brief biography of each of the fourteen Group Managing Directors, including the seven key management personnel who are not directors, as of the date of this Institutional Offering Memorandum, is as follows:
Bruce J Akhurst — LLB, BEc (Hons)
     Bruce Akhurst is the Group Managing Director of Telstra Media Services and Chief Executive Officer of Sensis. Bruce also has management responsibility for our digital media strategy, which includes our 50% interest investment in FOXTEL. In March 2005, Bruce was appointed Chairman of the FOXTEL board. Prior to his appointment as CEO of Sensis, Bruce was Group Managing Director, Telstra Wholesale, BigPond® and Media Services and he also headed our Legal and Company Secretariat group and was Telstra’s Group General Counsel. Bruce joined Telstra as General Counsel in 1996 and became Group Managing Director in 1999. Before joining Telstra, he was the Managing Partner at a national law firm. He has an Economics’ degree with Honours, as well as his legal qualification.
Geoff Booth
     Geoff Booth was appointed Group Managing Director of Telstra Country Wide on 1 January 2006 after a 33-year career with Telstra. He served as a Regional Managing Director of Telstra Country Wide since its formation in June 2000, with responsibility for whole-of-business performance in Western Australia, South Australia (for all areas outside Perth and Adelaide) and the Northern Territory. Before moving to Telstra Country Wide, Geoff was National General Manager Business and Government — Energy and Resources, responsible for the sales force that account-managed Telstra’s largest customers in this sector. Prior to this, Geoff was the State Sales Manger, Business and Government in Western Australia.

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Phil Burgess — PhD
     Phil Burgess was appointed Group Managing Director, Public Policy & Communications on 15 August 2005. Phil has a long record of leadership in public policy and communications with broad experience as an academic, business executive, media commentator and writer on economic, political and cultural trends in the US and around the world. Prior to his appointment with Telstra, Phil has served most recently as President & Chief Executive of the National Academy of Public Administration in Washington, D.C. Phil also served as President of the Annapolis Institute, a US think tank established in 1993 to help leaders manage change — at every level in both the public and private sectors. Phil also serves as a Visiting Professor of Policy Studies at UCLA’s public policy school, where he teaches in the graduate program on communications and culture.
Andrea Grant — B.Ed, DipTch
     Andrea Grant was appointed Group Managing Director, Human Resources on 31 October 2005. Andrea joined Telstra from GM Holden where she was Executive Director, Human Resources, a position she held since 2001. Before joining GM Holden, Andrea was Human Resources Director of Merck, Sharp & Dohme (New Zealand) Limited. Andrea began her career in human resources in 1984 and has over twenty years experience in the field, working in both Australian and global businesses. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Education Degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching. In addition she is a graduate of the London Business School’s Advanced Development Programme.
Holly Kramer — BA (Hons), MBA Mktg (Hons)
     Holly Kramer is the Group Managing Director, Telstra Product Management. Most recently, Holly held the role of Managing Director of Products, Wireless & Mobility, where she was accountable for the development and lifecycle management of Telstra’s wireless and mobility products and networks. In her previous position as Chief of Marketing for Telstra Retail, Holly was accountable for the strategic direction and implementation of marketing plans for the consumer and business markets. Before joining Telstra, Holly was General Manager of Marketing and Communications at eCorp. Prior to that, she spent three years as General Manager of Marketing with Ford Australia and five years in various marketing management positions with Ford Motor Company, USA. Holly has a BA (Hons) from Yale University and an MBA Mktg (Hons) from Georgetown University. She is Chair of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (“AMTA”) and sits on the Boards of mNet Corporation and TelstraClear Limited.
Kate McKenzie — BA, LLB
     Kate McKenzie was appointed Group Managing Director, Telstra Wholesale on 16 January 2006. Kate joined Telstra in August 2004 as head of Telstra Regulatory. Within a year she was promoted to the role of Deputy Group Managing Director, Public Policy & Communication. Prior to joining Telstra, Kate was Director General of the NSW Department of Commerce. She previously held positions as the Director General of the NSW Department of Industrial Relations, General Manager of the WorkCover Authority of NSW, and Deputy Director General of the NSW Cabinet Office. During her career, Kate has been involved in the development and implementation of competition policy, energy reform, corporatisation and privatisation and Commonwealth/State negotiations on a range of complex policy issues. Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney.
Justin Milne — BA
     Justin Milne was appointed Group Managing Director of BigPond® in December 2005, following three years as BigPond® Managing Director. He is responsible for driving the growth of BigPond’s®brand and Telstra’s Internet content. Under his direction, BigPond® has led the market in developing online content and applications. These efforts have been recognised with several national awards including the 2005 “best ISP” award at the Australian Telecom Awards. Prior to his career at Telstra, Justin was CEO of OzEmail, formerly Telstra’s biggest ISP competitor, and Managing Director of the Microsoft Network in Australia. Justin is a former board member and past president of the Internet Industry Association. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Flinders University.

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David Moffatt — BBus (Mgt), FCPA
     David Moffatt was appointed Group Managing Director of the Consumer & Channels on 1 October 2003. The group’s activities encompass the provision of the full range of telecommunication products, services and communication solutions to consumer customers in Australia. The group also manages the mass market channels including inbound and outbound call centres, Telstra shops and Telstra dealers. David joined Telstra in February 2001 as Chief Financial Officer and Group Managing Director, Finance and Administration. Prior to joining Telstra, David was Chief Executive Officer General Electric, Australia and New Zealand and CEO of GE Capital in Australia and New Zealand. He joined General Electric in 1991. David is a graduate of Queensland University of Technology, with a Bachelor of Business (Management).
Michael Rocca — MBA, DipEng, FAICD
     Michael Rocca is the Group Managing Director for the Telstra Services business unit. Michael was appointed Group Managing Director in August 2002 — an appointment that builds on three decades of experience in telecommunications over a variety of senior executive roles. Telstra Services comprises of approximately 17,000 Telstra staff as well as an extensive contract workforce, and is responsible for the end to end delivery of service to Telstra’s approximately 11 million customers over all of Telstra’s networks, including fixed line, mobile and satellite. Michael holds a Master of Business Administration, a Diploma of Engineering, as well as a range of qualifications in management. He is also a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Deena Shiff — B.Sc (Econ) Hons; B.A. (Law) Hons
     Deena was appointed to the role of Group Managing Director, Telstra Business in January 2006. Prior to that, Deena held the role of Group Managing Director, Telstra Wholesale. Deena started her career in telecommunications with the former OTC Ltd in 1989. Deena held a number of positions in Telstra, including General Manager Corporate Affairs in the International Business Unit. Between 1995 and 1998, Deena was a partner in the Corporate Advisory Section of the law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques. Deena rejoined Telstra in 1998 as Director of Regulatory. Deena has held a number of non-executive directorships in both the telecommunications industry and other sectors. Deena has a degree from the London School of Economics and a law degree from Cambridge University. She was admitted to the Bar in London in 1981.
John Stanhope — B Com (Economics and Accounting), FCPA, FCA, FAICD, FAIM
     John Stanhope was appointed to the role of Chief Financial Officer and Group Managing Director, Finance & Administration from 1 October 2003. He is responsible for finance, treasury, risk management and assurance, corporate planning, reporting and analysis, business services, investor relations and the Office of the Company Secretary. John previously served as Director, Finance. In this role, which he assumed in 1995, he contributed to T1 and T2, cost reduction programs, growth strategies, debt raising, capital management and organisational restructures. Since joining Telstra in 1967, John has held a range of senior financial management positions including General Manager, Strategy and Finance — Special Business Products; General Manager, Finance and Business Planning — Network Products; and Executive General Manager — Business Support Services. In 2003, John was elected as National President to the Group of 100 for a two year period. He was also appointed as a member of the CPA Australia’s Professional Education Board for a three year term and is chairman of the Business Coalition for Tax Reform. John is a director of Telstra Super, TelstraClear, Sensis Pty Limited and the Telstra Foundation, and is Chairman of CSL New World Mobility Ltd, 3GIS, and REACH. John was appointed as a member of the Financial Reporting Council in 2006.
William J Stewart — B.Sc (Mathematics & Physics)
     Bill Stewart was appointed Group Managing Director of Strategic Marketing in July 2005. Prior to his appointment at Telstra, Bill was Executive Vice President of Strategic Marketing at Orange SA, based in London. Bill has over twenty-five years experience in the communications industry, including positions at Harris Corporation, GTE Corporation and US West. Bill has an excellent record of achievement in driving customer-focused strategies and world class marketing in the US and Europe.

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David Thodey — BA, FAICD
     David Thodey joined Telstra in April 2001 as Group Managing Director of Telstra Mobile. He was appointed to the position of Group Managing Director, Telstra Enterprise and Government in December 2002 and is now responsible for our corporate, government and large business customers. Before joining Telstra, David was Chief Executive Officer of IBM Australia/New Zealand and previously held several senior executive marketing and sales positions within IBM. David is the chairman of TelstraClear in New Zealand, and is also the chairman of the KAZ Group. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and English from Victoria University in New Zealand. David attended the Kellogg Post-Graduate School General Management Program at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Greg Winn
     Greg Winn was appointed Telstra’s Chief Operations Officer (“COO”) on 11 August 2005. His responsibilities include Telstra Services, Product Management, Billing, Credit Management, Procurement, Strategic Supplier Relations and Network, Information and Wireless Technologies. Greg also manages the cross company Program Office, and serves as a director of FOXTEL. Greg Winn has more than 30 years experience in the telecommunications industry, with more than ten years experience as a senior operations officer. Prior to joining Telstra, Greg served as Executive Vice President, Operations and Technologies at US West, where he established and led major initiatives to increase productivity through process and technology improvements. Greg held positions in network services, corporate finance, small business services, product management, marketing and sales. Greg attended Arizona State University.
     For a full discussion of the remuneration and benefits we paid our directors and officers, who are our key management personnel, see “Directors and Management — Remuneration”.
Directors’ and senior executives’ shareholdings in Telstra
     As at 18 November 2006, the directors’ and key management personnel’s shareholdings in Telstra are:
Directors
                         
    Number of Shares Held
    Direct Interest   Indirect Interest(1)   Total
Donald G McGauchie
    1,866       68,278       70,144  
Sol Trujillo
                 
Geoffrey Cousins
                 
Belinda J Hutchinson
    38,912       40,426       79,338  
Catherine B Livingstone
    11,637       27,800       39,437  
Charles Macek
          53,704       53,704  
John W Stocker
    2,953       99,985       102,938  
Peter J Willcox
          31,897       31,897  
John D Zeglis
    16,500       1,897       18,397  
 
(1)   Shares in which the director does not have a relevant interest, including shares held by director related entities, are excluded from indirect interests.

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Key Management Personnel
                         
    Number of Shares Held
    Direct Interest   Indirect Interest(1)   Total
Bruce Akhurst
    4,880       17,000       21,880  
Kate McKenzie
                 
David Moffatt
    167,022             167,022  
Deena Shiff
    5,680             5,680  
John Stanhope
    75,715             75,715  
David Thodey
    138,342       800       139,142  
Greg Winn
                 
 
(1)   Shares in which the director does not have a relevant interest, including shares held by director related entities, are excluded from indirect interests.
Remuneration
     Refer to the Remuneration Report filed as part of our 2006 Annual Report, attached to this Institutional Offering Memorandum as Annex A.
Corporate Governance and Board Practices
     The Telstra Board is committed to best practice in the area of corporate governance. Our main corporate governance and board practices in place during fiscal 2006 are described in this section and, where appropriate, elsewhere in the Institutional Offering Memorandum, as indicated.
     We regularly review and update our corporate governance practices. The Board evaluates and, where appropriate, implements relevant proposals with the aim of ensuring that we maintain best practice in corporate governance, having regard to developments in market practice as well as new corporate governance requirements and guidance notes issued by the ASX.
     We comply with the ASX Corporate Governance Council’s “Principles of Good Corporate Governance and Best Practice Recommendations” released in March 2003.
The Board of Directors
Role and responsibilities of the Board
     The directors are accountable to shareholders for the management of our business and affairs and the Board is responsible to shareholders for our overall strategy, governance and performance. The Board’s role includes:
    determining the corporate objective which is the foundation for all the actions and decisions of the Board and management;
 
    providing strategic direction to Telstra by approving the corporate strategy and associated performance objectives, monitoring developments and approving any variations;
 
    approving significant business decisions;
 
    approving the annual corporate plan;
 
    overseeing the review and update of corporate governance practices and procedures as necessary to support its commitment to best practice corporate governance in Australia and globally;
 
    appointing, assessing the performance of and determining the remuneration of the CEO, overseeing the performance of senior management and reviewing management succession plans and senior management remuneration arrangements;
 
    overseeing shareholder reporting and communications;

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    requiring appropriate compliance frameworks and controls to be in place and operating effectively;
 
    monitoring the integrity of internal control and reporting systems and monitoring strategic risk management systems;
 
    reviewing and approving our statutory accounts and overseeing our financial position;
 
    approving decisions concerning our capital, including capital restructures and share buy-backs, and determining our dividend policy; and
 
    ensuring we comply with the reporting and other requirements of the Telstra Corporation Act.
     The Board has adopted a charter that details the role and responsibilities of the Board and its members.
     The Board has delegated responsibility for day-to-day management of Telstra to the CEO and has put a formal delegations structure in place which sets out the powers delegated to the CEO and those specifically retained by the Board.
Board membership, size and composition
     The maximum number of directors provided for by our constitution is 13 and we currently have 8 directors on the Board.
     A casual vacancy to the Board may be filled or an additional director appointed, up to the maximum number of directors, either by:
    the directors after consulting with the Communications Minister; or
 
    an ordinary resolution of shareholders.
     Any new director appointed by the Board is subject to re-election at the next annual general meeting following his or her appointment.
     The tenure of the CEO as a director is linked to his executive office, while one-third of all other directors are subject to retirement by rotation each year. In accordance with the ASX Listing Rules, no non-executive director may serve past the third AGM following their most recent re-election or three years (whichever is longer) without submitting themselves for re-election. The directors to retire by rotation are those who have been longest in office determined from the date of their last election.
     Prior to each annual general meeting, the Board will determine if the Board will recommend to the shareholders that they vote in favour of the re-election of the directors due to stand for re-election, having regard to those directors’ annual performance reviews and any other matters it considers relevant.
     The Nomination Committee may negotiate the retirement or resignation of individual directors after consultation with the Board. However, the Board’s general policy on Board membership for non-executive directors is that, in general, directors are encouraged to retire at 72 years of age and the maximum tenure is 12 years (usually four terms of three years).
     A brief biography for each director setting out their experience and expertise, together with details of the year of initial appointment and re-election (where applicable) of each director, is outlined in “Directors and Management — Directors.
Role of the chairman
     The chairman is an independent director and is appointed by the Board. The chairman’s principal responsibilities are to ensure that the Board fulfils its obligations under the Board Charter and as required under the relevant legislation and to provide appropriate leadership to the Board and Telstra. The chairman also has specific responsibilities which include:
    representing the views of the Board to all shareholders and maintaining appropriate ongoing contact with major shareholders to ensure the Board understands their views;

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    establishing the timetable and working with the CEO and company secretary to agree the agenda for Board meetings;
 
    chairing Board meetings and shareholder meetings;
 
    facilitating Board discussions with the aim of ensuring that:
    the discussions are conducted in an open and professional manner where directors are encouraged to express their views, leading to objective, robust analysis and debate; and
 
    the core issues facing us are addressed;
    working with the CEO to ensure that the CEO provides the Board with the information it requires to contribute effectively to the Board decision making process and to monitor the effective implementation of Board decisions;
 
    guiding and promoting the on-going effectiveness and development of the Board and individual directors; and
 
    ensuring that the meetings of shareholders are conducted in an open and proper manner with appropriate opportunity to ask questions.
Director Independence
     It is the Board’s current policy that the CEO is the only executive director. It is also the Board’s current intention that the non-executive directors are also independent directors as defined in the Board Charter. With the exception of the CEO, all directors are non-executive directors and each non-executive director is considered by the Board to be independent.
     Generally speaking, an independent director is a director who is independent of management and free of any interest and business or other relationship that could, or could reasonably be perceived to, materially interfere with the exercise of the director’s unfettered and independent judgment, and ability to act in our best interests.
     The Board, at least annually, assesses the independence of each director. In assessing each director’s independence, the Board considers the effect of a director’s business and other relationships and interests from both our perspective and that of the director and has regard to a specific set of criteria set out in the Board Charter. These criteria are consistent with the definition of independence set out in the best practice recommendations of the ASX Corporate Governance Council and the requirements of the NYSE. Materiality is assessed on a case-by-case basis from both our perspective and that of the relevant director and having regard to the director’s individual circumstances.
Meetings of the Board
     The Board meets for both scheduled meetings and on other occasions to deal with specific matters that require attention between scheduled meetings. The regular business of the Board includes strategic matters, governance, oversight, senior executive appointments, performance and remuneration, financial matters, risk management, compliance, and relationships with stakeholders including the Commonwealth. The Board also liaises with senior management as required and may consult with other Telstra employees and advisers and seek additional information.
Performance Evaluation
     The Board regularly reviews its performance (including its performance against the requirements of the Board Charter), the performance of individual committees and the performance of individual directors. In fiscal 2006, the Board engaged an external consultant to facilitate this review.
     As noted earlier, the Board makes recommendations to shareholders regarding the re-election of directors having regard to the outcome of such reviews.

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Declaration of Interests
     Directors are required to take all reasonable steps to avoid actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest.
     The Corporations Act, our constitution and the Board Charter require directors to disclose any conflicts of interest and to generally abstain from participating in any discussion or voting on matters in which they have a material personal interest. A director who believes he or she may have ceased to be independent, or who believes that he or she may have a conflict of interest or material personal interest in a matter, is required to disclose the matter in accordance with the relevant Corporations Act and constitutional requirements and follow the procedures developed by the Board to deal with such circumstances.
Board access to management and independent professional advice
     Directors have complete access to our senior management through the chairman, CEO or company secretary at any time. In addition to regular presentations by senior management to Board and Board committee meetings, directors may seek briefings from senior management on specific matters.
     The Board has the authority to conduct or direct any investigation required to fulfil its responsibilities and has the ability to retain, at our expense, such legal, accounting or other advisers, consultants or experts as it considers necessary from time to time in the performance of its duties. Further, each director has the right to seek independent professional advice at our expense, subject to the prior approval of the chairman. All committees of the Board have access to independent professional advice on this basis.
Committees of the Board
     The Board committees assist the Board in the discharge of its responsibilities. The role of Board committees is to advise and make recommendations to the Board. There are four standing committees:
    Audit Committee;
 
    Nomination Committee;
 
    Remuneration Committee; and
 
    Technology Committee.
     Following each committee meeting, the Board receives a report from the committee on its activities.
     Each committee operates in accordance with a written charter approved by the Board. The Board appoints the members and the chairman of each committee. Membership of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees is confined to directors who are determined by the Board to be independent as defined in the Board Charter.
     The role, function, charter, performance and membership of each committee are reviewed on an annual basis as part of the Board’s evaluation process. Each committee:
    undertakes an annual assessment of its performance against the requirements of its charter and provides that information to the Board; and
 
    reviews and assesses the adequacy of its charter annually, discusses any required changes with the Board and ensures any revisions to the charter are approved by the Board.
     In accordance with its policy of regular review, revisions to the charters for the Board and each committee were approved by the Board in June 2006.

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     Audit Committee
     Role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee
     The Audit Committee is a committee of the Board established to:
    assist the Board in discharging its responsibilities by monitoring and advising on:
    financial reporting including:
    the integrity, truth and fairness of the view given by our consolidated financial statements;
 
    the integrity of our financial systems and processes; and
 
    the appropriateness of our accounting policies and practices and consistency with current and emerging accounting standards;
    our overall risk management process and the management of specific risk areas as directed by the Board;
 
    the effectiveness and operation of our internal controls over financial operations and reporting;
 
    the effectiveness and operation of other aspects of our internal control environment as it sees fit;
 
    compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and company policies;
 
    the external audit including the external auditors’ qualifications, scope, independence and performance and the non-audit services disclosures to be made in our annual report including the reasons for being satisfied that the auditors’ independence was not compromised by the provision of these services;
 
    the objectivity and performance of the internal audit function; and
 
    the structure and operation of our corporate governance framework and related disclosures;
    provide a forum for communication between the Board, management and both the internal and external auditors; and
 
    provide a conduit to the Board for external advice on audit, risk management and compliance matters.
     The Audit Committee approves the provision of recurring audit services as part of the annual approval of the audit plan. Additional audit and non-audit services are pre-approved by the Audit Committee provided they fall within a defined list of services specified by the Audit Committee. Those additional audit and non-audit services that are not listed have to be specifically approved by the Audit Committee prior to the commencement of any engagement. In addition, all non-audit services with a value over A$100,000 must be separately approved by the Audit Committee, even if the service is listed as a pre-approved service.
     Composition and membership of the Audit Committee
     It is Board policy that the Audit Committee is comprised of at least three Board members, all of whom are independent as defined in the Board Charter and who will not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the Board, Audit Committee or any other Board committee:
    accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from us or any of our subsidiaries or any Board committee; or
 
    be an affiliated person of us or any of our subsidiaries.
     Each member is required to:
    be financially literate (i.e.; able to read and understand financial statements) and have sufficient financial knowledge to allow them to discharge their duties and actively challenge information presented by management, internal and external auditors;
 
    have a reasonable knowledge of us, the industries in which we operate and our risks and controls; and
 
    have the capacity to devote the required time and attention to prepare for and attend committee meetings.

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     In addition, the chairman of the Audit Committee must not be the chairman of the Board and no director may serve as a member of the Audit Committee if that director serves on the audit committee of more than two other public companies.
     Meetings of the Audit Committee
     Scheduled Audit Committee meetings are held on a regular basis, as determined annually in advance by the Board, scheduled to correspond with our financial reporting cycle. Additional meetings are also held as required.
     Other members of the Board are entitled to attend Audit Committee meetings and the Audit Committee may ask management, the external auditors and/or others to attend meetings and provide such input and advice as required. The Audit Committee regularly meets with the internal auditor and the external auditors in the absence of management.
     Relationship with external auditor
     In accordance with section 36 of the Telstra Act, it is a legislative requirement that the Auditor-General of Australia is our auditor for the purposes of the Australian Corporations Act. The Auditor-General has appointed an agent, Ernst & Young, to assist in performing independent external audit duties.
     The Audit Committee has the authority and responsibility to select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the external auditor for filings outside of Australia. Through the Audit Committee, we have appointed Ernst & Young as our external auditor for filings outside Australia and in this respect and for the purposes of these audits, Ernst & Young is responsible for financial reporting purposes rather than the Auditor-General.
     The Auditor-General, as our auditor, owes duties to us and our shareholders as a whole. The Auditor-General also owes statutory duties as an independent officer of the Commonwealth. Ernst & Young, as the external auditor appointed by us for filings outside Australia, is accountable to the Board, the Audit Committee and shareholders.
     Restrictions on performance of non-audit services and auditor independence
     The Audit Committee approves the provision of recurring audit services as part of the annual approval of the audit plan. Additional audit and non-audit services are pre-approved by the Audit Committee provided they fall within a defined list of services specified by the Audit Committee. Those additional audit and non-audit services that are not listed have to be specifically approved by the Audit Committee prior to the commencement of any engagement. In addition, all non-audit services with a value over A$100,000 must be separately approved by the Audit Committee, even if the service is listed as a pre-approved service. The Auditor-General does not provide non-audit services. Ernst & Young does provide non-audit services, but are specifically prohibited from performing any of the following services: (i) bookkeeping services and other services related to preparing Telstra’s accounting records or financial statements, (ii) financial information system design and implementation services, (iii) appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution in kind reports, (iv) actuarial services, (v) internal audit services, (vi) management function or human resources, (vii) broker or dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services, (viii) taxation advice of a strategic or tax planning nature and (ix) legal services or expert services unrelated to the audit.
     In addition, Ernst & Young may only provide non-audit services if the performance of the non-audit service will not cause the total annual revenue to Ernst & Young from non-audit work to exceed the aggregate annual amount of Ernst & Young’s audit fees. The Audit Committee will not approve the provision of a non-audit service by Ernst & Young if the provision of the service would compromise Ernst & Young’s independence. The provision of non-audit services by Ernst & Young is monitored by the Audit Committee via bi-annual reports to the Audit Committee. In addition, where engagements involve services from the defined list of services, these are reported to the Audit Committee at the following meeting. The Audit Committee expects the Auditor-General and requires Ernst & Young to submit annually to the Audit Committee a formal written report delineating all relationships between the Auditor-General, Ernst & Young and the Telstra Group. This includes: (i) a listing of all audit and non-audit fees billed by the Auditor General and Ernst & Young in the most recent fiscal year, (ii) a statement on whether the Auditor General and Ernst & Young are satisfied that the provision of the audit and any non-audit services is

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compatible with auditor independence and (iii) a statement regarding the Auditor General’s and Ernst & Young’s internal quality control procedures.
     The Audit Committee submits annually to the Board a formal written report detailing the nature and amount of any non-audit services rendered by Ernst & Young during the most recent fiscal year and an explanation of why the provision of these non-audit services is compatible with auditor independence. If applicable, the Audit Committee recommends that the Board take appropriate action in response to the Audit Committee’s report to satisfy itself of Ernst & Young’s independence. Details of amounts paid or payable to the auditor for non-audit services provided during the year are located in note 8 to our consolidated financial statements.
     External Auditor Rotation
     As it is a legislative requirement that the Auditor-General is our auditor for the purposes of the Australian Corporations Act, the Auditor-General is not subject to rotation. During fiscal 2004 we, together with the Auditor-General, conducted a tender process in respect of our audit requirements and Ernst & Young was reappointed as the Auditor-General’s sub-contractor to assist the Auditor-General with our audit functions in Australia and as our auditor for our US and other overseas auditing requirements. It is our policy that a competitive tender for audit services is conducted every three to five years. The last rotation of the lead audit partner of our audit also occurred in fiscal 2004.
     External Auditors’ Attendance at Annual General Meeting
     Our external auditors attend our annual general meeting and are available to answer shareholder questions about the conduct of our audit and the preparation and content of the auditor’s report.
     Audit Committee Processes
     The Audit Committee:
    at least annually meets separately with our external auditors to discuss any matters that the Audit Committee or our auditors believe should be discussed privately;
 
    reviews the Directors’ report section of our annual report and considers whether the information is clearly understood and consistent with the Audit Committee’s knowledge about us and our operations. In addition, prior to release, the Audit Committee reviews key elements of other related regulatory filings and discusses them with the external auditors as appropriate; and
 
    reviews the interim and annual consolidated financial statements and preliminary announcements and discusses them with the external auditors prior to their release to determine whether they are complete, reflect appropriate accounting principles, contain appropriate disclosures and are consistent with the information known to the Audit Committee.
     Nomination Committee
     Role and responsibilities of the Nomination Committee
     The Nomination Committee is a committee of the Board established to assist the Board in discharging its responsibilities by monitoring and advising on:
    composition and performance of the Board;
 
    director independence; and
 
    appointment of the CEO.
     Composition and membership of the Nomination Committee
     It is Board policy that the Nomination Committee is comprised of at least three Board members including the chairman of the Board, all of whom are independent as defined in the Board Charter.

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     Each member is expected to:
    have a reasonable knowledge of us and the industries in which we operate; and
 
    have the capacity to devote the required time and attention to prepare for and attend committee meetings.
     Meetings of the Nomination Committee
     Meetings are held on a regular basis, as determined annually in advance by the Board. Additional meetings are also held as required.
     Other members of the Board are entitled to attend Nomination Committee meetings and the Nomination Committee may invite other people including any of our employees to its meetings, as it deems necessary. However, if a person has a material personal interest in a matter that is being considered at a meeting, he/she must not be present for consideration of that matter.
     Remuneration Committee
     Role and responsibilities of the Remuneration Committee
     The Remuneration Committee is a committee of the Board established to assist the Board in discharging its responsibilities by monitoring and advising on:
    remuneration of the Board;
 
    performance and remuneration of the CEO;
 
    performance and remuneration of senior management;
 
    remuneration strategies, practices and disclosures generally; and
 
    employee share and option plans.
     The Committee also exercises the administrative powers delegated to it by the Board under our share option plans and, in certain circumstances, makes offers to employees under those plans.
     Composition and membership of the Remuneration Committee
     It is Board policy that the Committee is comprised of at least three Board members including the chairman of the Board, all of whom are independent as defined in the Board Charter.
     Each member is expected to:
    be familiar with the current legal and regulatory disclosure requirements in relation to remuneration;
 
    have adequate knowledge of executive remuneration issues, including executive retention and termination policies, and short-term and long-term incentive arrangements;
 
    have a reasonable knowledge of us and the industries in which we operate; and
 
    have the capacity to devote the required time and attention to prepare for and attend committee meetings.
     Meetings of the Remuneration Committee
     Meetings are held on a regular basis, as determined annually in advance by the Board, scheduled to correspond with our remuneration review and reporting cycle. Additional meetings are also held as required.
     Other members of the Board are entitled to attend Remuneration Committee meetings and the Remuneration Committee may invite other people including any of our employees to its meetings, as it deems necessary. However, if a person has a material personal interest in a matter that is being considered at a meeting, he/she must not be present for consideration of that matter.

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     Our Remuneration Framework
     Information in relation to our remuneration framework (including information regarding our remuneration strategy and policies and their relationship to our performance), together with details of the remuneration paid to Board members and senior executives who were our key management personnel during fiscal 2006, can be found in “Directors and Management — Remuneration”.
     Each year, the Board reviews our CEO’s performance against agreed measures and considers the CEO’s compensation and entitlement to performance based remuneration. Each year, the CEO undertakes a similar exercise in relation to senior management. The results of the CEO’s annual performance review of senior management are considered by the Board.
     Technology Committee
     The Technology Committee is a committee of the Board established as a forum for the Board to review technology developments relevant to us and the industries in which we operate in greater detail than is possible at Board meetings. The Committee’s purpose is educative only.
Risk oversight and management
     We are committed to the management of risks throughout our operations. The role of the Board includes monitoring the integrity of internal control and reporting systems and monitoring the effectiveness of our management of strategic, financial, operational and compliance risks. The Audit Committee provides advice to the Board on the status of our business risks. The Audit Committee relies on the work undertaken by the risk management and assurance function, which independently assesses the adequacy and operating effectiveness of the controls in place surrounding the management of risk.
     Primary responsibility for risk oversight and management lies with our management, who periodically review and update their significant business risks. The risk management and assurance function also plays a key role in this process by developing, promoting and transferring a common language and approach to the business units. This enables management to proactively identify, manage and control their risks. The Audit Committee regularly receives reports independently prepared by the risk management and assurance function on significant business risks with an evaluation as to the adequacy and effective operation of controls that are in place surrounding the strategies applied by business units to manage these risks.
     The financial risk arising from our underlying business activities is largely managed through a central treasury function which applies a prudential approach. The central treasury function manages the liquidity, cash flow, foreign exchange, interest rate, borrowing and other financial terms and conditions, financial support arrangements, counterparty credit risk and derivatives. The treasury function’s principal objectives are to minimise the volatility of economic and financial outcomes and to establish sound operational controls.
     We use insurance to transfer significant risk exposures arising in the key areas of property, public and product liability, and directors’ and officers’ liability and this is also managed on a group basis through the central treasury function. In view of our size, we accept substantial “excess levels” and do not insure for risks that we can readily accommodate. Some risks cannot be effectively insured such as potential claims in relation to electromagnetic energy and business interruption.
Risk Management, internal compliance, control systems and our financial reports
     The CEO and CFO have provided the Board with the certifications required by the Corporations Act and those recommended by the ASX Corporate Governance Council Recommendations in relation to our risk management and internal compliance and control systems and our financial reports.
     The CEO and CFO have provided the Board with confirmation that, in all material respects, our financial reports for the year ended 30 June 2006 present a true and fair view of our financial position and performance and are in accordance with relevant accounting standards. The CEO and CFO have confirmed this statement is made based on a sound system of risk management and internal compliance and control implemented in accordance with

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Board policy. In addition, the CEO and CFO have confirmed to the Board that our risk management and internal compliance and control systems, to the extent they relate to financial reporting, are operating efficiently and effectively in all material respects based on the risk management model we have adopted.
Telstra Values, Telstra Business Principles, Code of Conduct and other company policies
     We have a number of internal operating policies and principles which promote ethical and responsible decision making and timely and balanced disclosure.
Telstra Values, Telstra Business Principles and company policies
     We provide guidance to our directors, senior management and employees on the practices, principles and standards of corporate and personal behaviour required of all of our officers and employees in performing their daily business activities through our Company Values, the Telstra Business Principles and our company policies (including our Code of Conduct). The Telstra Business Principles, the Code of Conduct and other company policies reinforce the standards of appropriate business and ethical behaviour we expect from all employees. We have a mandatory training program for all employees to reinforce these standards.
Whistleblower policy and service
     We have in place a whistleblower policy and confidential whistleblower service which provides our staff with an avenue to raise concerns they might have with behaviour that is potentially illegal, improper or unethical. The whistleblowing process is supported by an independent service provider who specialises in receiving sensitive reports or disclosures. All reports or disclosures are treated as confidential and reports can be made anonymously. Reports are referred to our Ethics Committee, the management committee which oversees the investigation and implementation of any recommendations considered appropriate. In addition to generally supporting our ethical foundations, the Ethics Committee charter confirms that part of its role is to oversee our whistleblowing policy and process. Our whistleblowing policy reflects the Telstra Values of Accountability, Integrity, and Leadership, supports our Code of Conduct and complements existing management structures and functions.
Share trading
     We have in place a share trading policy that prohibits directors, the CEO, senior management and certain other employees (and their associates) from engaging in short-term trading of our securities (including the acquisition of derivatives and financial and other products issued or created over our shares by us or any third party). This policy also restricts the buying or selling of our securities to three “window” periods (between 24 hours and 1 month following the release of our annual results, the release of our half-yearly results and the close of our annual general meeting) and at such other times as the Board permits. Trading during these window periods is subject to the overriding requirement that buying or selling of our securities is not permitted at any time by any person who possesses price-sensitive information which is not generally available in relation to those securities.
     In addition, directors, the CEO, senior management and relevant employees must notify the company secretary before they or their close relatives buy or sell our securities. Changes to the interests of directors in our securities are, as required by law, notified to the ASX.
     Our share trading policy also prohibits our directors, the CEO, senior management, other employees and contractors from buying or selling securities of other companies (including shares, derivatives and financial and other products issued or created over those securities by us or any third party) when in possession of price-sensitive information relating to that other company which is not generally available. This is so if the information is price-sensitive to the other company (and not generally available), even though it may not be price-sensitive information to us.
     Further, directors, the CEO, senior management and relevant employees are also restricted from entering into arrangements which effectively operate to limit the economic risk of their security holdings in shares allocated under our share plans during the period the shares are held in trust.

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Market disclosure
     We have established procedures intended to ensure that we comply with our market disclosure obligations. In particular, we have in place a comprehensive continuous disclosure procedure which is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. The aim of this procedure is to ensure that we release price-sensitive information in a timely fashion to the various stock exchanges on which our shares and debt securities are listed.
     Our procedure provides that:
    ultimate management responsibility for continuous disclosure rests with the CEO and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”);
 
    the responsibilities of the Continuous Disclosure Committee (the “Committee”), which is chaired by the company secretary, include:
    ensuring that there is an adequate system in place for the disclosure of all material information to the ASX;
 
    advising the CEO and the CFO in relation to the disclosure of information reported to the Committee;
    the Committee’s membership includes the company secretary, a representative of Public Policy & Communications, the General Counsel — Finance & Administration, a representative from Finance & Administration and the General Manager — Investor Relations or their delegates;
 
    senior management (including Group Managing Directors other than the CFO and their direct reports, all financial controllers and certain legal and regulatory counsel) must immediately inform the Committee of any potentially price-sensitive information or proposal as soon as they become aware of it;
 
    in cases where material information has originated in the office of the CEO or the CFO or has been reported directly to them, the CEO or CFO may, in his or her discretion, seek the advice of, or a recommendation from, the Committee in deciding whether to make or approve an ASX announcement in relation to that material information;
 
    if the matter is disclosable, an announcement is prepared and immediately sent via the company secretary’s office electronically to all relevant stock exchanges.
     We implement several practices internally to reinforce the importance of our continuous disclosure obligations and the need to keep the Committee informed about potentially disclosable matters. These practices are reviewed regularly and include the following:
    every director is made aware of our continuous disclosure obligations upon taking office and each member of senior management undertakes training with the General Counsel — Finance and Administration, in relation to our continuous disclosure obligations;
    a weekly email is sent to all senior management reminding them to notify the Committee immediately if they become aware of any potentially price-sensitive information or proposals;
    the Committee maintains a list of issues which, although not yet disclosable, are monitored in case they become disclosable;
 
    all proposed media releases and external speeches and presentations to be made by senior management are reviewed by internal legal counsel to determine whether they should be disclosed;
 
    a specific information paper is prepared for each Board meeting summarising ASX announcements and details of significant matters considered by the Committee but judged not to be disclosable; and
 
    the Office of the Company Secretary maintains a record of all market announcements made. The announcements are also posted on our website after market release is confirmed.
     We also have in place an investor relations policy governing communications and the provision of information to external parties, including shareholders, brokers and analysts. The aim of this policy is to ensure that we provide investors and the financial community with appropriate and timely information while at the same time ensuring that we fulfil our statutory reporting obligations under the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules.

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Legal and Regulatory Compliance
     We are committed to conducting our business in compliance with our legal and regulatory obligations. Compliance with these obligations is not just a legal requirement but is integral to our commitment to our employees, customers, shareholders and the community. Compliance is a key element of the Telstra Values which are the foundation for our cultural priorities and the way we pursue our vision and mission.
     The Board and the senior management team are committed to ensuring there is an appropriate compliance framework and complementary controls in place to provide an appropriate level of confidence that we are operating in compliance with relevant laws, regulations and industry codes. The Board has given the Audit Committee specific responsibility for reviewing our approach to achieving compliance with laws, regulations and associated industry codes in Australia and overseas and for the general oversight of compliance issues. This oversight is facilitated by the preparation of a regular and comprehensive compliance report summarising our compliance initiatives and issues.
     We have recently reviewed and refined out internal approach to compliance and from the start of fiscal 2007 we have moved to combine our compliance activities and the related activities supporting our corporate ethics under a single Compliance and Corporate Ethics Framework. This framework brings together our business units and the individual subject matter specific compliance programs in a more integrated, consistent and collaborative way than we have in the past.
     We have continued our comprehensive program based approach to compliance. This has been fundamental to our approach to compliance for many years and this continues to be a key element of our compliance framework with subject matter experts helping us to understand our many legal and regulatory obligations and responsibilities and translate them into practice. The programs include health, safety and environment, equal employment opportunity, privacy, trade practices and industry regulation.
     This program based approach at a corporate level is supported by a newly established network of senior personnel appointed to the role of Business Unit Compliance Manager. These Compliance Managers are supported by other personnel at the business unit level with specific responsibility for the implementation of the compliance programs within their business unit. This structure has been designed with the aim of ensuring that each business unit’s operations are conducted in accordance with our obligations in an efficient, effective and integrated manner. We seek to achieve this through a focus on policies, procedures, work instructions and controls that is intended to ensure that our actions, and those of our employees, are in accordance with these requirements.
     A number of programs, including the privacy compliance program, are subject to periodic, independent external audits which are intended to:
    ensure that our approach is comprehensive, robust and rigorous; and
 
    to provide an objective view of area for further improvement.
Corporate Social Responsibility
     Our corporate social responsibility vision is to connect with our people, customers, communities and suppliers in an accessible, healthy and environmentally sound way. We are proud of our record supporting the community.
Political and Other Donations
     We do not make political donations. However, in line with other major publicly listed companies, we do pay fees to attend events organised by political parties where those events allow for discussion on major policy issues with key opinion leaders and policy makers.
     We make donations and contribute funds to community and other organisations as part of our approach to corporate social responsibility.

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Shareholder Communications Strategy
     We have implemented a number of initiatives to promote effective communication with our shareholders. These include:
    maintaining an investor relations website and introducing an alternate website — nowwearetalking.com. nowwearetalking is designed to provide shareholders and other interested parties with information about the digital revolution and how it can improve our quality of life in the 21st century. nowwearetalking is also designed to increase the level of public dialogue about the future of telecommunications in Australia;
 
    communicating directly with shareholders twice a year through our half-year and annual review;
 
    placing all announcements made to the market, including transcripts of investor and media briefings, and related information on our website;
 
    webcasting certain events such as briefings and our annual general meeting;
 
    using electronic communications to advise investors, who have provided us with their email address, of significant matters that may be of interest to them; and
 
    writing directly to our shareholders on issues that affect their investment. For example, when we announced the transformation strategy in November 2005, we followed this up with a letter to shareholders from the CEO and a six page brochure explaining what the transformation strategy would deliver for our shareholders.
     We are also seeking to encourage our shareholders to receive their communications from us electronically through our participation in the eTree program, of which we are a foundation member. Through the eTree program, we currently donate to Landcare Australia:
    A$2 for every shareholder who chooses to receive all of their communications from us electronically; and
 
    A$1 for those shareholders who choose just to receive electronic shareholder reports and notices of meetings from us.
     During fiscal 2006, we donated over A$56,000 to Landcare Australia through this initiative.
Compliance with NYSE requirements
     The NYSE has corporate governance requirements for companies listed on the NYSE. The NYSE has granted foreign private issuers such as Telstra a “home country” exemption from most of these requirements. We are, however, required to provide a brief description of the material differences between our corporate governance practices and the NYSE corporate governance requirements. These differences are described below.
Corporate Governance Committee
     Under the NYSE listing rules, each listed company must have a nominating/corporate governance committee with a written charter that requires the committee to, among other matters, develop and recommend to the board of directors a set of corporate governance principles applicable to us. We have determined that this function is best served by the Board of directors as a whole supported by our Audit Committee, rather than our Nomination or Remuneration Committees. Accordingly, our Nomination and Remuneration Committees’ charters do not require the Committees to perform this function.
Equity Compensation Plans
     Under the NYSE listing rules, each listed company must give its shareholders the opportunity to vote on the adoption of, or material revisions to, equity compensation plans. Under the ASX Listing Rules, shareholders are only provided with the opportunity to vote on new equity compensation plans or material revisions to existing equity compensation plans in limited circumstances, including an issue of shares under an employee incentive scheme to a director. In accordance with the home country exemption, we only seek shareholder approval in relation to equity compensation plans in the circumstances required under Australian law.

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Exchange Controls and Foreign Ownership
Absence of exchange controls
     The consent of the Reserve Bank of Australia will be required for the movement of funds into and out of Australia if the funds are to be paid to, or received from:
    specified supporters of the former Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (including certain government agencies and authorities);
 
    specified ministers and senior officials of the Government of Zimbabwe; or
 
    specified entities and an individual associated with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
     There are also currently general prohibitions on:
    making payments to, or receiving payments from persons prescribed as having a connection with terrorism; and
 
    dealing with the financial resources of the previous government of Iraq, Saddam Hussein and other senior officials of his regime and their immediate families.
     At the present time, the Reserve Bank of Australia has not imposed any exchange controls or limitations on the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments by Telstra to non-Australian holders of its securities, other than those described above.
Restrictions on foreign ownership
     The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act prohibits the acquisition of an interest in the shares of an Australian company in certain circumstances. There are also specific provisions dealing with restrictions on foreign ownership in the Telstra Act.
Telstra Act
     The Telstra Act provides that an “unacceptable foreign ownership situation” will exist in relation to Telstra if “foreign persons” and their “associates” hold, in total, a “particular type of stake” in us of more than 35% of shares held by persons other than the Commonwealth (the “Aggregate Limit”) or if any foreign person and its associates hold a particular type of stake in Telstra of more than 5% of shares held by persons other than the Commonwealth (the “Individual Limit”). “Foreign person”, “associate”, “group”, “particular type of stake”, “direct control interest” and “interest” in a share are all defined in the Telstra Act and are summarised below under “Definitions”.
     Where an acquisition of shares or interests in shares in any company results in:
    an unacceptable foreign ownership situation in relation to Telstra;
 
    an increase in the total of any type of stake held by any group of foreign persons in Telstra where there exists a breach of the Aggregate Limit; or
 
    an increase in any type of stake in Telstra held by any foreign person who is already in breach of the Individual Limit;
and the person acquiring the shares knew or was reckless as to whether the acquisition would have that result, that person is guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding A$44,000.
     A person’s stake in us is calculated on the assumption that the only shares in us are shares held by persons other than the Commonwealth. While the Commonwealth owns approximately 51.8% of us, the Aggregate Limit is effectively 16.87% and the Individual Limit is effectively 2.41%. If all of the shares currently held by the Commonwealth are sold or transferred to the Future Fund, the effective Aggregate Limit will be 35% rather than 16.87% and the effective Individual Limit will be 5% rather than 2.41%.

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     The Communications Minister or Telstra may apply to the Federal Court for remedial orders where an unacceptable foreign ownership situation exists, including orders requiring the disposal of shares, restricting the exercise of rights attaching to shares or prohibiting or deferring receipt of sums due on shares. In addition, we are required under the Telstra Act to take all reasonable steps to ensure that an unacceptable foreign ownership situation does not exist in relation to us.
     Our constitution and the trust deed contain provisions to enable us and the trustee (while instalment receipts remain on issue (“the IR period”)) to monitor and enforce the foreign ownership restrictions. These provisions in our constitution are binding on all shareholders. Our Board has adopted rules to implement these provisions. These are outlined below. They may be amended at any time by resolution of our board.
     The trustee will publish procedures regulating foreign ownership of instalment receipts which parallel our rules and which will bind all instalment receipt holders. The trustee will be obliged to comply with such procedures under the trust deed and may only change them at the relevant Minister’s direction.
     On or after registration of a transfer or transmission application for a share or an instalment receipt, when the acquirer first becomes a shareholder or instalment receipt holder, the acquirer must generally notify us or the trustee (during the IR period) whether it is either:
    a person with an interest in a share or instalment receipt who is either a foreign person or an associate of a foreign person; or
 
    a person who holds a share or instalment receipt in which a foreign person or an associate of a foreign person has an interest,
(in either case, a “foreign holder”).
     The information derived from these notifications will be reflected in a register by means of a foreign coding. Telstra may include in its register information relating to foreign ownership recorded in the foreign ownership register of instalment receipts maintained by the trustee. The foreign ownership rules and procedures will permit us and the trustee to maintain a joint foreign register of shares and instalment receipts.
     Systems have been established for shares or instalment receipts traded on the ASX so that notifications are given by brokers as part of routine provision of ASX settlement information. The Depository or its custodian under the American Depository Receipts (“ADR facility”) is automatically treated as a foreign holder, as are all holders of shares on the New Zealand share register. Purchasers of shares and instalment receipts in the International Offering (including the New Zealand component of the Australian Offering) and holders of shares or instalment receipts on the New Zealand branch share or instalment receipt registers will be automatically treated as foreign holders for the purposes of the trust deed. In the case of other transfers or transmission applications, the onus is on the acquirer to notify us if it is a foreign holder.
     All shares or instalment receipts held by foreign holders will be treated as foreign unless the holder notifies the trustee that some of its shares or instalment receipts are ones in which a foreign person or associate of a foreign person has an interest (foreign shares or instalment receipts) whereas others are not and either:
    divides its holding into separate Holder Identification Numbers or Security Holder Reference Numbers (under the ASX’s CHESS system or an issuer sponsored subregister respectively), one for foreign shares or instalment receipts and one for shares or instalment receipts which are not foreign; or
 
    the directors decide to treat the foreign holder as if the foreign holder was two separate members, one with domestic shares and the other with a foreign holding.
     Where a person has notified the trustee that it is a foreign holder with respect to instalment receipts, we may treat that person as a foreign holder with respect to shares. The trustee may also treat a foreign holder of shares as a foreign holder with respect to instalment receipts under its procedures.
     We may send notices to registered holders of shares with a view to determining whether they are foreign holders or not, and requesting details of any foreign persons or associates of foreign persons having interests in the relevant shares, and any other information relating to foreign ownership which may be requested. Such notices must

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be answered within the time specified in the notice. The trustee has similar powers with respect to registered holders of instalment receipts during the IR period. The rules and procedures will permit us and the trustee to send notices jointly.
     If we determine, as a result of information obtained from the notifications and responses to notices referred to above, that an unacceptable foreign ownership situation exists in relation to us, we have the power to require divestment of shares to remedy this situation. The trustee has power to direct the disposal of instalment receipts in the same circumstances in which we would otherwise direct the trustee to dispose of shares to remedy the situation. We may direct the trustee to require divestment of instalment receipts in such circumstances. In exercising these divestment powers, we and the trustee are entitled to rely on foreign codings in the relevant register and upon the notifications and responses to notices referred to above. We and the trustee will notify the ASX, NZX and NYSE if the level of foreign ownership comes within five percentage points of the Aggregate Limit, and after that at one percentage point intervals.
     The divestment powers are broadly framed, and we, our directors and the trustee and its directors are not liable to shareholders or instalment receipt holders for the manner of their exercise.
     If we or the trustee believe that the Individual Limit has been breached, we or the trustee may require that any shareholder or instalment receipt holder respectively whose shares or instalment receipts are believed to form part of the contravening “stake” be divested within the time specified in the notice requiring divestment (disposal notice).
     If we believe the Aggregate Limit has been breached, the rules currently provide that disposal notices will be given to all holders whose foreign shares became registered in their names or which became coded as “foreign”, on the day that the aggregate number of foreign coded registrations on the relevant register exceeded the limit. The position is similar with respect to foreign instalment receipts under the procedures.
     There are special provisions to prevent disposal notices being given in respect of foreign instalment receipts issued in the Global Offering and in the event disposal notices would, but for these provisions, have been given in respect of such foreign instalment receipts (“offer instalment receipts”) such notices shall not be given. Disposal notices may be given to all holders whose foreign shares were registered in their names (or became coded as foreign) on the day prior to the date of registration of the Global Offering instalment receipts in the names of their holders, and so on, until a situation is reached where the number of foreign shares and instalment receipts in respect of which disposal notices have not been given is below the Aggregate Limit.
     The recipient of a disposal notice is required to divest the shares or instalment receipts that are the subject of the notice before the divestment date specified in the notice. The divestment date will be the fifth business day of the month after the month in which the disposal notice was issued unless that would be less than 30 days after the date of issue of the notice, in which case the divestment date will be the fifth business day of the next month. However, in relation to registrations of shares or instalment receipts in the 30 days after instalment receipts are first traded on the ASX in 2006, the divestment date will be the day six months after first trading.
     No divestment will be required on a divestment date if foreign shares or instalment receipts, as shown on the relevant register on that date do not exceed the Individual Limit or the Aggregate Limit (as applicable). If a disposal notice is not complied with, we or the trustee (as relevant) may sell the relevant shares or instalment receipts on behalf of the holder on or after the relevant divestment date (and the holder will lose the ability to transfer the shares or instalment receipts itself after that date).
     In cases where the trustee sells instalment receipts, if the trustee has been notified that a foreign holder is not a resident of Australia for Australian taxation purposes or if no notification has been received but the foreign holder has a registered address outside Australia, the trustee may retain from the proceeds of sale and remit to the Australian Taxation Office the tax due and payable by the instalment receipt holder on any gain arising from the disposal of instalment receipts.
Transfers among foreign holders
     Special arrangements apply to certain transfers from one foreign holder to another.

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     Disposal notices will not be given in respect of:
    foreign shares or instalment receipts acquired from the international underwriters on closing of the International Offering;
 
    foreign shares or instalment receipts acquired under a particular form of ASX “special crossing” for transfers among foreign holders. Shares or instalment receipts can only be transferred under such a special crossing if they are not, and are not liable to become, the subject of a disposal notice; or
 
    shares or instalment receipts registered on the New Zealand branch share register or instalment receipt register or deposited in the ADR facility, though shares may only be transferred onto the New Zealand branch share or instalment receipt register or ADR facility if they are not, and are not liable to become, the subject of a disposal notice.
     NZSX trading will be only in instalment receipts or shares registered on the New Zealand branch instalment receipt or share register.
     The above summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified by reference to, the trust deed, our constitution, the rules and the procedures which have been adopted by us and the trustee for administration of their foreign ownership provisions and the Telstra Act. Copies of the trust deed, our constitution, the rules and procedures and the Telstra Act are available for inspection through the Company Secretary at the Telstra Centre, 242 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia during normal hours in Melbourne, Australia prior to the closing of the Global Offering.
Definitions
     “Foreign person” is defined in the Telstra Act as:
    a foreign citizen (defined in the Telstra Act as a non-Australian citizen) not ordinarily resident in Australia (a “foreign citizen”);
 
    a company where a foreign citizen or a foreign company (defined in the Telstra Act as an overseas incorporated company) holds a particular type of stake in the company of 15% or more;
 
    a company where a group of two or more persons, each of whom is either a foreign citizen or a foreign company, holds, in total, a particular type of stake in the company of 40% or more;
 
    the trustee of a trust estate in which a foreign citizen or a foreign company holds a substantial interest (essentially a 15% beneficial interest, including such foreign citizen’s or foreign company’s associates’ interests); or
 
    the trustee of a trust estate in which two or more persons, each of whom is either a foreign citizen or a foreign company, hold an aggregate substantial interest (essentially a 40% beneficial interest including each such foreign citizen’s or foreign company’s associates’ interests).
     A “particular type of stake” in any company held by any person is defined as the aggregate of the “direct control interests” of that type in that company held by that person and that person’s associates.
     An “associate” of a person is defined to include:
    a wide range of direct and indirect relationships such as relatives, partners, employees and employers of the person;
 
    if the person is an employee of an individual, other employees of the individual;
 
    if the person is a company, an officer of the company and, if the person is an officer of a company, the company and other officers of the company;
 
    the trustee of a discretionary trust where the person or an associate of the person is a beneficiary;
 
    a company whose directors are accustomed, or under an obligation, to act in accordance with the wishes, directions or instructions of the person;

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    a company where the person is accustomed, or under an obligation, to act in accordance with the company’s wishes, directions or instructions;
 
    a company in which the person has a particular type of stake of at least 15% or, if the person is a company, a person who holds a particular type of stake of at least 15% in it; and
 
    an associate of an associate of the person.
     For purposes of determining foreign ownership of any company, a person’s associates also include any other person with whom the person has an arrangement enabling them to jointly control any of the voting power of such company or certain types of power over, or over the appointment of, the board of directors of such company.
     “Group”, in relation to the foreign ownership limits, includes one person alone or a number of persons, even if they are not in any way associated with each other or acting together.
     A “direct control interest” of any person in any company is defined as the equivalent percentage of:
    the total paid-up share capital of the company in which the person holds an interest;
 
    the voting power in the company that the person is in a position to control;
 
    the total rights to distributions of capital or profits of the company to its shareholders on a winding up held by the person;
 
    the total rights to distributions of capital or profits of the company to its shareholders, other than on a winding up, held by the person; and
 
    traced interests held via interposed entities.
     “Interest in a share” is defined to include:
    legal or equitable interests in a share;
 
    certain rights under a contract to purchase a share;
 
    options to acquire a share or an interest in a share;
 
    a right to have a share transferred to the person’s order; and
 
    an entitlement to acquire a share or an interest in a share or to exercise or control the exercise of a right attached to the share.
     However, certain interests in shares are disregarded, including:
    certain interests of lenders under or following enforcement of security arrangements;
 
    interests of a trustee or manager of, or a custodian for, a unit trust (except a discretionary trust) or certain Australian complying or exempt superannuation funds if such trustee, manager or custodian reasonably believes that foreign persons hold beneficial interests in less than 40% of the capital and 40% of the income in the fund;
 
    interests held by an Australian registered life insurance company or a custodian for it, in respect of a statutory fund, if the company reasonably believes that less than 40% of policyholder liabilities of the fund are owed to foreign persons;
 
    interests held by nominees, custodians or depositaries, or brokers acting on clients’ instructions in the ordinary course of business, provided in each case the holder has no beneficial interest or discretionary voting authority in respect of the underlying shares;
 
    certain interests held by the international underwriters and their related corporations;
 
    interests existing solely as a result of a shareholder holding interests in companies other than us, which are not ’foreign persons’ under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act of Australia;

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    interests held by persons who are not foreign persons who, although being associates of foreign persons, are not themselves foreign persons and do not have any substantive foreign associates (that is, persons who directly or indirectly control them, with whom they act in concert or in accordance with whose wishes, instructions or directions they are obliged or accustomed to act);
 
    interests held by any person to the extent that, after such interests have been included in the “stake” of that person and any of its substantive foreign associates, such interests would also be included in the stake of a non-substantive associate of the person; and
 
    interests held by any person who is not a foreign person to the extent that, in determining the total of the stakes of a group of foreign persons, such interests would be counted more than once for that purpose.
     References to “interests” in shares exclude disregarded interests.
Approvals required for foreign investment in Telstra
     Foreign investment in Australia is regulated principally under Commonwealth legislation including the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (“FATA”) and by the Australian Federal Government’s Foreign Investment Policy (“Policy”). This regulatory regime applies in addition to the specific limits on foreign ownership of Telstra mentioned above.
     For the FATA or the Policy to apply, the acquiring entity must be a “foreign person”, as defined in the FATA. This concept is broader than the ordinary meaning of those words and is extended to include companies incorporated within Australia or overseas with certain levels of foreign shareholding, as prescribed in the FATA.
     The FATA requires a foreign person to notify the Federal Treasurer prior to acquiring a substantial interest (i.e. an interest of 15% or more, held by the foreign person, together with any associates) in an Australian corporation where the total (not net) assets of the corporation amount to A$50 million or more (or A$52 million or more for certain US investors investing in a sensitive sector such as the telecommunications sector). It is an offence to:
    enter into an agreement to acquire a substantial interest without lodging a notification (unless the agreement is made subject to an appropriate condition); or
 
    once a notification is lodged, to proceed with the acquisition before receiving a statement of no objections from the Federal Treasurer, unless the relevant statutory period(s) has expired without an order being made.
     Investments in Telstra of less than 15% do not attract the compulsory notification requirements of FATA. However, depending on the circumstances of the acquisition, they may activate the Treasurer’s powers to make orders in respect of the acquisition (including the power to prohibit the acquisition). In these circumstances it can be advisable to lodge a voluntary notification under FATA, seeking a statement of no objections from the Treasurer. The issue of such a statement has the effect of deactivating the Treasurer’s powers in respect of that acquisition.
     Notifications made under FATA are assessed against the test of whether the proposal is contrary to Australia’s national interest. There is no definition of the national interest. It is assessed on a case by case basis.
     Australia’s foreign investment regime is complex, and advice should be sought for your specific circumstances, and for the circumstances of your proposed acquisition.
Foreign ownership status
     At 22 September 2006 the number of Telstra shares recorded as foreign on the Telstra register was 868,845,773, equivalent to 14.49% of the total number of non-Commonwealth owned Telstra shares on issue.

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Description of Shares and our Constitution
     The following provides information on the shares and explains the material provisions of our constitution. Our constitution prescribes many shareholder rights. Because this is a summary, it does not contain all the information that is included in the constitution. The entire constitution should be read for a more complete description of your rights as a shareholder.
     We have 12,443,074,357 ordinary shares on issue. Currently we have only one class of shares, being ordinary shares. Because Australia has abolished the concept of authorised share capital, there is no limit on the number of shares we may issue. In Australia, there is also no longer any concept of a par or nominal value for a share. This means that we may issue our shares at any price.
Share registers
Our Australian register of shares is electronic
     The Australian register of shares is electronic. All our members, except those registered on our New Zealand register, are registered on our Australian register. We are admitted to participate in the Clearing House Electronic Subregister System (“CHESS”), under the ASX Listing Rules, the ASX Settlement and Transfer Corporation Settlement Rules (“ASTC Settlement Rules”) and the Australian Clearing House Clearing Rules (“ACH Clearing Rules”). Under this system, we maintain an electronic issuer-sponsored subregister and an electronic CHESS subregister. These two subregisters make up the Australian register of shares. You may inspect the register of shares without charge if you are a member. You may also purchase a copy of the register of shares. The Corporations Act limits the way in which the information on the register of shares may be used or disclosed by a shareholder.
     The directors may determine not to issue share certificates, subject to any requirements of any law or the ASX Listing Rules. Because we maintain an electronic register of shares all shareholders will receive a statement of holding upon payment of the final instalment and satisfaction of any related obligations such as payment of any taxes. The statement is similar to a bank account statement and will state how many shares are owned by the shareholder. A shareholder will receive a new statement of holding at the end of the month if there has been a change in its holding on the register. A shareholder will not receive a share certificate for its shareholding.
     If you hold shares on the CHESS sub-register, your statement of holding will set out your Holder Identification Number (“HIN”). If you hold shares on the issuer-sponsored sub-register, your statement of holding will set out your Security Holder Reference Number (“SRN”). You must quote your HIN or SRN when dealing with a stockbroker or our share registrar.
     The share registrar for the shares in Australia is Link Market Services Limited.
Our New Zealand register of shares is electronic
     Persons purchasing shares in the New Zealand offer will be registered on the New Zealand register. Telstra shares will be traded and registered under the Fully Automated Screen Trading and Electronic Registration System (“FASTER”). When you first become a shareholder, including upon payment of the final instalment and satisfaction of any related obligations such as payment of any duties and taxes, you will receive a FASTER statement for your shareholding. You will not receive a share certificate for your shareholding. The FASTER statement is similar to a bank account statement and will tell you how many shares you own. You will also receive separately a FASTER Identification Number (“FIN”). If you sell any of your shares or if you purchase more shares, you will receive a new statement of holding at the end of the month.
     The directors may determine which shares may be recorded, or will remain, on a branch register of shares.
You may be able to transfer your holding between the Australian and New Zealand registers
     If you wish to transfer your holding between the Australian and New Zealand registers, you should contact our registrar for more information as restrictions may apply to movements between these registers. For further information, you should also refer to the section below “Our securities are traded on the ASX and the NZSX and are quoted on the New York Stock Exchange” and “Exchange Controls and Foreign Ownership”.

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Transfer of shares
     The following is a summary of how you may transfer your shares in Australia and New Zealand.
Transfer of shares in Australia
     A shareholder may transfer shares if, in the case of an electronic transfer of shares, the transfer is in accordance with the ACH Clearing Rules, the rules of any electronic system in which we participate and which is established or recognised by the ASX Listing Rules, or in any other case, by an instrument of transfer executed by the transferor and the transferee and stamped where necessary. Our directors must register a transfer of shares which is in accordance with these requirements subject to the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules, and the ACH Clearing Rules, our constitution and any other law including the Telstra Act.
     The directors may ask the ACH to apply a holding lock to stop an electronic transfer under certain circumstances.
Transfer of shares in New Zealand
     A transfer of shares in New Zealand may be by a market transfer in accordance with the electronic system for share trading established by the FASTER system or by a proper instrument of transfer in writing.
Our securities are traded on the ASX and the NZSX and are quoted on the NYSE
     Our securities are currently traded on the ASX, the NZSX and the NYSE. Unless you have made special arrangements in advance with a stockbroker, you may not be able to trade your shares on an exchange other than the exchange of the country in which the relevant share register is located.
     If shareholders wish to transfer holdings between the Australian and New Zealand registers, shareholders should contact the Telstra registrar for more information as restrictions may apply to movements between these registers.
There are restrictions on the level of foreign ownership of our shares
     Foreign persons must not hold particular “stakes” in us, if the level of foreign ownership of our shares exceeds certain individual or aggregate levels. This is because of requirements in:
    the Telstra Act;
 
    our constitution; and
 
    the instalment receipts trust deed.
     Acquisitions of interests in Australian companies by foreign interests are also regulated by the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 of Australia. See “Exchange Controls and Foreign Ownership” for an explanation of the restrictions.
Constitution and Documents on Display
Our constitution
     The following is a summary of the material provisions of our constitution which may affect shareholders.
     Our constitution was adopted at the 2006 annual general meeting held on 14 November 2006.
     Our constitution reflects, among other things, the outcomes of the Global Offering, regulatory changes under the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules and developments in best practice corporate governance.
     A copy of our constitution has been lodged with the ASX and is also available on our website at www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/investor.

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Issue of further shares
     Our Board may issue shares at their discretion. They must, however, act in accordance with our constitution, the Corporations Act, the Telstra Act, the ASX Listing Rules and any special rights conferred on holders of any shares.
Calls
     Our Board may only make calls on shareholders in respect of money unpaid on their shares. Our shareholders have no other liability to further capital calls.
Restrictions on foreign ownership
     The Telstra Act restricts the holding of particular foreign ownership stakes in us. Our constitution contains provisions designed to enable us to monitor and enforce these restrictions. We have adopted rules to implement these provisions which bind all shareholders. These are outlined in the “Exchange Controls and Foreign Ownership” section of this Institutional Offering Memorandum.
Alteration of rights
     The rights attaching to our shares may only be varied or abrogated with the written consent of the holders of three quarters of the issued shares of that class or with the approval of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the issued shares of that class.
Borrowing powers
     Our directors may exercise all of our borrowing powers in their absolute discretion. This power may only be varied by amending our constitution which would require a special resolution to be passed by our shareholders at a general meeting.
Shareholders’ approval required
     The management of the business and affairs of the company is vested in our directors. However, the approval of shareholders is required for certain important matters, such as the election of directors, and the sale or disposal of our main undertaking.
Directors and shareholders may call a meeting
     The directors may call a general meeting at their discretion. The directors must also call and arrange to hold a general meeting on the request of:
    shareholders who hold at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at the general meeting; or
 
    at least 100 shareholders who are entitled to vote at the general meeting.
General meeting attendance and notice
     All shareholders are notified of and may attend all general meetings. We send a notice of the meeting to all shareholders at least 28 days before the meeting.
Voting rights
     Shareholders (whether residents or non-residents of Australia) may vote at a meeting of shareholders in person or by proxy, attorney, or representative, depending on whether the shareholder is an individual or a company.
     Shareholders may also be able to vote directly on resolutions considered at a general meeting by mailing their votes to us prior to the meeting. Permission to do this will be at the Board’s discretion. This option means that a shareholder’s vote can still be counted even where the shareholder cannot attend personally and does not wish to appoint a proxy.

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     Three shareholders must be present in person or by proxy, attorney or representative to form a quorum. If there is no quorum present at a meeting thirty minutes after the time set for the start of the meeting, then:
    if the meeting was called by a shareholder or shareholders, the meeting must be dissolved; or
 
    in any other case, the meeting is adjourned to the same day, time and place in the next week or to such other day, time and place as the directors present decide. The adjourned meeting is dissolved if this quorum is not present within thirty minutes after the time specified for the meeting.
     Shareholders present at the meeting must vote on a show of hands unless a poll is called. A poll may be called either before a vote is taken or before or immediately after the voting results on a show of hands are declared. A poll may be called by:
    the chairman of the meeting;
 
    not less than five shareholders who may vote on the resolution; or
 
    a shareholder or shareholders who together hold at least 5% of the votes that may be cast on the resolution on a poll.
     If the demand for a poll is withdrawn, the vote is decided on a show of hands.
     Subject to any rights or restrictions attaching to our shares, on a show of hands each shareholder present in person or by proxy, attorney or representative has one vote and on a poll, has one vote for each fully paid share held. Presently, we have only one class of fully paid ordinary shares and these do not have any voting restrictions. If shares are not fully paid, the voting rights attached to those shares cannot be exercised.
     An ordinary resolution is passed:
    on a show of hands, by a majority of shareholders present in person or by proxy, attorney or representative voting in favour of the resolution; and
 
    on a poll, by shareholders present in person or by proxy, attorney or representative holding at least a majority of the votes cast in favour of the ordinary resolution.
     A special resolution is passed:
    on a show of hands, by at least 75% of shareholders present in person or by proxy, attorney or representative voting in favour of the resolution; and
 
    on a poll, by shareholders present in person or by proxy, attorney or representative that represent at least 75% of the votes cast in favour of the special resolution.
Dividends
     Subject to any special rights attaching to our shares and to the terms of any issue of shares to the contrary, shareholders receive dividends according to the number of shares held and the amount paid up on those shares. Currently, no special rights attach to any of our shares.
     Shareholders may elect to receive dividends by electronic transfer into their nominated account. Any unclaimed dividend moneys will, in certain circumstances, be able to be re-invested in our shares.
Rights to profits
     The power to declare dividends, pay dividends and fix the time for their payment is vested in the Board.
     Our directors may, before declaring or paying a dividend, set aside out of our profits any amount that they think should be applied as a reserve. Our directors may also carry forward profits which they consider should not be distributed as a dividend, without transferring those profits to a reserve.
     A declaration by our directors as to the amount of the profits available for dividend is conclusive and binding on all shareholders.

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Documents to be sent to shareholders
     Shareholders will receive a copy of any financial statements or other documents which we must send to shareholders under our constitution, the Corporations Act or the ASX Listing Rules.
     We also offer shareholders the opportunity to receive electronic copies of these documents via email as an alternative to receiving hard copies.
Winding-up
     If we are being wound up and the assets available for distribution among shareholders are more than sufficient to pay all our debts and liabilities and the costs and expenses of winding up, the excess must be divided:
    firstly, amongst the shareholders in proportion to the number of shares held by them; and
 
    then among the shareholders in proportion to the number of restricted securities held by them, irrespective of the amounts paid or credited as paid on the shares.
     However, in calculating this excess, any amount unpaid on a share is to be treated as our property of the Company, and the amount of excess that would otherwise be distributed to the holder of a partly paid share must be reduced by the amount unpaid on that share at the date of the distribution. If the effect of this reduction would result in a negative amount the shareholder must contribute the amount to Telstra.
Number of directors
     At all times, we must have between three and thirteen directors on the Board. Shareholders may vote to increase the maximum number of directors.
Directors’ share qualification
     Our directors are not required to hold Telstra shares.
Retirement of directors
     We must have an election of directors each year, and all directors must retire at the third annual general meeting after the director was elected or last re-elected. If no director is to retire on the basis of being at the third annual general meeting since their appointment, the director that must retire is the one who has been longest in office.
     In addition, the Board’s general policy on Board membership for non-executive directors is:
    in general, directors will be encouraged to retire at 72 years of age; and
 
    the maximum tenure is 12 years (usually four terms of three years).
Directors’ interests
     A director who has a material personal interest in a proposal, arrangement or contract that is being considered at a meeting of our directors has a limited right to be present at the relevant meeting and to vote on the matter.
     The power to be present and vote only exists in certain circumstances prescribed by the Corporations Act. These are:
    when the Board has passed a resolution that identifies the director and his/her interest and states that the other directors are satisfied that the interest should not disqualify the director from voting or being present; or
 
    where ASIC makes a declaration or class order that the director may be present and vote notwithstanding his/ her material personal interest.

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Officers’ indemnity and insurance
     Our constitution provides for us to indemnify each officer, to the maximum extent permitted by law, against any liability incurred as an officer provided that:
    the liability is not owed to us or a related body corporate;
 
    the liability is not for a pecuniary penalty or compensation order made by a court under the Corporations Act; and
 
    the liability does not arise out of conduct involving a lack of good faith.
     Our constitution also provides for us to indemnify each officer, to the maximum extent permitted by law, for legal costs incurred in defending civil or criminal proceedings.
     If one of our officers or employees is asked by us to be a director or alternate director of a company which is not related to us, our constitution provides for us to indemnify the officer or employee out of our property for any liability he or she incurs. This indemnity only applies if the liability was incurred in the officer’s or employee’s capacity as a director of that other company. It is also subject to any corporate policy made by our CEO. Our constitution also allows us to indemnify employees and outside officers in some circumstances. The terms “officer”, “employee” and “outside officer” are defined in our constitution.
     We may pay an insurance premium insuring a person who is or has been a director, secretary or executive officer of us or of one of our related bodies corporate against certain liabilities incurred by that person in such a capacity. The insurance will not cover liabilities which arise out of conduct involving a wilful breach of that person’s duty to us or a breach of their duty not to improperly use their position or company information.
Commonwealth Specific Provisions
     Provisions specific to the Commonwealth’s majority ownership in us are contained in a schedule to the constitution. These include provisions:
    requiring the Commonwealth to be present as a shareholder of quorum in order for a meeting to be valid;
 
    regarding Commonwealth representation at shareholder meetings; and
 
    requiring the Board to consult the relevant Commonwealth Minister before appointing a casual vacancy or an additional director to the Board.
     The provisions of this schedule will fall away once the Commonwealth ceases to hold 50% or more of the shares in us (upon completion of the Global Offering).

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Relationship between Shares and Instalment Receipts
     If you purchase shares from the Commonwealth, you will have to pay for them in two instalments.
     When you pay the first instalment, you will be an instalment receipt holder. When you pay the final instalment, you will become a shareholder, assuming you have met any earlier related obligations including the obligation to pay any duties and taxes. Holders of instalment receipts and shareholders will generally have rights equivalent to those of shareholders. These rights include:
    the right to receive any dividends declared by us; and
 
    the right to attend and vote at meetings of our shareholders (by directing the trustee to vote).
     You should refer to the summary of these topics in the section “Description of Shares and our Constitution” to understand your rights and the section on “Description of the Instalment Receipts and Trust Deed” for an explanation of the rights of instalment receipt holders.
Description of the Instalment Receipts and Trust Deed
     The following information is a summary of the material provisions of the instalment receipts and the trust deed dated on or about 8 October 2006 between the Commonwealth and the trustee. The trust deed sets out many of your rights and obligations as an instalment receipt holder. You may inspect a copy of the trust deed and the constitution of the trustee at our principal office at Telstra Centre, 242 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia during normal working hours prior to the closing of the Global Offering.
Instalment receipts
You must purchase Telstra shares in two instalments
     Shares are payable in two instalments. The first instalment is A$2.10. You must pay this amount when you apply for shares. The final instalment is A$1.60 and you should pay this amount by 5:00 pm Sydney, Australia time on or by 29 May 2008. You must pay both instalments in Australian dollars.
You may prepay the final instalment
     You may prepay the final instalment owing on some (in minimum parcels of 2,000 instalment receipts) or all of your instalment receipts by paying the relevant amount to the instalment receipt and share registrar. If you prepay the final instalment payment before the final instalment due date you will receive a discount for early payment. The prepayment discount is calculated by discounting the final instalment for the period between the relevant prepayment date (the last day of the month in which payment is received) and the final instalment due date, using the yield to maturity of the benchmark Government bond 8.75% Coupon, maturing 15 August 2008, applicable as at the end of the previous month, as published on the Reuters monitor system “RBA 28” (or any page which replaces that page) at 4:30 p.m. on such day.
     Instalment receipt holders who wish to prepay the final instalment will need to contact the instalment receipt and share registrar to obtain notification of the amount payable and the applicable prepayment discount. Details of acceptable methods of payment, and of how cheques are to be made payable, will be provided by the instalment receipt and share registrar. The instalment receipt and share registrar will receive the amount on behalf of the Commonwealth and will pay it to the Commonwealth.
     Prepayments will be processed in monthly batches. The first available prepayment date is 28 February 2007 and the last prepayment date is 31 March 2008. Instalment receipt holders can only prepay the final instalment on a prepayment date by:
    contacting the instalment receipt and share registrar by the eighth business day of the month in which the prepayment date falls (so, for example, instalment receipt holders wishing to prepay on 31 March 2008 must contact the instalment receipt and share registrar by the eighth business day of March 2008); and
 
    paying the final instalment (less any applicable prepayment discount) on or before the relevant prepayment date.

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     Where the instalment receipt and share registrar has received a prepayment by the relevant prepayment date and that prepayment has cleared within five business days after the relevant prepayment date, the trustee will transfer the shares underlying your instalment receipts to you within eight business days after the relevant prepayment date. Once the shares are transferred to you, the Commonwealth’s security interest will be extinguished and your instalment receipts cancelled. The prepayment discount is not available to instalment receipt holders with a registered address in New Zealand.
     Each holder that prepays the final instalment will, by paying the prepayment, be deemed to represent, acknowledge and agree that:
    it is:
    outside of the United States, is not a U.S. person and is not acting on behalf of, or for the account of, a U.S. person; or
 
    in the United States or a U.S. person and is a QIB;
    it understands that the shares to be delivered upon prepayment of the final instalment have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States;
 
    it understands that the shares to be delivered upon prepayment of the final instalment may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred except:
    in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or
 
    to, or for the account of, a QIB, in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and, in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States;
    for so long as the shares are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, it will not deposit or cause to be deposited any of such shares to be issued upon prepayment of the final instalment in any unrestricted depositary receipt facility established or maintained by a depositary bank in the United States.
The Commonwealth will transfer shares to the trustee and you will become an instalment receipt holder
     Once your application for shares has been accepted and you have paid the first instalment, the Commonwealth will transfer the legal title to the shares to the trustee. Subject to a security interest in favour of the Commonwealth securing the obligation on you to pay the final instalment, the trustee will hold those shares on trust for you. This means that you have a beneficial interest in those shares. Your interest is registered on an instalment receipt register. You will be regarded as the beneficial owner of the same number of shares as instalment receipts registered in your name on the instalment receipt register. Because you do not hold the legal title to your shares, you are not a shareholder. You are an instalment receipt holder. In almost all respects, an instalment receipt holder has equivalent rights to those of a shareholder.
The instalment receipt register
     The instalment receipt register is the only evidence of your holding of an instalment receipt and of the beneficial interest in the share underlying your instalment receipt. The instalment receipt register will be maintained by the instalment receipt and share registrar. You may inspect or obtain a copy of the instalment receipt register (for a fee, in some cases) if you provide an undertaking regarding the use of the information you obtain in inspecting, or obtaining a copy of, that register.
     The instalment receipt and share registrar in Australia is Link Market Services Limited who is also Telstra’s share registrar in Australia.

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     You should notify the instalment receipt and share registrar if you change your name or your address so that this change may be made to the instalment receipt register. The Commonwealth, the trustee and the instalment receipt and share registrar may (but need not) act as though any notice so given has been properly reflected in the instalment receipt register (whether or not it has been), but an instalment receipt holder will only be entitled to expect that a notice so given has been properly reflected in the instalment receipt register if the instalment receipt holder has received and produces a written confirmation to that effect from the instalment receipt and share registrar.
     Except as required by law or by a court of competent jurisdiction, neither the trustee nor the instalment receipt and share registrar will recognise any trust and, therefore no trust will be entered upon the instalment receipt register.
The Australian instalment receipt register is electronic
     Everyone acquiring instalment receipts pursuant to the global offering other than those applying in the portion of the offering made in New Zealand will be recorded on the Australian instalment receipt register. Most transfers of instalment receipts on the Australian instalment receipt register will be handled electronically through CHESS. See the section on “Description of Shares and our Constitution” for an explanation of this system.
     Certificates will not be issued for instalment receipts on the Australian instalment receipt register. Instead, you will receive a statement of holding advising you of the number of instalment receipts you hold. If you sell any of your instalment receipts or if you purchase more instalment receipts, you will receive a new statement of holding at the end of the month. You may obtain an additional statement of holding at any time for a fee.
     If you hold instalment receipts on the CHESS subregister, your statement of holding will set out your Holder Identification Number (“HIN”). If you hold instalment receipts on the issuer-sponsored subregister, your statement of holding will set out your Security Holder Reference Number (“SRN”). You must quote your HIN or SRN when dealing with a stockbroker or the instalment receipt and share registrar.
You may transfer or sell your instalment receipts subject to the terms of the trust deed
     You may transfer some or all of your instalment receipts to another person, subject to the terms of the trust deed.
     The trust deed provides that you may transfer any of your instalment receipts by:
    a Proper ASTC Transfer (as defined in the Corporations Regulations);
 
    a Sufficient Transfer (as defined in the Corporations Regulations);
 
    an electronic transfer under the NZSX’s FASTER system;
 
    a written instrument of transfer in the form in the schedules to the trust deed or in any other form approved by the trustee (a number of standard forms of transfer used in Australia and New Zealand will be approved by the trustee for this purpose); or
 
    any other method of transfer of marketable securities which is introduced by ASX, ACH or ASTC or operates in accordance with the ASX Listing Rules, ACH Clearing Rules, ASX Market Rules or ASTC Settlement Rules and recognised under the Corporations Act and approved by the trustee.
     The trustee may, in the case of a transfer other than a Proper ASTC Transfer, direct the instalment receipt and share registrar to refuse to register any transfer of instalment receipts where the ASX Listing Rules applying to the trustee and the instalment receipts or the ACH Clearing Rules, ASX Market Rules or ASTC Settlement Rules permit such refusal.
     If you transfer some or all of your instalment receipts and the transfer is registered on the instalment receipt register at end of day on 15 May 2008, the person to whom you transfer your instalment receipts will have to pay the final instalment.

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     In addition, the person to whom you transfer your instalment receipts automatically agrees to be bound by the trust deed and the instalment receipts as soon as they take a transfer of your instalment receipts. If the ASIC declaration to the effect that transferees of instalment receipts are bound by the terms of the trust deed is varied or revoked, any off-ASX transfer must be accompanied by a deed of acknowledgement executed by the transferee or equivalent. Such an ASIC declaration has been obtained and is in force.
Instalment receipts will be listed on the ASX and the NZSX
     The trustee will apply to list the instalment receipts (and the underlying shares) on ASX within seven days after the date of the Australian prospectus (9 October 2006). An application has been made to the New Zealand Exchange Limited for quotation of the instalment receipts (and the underlying shares) on the NZSX and all requirements of the New Zealand Exchange Limited relating to this application that can be complied with on or before the date of the distribution of the Australian prospectus and the New Zealand Investment Statement have been duly complied with. However, the New Zealand Exchange Limited accepts no responsibility for any statements in this Institutional Offering Memorandum.
There are restrictions on the level of foreign ownership of us
     Foreign persons must not hold particular “stakes” in us. See “Exchange Controls and Foreign Ownership” for an explanation of the restrictions.
Trust deed
     The following is a summary of the material provisions of the trust deed relating to the instalment receipts. These provisions are set out in the trust deed. You may inspect the trust deed if you need more information.
Instalment receipt holders may call a meeting
     Instalment receipt holders may require the trustee to requisition or call a meeting of our shareholders if they hold the number of instalment receipts representing shares which, if those shares were held by those instalment receipt holders, would entitle the instalment receipt holders to call or require the calling of the meeting themselves in accordance with the Corporations Act or our Constitution. You should refer to “Description of Shares and our Constitution” for more information.
     If you wish to call, or require the calling of, a meeting, you must ask the trustee to do so on your behalf because the trustee is the legal owner of the shares underlying the instalment receipts.
You may attend a general meeting of shareholders and must receive notice of the meeting
     You generally have equivalent rights to those of shareholders including the right to attend and speak at a general meeting of our shareholders. You cannot vote directly at a general meeting of our shareholders but can direct the trustee how to vote the shares underlying your instalment receipts.
     The trustee will direct the instalment receipt and share registrar to make arrangements with us and the share registrar to ensure that, so far as practicable, the share registrar sends to you any notice of meeting of shareholders at the same time and in the same manner it sends that notice to shareholders.
     You should refer to the section “Description of Shares and our Constitution” for more information.
     As you are not strictly a shareholder, the trust deed sets out a procedure that the trustee must follow to ensure that you may direct the votes attached to the underlying shares at a general meeting. That procedure may be summarised as follows:
    you will receive the notice of meeting and will also receive a direction form to enable you to give directions to the trustee on how to exercise the votes attached to the underlying shares. The trustee can be directed to ensure the votes are cast for or against each resolution at the meeting, or can be directed to abstain. Alternatively, the trustee can be directed to appoint the chair of the meeting as open proxy in respect of the relevant votes;

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    the trustee will appoint proxies to exercise the votes in accordance with the directions received;
 
    if you do not provide a valid voting direction, the trustee must not cast a vote on any resolution in respect of the underlying shares to which your instalment receipts relate.
     Directions will only be valid if:
    they are received by 5:00pm Sydney, Australia time on the day two business days before the last day for our shareholders to lodge proxies in relation to the relevant general meeting; and
 
    the person giving the direction remains the registered holder of the relevant instalment receipts at end of day on the day two business days before the ‘snapshot’ time fixed by us for determining which shareholders are entitled to vote at the relevant general meeting.
Dividends
     If we declare or pay a dividend (other than by way of bonus issue), the trustee must:
    if the dividend is to be paid wholly or partly in cash, direct us to pay the cash part of the dividend directly to you according to the number of instalment receipts registered in your name; and
 
    if the dividend is not wholly in cash, take all reasonable steps (as defined in the trust deed) to cause the non-cash part of the dividend to vest in you. The trustee is not required to take steps which are unlawful or impracticable or which may involve unindemnified expense to the trustee or which may potentially expose the trustee to liability.
     The trustee will take all reasonable steps (as defined in the trust deed) to require that the payment of any dividend to you is made at the same time and in the same manner as we pay dividends to shareholders.
     Payments will be made to you if you are on the instalment receipt register at the relevant time. See “The trustee will set record dates” for more information.
     It is the responsibility of instalment receipt holders to ensure they comply with any requirements imposed by us from time to time in relation to payment of dividends (for example, by nominating a bank account of a type approved by us). The trustee is not responsible to you for any neglect or default on our part in relation to dividends.
     Tax may be withheld from dividends and other distributions. See the section on “Taxation”.
     If there is a question of whether a dividend belongs to you or forms part of the Commonwealth’s security interest over the shares (such as where the Commonwealth is required to exercise its security due to a default by you), the trustee will need to assess the situation and determine who the dividend belongs to. It will apply the same principles as it will apply to an accretion that is not specifically provided for in the trust deed. In that case, the trustee will determine whether the accretion is an addition to or a replacement of the share. If it is an addition to or replacement of the share, the trustee will hold the accretion on trust in the same way that it holds the security interest in the shares. If the accretion is an incident of the beneficial interest which you hold, the trustee will take reasonable steps (as defined in the trust deed) to transfer the accretion to you or, if that is not possible, it will hold the accretion for your benefit in the same way that it holds your beneficial interest.
The trustee will set record dates
     The trustee will fix a record date whenever we propose to:
    pay a cash dividend;
 
    make any other cash or non-cash distribution; or
 
    issue rights in regard to the shares.
     This is the date on which you will need to be registered on the instalment receipt register in order to receive the dividend, distribution or rights. This date will, to the extent practicable, be the same as the record date fixed by us for shareholders except in the case of meetings where the record date for determining who is entitled to vote at the

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meeting will be two business days before the record date for shareholders. You should refer to the topic “You may attend a general meeting of shareholders and must receive notice of the meeting” in this section for an explanation of the record date for meetings.
Documents to be sent to instalment receipt holders
     Your rights in this regard are equivalent to those of shareholders. You should refer to the section “Description of Shares and our Constitution” for more information.
You may participate in a new issue of shares
     If we make an entitlements offer to our shareholders to participate in a new issue of shares or other securities (other than a bonus issue), the trustee is not obliged to respond to that offer or, if it is renounceable, to dispose of it. The trustee will seek advice from the instalment receipt and share registrar, us, the share registrar or some other suitably qualified person and if that advice is that reasonable steps (as defined in the trust deed) can be taken to confer the benefit of the offer on you as an instalment receipt holder, the trustee will take those reasonable steps. Any securities you receive under a new issue cannot be sold by the trustee if you fail to pay the final instalment.
You cannot mortgage or charge the shares underlying your instalment receipts
     As discussed below, the trustee may sell some or all of the shares underlying your instalment receipts if you do not pay the final instalment by the final instalment due date. This is because the Commonwealth has a “security interest” over your shares. You cannot create any security interest, such as a mortgage or a charge, over the shares the trustee is holding on your behalf. In addition, you cannot do anything which would have the effect of giving another person any right over the shares until you have paid the final instalment and the trustee has transferred the shares to you. For this reason, the trustee and the instalment receipt and share registrar will not recognise or give effect to any security interest over your beneficial interest in, or your future right to receive, the shares underlying your instalment receipts.
You must pay any duties and taxes on your instalment receipts or shares
     If the trustee receives a demand or an assessment relating to you, your instalment receipt holding or shares underlying your instalment receipt holding from a revenue or other authority for any duties and taxes or becomes aware that it may be liable to pay such duties and taxes, then if the trustee is advised that it must pay that amount, you must pay that amount to the trustee upon demand.
     If you do not pay the amount demanded by the trustee in the manner and within the period set out in the notice provided by the trustee, the trustee may take action to recover that amount as a debt due from you. It may choose to sell all or any of your instalment receipts or, if the Commonwealth directs, the shares to which your instalment receipts relate. If the trustee sells the shares relating to your instalment receipts, your instalment receipts will be cancelled. In either case, the proceeds of the sale will be applied in accordance with a priority order set out in the trust deed.
     You are not responsible for “Excepted Duties”. This means that you are not required to pay stamp duty on the transfer of the shares from the Commonwealth to the trustee and from the trustee to you after the final instalment is paid and on constitution of the trusts on which the shares are held.
You must pay the final instalment
     You will receive a reminder notice approximately four weeks before the final instalment is due. The reminder notice will be sent to the address recorded against your name in the instalment receipt register. See generally the topic “The instalment receipt register” in this section.
     So that the Commonwealth can determine who must pay the final instalment, we will ask the ASX to suspend trading of the instalment receipts on or about 9 May 2008. If you are on the instalment receipt register at end of day on 15 May 2008, you will have to pay the final instalment. This is so even if you do not receive the reminder notice.

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If you pay the final instalment, the trustee will transfer the shares to you
     If you pay the final instalment by 5:00 pm Sydney, Australia time on 29 May 2008 and the payment is cleared by 5:00 pm Sydney, Australia time on 10 June 2008, the trustee will transfer the shares to you within 12 business days (or a longer period if the ASX permits) of 29 May 2008.
     If the funds you send to pay for the final instalment are not cleared by 5:00 pm Sydney, Australia time on 10 June 2008, the trustee will transfer the shares to you as soon as practicable after receiving a notice that those funds are cleared.
     When the trustee transfers the shares to you, your instalment receipts will be cancelled. At that point, you will become an ordinary shareholder.
The shares underlying your instalment receipts may be sold if you fail to pay the final instalment and you may have to pay interest and other charges
     If you default in paying the final instalment, you will have to pay interest on the amount of the final instalment. Interest will be calculated at 12% per annum.
     If you default in paying the final instalment, the trustee may sell some or all of the shares underlying your instalment receipts. This includes all dividends, rights or other benefits accruing or received on the shares after 29 May 2008.
     The trustee will apply the proceeds of sale of your shares sold in the following order:
    in payment of the costs and expenses of the trustee in attempting to recover the final instalment from you (including the costs associated with the giving of default notices demanding payment, at a minimum cost of A$75 per notice given to you — one or more such notices may be given to you);
 
    in payment of the costs and expenses incurred in the sale of your shares plus an administration charge of A$75;
 
    in payment of any duties and taxes relating to the relevant shares or instalment receipts;
 
    in payment of interest on all the above amounts and on the final instalment;
 
    if only some of your shares for which you have not paid the final instalment are sold, in payment to the Commonwealth of the above amounts owing in respect of the remaining shares; and
 
    in satisfaction of the final instalment due by you.
     You will receive the balance remaining after the proceeds have been applied in this way.
     If the proceeds of the sale of the shares are insufficient to cover the above amounts, you remain liable for the shortfall. The trustee must take action against you to recover the shortfall unless the Commonwealth instructs it to cease that action. The Commonwealth can also take recovery action against you directly.
Powers and duties of the trustee and limits on its liability
     All the powers and duties of the trustee are set out in the trust deed.
     The trustee’s liability is generally limited to circumstances of gross negligence or fraud on the part of the trustee.
     The trustee is not liable for failing to do anything that it is forbidden from doing by any law or other requirements by which it is bound, or for doing anything that it is required to do under those laws or requirements.
     The trustee may delegate its powers and duties in relation to the foreign ownership restrictions set out in the Telstra Act, including its power to dispose of instalment receipts for the purpose of seeking to prevent the occurrence or continuation of an ‘unacceptable foreign ownership situation’ (as defined in the Telstra Act).

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     The trust deed contains provisions designed to enable the trustee to monitor and enforce the foreign ownership restrictions. These are outlined above at the section “Exchange Controls and Foreign Ownership”. The trustee has the power to adopt rules to implement these provisions, which will bind all instalment receipt holders.
Events concerning us
     The trust deed has provisions which deal with the duties of the trustee if:
    a takeover bid is made for our company;
 
    a takeover bid is made for instalment receipts;
 
    we subdivide, consolidate or reconstruct our shares;
 
    we reduce our capital. If it is a return of capital, the Commonwealth will receive the return and the final instalment will be reduced accordingly;
 
    we make a buy-back offer for shares. The trustee may accept only buy-back offers where the buy-back price is equal to or exceeds the final instalment and you direct the trustee to accept the offer. In that case, the trustee will direct us to pay the final instalment (reduced by the prepayment discount calculated as though the buy-back payment was a prepayment) to the Commonwealth and any balance will be paid to you; or
 
    we make a bonus issue or our shareholders receive rights under a scheme of arrangement. If the benefits received relate solely to your beneficial interest and do not impair the Commonwealth’s security interest, the trustee will take reasonable steps (as defined in the trust deed) to transfer them to you. Otherwise, they will be treated as an accretion to the Commonwealth’s security interest.
The trust deed may be amended by the Commonwealth and the trustee
     The trust deed may be amended by a supplemental deed between the Commonwealth and the trustee. However, any amendment must not:
    impair your right to enjoy your beneficial interest in the shares before you pay the final instalment;
 
    impair your rights to receive a transfer of the shares once the final instalment is paid;
 
    vary the date on which you must pay the final instalment; or
 
    remove your right to receive dividends unless that amendment results from an event, transaction or resolution by, or concerning, our company.
The trust deed is governed by the law of the Australian Capital Territory
     The trust deed is governed by the law of the Australian Capital Territory. The courts of the ACT shall have non-exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute, action, claim, suit or proceeding relating to the trust deed, the Commonwealth’s security interest or the beneficial interest in the shares underlying the instalment receipts. You are deemed to have submitted to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the ACT.
     You are also deemed to have irrevocably waived any immunity that you may now or in the future have in regard to your obligations under the trust deed.
     Nothing in the above clauses limits the right of the Commonwealth or the trustee to recover unpaid amounts from you or to take any proceedings against you in any manner permitted by law or in any court having jurisdiction. Even if the Commonwealth or the trustee takes proceedings in one jurisdiction, it may still take proceedings in another jurisdiction, whether concurrently or not.

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Other provisions
     The trust deed also contains other provisions, including:
    the Commonwealth may remove the trustee if it appoints a wholly-owned Commonwealth company as the new trustee. A court may be able to remove the trustee in some circumstances;
 
    the Commonwealth must pay all expenses of the trustee. However, you must pay any expenses of the sale of your shares arising from enforcement action taken by the Commonwealth to recover the final instalment and certain other costs and charges;
 
    the Commonwealth indemnifies the trustee for all liabilities arising from the performance of its responsibilities under the trust deed, subject to certain limitations in the case of bad faith, malice, fraud or recklessness on the part of the trustee;
 
    the Commonwealth indemnifies you for all losses or damages which you may suffer as a result of a breach by the trustee of its obligations under the trust deed, except to the extent that the breach by the trustee is a result of your negligence, bad faith or wilful default;
 
    if the trustee takes action to recover amounts owing by you to the Commonwealth, the trustee acts as the Commonwealth’s agent. It must have regard solely to the Commonwealth’s interest so far as the law permits;
 
    there are provisions that limit your ability to affect the timing and manner of the sale of shares or instalment receipts;
 
    the trustee may provide information it has to us and the Commonwealth. Information you provide in your application for shares may be provided by the Commonwealth to the trustee;
 
    the trust deed contains provisions dealing with the situation where the trustee is obliged by law or court order to dispose of the shares underlying your instalment receipts and dealing with circumstances where rights attaching to shares are cancelled or suspended or shares become vested in a third party or authority under any law, court order or otherwise. The trust deed also contains provisions in relation to compulsory acquisition of shares under takeover laws;
 
    joint holders of instalment receipts owe the obligations imposed on them under the trust deed jointly and severally;
 
    you must make all payments required to be made by you by cleared payment without deduction of any kind and free of any counter-claim or set-off;
 
    there are general provisions in the trust deed which allow changes to times and dates to avoid administrative difficulties. However, the date for payment of the final instalment cannot be changed; and
 
    instalment receipts may be cancelled by agreement with their holder and the relevant shares re-transferred to the Commonwealth if the Commonwealth has repaid the first instalment to the instalment receipt holder.
Administration arrangements
     The Commonwealth, the trustee and ourselves have entered into an agreement dated on or about 8 October 2006 that deals with administrative arrangements in regard to instalment receipt holdings, such as payment of dividends, and foreign ownership restrictions, such as administration of the foreign ownership rules.

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Taxation
     This section describes the principal United States federal income and Australian tax consequences of owning shares or instalment receipts. It applies to you only if you purchase your shares through this offering and hold your shares or instalment receipts as capital assets for tax purposes. This section is the advice of Sullivan & Cromwell insofar as it relates to matters of United States federal income tax law and is the advice of Mallesons Stephen Jaques insofar as it relates to matters of Australian law. This section does not address all material tax consequences of owning shares. It does not address special classes of holders, some of whom may be subject to other rules, including:
    tax-exempt entities;
 
    certain insurance companies;
 
    dealers in securities or currencies;
 
    traders in securities that elect to mark to market;
 
    investors liable for alternative minimum tax;
 
    investors that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our voting stock;
 
    investors that hold shares as part of a straddle or a hedging or conversion transaction; or
 
    investors whose functional currency is not the US dollar.
     This section is based on the tax laws of the United States, including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (“the Code”), its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations, and published rulings and court decisions, and the tax laws of Australia each as currently in effect, as well as on the Convention between the United States of America and Australia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (the “Treaty”). These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.
     You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the United States federal, state and local and the Australian and other tax consequences of owning and disposing of shares or instalment receipts, in your particular circumstances.
United States Taxation
     United States Internal Revenue Service Circular 230 Notice: To ensure compliance with Internal Revenue Service Circular 230, prospective investors are hereby notified that: (a) any discussion of US federal tax issues contained or referred to in this institutional offering memorandum or any document referred to herein is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by prospective investors for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on them under the United States Internal Revenue Code; (b) such discussion is written for use in connection with the promotion or marketing of the transactions or matters addressed herein; and (c) prospective investors should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
     This discussion addresses only United States federal income taxation.
     A US holder (as defined below) of instalment receipts should be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as the owner of the shares represented by such instalment receipts.
     You are a US holder if you are a beneficial owner of shares and you are:
    a citizen or resident of the United States;
 
    a domestic corporation;
 
    an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or
 
    a trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorised to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
     As used in this discussion, “United States Taxation”, unless the context otherwise requires, the term “share” refers to a share or instalment receipt.

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Treatment of instalment payments
     The following is a discussion of original issue discount (“OID”) and foreign currency gain or loss and is based, in part, on Code provisions and US Treasury Department regulations that may be subject to varying interpretations.
Deduction of interest
     Your obligation to make the final instalment payment under the trust deed will be treated, for United States federal income tax purposes, as a debt obligation (“the purchase obligation”), which will bear OID to the extent that the amount of the final instalment payment exceeds the difference between the fair market value of a share at the date of the issuance of the instalment receipt and the amount of the first instalment payment, all calculated in Australian dollars.
     Whether you are a cash-basis or accrual-basis taxpayer, you will be generally entitled to deduct as interest expense (subject to the limitations on the deductions of “investment interest” by non-corporate taxpayers and to other applicable limitations) the sum of the daily portions of OID with respect to each purchase obligation you have issued for each day during the taxable year in which your obligation remains outstanding. You can determine the daily portion by allocating to each day in any “accrual period” a pro rata portion of the OID allocable to that period.
     You can determine the amount of OID allocable to an accrual period by multiplying your purchase obligation’s adjusted issue price in Australian dollars at the beginning of the accrual period by your purchase obligation’s yield to maturity. You determine your purchase obligation’s yield to maturity on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and adjusting for the length of each accrual period. Your purchase obligation’s adjusted issue price at the beginning of any accrual period will be your purchase obligation’s “issue price” increased by any previously accrued OID. You may select an accrual period of any length of not longer than one year, provided that the scheduled payment of the final instalment occurs at the end of an accrual period.
     The daily amounts of OID in Australian dollars should be converted into US dollars using the average of the spot exchange rates in effect during the relevant accrual period or other average exchange rate for the period reasonably derived and consistently applied by you. You may elect under a spot accrual convention to determine OID accrued on the basis of the exchange rate in effect on the last day of the accrual period. Additionally, under this method, if the payment date is within five business days of the last day of your accrual period or taxable year, you may instead translate the OID accrued into US dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the day of payment. You can make the election to use the spot accrual convention by filing a statement with your first tax return in which the election is effective, clearly indicating that the election has been made. Once made, the election must be applied consistently to all debt instruments from year to year and may not be changed without the consent of the US Internal Revenue Service.
Unrelated business taxable income
     The purchase obligation constitutes “acquisition indebtedness” as defined in section 514 of the Code. Accordingly, if you are a US holder exempt from United States federal income tax, e.g., Individual Retirement Accounts, Keogh plans and pension and other employee benefit plans with tax exempt trusts, dividends and gains, if any, on the sale of shares may be taxed, in part, as unrelated business taxable income to the extent your total unrelated business taxable income for the taxable year exceeds US$1,000. The tax will apply to a portion of the dividends you receive during a taxable year during any part of which you were an obligor on the purchase obligation and to a portion of the gains on the sale of shares if you were an obligor on the purchase obligation during any part of the 12-month period preceding the sale (although you would generally be permitted to deduct a portion of the interest expense referred to above and the Australian withholding tax on dividends, if any, would generally be creditable against your United States federal income tax liability).
Foreign currency gain or loss
     You will recognise any foreign currency gain or loss realised in respect of a purchase obligation as an ordinary gain or loss in the earlier of the taxable year in which you paid the final instalment or in the taxable year of sale of the

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share. Foreign currency gain or loss would be calculated separately in respect of the OID portion, if any, and the principal portion of the instalment payment.
     Your foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the principal portion of the instalment obligation would be based upon the difference, if any, between the US dollar amount of the adjusted issue price of the instalment obligation as translated at the exchange rate in effect on the date of payment and the US dollar amount of such adjusted issue price as translated at the exchange rate in effect on the date of purchase of the shares. Your foreign currency gain or loss in respect of any accrued OID portion for the instalment payment would equal the difference between the US dollar amount of the accrued OID as translated at the exchange rate in effect on the date of payment and the US dollar amount of the accrued OID as described above under “Deduction of Interest”.
Payment of OID and Default Interest
     Payment of OID (and default interest, if any) to the Commonwealth may be subject to United States information reporting requirements on US Internal Revenue Service Form 1042-S.
Effect of purchase obligations upon disposition of shares
     For purposes of calculating gain or loss on a disposition of shares, your tax basis in the shares will include, in addition to the amount of the first instalment payment, the US dollar equivalent issue price of the purchase obligation, based upon the spot rate prevailing on the date of purchase. The amount you realise on the disposition of shares will include, in addition to other amounts received, the US dollar equivalent of the amount of any remaining purchase obligation assumed by the transferee less the amount of unaccrued OID, if any, in respect of the purchase obligation, all as based upon the spot rate prevailing on that date. You would recognise foreign currency gain or loss, if any, in the manner described above under “Foreign Currency Gain or Loss” as if you had made an instalment payment in an amount equal to the amount of any remaining purchase obligation.
     If you default on the final instalment payment, and the trustee sells the shares pursuant to the procedure described above under “Description of Instalment Receipts and Trust Deed”, you would treat as an amount realised for purposes of the above the amount of the sale proceeds used by the trustee to pay the instalment (less the amount of unaccrued OID, if any) and any amount paid to you. Foreign currency gain or loss, if any, would be recognised upon a default. If the sale proceeds are insufficient to pay in full the instalment in default, under certain circumstances, the amount by which the instalment exceeds the sale proceeds or the fair market value of the shares may constitute ordinary income.
Taxation of distributions on shares
     Under the United States federal income tax laws, if you are a US holder, the gross amount of any dividend we pay out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) is subject to United States federal income taxation. If you are a noncorporate US holder, dividends paid to you in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011 that constitute qualified dividend income will be taxable to you at a maximum tax rate of 15%, provided that you hold the shares for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date and meet other holding period requirements. Dividends we pay with respect to the shares generally will be qualified dividend income.
     You must include any Australian tax withheld from the dividend payment in this gross amount even though you do not in fact receive it. The dividend is taxable to you when you receive the dividend, actually or constructively. The dividend will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to United States corporations in respect of dividends received from other United States corporations. The amount of the dividend distribution that you must include in your income as a US holder will be the US dollar value of the Australian dollar payments made, determined at the spot Australian dollar / US dollar rate on the date the dividend distribution is includible in your income, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into US dollars. Generally, any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date you include the dividend payment in income to the date you convert the payment into US dollars will be treated as ordinary income or loss and will not be eligible for the special tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income. The gain or loss generally will be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Distributions

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in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for United States federal income tax purposes, will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of your basis in the shares and thereafter as capital gain.
     Subject to certain limitations, the Australian tax withheld in accordance with the Treaty and paid over to Australia will be creditable or deductible against your United States federal income tax liability. Special rules apply in determining the foreign tax credit limitation with respect to dividends that are subject to the maximum 15% tax rate.
     Dividends will be income from sources outside the United States, but dividends paid in taxable years beginning before 1 January 2007 generally will be “passive” or “financial services” income, and dividends paid in taxable years beginning after 31 December 2006 will, depending on your circumstances, be “passive” or “general” income which, in either case, is treated separately from other types of income for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to you.
Taxation of capital gains
     If you are a US holder and you sell or otherwise dispose of your shares, you will recognize capital gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes equal to the difference between the US dollar value of the amount that you realize and your tax basis, determined in US dollars, in your shares. Capital gain of a noncorporate US holder that is recognized in taxable years beginning before 1 January 2011 is generally taxed at a maximum rate of 15% where the holder has a holding period greater than one year. The gain or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.
Backup withholding and information reporting.
     If you are a noncorporate US holder, information reporting requirements, on Internal Revenue Service Form 1099, generally will apply to:
    dividend payments or other taxable distributions made to you within the United States, and
 
    the payment of proceeds to you from the sale of shares effected at a United States office of a broker.
     Additionally, backup withholding may apply to such payments if you are a noncorporate US holder that:
    fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number,
 
    is notified by the Internal Revenue Service that you have failed to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on your federal income tax returns, or
 
    in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.
     Payment of the proceeds from the sale of shares effected at a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale of shares that is effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding if:
    the proceeds are transferred to an account maintained by you in the United States,
 
    the payment of proceeds or the confirmation of the sale is mailed to you at a United States address, or
 
    the sale has some other specified connection with the United States as provided in US Treasury regulations,
unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above are met or you otherwise establish an exemption.
     In addition, a sale of shares effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject to information reporting if the broker is:
    a United States person,
 
    a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes,

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    a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business for a specified three-year period, or
 
    a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year:
    one or more of its partners are “US persons”, as defined in US Treasury regulations, who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership, or
 
    such foreign partnership is engaged in the conduct of a United States trade or business,
unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above are met or you otherwise establish an exemption. Backup withholding will apply if the sale is subject to information reporting and the broker has actual knowledge that you are a United States person.
     You generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed your income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the United States Internal Revenue Service.
Australian taxation
     A Class Ruling has been sought from the Australian Taxation Office (“ATO”) for participants in the Global Offering. A draft class ruling has been provided which accords with a number of statements contained in this summary. A final class ruling is expected to be issued by the ATO after the release of this Institutional Offering Memorandum. While it is not anticipated to be the case, the ATO may express views in the final class ruling which may be different to the draft ruling.
     The Australian income tax consequences for a particular investor will depend on the investor’s tax profile and own circumstances. For example, the tax consequences for some investors, such as financial institutions, who hold their investments on income account rather than on capital account will be different. Similarly, the taxation treatment of certain Tax Non-Residents may also be significantly different.
     This discussion does not seek to deal with the treatment of individuals who are temporary residents under Australia’s tax laws.
     This discussion is based on the law in force at the date of this Prospectus. The Commonwealth has proposed changes to the Australian income tax law in relation to capital gains. Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No 4) Bill 2006 (“Bill”) which incorporates the proposed changes was introduced into Federal Parliament on 22 June 2006. The proposed changes were referred to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee (“Committee”) on 16 August 2006. On 4 October 2006 the Committee recommended that the Bill be passed.
     Under the proposed changes, a capital gain from a disposal of an instalment receipt or a share by a Tax NonResident should be subject to Australian income tax under the capital gains tax provisions only in limited circumstances. The proposed changes are discussed in “taxation of capital gains” below in relation to instalment receipts and shares.
     It is proposed the changes will apply to a disposal for capital gains tax purposes of an asset, including an instalment receipt or a share, by a Tax Non-Resident after the date that the legislation that will introduce the proposed changes receives Royal Assent.
Treatment of instalment receipts
Taxation of distributions
     The income taxation treatment of distributions to holders of instalment receipts will reflect the income taxation treatment of distributions to holders of shares.
     While the distributions on instalment receipts are, strictly speaking, trust distributions, they will retain the character of dividends on the underlying shares and will be treated in the same way for Australian income tax purposes as dividends on the underlying shares.

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     An “imputation system” operates in Australia in respect of company income tax. In the absence of an exemption or concession, Australian resident companies are liable for Australian income tax on their taxable income at the prevailing corporate rate (currently 30%). The payment of Australian income tax by an Australian company, such as Telstra, generates a franking credit for the company. Broadly, an amount of tax paid flows through to shareholders (as a “franking credit”) when the company pays a dividend which is franked by the company.
     Distributions paid to Australian resident holders of instalment receipts will generally be included in the assessable income of those holders of instalment receipts.
     Where the distribution to Australian resident holders of instalment receipts is a franked dividend, the franking credit associated with that dividend will generally also be included in the assessable income of those holders of instalment receipts.
     An offset of tax equivalent to the franking credit (known as a “tax offset”) is available only to Australian resident holders of instalment receipts.
     There are circumstances where an instalment receipt holder may not be entitled to the benefit of franking credits. The application of these rules depends on the instalment receipt holder’s own circumstances including the period for which the instalment receipts are held and the extent to which the instalment receipt holder is “at risk” in relation to their investment.
     Fully franked dividends (being a dividend which is franked) paid to non-resident shareholders are not subject to the Australian non-resident dividend withholding tax (“DWHT”). Dividends to the extent that they are not fully franked are generally subject to DWHT at the rate of 30% (unless reduced under the provisions of a double tax treaty).
     In the case of a resident of the United States, the rate may be reduced under Article 10 of the Convention between Australia and the United States for the Avoidance of Double Taxation (the “US Treaty”) to 15%. This requires that the instalment receipts are not effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base of the Tax Non-Resident in Australia through which the Tax Non-Resident carries on business in Australia or provides independent personal services.
     If a Tax Non-Resident who is a resident of the United States directly holds at least 10% of the voting power in the Australian company, then the DWHT rate may be further reduced to 5%. The restrictions on the extent of foreign ownership in Telstra are likely to ensure that a Tax Non-Resident does not qualify for this reduced rate.
     The unfranked part of any dividends paid by us to Tax Non-Residents will be subject to DWHT. We will deduct DWHT from dividends and pay the balance to the Tax Non-Resident.
     Fully franked dividends paid to Tax Non-Residents and dividends that have been subject to DWHT are not subject to any further Australian income tax.
Taxation of capital gains
     Under the current Australian income tax law, Tax Non-Residents will be liable for Australian income tax under the capital gains tax provisions on any gains realised from the disposal of certain assets. These assets include a share (or interest in a share) in a public company where at any time in the preceding five years the non-resident’s holding (together with the holding of associates) in the public company is 10% or more; and an interest in an Australian resident trust estate (“Australian CGT assets”).
     An instalment receipt is an interest in an Australian resident trust estate, and so is an “Australian CGT asset” for the purpose of the Australian income tax on capital gains. Because the 10% ownership threshold that applies to shares in public companies does not apply to interests in trust estates, a gain from a disposal of an instalment receipt by a Tax Non-Resident under the current capital gains tax provisions will be subject to Australian income tax.
     Under proposed changes to the Australian income tax law in relation to capital gains tax, a capital gain from a disposal of an instalment receipt by a Tax Non-Resident will be subject to Australian income tax under the capital gains provisions only in limited circumstances.

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     Generally, under the proposed changes, a Tax Non-Resident may only be subject to Australian income tax under the capital gains provisions where the Tax Non-Resident holds an interest in “taxable Australian property”.
     “Taxable Australian property” includes direct and indirect interests in real property located in Australia or the business assets of an Australian permanent establishment of a Tax Non-Resident.
     Indirect interests in Australian real property includes shares in interposed companies or interests in other interposed entities that hold Australian real property, where the value of those shares or interests is wholly or principally attributable to taxable Australian real property.
     Prospective instalment receipt holders should seek their own independent taxation advice in relation to the potential impact of the proposed changes to take into account their own circumstances.
     Certain Tax Non-Residents may be liable to tax in respect of a profit on a dealing in the assets as ordinary income, rather than under the capital gains tax provisions.
     A double tax treaty between Australia and the country of residence of the instalment receipt holder may give relief from liability to pay Australian income tax.
     Generally, the “business profits” articles of Australia’s double tax treaties provide that a resident of a treaty party is not subject to Australian income tax on “business profits” derived in Australia, unless derived at or through a permanent establishment in Australia. In the case of a resident of the United States, Article 7(1) of the US Treaty provides that the business profits of a US enterprise are only taxable in the US unless the enterprise carries on business in Australia through a permanent establishment situated in Australia. The term “permanent establishment” is defined in Article 5 of the US Treaty.
     If the instalment receipts are held by an instalment receipt holder either as trading stock or a revenue asset, then gains realised on the disposal of those instalment receipts may be treated as “business profits”. Certain of Australia’s double tax treaties, including the US Treaty, specifically exclude capital gains from “business profits”.
     Prospective instalment receipt holders should seek their own independent taxation advice should they wish to rely on a double tax treaty for relief from liability to pay Australian income tax upon the disposal of an instalment receipt.
     A capital gain, for Australian tax purposes, will generally be the excess of the arm’s-length consideration in respect of the disposal of the instalment receipt over its cost base.
     For capital gains tax purposes, the arm’s-length consideration for the disposal of the instalment receipt will include the amount of the final instalment liability assumed by the purchaser.
     The cost base of an instalment receipt will include:
    if the instalment receipt holder was the original holder of the instalment receipt — the sum of the amount of the first instalment and the amount of the final instalment; or
 
    otherwise — the sum of the amount paid for the instalment receipt and the amount of the final instalment.
     If an instalment receipt holder is an individual, an Australian complying superannuation entity or a trust, they may be eligible to discount any net capital gain they make under the capital gains tax discount concession. This will only be the case if the instalment receipt holder has held the instalment receipts for at least 12 months prior to disposal.
     If an instalment receipt holder is an individual or a trust (other than a trust that is an Australian complying superannuation entity), the net capital gain is discounted by half.
     If an instalment receipt holder is an Australian complying superannuation entity, the net capital gain is discounted by one-third.
     If the instalment receipt holder is a company, the capital gains tax discount concession will not be available in respect of any net capital gain on a disposal of the instalment receipt.

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     Instalment receipt holders who incur a liability for Australian income tax will be required to file an income tax return in Australia.
Transfer of shares from instalment receipt trustee following payment of final instalment
     The payment of the final instalment and transfer of legal title in the share from the instalment receipt trustee to the instalment receipt holder does not constitute a disposal of an asset for the purposes of the Australian income tax on capital gains, and does not give rise to any Australian income tax liability.
Failure to pay final instalment
     The failure to pay the final instalment and subsequent sale by the instalment receipt trustee of the underlying share may have Australian income tax implications for instalment receipt holders. Instalment receipt holders should seek their own advice in relation to this issue.
Treatment of shares
Taxation of dividends
     An “imputation system” operates in Australia in respect of company income tax. In the absence of an exemption or concession, Australian resident companies are liable for Australian income tax on their taxable income at the corporate rate (currently 30%). The payment of Australian income tax by an Australian company, such as Telstra, generates a franking credit for the company. Broadly, an amount of tax flows through to shareholders (as a “franking credit”) when the company pays a dividend which is franked by the company.
     Distributions paid to Australian resident shareholders will generally be included in the assessable income of those holders of those shares.
     Where the distribution is a franked dividend, the franking credit associated with that dividend will generally also be included in the assessable income of Australian resident shareholders.
     An offset of tax equivalent to the franking credit (known as a “tax offset”) is available only to Australian resident shareholders.
     There are circumstances where a shareholder may not be entitled to the benefit of franking credits. The application of these rules depends on the shareholder’s own circumstances including the period for which the shares are held and the extent to which the shareholder is “at risk” in relation to their investment.
     Fully franked dividends (being a dividend which is franked) paid to non-resident shareholders are not subject to DWHT. Dividends to the extent that they are not fully franked are generally subject to DWHT at the rate of 30% (unless reduced under the provisions of a relevant double tax treaty).
     In the case of a resident of the United States, the rate may be reduced under Article 10 of the US Treaty to 15%. This requires that the shares are not effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base of the Tax Non-Resident in Australia through which the Tax Non-Resident carries on business in Australia or provides independent personal services.
     If a Tax Non-Resident who is a resident of the United States directly holds at least 10% of the voting power in the Australian company, then the DWHT rate may be further reduced to 5%. The restrictions on the extent of foreign ownership in Telstra are likely to ensure that a Tax Non-Resident does not qualify for this reduced rate.
     The unfranked part of any dividends paid by us to Tax Non-Residents will be subject to DWHT. We will deduct DWHT from the relevant dividend paid and pay the balance to the Tax Non-Resident.
     Fully franked dividends paid to Tax Non-Residents and dividends that have been subject to DWHT are not subject to any further Australian income tax.

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Taxation of capital gains
     Under the current Australian income tax law, Tax Non-Residents will be liable for income tax under the capital gains tax provisions on any gains realised on the disposal of “Australian CGT assets”. Australian CGT assets include a share (or interest in a share) in a public company where at any time in the preceding five years the non-resident’s holding (together with the holding of associates) in the public company is 10% or more.
     Tax Non-Residents who, together with their associates, hold less than 10% of the shares (or an interest in a share) in Telstra for the relevant period will, on disposal of the shares, not be subject to any Australian income tax on capital gains under the capital gains tax provisions. Restrictions on the extent of foreign ownership in Telstra should ensure that Tax Non-Resident shareholders qualify for this exemption.
     Under proposed changes to the Australian income tax law in relation to capital gains tax, a capital gain from a disposal of a share by a Tax Non-Resident will be subject to Australian income tax under the capital gains tax provisions only in limited circumstances.
     Generally, under the proposed changes, a Tax Non-Resident may only be subject to Australian income tax under the capital gains tax provisions where the Tax Non-Resident holds an interest in “taxable Australian property”.
     “Taxable Australian property” includes direct and indirect interests in real property located in Australia or the business assets of an Australian permanent establishment of a Tax Non-Resident.
     Indirect interests in Australian real property includes shares in interposed companies or interests in other interposed entities that hold Australian real property, where the value of those shares or interests is wholly or principally attributable to taxable Australian real property.
     Prospective shareholders should seek their own independent taxation advice in relation to the potential impact of the proposed changes to take into account their own circumstances.
     Certain Tax Non-Residents may be liable to tax in respect of a profit on a dealing in the assets as ordinary income, rather than under the capital gains tax provisions.
     A double tax treaty between Australia and the country of residence of the shareholder may give relief from liability to pay the Australian income tax.
     Generally, the “business profits” articles of Australia’s double tax treaties provide that a resident of a treaty party is not subject to Australian income tax on “business profits” derived in Australia, unless derived at or through a permanent establishment in Australia. In the case of a resident of the United States, Article 7 (1) of the US Treaty provides that the business profits of a US enterprise are only taxable in the US unless the enterprise carries on business in Australia through a permanent establishment situated in Australia. The term “permanent establishment” is defined in Article 5 of the US Treaty.
     If the shares are held by a shareholder either as trading stock or a revenue asset, then gains realised on the disposal of those shares should be treated as “business profits”. Certain of Australia’s double tax treaties, including the US Treaty, specifically exclude capital gains from “business profits”.
     Prospective shareholders should seek their own independent taxation advice should they wish to rely on a double tax treaty for relief from liability to pay Australian income tax upon the disposal of a share.
     A capital gain, for Australian tax purposes, will generally be the excess of the arm’s-length consideration in respect of the disposal of the share over its cost base. The cost base of a share will include the consideration on acquisition and incidental costs associated with acquisition.
     If a shareholder is an individual, an Australian complying superannuation fund or a trust, then that shareholder may be eligible to discount any net capital gain they make under the capital gains tax discount concession. This will only be the case if the shareholder has held the shares for at least 12 months prior to disposal.
     If a shareholder is an individual or a trust (other than a trust that is an Australian complying superannuation entity), the net capital gain is discounted by half.

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     If a shareholder is an Australian complying superannuation entity, the net capital gain is discounted by one-third.
     If the shareholder is a company, the capital gains tax discount concession will not be available in respect of any net capital gain on a disposal of the share.
     Shareholders who incur a liability for Australian income tax will be required to file an income tax return in Australia.
Australian Stamp Duty
     The stamp duty laws of the Australian Capital Territory are relevant to dealings in the instalment receipts of shares of Telstra. Under those laws, the transfer of marketable securities or an interest in marketable securities is a dutiable transaction.
     The transfer of shares:
    from the Commonwealth to the trustee; and
 
    from the trustee to the holder of an instalment receipt on payment of the final instalment
are, however, exempt from duty under the Commonwealth legislation relating to the privatisation of Telstra.
     No duty is payable in respect of an agreement for sale or transfer of:
    shares which are quoted on the Australian Stock Exchange Limited, another stock exchange which is a member of the World Federation of Exchanges or another stock exchange which as been approved by the relevant Minister (“a Relevant Stock Exchange”); or
 
    an interest in shares where the underlying shares are quoted on a Relevant Stock Exchange (whether the interest is quoted on such an exchange or not).
Therefore, stamp duty will not be payable by a subsequent purchaser or transferee of Telstra shares or instalment receipts if at the time of both any agreement for sale and any transfer, shares the subject of the transfer are quoted on a Relevant Stock Exchange.
     If at the time of a transfer or agreement for transfer of the shares or instalment receipts, Telstra shares have been suspended from quotation, this exemption may not apply. The ACT Revenue Office is currently considering whether to treat “marketable securities” as being quoted when there is a suspension from quotation. If the exemption does not apply, any duty payable would be payable by the subsequent acquirer of the shares or instalment receipts.
     Apart from the exemptions referred to above, other exemptions may apply depending on the circumstances.

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Notice to Investors
     Because of the following transfer restrictions, purchasers are advised to consult legal counsel prior to making any offer, resale, pledge or transfer of instalment receipts or shares.
     No actions have been taken to register or qualify the instalment receipts or shares, or otherwise permit a public offering of the instalment receipts or shares in any jurisdiction outside Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
     Neither the instalment receipts nor the shares have been or will be registered under the Securities Act, or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. The instalment receipts and shares may not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred except (i) in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws or (ii) pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws.
     Accordingly, the instalment receipts and shares are only being offered (1) within the United States to QIBs in reliance on the exemption from registration under the Securities Act afforded by Rule 144A (the “US Offering”) (2) outside the United States in offshore transactions to certain non-US persons (as such terms are defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S (the “ROW Offering”).
     Each purchaser of instalment receipts or shares in the US Offering will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed as follows:
     1. It is a QIB, and is acquiring the instalment receipts or shares for its own account or for the account of one or more QIBs as to which it is authorized to exercise sole investment discretion and not with a view to any resale or distribution thereof.
     2. It is aware that the seller may be relying on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A thereunder.
     3. It understands that the instalment receipts and shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state in the United States and may be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred only (i) outside the United States in an “offshore transaction” meeting the requirements of Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act or (ii) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 thereunder (if available) or (iii) to a person whom it reasonably believes is a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A or (iv) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the instalment receipts or shares (which it acknowledges that neither Telstra nor the Commonwealth are under any obligation to prepare), in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or other jurisdiction.
     4. It understands that the instalment receipts or shares sold in reliance on Rule 144A will constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, and for so long as they remain “restricted securities” such instalment receipts or shares may not be transferred except as described in paragraph (3) above. It will not deposit any such instalment receipts or shares into any unrestricted depositary receipt facility, including but not limited to Telstra’s American Depositary Facility for which the Bank of New York acts as depositary, unless and until such time as such shares are no longer “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3).
     Each purchaser of instalment receipts or shares in the ROW Offering will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed as follows:
     1. Neither the instalment receipts nor the shares have been or will be registered under the Securities Act, or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred in the United States or to any US person as defined under Regulation S (“US Person”) except in accordance with an available exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws.
     2. It is not in the United States, and is not a US Person or acting for the account or benefit of, a US Person.

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     3. It is not engaged in the business of distributing securities or, if it is, it agrees that it will not offer or resell in or to persons in, the United States or to US Persons (a) any instalment receipts or shares it acquires in the ROW Offering at any time or (b) any instalment receipts or shares it acquires other than in the ROW Offering until 40 days after the completion of the Global Offering, in either case other than in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit any sale of instalment receipts or shares in regular way transactions on the ASX or the NZSX if neither the seller nor any person acting on its behalf knows, or has reason to know, that the sale has been pre-arranged with, or that the purchaser is, a person in the United States.
     4. It is entitled to participate in the Global Offering under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the offer and sale is made to it.
     Each purchaser of instalment receipts or shares in the ROW Offering will be deemed by its purchase to confirm that the purchaser is aware of the restrictions on the offer and sale of the instalment receipts or shares offered pursuant to Regulation S described in this Institutional Offering Memorandum.
     Upon the expiration of the 40-day period following the completion of the Global Offering (the “Distribution Compliance Period”), instalment receipts or shares offered in the Global Offering in reliance on Regulation S will no longer be subject to the restrictions set out above, if, at the time of such expiration, the offer or sale of such instalment receipts or shares in the United States would not be restricted under the securities laws of the United States or any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction.
     All purchasers of instalment receipts or shares will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed as follows:
     1. Each purchaser of instalment receipts or shares acknowledges that Telstra, the Commonwealth, the Syndicate Members and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgements, representations and agreements, and agrees that if any of the acknowledgements, representations and warranties deemed to have been made by its purchase of the instalment receipts or shares are no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify Telstra, the Commonwealth and the Joint Global Coordinators. If it is acquiring the instalment receipts or shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more other QIBs, it represents that it has full power to make the foregoing acknowledgements, representations and agreements on behalf of such other QIBs.
     2. Each purchaser of instalment receipts or shares will also be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed that no person is authorised to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this Institutional Offering Memorandum, and if given or made, such information or representations will not be relied upon as having been authorised by Telstra, the Commonwealth, the Joint Global Coordinators or their respective affiliates, nor will any such persons have any liability or responsibility therefor.
     3. Each purchaser of instalment receipts or shares will also be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed that it has received, read and reviewed this Institutional Offering Memorandum and it agrees that it has held and will hold this Institutional Offering Memorandum in confidence, it being understood that this Institutional Offering Memorandum and any other information it receives is intended solely for it and may not be redistributed or duplicated.
     Holders of instalment receipts that elect to prepay the final instalment will be deemed to make additional representations at the time of prepayment. See “Description of the Instalment Receipts and Trust Deed — You may pre-pay the final instalment.”

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Plan of Distribution
     The Commonwealth, Telstra and the Joint Global Coordinators, acting as representatives of the initial purchasers, have entered into an international purchase agreement dated 18 November 2006, in relation to the International Offering (the “International Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the International Purchase Agreement, offers and sales of the shares in the US Offering will be made through registered broker-dealer affiliates of the initial purchasers, and offers and sales of the shares in the ROW Offering will be made through the respective selling agents of the initial purchasers. The Commonwealth and the Joint Global Coordinators have entered into a share borrow agreement dated on or about 9 October 2006 with regard to the Over-allocation Option (the “Share Borrow Agreement”).
     Subject to the terms and conditions of the International Purchase Agreement, the Commonwealth has agreed to sell to each of the initial purchasers named below, and each of the initial purchasers have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Commonwealth the respective number of shares set forth opposite its name below in connection with the US Offering:
Initial Purchasers
         
    Number of Shares
    in the US Offering
ABN AMRO Rothschild
    37,989,301  
Goldman Sachs JBWere Pty Ltd
    59,195,710  
UBS AG, Australia Branch
    9,563,866  
Daiwa Securities SMBC Europe
    0  
Citigroup Global Markets Australia Pty Ltd
    0  
Credit Suisse (Australia) Limited
    0  
JPMorgan Australia Limited
    0  
Lehman Brothers Inc.
    0  
Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited
    0  
RBC Capital Markets
    0  
Total
    106,748,877  
     Subject to the terms and conditions of the International Purchase Agreement, the Commonwealth has agreed to sell, and each of the initial purchasers have agreed, severally and not jointly, to procure purchasers for, or purchase from the Commonwealth, the respective number of shares set forth opposite its name below in connection with the ROW Offering:
Initial Purchasers
         
    Number of Shares
    in the ROW Offering
ABN AMRO Rothschild
    62,040,363  
Goldman Sachs JBWere Pty Ltd
    87,880,296  
UBS AG, Australia Branch
    91,015,126  
Daiwa Securities SMBC Europe
    120,000,000  
Citigroup Global Markets Australia Pty Ltd
    86,948  
Credit Suisse (Australia) Limited
    0  
JPMorgan Australia Limited
    0  
Lehman Brothers Inc.
    0  
Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited
    13,501  
RBC Capital Markets
    0  
Total
    361,036,234  

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     The purchase price for each share in the US Offering and the ROW Offering will be the final price. The final price of A$3.70 per share will be payable in two instalments, consisting of a first instalment of A$2.10 per share and a final instalment of A$1.60 per share.
     The International Purchase Agreement provides that the obligations of the initial purchasers are subject to certain conditions precedent. In addition, the International Purchase Agreement provides that, in the event of a default by an initial purchaser, in certain circumstances the purchase commitments of non-defaulting initial purchasers may be increased or the International Purchase Agreement may be terminated.
     Neither the instalment receipts nor the shares have been, or will be, registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state of the United States. The instalment receipts and the shares may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, US Persons, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirement of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. See “Notice to Investors”. The Institutional Offering consists of (1) the US Offering, to persons in the United States or US Persons, in each case that are reasonably believed to be QIBs, in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 144A thereunder, (2) the Australian Institutional Offering, in Australia and New Zealand to institutional investors that are not US Persons in “offshore transactions” (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act, and (3) the ROW Offering in certain countries other than the United States, Australia and New Zealand to institutional investors that are not US Persons in “offshore transactions” (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act and applicable private placement exemptions under the laws of those jurisdictions in which the ROW Offering is made. This Institutional Offering Memorandum relates to the US Offering and the ROW Offering. The POWL, which forms part of the ROW Offering, is made pursuant to a Japanese Prospectus to be lodged with the relevant Japanese regulatory authorities. The Australian Institutional Offering is made pursuant to the Australian Prospectus or the New Zealand Investment Statement, as applicable. The Retail Offering is being conducted solely in Australia and New Zealand.
     The Institutional Offering was conducted via a bookbuild process managed by the Commonwealth. The final price at which bids were accepted at the close of the bookbuild was determined by the Commonwealth, in consultation with the Joint Global Coordinators and the Commonwealth’s financial adviser, after the close of the Institutional Offering. The number of shares allocated for sale between the US Offering, the ROW Offering and the Australian Institutional Offering, and among investors in each of the US Offering, the ROW Offering and the Australian Offering, was determined by the Commonwealth, in consultation with the Joint Global Coordinators and the Commonwealth’s financial adviser.
     Under the Share Borrow Agreement, the Commonwealth has granted to the Joint Global Coordinators the Over-allotment Option, exercisable within 30 days from the date of commencement of trading of the instalment receipts on the ASX, to over-allocate up to 15% of the offer size. The Over-allotment Option may be exercised to cover over-allotments, if any, to institutional investors under the Institutional Offering. All or some portion of the Over-allotment Option in any of the US Offering or the ROW Offering may be allocated to cover over-allotments. In connection with the Global Offering, the Joint Global Coordinators may effect borrowing arrangements (including arrangements to borrow instalment receipts from the Commonwealth) in order to facilitate settlement of the instalment receipts so allocated.
     In connection with the Global Offering, the Joint Global Coordinators, or agents thereof, may purchase and sell instalment receipts in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilising transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the Joint Global Coordinators, or agents thereof, of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the US Offering and the ROW Offering. Stabilising transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market of the instalment receipts while the Global Offering is in progress.
     The Joint Global Coordinators also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular Joint Global Coordinator repays to the Joint Global Coordinators a portion of the fees received by it because the Joint Global Coordinators have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such Joint Global Coordinator in stabilising or short covering transactions.

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     Such activities may affect the market price of the instalment receipts. As a result, the price of the shares may be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of these transactions. These transactions may be effected on the ASX or NZSX and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
     The US Offering, the ROW Offering and the Australian Institutional Offering are conditioned on closing concurrently except that the International Offering may close if funds representing at least 85% of the total purchase price of the instalment receipts to be sold in the Australian Institutional Offering have been received by the Commonwealth.
     Under the International Purchase Agreement, Telstra has agreed that it will not offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares) or deposit any such securities in an ADR facility, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition, filing or deposit, except under the Global Offering, for a period of 180 days after the date of the International Purchase Agreement without the prior written consent of the Joint Global Coordinators. This lock up does not prohibit (and no consent will be required for) any offer to sell, sale, contract to sell, pledge or other disposition of, directly or indirectly, any shares by Telstra pursuant to or in connection with any employee, executive, director or agent share option or purchase plans, or any dividend reinvestment plan, that Telstra has.
     On the day that shares are transferred to the Future Fund, the Finance Minister will direct the Future Fund Board not to dispose of or agree to dispose of the Future Fund’s Telstra shares for a period of two years from the date instalment receipts are first listed on the ASX except (a) in order to satisfy demand from eligible Telstra shareholders under a Telstra initiated dividend reinvestment plan (if any); (b) as part of a Telstra capital management initiative (if any), such as a buy-back or capital reduction or (c) to a single investor, provided that (i) the disposal relates involves at least 3% of Telstra issued ordinary shares at the time of the disposal; (ii) the disposal does not take place until at least six months after the date instalment receipts are first listed on the ASX; (iii) the investor provides an acceptable undertaking for at least the balance of the escrow period; (iv) the price per share is no less than the final price payable by institutional investors; and (v) Telstra is advised prior to such disposal. After the two year lock-up period, the Future Fund Board will be required to sell down its Telstra shareholding over the medium term as directed under its investment mandate. The current Government intends that the lock-up direction will not be varied or revoked. However, a future Government may take a different approach.
     Under the International Purchase Agreement, Telstra has agreed to indemnify the several initial purchasers against certain liabilities, including liabilities incurred in the event of certain misstatements of material facts in, or omissions of material facts from, this Institutional Offering Memorandum, and may be required to contribute to any payments the Joint Global Coordinators are required to make in respect thereof. In the event that Telstra fails for any reason to indemnify the several initial purchasers against such liabilities, the Commonwealth has agreed to do so. The Commonwealth has agreed to indemnify Telstra, its directors and certain of its executives against certain liabilities that may arise as a result of their participation in the Global Offering.
     It is expected that delivery of the instalment receipts will be made against payment therefor on or about 24 November 2006, which is the fourth business day following the date hereof (such settlement cycle being hereafter referred to as “T+4”). Purchasers of instalment receipts should note that trading of the instalment receipts on the first or second day of trading may be affected by the T+4 settlement.
Interests of the Initial Purchasers
     One or more of the Joint Global Coordinators or their respective affiliates from time to time have performed investment banking and financial advisory services for Telstra and the Commonwealth and may in the future perform investment banking and financial advisory services to Telstra and the Commonwealth. Customary fees and commissions have been paid for such services in the past and would be expected to be paid for any such services in the future.
     The Commonwealth has agreed to reimburse the initial purchasers for certain of their expenses in relation the Global Offering. The Joint Global Coordinators have acted as project managers to the Commonwealth in connection with the Global Offering for which they will collectively receive a fee of A$9 million. Certain of

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the net profits, if any, accruing to the Joint Global Coordinators from stabilisation trading and/or syndicate short covering transactions (other than from exercise of the initial purchasers’ Over-allotment Option) will be paid by the Joint Global Coordinators to the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth has also agreed to pay certain of the Joint Global Coordinators’ expenses.
     The Joint Global Coordinators, the Co-Lead Managers and the Co-Manager will receive collectively a commission of 0.4% of the net present value of the total amount payable by institutional investors under the Global Offering and a further 0.04% of the amount of the first instalment representing an underwriting fee. The underwriting fee component will not apply to shares that are the subject of the Over-allotment Option and associated stock borrowing.
Restrictions on Offers and Sales
  United States
     Through their US broker-dealer affiliates, the initial purchasers have agreed to sell the instalment receipts and the shares acquired by them in the United States only to persons reasonably believed by them to be QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
     The instalment receipts and the shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold (i) in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, US Persons except to persons who are reasonably believed to be QIBs in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act in reliance upon Rule 144A under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or (ii) outside the United States except to non-US Persons in “offshore transactions” (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act and in compliance with applicable laws of the jurisdiction where the offer is made.
     The initial purchasers have agreed that they will not offer, sell or deliver the instalment receipts or the shares (i) as part of their distribution at any time, or (ii) until the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, US Persons, other than to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and they will have sent to each distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration to which they sell the instalment receipts or the shares during the Distribution Compliance Period a confirmation or other notice setting forth the restrictions on offers and sales of the instalment receipts or shares within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, US Persons. Terms used in this paragraph have the meanings given to them by the Securities Act and Regulation S thereunder.
     In addition, until 40 days after the commencement of the Global Offering, an offer or sale of the instalment receipts or shares within the United States by any dealer (whether or not participating in the Global Offering) may violate the registration requirements of the Securities Act if such offer or sale is made otherwise than in accordance with Rule 144A or another exemption from registration under the Securities Act.
  Hong Kong
     The instalment receipts and the shares may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document other than (i) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571) of Hong Kong (the “Securities and Futures Ordinance”) and any rules made under that ordinance; or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that ordinance. Further, no person shall issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the instalment receipts or the shares which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the instalment receipts or the shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that ordinance.

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  Singapore
     This Institutional Offering Memorandum has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this Institutional Offering Memorandum and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the instalment receipts or the shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the instalment receipts or the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
     Where the instalment receipts or the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is:
     (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or
     (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,
shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the instalment receipts or the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 except:
     (1) to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA;
     (2) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or
     (3) where the transfer is by operation of law.
  European Economic Area
     In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), each initial purchaser represents and agrees that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make an offer of instalment receipts or shares to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the instalment receipts or the shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of instalment receipts and the shares to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:
     (a) to legal entities which are authorised or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorised or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;
     (b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than EUR43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than EUR50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or
     (c) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

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     For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of Shares to the public” in relation to any instalment receipts or shares in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the instalment receipts and the shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase the instalment receipts or the shares, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
  United Kingdom
     This Institutional Offering Memorandum is for distribution only to persons who (i) are outside the United Kingdom, or (ii) have professional experience in matters relating to investments, or (iii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any instalment receipts or any shares may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This Institutional Offering Memorandum is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this Institutional Offering Memorandum relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.
  France
     Neither this Institutional Offering Memorandum nor any other offering material relating to the instalment receipts or the shares has been prepared in the context of a public offer of securities in the Republic of France within the meaning of Article L.411-1 of the French Financial and Monetary Code (Code monétaire et financier) and articles 211-1 et seq. of the General Regulations (Règlement Général) of the Autorité des marchés financiers and has therefore not been and will not be submitted to the clearance procedures of the Autorité des marchés financiers in France or the competent authority of another member state of the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des marchés financiers.
     Neither the instalment receipts nor the shares have been offered, sold or otherwise transferred and will not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, to the public in the Republic of France. Neither this Institutional Offering Memorandum nor any other offering material relating to the instalment receipts or the shares has been or will be (i) released, issued, distributed or caused to be released, issued or distributed to the public in the Republic of France or (ii) used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of the instalment receipts or the shares to the public in the Republic of France other than to investors to whom offers, sales or other transfers of the instalment receipts or the shares in the Republic of France may be made as described below.
     Such offers, sales or other transfers of the instalment receipts or the 8shares in the Republic of France will be made in accordance with Article L.411-2 of the French Code monétaire et financier only (i) to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) and/or to a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs), in each case, and except as otherwise stated under French laws and regulations, investing for their own account, all as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2, D.411-1 to D.411-4, D.734-1, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Code monétaire et financier and/or (ii) to persons providing portfolio management investment services on behalf of third parties, or (iii) in a transaction that, in accordance with Article L.411-2-II-1o -or-2o -or 3o of the French Code monétaire et financier and article 211-2 of the General Regulations of the Autorité des marchés financiers, does not constitute a public offer (appel public à l’épargne), in each case in compliance with Articles L.341-1 to L.341-17 of the French Code monétaire et financier. Such shares may be resold directly or indirectly only in compliance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1, L.621-8 through L.621-8-3 and L.341-1 to L.341-17 of the French Code monétaire et financier.

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  Germany
     The instalment receipts and the shares have not been admitted to trading on a German stock exchange and no sales prospectus has been published with regard to the offer of instalment receipts or shares in Germany. Accordingly, the instalment receipts and the shares may not be offered or sold in Germany to the public by means of this Institutional Offering Memorandum or otherwise, either directly or indirectly, except to qualified investors pursuant to para. 3 section 2 no. 1, para. 2 section 6 WpPG, or pursuant to any other exemption under the German Securities Prospectus Act. Neither this Institutional Offering Memorandum, nor any other document issued in connection with the offer or sale of the instalment receipts and the shares, may be issued or distributed to any person in Germany except under circumstance which do not constitute an offer to the public pursuant the German Securities Sales Prospectus Act.
  Italy
     The Offering in the Republic of Italy (“Italy”) has not been registered with the Commissione Nazionale per le Societá e la Borsa (“CONSOB”) (the Italian securities and exchange commission) pursuant to Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, neither the instalment receipts nor the shares can be offered, sold or delivered in Italy nor may any copy of this Institutional Offering Memorandum or any other document relating to the instalment receipts or the shares be distributed in Italy in a solicitation to the public at large (sollecitazione all’investimento) and, therefore, they shall only be:
     (a) offered or sold to professional investors (operatori qualificati) within the meaning of Article 30, second paragraph, and Article 100(a) of Legislative Decree No 58 of 24 February 1998 (the “Financial Services Act”) and as defined in Articles 25 and 31, second paragraph, of CONSOB Regulation No 11522 of 1 July 1998 (the “Regulation No 11522”), as amended; or
     (b) offered or sold in circumstances where an exemption from the rules governing solicitations to the public at large applies, pursuant to Article 100 of the Financial Services Act and Article 33, first paragraph, of CONSOB Regulation No 11971 of 14 May 1999 (the “Regulation No 11971”), as amended.
     Any offer, sale or delivery of the instalment receipts or the shares or distribution of copies of this Institutional Offering Memorandum or any other document relating to the instalment receipts or the shares in Italy must be made (a) by investment firms (as defined in the Financial Services Act), banks or financial intermediaries enrolled in the special register provided for by Article 107 of Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended (the “Banking Act”) to the extent such entities are permitted to engage in the placement and/or purchase of financial instruments in Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, the Italian Banking Act, the Regulation No 11522, the Regulation No 11971 and any other applicable laws and regulations; (b) in compliance with Article 129 of the Banking Act and the implementing guidelines of the Bank of Italy, pursuant to which the issue or the offer of shares in Italy may need to be preceded and followed by an appropriate notice to be filed with the Bank of Italy depending, inter alia, on the aggregate value of the securities issued or offered in Italy and their characteristics, and (c) in compliance with any other applicable laws and regulations and other possible requirements or limitations which may be imposed by Italian authorities.
     Insofar as the requirements above are based on laws that are superseded at any time pursuant to the implementation of the Directive 2003/71/EC (the Prospectus Directive), such requirements shall be deemed to be automatically replaced by the applicable requirements under the Prospectus Directive.
  Switzerland
     This Institutional Offering Memorandum does not constitute an issue prospectus pursuant to Article 652a of the Swiss Code of Obligations. The instalment receipts and the shares will not be listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange and, thus, this Institutional Offering Memorandum may not comply with the disclosure standards of the listing rules of the SWX Swiss Exchange. This Institutional Offering Memorandum is being communicated in Switzerland only to a selected and limited circle of institutional investors which do not subscribe to the instalment receipts or the shares with a view to distribution. Investors will be individually approached by the syndicate members from time to time. This Institutional Offering Memorandum is personal to each offeree and does not

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constitute an offer to any other person. This Institutional Offering Memorandum may only be used by those persons to whom it has been handed out in connection with the Institutional Offer described herein and may neither be copied nor directly or indirectly distributed or made available to other persons without express consent of the issuer and the selling shareholder.
  Canada
     Neither the instalment receipts nor the shares will be sold in Canada or to residents of Canada other than in compliance with applicable securities laws (“Canadian Securities Laws”). Without limiting the foregoing, offers and sales of the instalment receipts or the shares included in the Global Offering in Canada or to residents of Canada may be made only (i) through an appropriately registered securities dealer or in accordance with an available exemption from the applicable registered securities dealer requirements under the Canadian Securities Laws and (ii) pursuant to an exemption from the prospectus requirements under Canadian Securities Laws.
  Japan
     A public offering without a listing of the instalment receipts or shares will be made in Japan under a Japanese Prospectus lodged with the relevant Japanese regulatory authorities. No instalment receipts or shares have been or will be offered or sold directly or indirectly in Japan or to or for the account of any resident of Japan, except in accordance with the terms and conditions of a public offering without listing of the instalment receipts or shares in Japan, as stated in the securities notice filed on 27 October 2006 as amended, with the Japanese authority under, or pursuant to any exemption from the registration requirements of, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and otherwise in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations of Japan. Each initial purchaser will send any dealer who purchases from it any instalment receipts a notice stating in substance that, by purchasing such instalment receipts, the dealer represents and agrees that it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, any instalment receipts or shares, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the account of any resident thereof, except in accordance with the terms and conditions of the public offering without a listing of the instalment receipts or shares in Japan, as stated in the securities notice filed on 27 October 2006 as amended, with the Japanese authority under, or pursuant to any exemption from the registration requirements of, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and otherwise in compliance with applicable provisions of Japanese law, and that such dealer will send to any other dealer to whom it sells any of such instalment receipts or shares a notice containing substantially the same statement as is contained in this sentence. As used in this paragraph, “resident of Japan” means any person residing in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan. Each Syndicate Member has also acknowledged that it may not conduct marketing activities in Japan.
  Ireland
     The issue of this Institutional Offering Memorandum in Ireland has not been authorised by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority in Ireland. The Institutional Offering Memorandum does not constitute an offer for sale of the instalment receipts or the shares to the public within the meaning of the Unit Trusts Act 1990. The Institutional Offering Memorandum may not be distributed to the public in Ireland and an Irish recipient of the Institutional Offering Memorandum may not in any way forward the Institutional Offering Memorandum to the public in Ireland.
  Netherlands
     This Institutional Offering Memorandum has not been submitted to the Autoriteit Financiële Markten for approval pursuant to the Dutch Securities Act (Wet toezicht effectenverkeer 1995). Accordingly, the instalment receipts and the shares have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold to the public in the Netherlands, other than to individuals and legal entities who or which qualify as professional market parties within the meaning of Section 1a(3) of the Exemption Regulation, which was promulgated pursuant to this Act (Vrijstellingsregeling Wet toezicht effectenverkeer 1995).

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  Other jurisdictions
     The instalment receipts and the shares may not be offered or sold in any other jurisdiction by means of this Institutional Offering Memorandum or otherwise, except to persons to whom such offer, sale or distribution is permitted under applicable law.
     No action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction that would permit a public offering of the instalment receipts or the shares (other than in Australia, New Zealand and Japan), or possession or distribution of this Institutional Offering Memorandum or any other offering material in any country or jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Offers and sales to eligible institutional investors in Australia, New Zealand and Japan will only be made pursuant to an Australian prospectus, a New Zealand investment statement and a Japanese prospectus, respectively. Accordingly, neither the instalment receipts nor the shares may be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this Institutional Offering Memorandum nor any other offering material or advertisement in connection with instalment receipts and the shares may be distributed or published in or from any country or jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with any and all applicable rules and regulations of any such country or jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this document comes should inform themselves about and observe any restrictions on the distribution of this document and the offer, subscription and sale of instalment receipts and the shares, including those in the paragraphs below. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This Institutional Offering Memorandum does not constitute an offer to subscribe for or buy any of the instalment receipts or the shares offered hereby to any person in any jurisdiction to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

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Validity of Securities
     The validity of the shares will be passed upon for us by Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Melbourne, Australia; for the Commonwealth by Freehills, Sydney, Australia; and for the initial purchasers by Allens Arthur Robinson, Sydney, Australia. As to certain matters of United States federal law and New York law, we are represented by Sullivan & Cromwell, Melbourne, Australia; the Commonwealth is represented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Sydney, Australia; and the initial purchasers are represented by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman (International), Sydney, Australia.
Independent Auditors
     Our audited consolidated financial statements as at 30 June 2006 and 2005 and for each of the two years in the period ended 30 June 2006 included in this Institutional Offering Memorandum have been so included in reliance on the report of Ernst & Young, independent accountants, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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Glossary
     
1xRTT:
  (One Times Radio Transmission Technology) a 3G development of CDMA technology for
 
  high speed packet switched data
 
   
2.5G:
  technology designed to expand the bandwidth and data handling capacity of existing
 
  mobile telephony systems such as GSM using GPRS
 
   
3G:
  third generation technology designed to further expand the bandwidth and functionality of
 
  existing mobile telephony systems beyond 2.5G
 
   
A$:
  Australian Dollars
 
   
ACCC:
  Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
 
   
ACIF:
  Australian Communications Industry Forum
 
   
ACMA:
  Australian Communications and Media Authority
 
   
ACT:
  Australian Capital Territory
 
   
ADR:
  American Depositary Receipt
 
   
ADS:
  American Depositary Share
 
   
ADSL:
  (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) a technology for transmitting digital information at a
high bandwidth on existing phone lines
 
   
AGM:
  Telstra Annual General Meeting
 
   
A-IFRS:
  Australian accounting standards equivalent to International Financial Reporting Standards
 
   
ARPANSA:
  (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency) a Commonwealth agency responsible for protecting the health and safety of people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation
 
   
ARPU:
  average revenue per user
 
   
ASX:
  Australian Stock Exchange Limited
 
   
ATM:
  (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) a high bandwidth, low delay technology for transmitting voice, data and video signals
 
   
AUSTAR:
  Austar United Communications Limited
 
   
Australian
   
Offering:
  refer to the cover page of this Institutional Offering Memorandum
 
   
Bandwidth:
  the capacity of a communication link
 
   
Broadband
   
network:
  a network to support subscription television and online services
 
   
Carriage service
   
provider:
  a supplier of a telecommunications services to the public using Carrier network infrastructure
 
   
Carrier:
  a licenced owner of certain specified transmission infrastructure that is used to supply telecommunications carriage services to the public; any person holding a carrier licence
 
   
CDMA:
  (Code Division Multiple Access) a mobile telephone system based on digital transmission
 
   
Churn:
  (where expressed as a rate) the rate at which subscribers to a service disconnect from the service, which is usually expressed as total disconnects for a period divided by the average number of customers for that period
 
   
Churn:
  (where expressed as an activity) the transfer of a customer’s telecommunications service from one supplier to another — in the case of a transfer involving a resale arrangement, no disconnection occurs and a churn relates to a change in the legal entity responsible for a telecommunications service or account
 
   
CGT:
  Australian capital gains tax
 
   
CN:
  Converged Networks Group

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Code:
  the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
 
   
Communications
   
Minister:
  the Commonwealth Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
 
   
Commonwealth:
  the Commonwealth of Australia
 
   
CONSOB:
  Commissione Nazionale per le Societá e la Borsa
 
   
Corporations Act
   
and Australian
   
Corporations
   
Act:
  Corporations Act 2001 (Cwth)
 
   
CPE:
  customer premises equipment
 
   
CRM:
  customer relationship management
 
   
CSG:
  customer service guarantee
 
   
CSL:
  Hong Kong CSL Limited
 
   
CSL New World:
  CSL New World Mobility Group
 
   
CSP:
  carriage service providers
 
   
CustomNet®:
  a fully managed telephone system with a premium voice communication application that delivers cost effective and flexible solutions for enterprises with up to 50,000 employees
 
   
DAR:
  Telstra Wholesale Data Access Radial
 
   
DDN:
  digital data network
 
   
DDS:
  digital data service
 
   
DDSO:
  digital data service obligation
 
   
Declared
   
Services:
  a particular telecommunications service, or other service that facilitates the supply of services, that is subject to the regulated access regime — the ACCC has the responsibility for determining declared services, based on public inquiries
 
   
DSL:
  digital subscriber line
 
   
DVN:
  Digital Video Network
 
   
DWHT:
  dividend withholding tax
 
   
e-commerce:
  e-commerce includes buying and selling electronically over a network
 
   
EFTPOS:
  electronic funds transfer at point of sale
 
   
EME:
  electromagnetic energy
 
   
EPG:
  electronic program guide
 
   
EVDO:
  (Evolution Data Optimised) additional service for mobiles supporting high speed packet
data transmission
 
   
FASTER:
  Fully Automated Screen Trading and Electronic Registration System
 
   
FIN:
  FASTER Identification Number
 
   
Finance
   
Minister:
  The Minister for Finance and Administration
 
   
Frame relay:
  a packet switching technology for voice, data and video signals which uses packets of varying length, or frames that can be used with any data protocol
 
   
FTTN:
  (Fibre to the Node) an access infrastructure that brings fibre close to the customer with the last few hundred metres to the customer premises being fed by copper and delivers telephony, broadband data and potentially television services to customer premises
 
   
Gbps:
  gigabyte per second
 
   
Global Offering:
  refer to the cover page of this Intitutional Offering Memorandum

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GPRS:
  (General Packet Radio Service) a service that will allow compatible mobile phones and mobile data devices to access Internet and other data networks on a packet basis and remain connected to the net and send or receive data information and email at any time
 
   
GSM:
  (Global System for Mobile Communications) a mobile telephone system based on digital transmission
 
   
HFC:
  hybrid-fibre coaxial
 
   
HIN:
  holder identification number
 
   
HSDPA:
  high speed downlink packet access
 
   
IASB:
  International Accounting Standards Board
 
   
ICT:
  information and communication technology
 
   
IN:
  intelligent network
 
   
Initial Allocation
   
Benefit:
  refer to “Summary Overview — The Global Offering — Initial Allocation Benefit”
 
   
Institutional
   
Offering:
  refer to the cover page of this Intitutional Offering Memorandum
 
   
INP:
  inbound number portability
 
   
International
   
Offering:
  refer to the cover page of this Institutional Offering Memorandum
 
   
International
   
Purchase
   
Agreement:
  refer to “Plan of Distribution”
 
   
IP:
  internet protocol
 
   
IPND:
  Integrated Public Number Database
 
   
IPMAN:
  IP Metropolitan Area Network
 
   
IP/MPLS:
  Internet Protocol / Multiprotocol Label Switching
 
   
IP-VPN:
  Internet protocol virtual private network
 
   
ISDN:
  (Integrated Services Digital Network) a digital service providing switched and dedicated integrated access to voice, data and video
 
   
ISP:
  (Internet Service Provider) an Internet service provider provides the link between an end user and the Internet by means of a dial-up or broadband service is likely to provide help desk, web hosting and email services to the end user and ISP may connect to the Internet via their own backbone or via services acquired from an Internet access provider
 
   
LCS:
  local carriage services
 
   
LTIs:
  lost-time injuries
 
   
MAN:
  metropolitan area network
 
   
MCF:
  Mobile Carriers Forum
 
   
MPLS:
  multi-protocol label switching
 
   
MTAS:
  mobile terminating access service
 
   
NEXT GTM
   
wireless network:
  our recently launched 3GSM 850Mhz national wireless broadband network
 
   
News
   
Corporation:
  The News Corporation Limited

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New Zealand
   
Investment
   
Statement:
  the investment statement in terms of the Securities Act 1978 (NZ) under which the New Zealand offer will be made
 
   
NGN:
  next-generation network
 
   
Number
   
portability:
  the ability of end users to keep their telephone number when they change their telephone service provider
 
   
NYSE:
  New York Stock Exchange
 
   
NZSX:
  the main board equity security market operated by the NZX
 
   
NZX:
  New Zealand Exchange Limited
 
   
OCMF:
  Online Customer Management Facility
 
   
OTA:
  PSTN originating and terminating access
 
   
PBL:
  Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd
 
   
PDR:
  personal digital recorder
 
   
Preselection:
  the ability of a customer to choose a service provider to provide a basket of services including national and international long distance and fixed-to-mobile services which is on a “permanent” basis when the customer selects a provider for all calls placed without an override code
 
   
POWL:
  Refer to the cover page of this Institutional Offering Memorandum
 
   
PSTN:
  (Public Switched Telephone Network) our national fixed network delivering basic and enhanced telephone service
 
   
QIB:
  qualified institutional buyer as defined in Rule 144A
 
   
RDN:
  routed data network
 
   
REACH:
  Reach Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture with PCCW Limited
 
   
Regulation S:
  Regulation S under the US Securities Act of 1933
 
   
Relevant Stock
   
Exchange:
  refer “Summary Overview — The Global Offering — Australian stamp duty”
 
   
Reseller:
  providers of telecommunications services who are not carriers
 
   
Retail Offering:
  refer to the cover page of this Institutional Offering Memorandum
 
   
RMRC:
  retail minus retail costs
 
   
ROW Offering:
  refer to the cover page of this Institutional Offering Memorandum
 
   
Rule 144A:
  Rule 144A under the Securities Act
 
   
SDH:
  synchronous digital hierarchy
 
   
SDN:
  switched data network
 
   
SEATS:
  Stock Exchange Automated Trading System
 
   
SEC:
  US Securities and Exchange Commission
 
   
Securities Act:
  US Securities Act of 1933, as amended
 
   
Seven:
  Seven Network Limited and C7 Pty Limited
 
   
SIO:
  services in operation
 
   
SME:
  small and medium enterprises
 
   
SMS:
  short messaging service
 
   
SPAN:
  Service Providers Association Incorporated
 
   
SRN:
  security holder reference number

213


 

     
SSS:
  spectrum sharing service
 
   
Telecommunica-
   
tions Act:
  Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cwth)
 
   
Telstra or Telstra
   
Group:
  Telstra Corporation Limited and its controlled entities as a whole
 
   
Telstra Act:
  Telstra Corporation Act 1991 (Cwth)
 
   
TelstraClear:
  TelstraClear Limited, the second largest full service service carrier in New Zealand
 
   
Telstra Entity:
  Telstra Corporation Limited
 
   
TLS:
  the trading symbol for shares quoted on the ASX and the NZSX
 
   
TPA:
  Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cwth)
 
   
TSLRIC:
  total service long run incremental cost
 
   
TTY:
  Teletypwriter
 
   
ULLS:
  (Unconditioned Local Loop service) one or more twisted copper pairs between the exchange and the network boundary at a customer’s premises
 
   
US:
  United States of America
 
   
US$:
  US Dollars
 
   
US-GAAP:
  generally accepted accounting principles in the US
 
   
USO:
  (Universal Service Obligation) obligation imposed on carriers to ensure that standard telecommunications services are reasonably available to all persons in the universal service area
 
   
US Offering:
  refer to the cover page of this Institutional Offering Memorandum
 
   
US Person:
  U.S. person as defined under Regulation S
 
   
VoDSL:
  voice over DSL
 
   
VoIP:
  voice over internet protocol
 
   
VPN:
  virtual private network
 
   
WAN:
  wide area network
 
   
WAP:
  wireless application protocol
 
   
WHO:
  World Health Organisation
 
   
Wireless Local
   
Loop:
  a range of radio technologies used to provide fixed access to customers in lieu of copper
 
   
WLR:
  wholesale line rental

214


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Australian Business Number (ABN): 33 051 775 556
         
    Page  
    Number  
Independent Audit Report
    F-2  
 
       
Financial Statements for the years 30 June 2006 and 2005
       
Income Statement
    F-3  
Balance Sheet
    F-4  
Statement of Recognised Income and Expense
    F-5  
Statement of Cash Flows
    F-6  
Notes to the Financial Statements
    F-7  
Directors’ Declaration
    F-204  

F-1


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Telstra Corporation Limited
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Telstra Corporation Limited and its controlled entities (the Telstra Group) and the unconsolidated balance sheets of Telstra Corporation Limited (the Telstra Entity) as of 30 June 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated and unconsolidated statements of income, recognised income and expense and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended 30 June 2006. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Telstra Group’s and the Telstra Entity’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Telstra Group’s or the Telstra Entity’s internal controls over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Telstra Group’s or the Telstra Entity’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Telstra Corporation Limited and its controlled entities and the unconsolidated financial position of Telstra Corporation Limited at 30 June 2006 and 2005 and the related consolidated and unconsolidated results of their operations and their cashflows for each of the two years in the period ended 30 June 2006, in conformity with Australian Accounting Standards.
Australian Accounting Standards vary in certain significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Information relating to the nature and effect of such differences is presented in note 37 to the financial statements.
-s- Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Melbourne, Australia
Date: 10 August 2006

F-2


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Income Statement
for the year ended 30 June 2006
                                                 
  Telstra Group   Telstra Entity
            Year ended 30 June   Year ended 30 June
            2006     2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     US$m     $m       $m     $m  
Income
                                               
Revenue (excluding finance income)
    6       22,772       16,904       22,181       20,485       19,831  
Other income
    6       328       243       261       163       133  
                 
 
            23,100       17,147       22,442       20,648       19,964  
                 
Expenses
                                               
Labour
    7       4,364       3,239       3,858       3,483       3,082  
Goods and services purchased
    7       4,730       3,511       4,211       3,305       2,958  
Other expenses
    7       4,427       3,286       3,815       4,562       3,478  
                 
 
            13,521       10,036       11,884       11,350       9,518  
 
                                               
Share of net (gain)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities
    30       (5 )     (4 )     94              
                 
 
            13,516       10,032       11,978       11,350       9,518  
                 
 
                                               
Earnings before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
            9,584       7,115       10,464       9,298       10,446  
Depreciation and amortisation
    7       4,087       3,034       3,529       3,657       3,206  
                 
Earnings before interest and income tax expense (EBIT)
            5,497       4,081       6,935       5,641       7,240  
                 
 
                                               
Finance income
    6       66       49       83       63       101  
Finance costs
    7       1,002       744       963       985       943  
                 
Net finance costs
            936       695       880       922       842  
                 
 
                                               
Profit before income tax expense
            4,561       3,386       6,055       4,719       6,398  
 
                                               
Income tax expense
    9       1,380       1,024       1,746       1,482       1,882  
 
                 
Profit for the year
            3,181       2,362       4,309       3,237       4,516  
                 
 
                                               
Earnings per share (cents per share)
          cents   US cents   cents                
                             
Basic
    3       25.7       19.0       34.7                  
Diluted
    3       25.7       19.0       34.6                  
                             
 
                                               
Total dividends declared (cents per share)
    4       34.0       25.0       40.0                  
                             
The notes following the financial statements form part of the financial report.

F-3


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Balance Sheet
as at 30 June 2006
                                                 
            Telstra Group   Telstra Entity
            As at 30 June   As at 30 June
            2006     2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     US$m     $m     $m     $m  
Current assets
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
    10       689       511       1,548       474       1,368  
Trade and other receivables
    11       3,701       2,747       3,549       3,344       3,538  
Inventories
    12       224       166       232       175       194  
Derivative financial assets
    16       21       16       4       21       4  
Prepayments
            244       181       249       172       173  
                 
Total current assets
            4,879       3,621       5,582       4,186       5,277  
                 
Non current assets
                                               
Trade and other receivables
    11       87       65       97       127       115  
Inventories
    12       20       15       15       20       15  
Investments — accounted for using the equity method
    13       23       17       48       18       41  
Investments — other
    13                         5,953       6,136  
Property, plant and equipment
    14       23,622       17,535       22,891       21,765       21,223  
Intangibles
    15       6,123       4,545       6,329       2,465       2,751  
Deferred tax assets
    9       1       1       2              
Derivative financial assets
    16       391       290             391        
Defined benefit assets
    28       1,029       764       247       1,004       242  
                 
Total non current assets
            31,296       23,232       29,629       31,743       30,523  
                 
Total assets
            36,175       26,853       35,211       35,929       35,800  
                 
 
                                               
Current liabilities
                                               
Trade and other payables
    17       3,570       2,650       2,807       3,065       1,956  
Borrowings
    18       1,969       1,462       1,507       3,374       3,892  
Current tax liabilities
            428       318       534       400       519  
Provisions
    19       737       547       421       679       356  
Derivative financial liabilities
    20       12       9       11       12       11  
Revenue received in advance
            1,170       868       1,132       919       912  
                 
Total current liabilities
            7,886       5,854       6,412       8,449       7,646  
                 
Non current liabilities
                                               
Trade and other payables
    17       197       146       250       65       61  
Borrowings
    18       11,409       8,469       10,941       11,376       10,907  
Deferred tax liabilities
    9       1,704       1,265       1,804       1,832       1,961  
Provisions
    19       974       723       894       924       837  
Derivative financial liabilities
    20       768       570       864       768       864  
Revenue received in advance
            405       301       388       400       381  
                 
Total non current liabilities
            15,457       11,474       15,141       15,365       15,011  
                 
Total liabilities
            23,343       17,328       21,553       23,814       22,657  
                 
Net assets
            12,832       9,525       13,658       12,115       13,143  
                 
Equity
                                               
Share capital
    21       5,569       4,134       5,536       5,569       5,536  
Reserves
    22       (160 )     (119 )     (153 )     210       194  
Retained profits
    23       7,177       5,327       8,273       6,336       7,413  
                 
Equity available to Telstra Entity shareholders
            12,586       9,342       13,656       12,115       13,143  
Minority interests
    23       246       183       2              
                 
Total equity
            12,832       9,525       13,658       12,115       13,143  
                 
The notes following the financial statements form part of the financial report.

F-4


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Statement of Recognised Income and Expense
for the year ended 30 June 2006
                                         
    Telstra Group   Telstra Entity
    Year ended 30 June   Year ended 30 June
    2006     2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     US$m     $m     $m     $m  
Foreign currency translation reserve
                                       
Equity accounting our interest in jointly controlled and associated entities
    1       1       (2 )            
Translation of financial statements of non-Australian controlled entities
    (36 )     (27 )     (193 )            
 
                                       
Cash flow hedging reserve
                                       
Net hedging gains recognised directly in equity
    327       243             327        
Net hedging gains removed from equity and included in profit for the year
    (420 )     (312 )           (421 )      
 
                                       
General reserve
                                       
Equity accounting our interest in jointly controlled and associated entities
                5              
 
                                       
Retained profits
                                       
Actuarial gain/(loss) on our defined benefit plans
    958       711       (90 )     945       (85 )
         
 
    830       616       (280 )     851       (85 )
Income tax on equity items
    (256 )     (190 )     24       (256 )     24  
         
Net income/(expense) recognised directly in equity
    574       426       (256 )     595       (61 )
Profit for the year
    3,181       2,362       4,309       3,237       4,516  
         
Total recognised income for the year
    3,755       2,788       4,053       3,832       4,455  
         
 
                                       
         
Effects of changes in accounting policy attributable to Telstra Entity
    74       55       1,223       77       737  
         
The notes following the financial statements form part of the financial report.

F-5


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 30 June 2006
                                                 
            Telstra Group   Telstra Entity
            Year ended 30 June   Year ended 30 June
            2006     2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     US$m     $m     $m     $m  
Cash flows from operating activities
                                               
Receipts from customers (inclusive of goods and services tax (GST))
            25,229       18,779       24,526       21,928       21,343  
Payments to suppliers and to employees (inclusive of GST)
            (14,785 )     (11,026 )     (13,848 )     (11,754 )     (11,079 )
                 
Net cash generated by operations
            10,444       7,753       10,678       10,174       10,264  
Income taxes paid
            (1,882 )     (1,397 )     (1,718 )     (1,863 )     (1,712 )
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    24       8,562       6,356       8,960       8,311       8,552  
                 
 
                                               
Cash flows from investing activities
                                               
Payments for:
                                               
- property, plant and equipment
            (3,636 )     (2,699 )     (2,995 )     (3,483 )     (2,715 )
- intangibles
            (619 )     (459 )     (544 )     (502 )     (460 )
                 
Capital expenditure (before investments)
            (4,255 )     (3,158 )     (3,539 )     (3,985 )     (3,175 )
- shares in controlled entities (net of cash acquired)
    24       (43 )     (32 )     (573 )     (27 )     (28 )
- payments for other investments
            (5 )     (4 )     (17 )           (6 )
                 
Total capital expenditure
            (4,303 )     (3,194 )     (4,129 )     (4,012 )     (3,209 )
Proceeds from:
                                               
- sale of property, plant and equipment
            50       37       68       72       79  
- sale of shares in controlled entities
            4       3                    
- sale of other investments
            89       66       176       89       164  
Net proceeds from CSL New World Mobility merger
    24       42       31                    
Issue of additional shares by controlled entities
            6       4                    
Redemption of PCCW converting note
                        76             76  
Proceeds from share buy-back by jointly controlled and associated entities
            34       25             34        
Loan to jointly controlled and associated entities
                        (37 )            
Interest received
            66       49       78       63       79  
Dividends received
                        2             1  
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
            (4,012 )     (2,979 )     (3,766 )     (3,754 )     (2,810 )
                 
Operating cash flows less investing cash flows
            4,550       3,377       5,194       4,557       5,742  
                 
 
                                               
Cash flows from financing activities
                                               
Proceeds from borrowings
            8,641       6,413       6,433       8,680       6,611  
Proceeds from Telstra bonds
                        983             983  
Repayment of borrowings
            (7,624 )     (5,659 )     (5,735 )     (7,703 )     (6,478 )
Repayment of Telstra bonds
            (517 )     (384 )     (272 )     (517 )     (272 )
Repayment of finance lease principal amounts
            (7 )     (5 )     (16 )     (6 )     (11 )
Staff repayments of share loans
            24       18       19       24       19  
Purchase of shares for employee share plans
    21       (6 )     (4 )           (6 )      
Finance costs paid
            (940 )     (698 )     (879 )     (953 )     (892 )
Dividends paid
    4       (4,970 )     (3,689 )     (4,124 )     (4,970 )     (4,124 )
Share buy-back
    21                   (756 )           (756 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities
            (5,399 )     (4,008 )     (4,347 )     (5,451 )     (4,920 )
                 
 
                                               
Net increase/(decrease) in cash
            (849 )     (631 )     847       (894 )     822  
Foreign currency translation on opening balances
            4       3       (3 )            
Cash at the beginning of the year
            1,534       1,139       690       1,368       546  
                 
Cash at the end of the year
    24       689       511       1,534       474       1,368  
                 
The notes following the financial statements form part of the financial report.

F-6


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. Basis of preparation
In this financial report, we, us, our, Telstra and the Telstra Group — all mean Telstra Corporation Limited, an Australian corporation and its controlled entities as a whole. Telstra Entity is the legal entity, Telstra Corporation Limited.
Our financial or fiscal year ends on 30 June. Unless we state differently the following applies;
  year, fiscal year or financial year means the year ended 30 June;
 
  balance date means the date 30 June; and
 
  2006 means fiscal 2006 and similarly for other fiscal years.
The financial report of the Telstra Group and the Telstra Entity for the year ended 30 June 2006 was authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the Telstra Board of Directors on 10 August 2006.
The principal accounting policies used in preparing the financial report of the Telstra Group and the Telstra Entity are listed in note 2 to our financial statements.
1.1 Basis of preparation of the financial report
This financial report is a general purpose financial report prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Australian Corporations Act 2001 and Accounting Standards applicable in Australia.
Both the functional and presentation currency of the Telstra Entity and its Australian controlled entities is Australian dollars. The functional currency of certain non Australian controlled entities is not Australian dollars. As a result, the results of these entities are translated to Australian dollars for presentation in the Telstra Group financial report.
This financial report is prepared in accordance with historical cost, except for some categories of investments, which are equity accounted and some financial assets and liabilities (including derivative instruments) which are recorded at fair value. Cost is the fair value of the consideration given in exchange for net assets acquired.
In preparing this financial report, we are required to make judgements and estimates that impact:
  income and expenses for the year;
 
  the reported amounts of assets and liabilities; and
 
  the disclosure of off balance sheet arrangements, including contingent assets and contingent liabilities.
We continually evaluate our judgements and estimates. We base our judgements and estimates on historical experience, various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances and, where appropriate, practices adopted by international telecommunications companies.
Actual results may differ from our estimates in the event that the scenarios on which our judgements are based prove to be different.
1.2 Statement of compliance
This financial report complies with Accounting Standards applicable in Australia, which include Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (A-IFRS). Compliance with A-IFRS ensures that the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity financial statements and notes comply with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The financial statements of Telstra Entity are considered separate financial statements.
This is our first full year financial report prepared in accordance with A-IFRS. AASB 1: “First time adoption of Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards” (AASB 1) has been applied in preparing this financial report. Our financial reports up to 30 June 2005 had been prepared in accordance with previous Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (AGAAP). AGAAP differs in certain respects from A-IFRS.
When preparing this financial report we have amended certain accounting and valuation methods applied in the previous AGAAP financial statements to comply with A-IFRS. With the exception of financial instruments, the comparative figures were restated to reflect these adjustments. We have taken the exemption available under AASB 1 to only apply AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” (AASB 132) and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (AASB 139), from 1 July 2005. In addition, we have elected to early adopt AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures”, which supersedes the disclosure requirements of AASB 132.
Reconciliations and descriptions of the impact of the transition to A-IFRS on the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity’s income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flow are provided in note 36.
1.3 Clarification of terminology used in our income statement
Under the requirements of AASB 101: “Presentation of Financial Statements”, we must classify all of our expenses (apart from any finance costs and our share of net (gain)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities) according to either the nature (type) of the expense or the function (activity to which the expense relates). We have chosen to classify our expenses using the nature classification as it more accurately reflects the type of operations we undertake.

F-7


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
1. Basis of preparation (continued)
1.3 Clarification of terminology used in our income statement (continued)
Earnings before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) reflects our profit for the year prior to including the effect of net finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortisation. We believe that EBITDA is a relevant and useful financial measure used by management to measure the company’s operating profit.
Our management uses EBITDA, in combination with other financial measures, primarily to evaluate the company’s operating performance before financing costs, income tax and non-cash capital related expenses. In consideration of the capital intensive nature of our business, EBITDA is a useful supplement to net income in understanding cash flows generated from operations that are available for payment of income taxes, debt service and capital expenditure.
In addition, we believe EBITDA is useful to investors because analysts and other members of the investment community largely view EBITDA as a key and widely recognised measure of operating performance.
Earnings before interest and income tax expense (EBIT) is a similar measure to EBITDA, but takes into account the effect of depreciation and amortisation.
When a specific item from continuing operations is of such a size, nature or incidence that its disclosure is relevant in explaining our operating performance for the reporting period, its nature and amount is disclosed separately in note 7(b).
1.4 Adoption of accounting standards before their application date
Certain new accounting standards and Urgent Issues Group (UIG) interpretations have been issued with an application date after the year ended 30 June 2006. As a result, these accounting standards and UIG interpretations are not mandatory for adoption in our financial report for the year ended 30 June 2006.
Under subsection 334(5) of the Corporations Act 2001, we elected to early adopt the following accounting standards before the application date:
  AASB 119: “Employee Benefits (issued December 2004)”(AASB 119); and
 
  AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures” (AASB 7).
Due to the early adoption of the revised AASB 119, we also elected to adopt the related omnibus accounting standard, AASB 2005-3: “Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards”. Our comparatives for the year ended 30 June 2005 were fully restated for these accounting standards in accordance with AASB 1.
Due to the early adoption of AASB 7, we also elected to adopt the related omnibus accounting standard, AASB 2005-10: “Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards”. We have taken the exemption available under AASB 1 to only apply these standards from 1 July 2005.
1.5 United States generally accepted accounting principles (USGAAP)
This financial report combines the disclosure requirements for both A-IFRS and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (USGAAP). Note 37 contains a reconciliation of the major differences between our financial report prepared under A-IFRS and USGAAP.
This financial report has been prepared using our presentation currency, Australian dollars (A$). For the convenience of readers outside Australia we have converted our financial statements and USGAAP disclosures from A$ to US$ for fiscal 2006.
These conversions appear under columns headed “US$m” and represent rounded millions of US dollars. The conversion has been made using the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in non-US currencies. This rate is certified for custom purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The rate on 30 June 2006 was A$1.00 = US$0.7423.
These conversions are indicative only and do not mean that the A$ amounts could be converted to US$ at the rate indicated.
1.6 Recently issued accounting standards to be applied in Australia in future reporting periods
The accounting standards and UIG interpretation that have not been early adopted for the year ended 30 June 2006, but will be applicable to the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity in future reporting periods are detailed below. Apart from these standards, we have considered other accounting standards that will be applicable in future periods, however they have been considered insignificant to Telstra.

F-8


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
1. Basis of preparation (continued)
1.6 Recently issued accounting standards to be applied in Australia in future reporting periods (continued)
Lease arrangements
UIG 4: “Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease” (UIG 4) is applicable to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2006. We will apply this interpretation in our financial report for the half-year ended 31 December 2006. A related omnibus standard AASB 2005-5: “Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards” will also be adopted for the half-year ended 31 December 2006.
UIG 4 requires entities to assess whether the arrangements they enter into contain leases. An arrangement contains a lease if fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of specific assets and it conveys a right to use those assets to the customer. The lease component of the arrangement is then separated and accounted for as either a finance or operating lease depending on the nature of the arrangement. Under our current accounting policy we do not separately account for leases that are embedded within our service agreements.
UIG 4 will align our accounting under A-IFRS to our policy adopted under USGAAP (refer to note 37(p)). However, our USGAAP policy is only applied to arrangements that were entered into or modified after 1 July 2003. UIG 4 is applicable to all arrangements in existence as of the transition date.
Financial guarantees
AASB 2005-9: “Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards” is applicable to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2006. We will apply this interpretation in our financial report for the half-year ended 31 December 2006.
These amendments require that liabilities arising from the issue of financial guarantee contracts be recognised on the balance sheet. Management has not yet determined the effect the adoption of these amendments will have on our balance sheet, income statement or statement of cashflows.
1.7 Rounding
All dollar amounts in this financial report (except where indicated) have been rounded to the nearest million dollars ($m) for presentation. This has been done in accordance with Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Class Order 98/100, dated 10 July 1998, issued under section 341(1) of the Corporations Act 2001.

F-9


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies
2.1 Change in accounting policies
The following accounting policy changes occurred during fiscal 2006:
The transition to Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (A-IFRS) resulted in changes to a number of our accounting policies. The accounting policies set out below have been applied in preparing the financial report for the year ended 30 June 2006, the comparative information presented in these financial statements and in the preparation of the opening A-IFRS balance sheet as at 1 July 2004, except for the accounting policies in respect of financial instruments.
Reconciliations and descriptions of the impact of the transition to A-IFRS on the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity’s income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flow are provided in note 36.
There were no accounting policy changes during fiscal 2005.
Accounting policies
2.2 Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial report includes the assets and liabilities of the Telstra Entity and its controlled entities as a whole as at the end of the year and the consolidated results and cash flows for the year. The effect of all intergroup transactions and balances are eliminated in full from our consolidated financial statements.
Where we do not control an entity for the entire year, results and cash flows for those entities are only included from the date on which control commences, or up until the date on which there is a loss of control.
Our consolidated retained profits include retained profits/ accumulated losses of controlled entities from the time they became a controlled entity until control ceases. Minority interests in the results and equity of controlled entities are shown separately in our consolidated income statement and consolidated balance sheet.
The financial statements of controlled entities are prepared for the same reporting period as the Telstra Entity, using consistent accounting policies. Adjustments are made to bring into line any dissimilar accounting policies.
An entity is considered to be a controlled entity where we are able to dominate decision making, directly or indirectly, relating to the financial and operating policies of that entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
We account for the acquisition of our controlled entities using the purchase method of accounting. This involves recognising the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities at their fair value at the date of acquisition. Any excess of the cost of acquisition over our interest in the fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities is recognised as goodwill.
2.3 Foreign currency translation
(a) Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions are converted into the relevant functional currency at market exchange rates applicable at the date of the transactions. Amounts payable or receivable in foreign currencies at balance date are converted into the relevant functional currency at market exchange rates at balance date. Any currency translation gains and losses that arise are included in our profit or loss for the year. Where we enter into a hedge for a specific expenditure commitment or for the construction of an asset, hedging gains and losses are accumulated in equity over the period of the hedge and are transferred to the carrying value of the asset upon completion, or included in the income statement at the same time as the discharge of the expenditure commitment.
(b) Translation of financial reports of foreign operations that have a functional currency that is not Australian dollars.
The consolidated financial statements are presented in Australian dollars, which is the functional and presentation currency of Telstra Corporation Limited.
Our operations include subsidiaries, associates, and jointly controlled entities, the activities and operations of which are in an economic environment where the functional currency is not Australian dollars. The financial statements of these entities are translated to Australian dollars (our presentation currency) using the following method:
  assets and liabilities are translated into Australian dollars using market exchange rates at balance date;
 
  equity at the date of investment is translated into Australian dollars at the exchange rate current at that date. Movements post-acquisition (other than retained profits/ accumulated losses) are translated at the exchange rates current at the dates of those movements;
 
  income statements are translated into Australian dollars at average exchange rates for the year, unless there are significant identifiable transactions, which are translated at the exchange rate that existed on the date of the transaction; and
 
  currency translation gains and losses are recorded in the foreign currency translation reserve.

F-10


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.3 Foreign currency translation (continued)
Exchange differences relating to foreign currency monetary items forming part of the net investment in our entities operating in an economic environment where the functional currency is not Australian dollars, together with related tax effects, are eliminated against the foreign currency translation reserve in our consolidated financial statements.
Where we hedge our investment in entities which are in an economic environment where the functional currency is not Australian dollars, the gains or losses on the hedging instrument are recognised in the foreign currency translation reserve until we dispose of the operation, at which time the cumulative gains and losses are transferred to the income statement.
Upon disposal or partial disposal of a foreign operation, the balance of the foreign currency translation reserve relating to the entity, or the part disposed of, is transferred to the income statement and becomes part of the gain or loss on sale.
2.4 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash includes cash at bank and on hand, bank deposits, bills of exchange and commercial paper with an original maturity date not greater than three months.
Bank deposits are recorded at amounts to be received.
Bills of exchange and commercial paper are classified as ‘available-for-sale’ financial assets and are therefore held at fair value. The carrying amount of these assets approximates their fair value due to the short term to maturity.
The statement of cash flow discloses cash net of outstanding bank overdrafts where applicable.
2.5 Trade and other receivables
Telstra has elected to apply the option available under AASB 1: “First-time Adoption of Australian Equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards” (AASB 1) of adopting AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” (AASB 132) and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (AASB 139) from 1 July 2005. Outlined below are the relevant accounting policies for trade and other receivables applicable for the years ending 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2005.
Trade debtors and other receivables are initially recorded at the fair value of the amounts to be received and are subsequently measured at amortised cost.
An allowance for doubtful debts is raised based on a review of outstanding amounts at balance date. Bad debts specifically provided for in previous years are eliminated against the allowance for doubtful debts. In all other cases, bad debts are written off as an expense directly in the income statement.
2.6 Inventories
Our finished goods include goods available for sale, and material and spare parts to be used in constructing and maintaining the telecommunications network. We value inventories at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
We allocate cost to the majority of inventory items on hand at balance date using the weighted average cost basis. For the remaining quantities on hand, actual cost is used where the item was purchased for use in a particular asset or project, and the ‘first in first out’ basis is used for materials purchased for production of directories.
Net realisable value of items expected to be sold is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs incurred in marketing, selling and distribution. It approximates fair value less costs to sell.
Net realisable value of items expected to be consumed, for example used in the construction of another asset, is the net value expected to be earned through future use.
2.7 Construction contracts
(a) Valuation
We record construction contracts in progress at cost (including any profits recognised) less progress billings and any provision for foreseeable losses.
Cost includes:
  both variable and fixed costs directly related to specific contracts;
 
  amounts which can be allocated to contract activity in general and which can be allocated to specific contracts on a reasonable basis; and
 
  costs expected to be incurred under penalty clauses, warranty provisions and other variances.
Where a significant loss is estimated to be made on completion, a provision for foreseeable losses is brought to account and recorded against the gross amount of construction work in progress.

F-11


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.7 Construction contracts (continued)
(b) Recognition of profit
Profit is recognised on an individual project basis using the percentage of completion method. The percentage of completion is calculated based on estimated costs of completion, refer to note 2.18(d) for further details.
Profits are recognised when:
  the stage of contract completion can be reliably determined;
 
  costs to date can be clearly identified; and
 
  total contract revenues to be received and costs to complete can be reliably estimated.
(c) Disclosure
The construction work in progress balance is recorded in current inventories after deducting progress billings. Where progress billings exceed the balance of construction work in progress, the net amount is shown as a current liability within trade and other payables.
2.8 Assets classified as held for sale
Non current assets are classified as held for sale if the carrying amount is to be recovered principally through a sale transaction, rather than through continuing use. We only classify an asset as held for sale if it is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject to only usual and customary terms, and its sale is highly probable.
We record held for sale assets at the lower of the carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. An impairment loss is recognised for any initial or subsequent write down of the assets to fair value less costs to sell. We do not depreciate or amortise these assets while they are classified as held for sale.
2.9 Investments
(a) Controlled entities
Investments in controlled entities are recorded at cost less impairment of the investment value.
Where we hedge the value of our investment in an overseas controlled entity, the hedge is accounted for in accordance with note 2.26.
(b) Jointly controlled and associated entities
(i) Jointly controlled entities
A jointly controlled entity is a contractual arrangement (in the form of an entity) whereby two or more parties take on an economic activity which is governed by joint control. Joint control involves the contractually agreed sharing of control over an entity where two or more parties must consent to all major decisions. Our interests in jointly controlled entities, including partnerships, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting in the Telstra Group financial statements and the cost method in the Telstra Entity financial statements.
Under the equity method of accounting, we adjust the initial recorded amount of the investment for our share of:
  profits or losses for the year after tax since the date of investment;
 
  reserve movements since the date of investment;
 
  unrealised profits or losses;
 
  dividends or distributions received; and
 
  deferred profit brought to account.
Our share of all of these items, apart from dividends or distributions received and reserves, is recorded in the income statement.
Where the equity accounted amount of our investment in an entity falls below zero, we suspend the equity method of accounting and record the investment at zero. When this occurs, the equity method of accounting does not recommence until our share of profits and reserves exceeds the cumulative prior years share of losses and reserve reductions.
Where we have long term assets that in substance form part of our investment in equity accounted interests and the equity accounted amount of investment falls below zero, we reduce the value of the assets in proportion with our cumulative losses.
(ii) Associated entities
Where we hold an interest in the equity of an entity, generally of between 20% and 50%, and are able to apply significant influence to the decisions of the entity, that entity is an associated entity. Associated entities are accounted for using the equity method of accounting in the Telstra Group financial statements and the cost method in the Telstra Entity financial statements.

F-12


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.9 Investments (continued)
(c) Jointly controlled assets
A jointly controlled asset involves the joint control of one or more assets acquired and dedicated for the purpose of a joint venture. The assets are used to obtain benefits for the venturers. Where the asset is significant we record our share of the asset. We record expenses based on our percentage ownership interest of the jointly controlled asset.
(d) Listed securities and investments in other corporations
We have elected to apply the exemption available under AASB 1 to apply AASB 132 and AASB 139 from 1 July 2005. Accordingly, we have applied previous AGAAP in the comparative information on financial instruments within the scope of AASB 132 and AASB 139.
Our investments in listed securities and in other corporations are classified as ‘available-for-sale’ financial assets and as such are measured at fair value at each reporting date.
Net fair values of our investments are calculated on the following bases:
  for listed securities traded in an organised financial market, we use the current quoted market bid price at balance date; and
 
  for investments in unlisted entities whose securities are not traded in an organised financial market, we establish fair value by using valuation techniques, including reference to discounted cash flows and fair values of recent arms length transactions involving the same instruments or other instruments that are substantially the same.
We remeasure the fair value of our investments in listed securities and other corporations at each reporting date. Any gains or losses are recognised in equity until we dispose of the investment, or we determine it to be impaired, at which time we transfer all cumulative gains and losses to the income statement.
2.10 Impairment
(a) Non-financial assets
Our tangible and intangible assets (excluding inventories, assets arising from construction contracts, deferred tax assets, defined benefit assets and financial assets) are measured using the cost basis and are written down to recoverable amount where their carrying value exceeds recoverable amount.
Assets with an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortisation and are tested on an annual basis for impairment, or where an indication of impairment exists. Assets that are subject to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.
The recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell or its value in use. Value in use represents the present value of the future amount expected to be recovered through the cash inflows and outflows arising from the asset’s continued use and subsequent disposal. We recognise any decrement in the carrying value as an expense in the income statement in the reporting period in which the impairment loss occurs.
In determining value in use, we apply management judgement in establishing forecasts of future operating performance, as well as the selection of growth rates, terminal rates and discount rates. These judgements are applied based on our understanding of historical information and expectations of future performance.
The expected net cash flows included in determining recoverable amounts of our assets are discounted to present values using a market determined, risk adjusted, discount rate. When determining an appropriate discount rate, we use the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) as an initial point of reference, adjusted for specific risks associated with each different category of assets assessed.
For assets that do not generate largely independent cash inflows, the recoverable amount is determined for the cash generating unit to which that asset belongs. Our cash generating units (CGUs) are determined according to the lowest level of aggregation for which an active market exists and the assets involved create largely independent cash inflows.
We apply management judgement to establish our CGUs. We have determined that assets which form part of our ubiquitous telecommunications network work together to generate net cash flows. No one item of telecommunications equipment is of any value without the other assets to which it is connected in order to achieve the delivery of products and services. As a result, we have determined that the ubiquitous telecommunications network is a single CGU. We have referred to this CGU as the Telstra Entity CGU in our financial report.
The Telstra Entity CGU excludes the hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) cable network, which we consider not to be integrated with the rest of our telecommunications network.

F-13


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.10 Impairment (continued)
(b) Financial assets
The group has elected to apply the option available under AASB 1 of adopting AASB 132 and AASB 139 from 1 July 2005. Outlined below are the relevant accounting policies applicable for the years ending 30 June 2005 and 30 June 2006.
At each reporting date we assess whether there is objective evidence to suggest that any of our financial assets are impaired.
For financial assets held at fair value, we consider the financial asset to be impaired when there has been an extended period in which the fair value of the financial asset has been below the acquisition cost and the decline in fair value is not expected to be recovered. At this time, all revaluation losses in relation to the impaired financial asset that have been accumulated within equity are recognised in the income statement.
For financial assets held at cost or amortised cost, we consider the financial asset to be impaired when there is a difference between the carrying value and the present value of estimated discounted future cash flows. Any impairment losses are recognised immediately in the income statement.
Impairment losses recognised in the income statement are not reversed in relation to investment securities.
2.11 Property, plant and equipment
(a) Acquisition
Items of property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated as described in note 2.11(b). The cost of our constructed property, plant and equipment includes:
  the cost of material and direct labour;
 
  an appropriate proportion of direct and indirect overheads; and
 
  where we have an obligation for removal of the asset or restoration of the site, an estimate of the cost of restoration or removal if that cost can be reliably estimated.
Where settlement of any part of the cash consideration is deferred, the amounts payable in the future are discounted to their present value as at the date of acquisition. The unwinding of this discount is recorded within finance costs.
(b) Depreciation
Items of property, plant and equipment, including buildings and leasehold property, but excluding freehold land, are depreciated on a straight line basis to the income statement over their estimated service lives. We start depreciating assets when they are installed and ready for use.
The service lives of our significant items of property, plant and equipment are as follows:
                 
    Telstra Group
    As at 30 June
    2006   2005
    Service life   Service life
Property, plant and equipment   (years)   (years)
Buildings — building shell
    55       55  
— general purpose
    8 - 40       8 - 40  
— fitout
    10 - 20       10 - 20  
 
               
Communication assets
               
Buildings — building shell
    55       55  
— network
    8 - 40       8 - 40  
— fitout
    10 - 20       10 - 20  
Customer premises equipment
    3 - 8       3 - 8  
Transmission equipment
    2 - 25       3 - 25  
Switching equipment
    4 - 12       1 - 10  
Mobile equipment
    2 - 10       3 - 10  
Cables
    5 - 25       8 - 25  
Ducts and pipes — main cables
    40       40  
— distribution
    30       30  
Other communications plant
    1 - 30       3 - 16  
 
               
Other assets
               
Leasehold plant and equipment
    3 - 15       3 - 15  
Other plant, equipment and motor vehicles
    3 - 15       3 - 15  
The service lives and residual value of our assets are reviewed each year. We apply management judgment in determining the service lives of our assets. This assessment includes a comparison with international trends for telecommunication companies, and in relation to communication assets, includes a determination of when the asset may be superseded technologically or made obsolete.

F-14


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.11 Property, plant and equipment (continued)
We account for our assets individually where it is practical and feasible and in line with commercial practice. Where it is not practical and feasible, we account for assets in groups. Group assets are automatically removed from our financial statements on reaching the group life. Therefore, any individual asset may be physically retired before or after the group life is attained. This is the case for certain communication assets as we assess our technologies to be replaced by a certain date.
As part of our review, service lives of our assets are reassessed. Any reassessment in a particular year will affect the depreciation expense (either increasing or decreasing) through to the end of the reassessed useful life for both that current year and future years. The net effect of the reassessment for fiscal 2006 was an increase in our depreciation expense of $66 million (2005: $60 million decrease) for both the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity. This reassessment includes the adjustment arising from our transformation resulting from the strategic review undertaken, refer to note 7(b) for further information.
Our major repairs and maintenance expenses relate to maintaining our exchange equipment and the customer access network. We charge the cost of repairs and maintenance, including the cost of replacing minor items, which are not substantial improvements, to operating expenses.
2.12 Leased plant and equipment
We account for leases in accordance with AASB 117: “Leases”. We distinguish between finance leases, which effectively transfer substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to ownership of the leased asset from the lessor to the lessee, from operating leases under which the lessor effectively retains all such risks and benefits.
Where we acquire non current assets via a finance lease, the lower of the fair value of the asset and the present value of future minimum lease payments is capitalised as equipment under finance lease at the beginning of the lease term. Capitalised lease assets are depreciated on a straight line basis over the shorter of the lease term or the expected useful life of the assets. A corresponding liability is also established and each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance charges.
Operating lease payments are charged to the income statement on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.
Where we lease properties, costs of improvements to these properties are capitalised as leasehold improvements and amortised over the shorter of the useful life of the improvements or the term of the lease.
2.13 Intangible assets
Intangible assets are assets that have value, but do not have physical substance. In order to be recognised, an intangible asset must be either separable or arise from contractual or other legal rights.
(a) Goodwill
On the acquisition of investments in controlled entities, jointly controlled and associated entities, when we pay an amount greater than the fair value of the net identifiable assets of the entity, this excess is recognised as goodwill in the Telstra Group balance sheet. We calculate the amount of goodwill as at the date of purchasing our ownership interest in the entity.
When we purchase an entity that we will control, the amount of goodwill is recorded in intangible assets. When we acquire a jointly controlled or associated entity, the goodwill amount is included as part of the cost of the investment.
Goodwill is not amortised but is tested for impairment in accordance with note 2.10 on an annual basis and when an indication of impairment exists.
(b) Internally generated intangible assets
Research costs are recorded as an expense as incurred. Development costs are capitalised if the project is technically and commercially feasible and we have sufficient resources to complete the development.
Software assets
We record direct costs associated with the development of business software for internal use as software assets if the development costs satisfy the criteria for capitalisation described above.
Costs included in software assets developed for internal use are:
  external direct costs of materials and services consumed; and
 
  payroll and direct payroll-related costs for employees (including contractors) directly associated with the project.
Software assets developed for internal use have a finite life and are amortised on a straight line basis over their useful lives to us. Amortisation commences once the software is ready for use.

F-15


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.13 Intangible assets (continued)
(c) Acquired intangible assets
We acquire other intangible assets either as part of a business combination or through separate acquisition. Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recorded at their fair value at the date of acquisition and recognised separately from goodwill. On initial acquisition, we apply management judgement to determine the appropriate allocation of purchase consideration to the assets being acquired, including goodwill and identifiable intangible assets.
Intangible assets that are considered to have a finite life are amortised on a straight line basis over the period of expected benefit. Intangible assets that are considered to have an indefinite life are not amortised but tested for impairment in accordance with note 2.10 on an annual basis, or where an indication of impairment exists.
Our acquired intangible assets include mastheads, patents, trademarks, licences, brandnames and customer bases.
(d) Deferred expenditure
Deferred expenditure mainly includes costs incurred for basic access installations and connections fees for in place and new services, and direct incremental costs of establishing a customer contract.
Significant items of expenditure are deferred to the extent that they are recoverable from future revenue and will contribute to our future earning capacity. Any costs in excess of future revenue are recognised immediately in the income statement.
We amortise deferred expenditure over the average period in which the related benefits are expected to be realised.
Handset subsidies are expensed as incurred. On transition to A-IFRS we elected to expense handset subsidies, which was a change from the previous policy whereby the cost of the subsidy was deferred and written off over the average contract term.
(e) Amortisation
The average amortisation periods of our identifiable intangible assets are as follows:
                 
    Telstra Group
    As at 30 June
    2006   2005
    Expected   Expected
    benefit   benefit
Identifiable intangible assets   (years)   (years)
 
Software assets
    6       6  
Patent and trademarks
    19       19  
Licences
    12       11  
Brandnames
    19       20  
Customer bases
    11       13  
Deferred expenditure
    4       4  
The service lives of our identifiable intangible assets are reviewed each year. Any reassessment of service lives in a particular year will affect the amortisation expense (either increasing or decreasing) through to the end of the reassessed useful life for both that current year and future years. The net effect of the reassessment for fiscal 2006 was an increase in our amortisation expense of $160 million (2005: $nil) for the Telstra Group and $145 million (2005: $nil) for the Telstra Entity. This reassessment includes the adjustment arising from our transformation resulting from the strategic review undertaken, refer to note 7(b) for further information.
In relation to acquired intangible assets, we apply management judgement to determine the amortisation period based on the expected useful lives of the respective assets. In some cases, the useful lives of certain acquired intangible assets are supported by external valuation advice on acquisition. In addition, we apply management judgement to assess annually, the indefinite useful life assumption applied to certain acquired intangible assets.
2.14 Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables, including accruals, are recorded when we are required to make future payments as a result of a purchase of assets or services.

F-16


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.15 Borrowings
Our borrowings fall into two categories:
(a) Borrowings in a designated hedging relationship
Our offshore borrowings which are designated as hedged items are subject to either fair value or cash flow hedges. The method by which they are hedged determines their accounting treatment.
Borrowings subject to fair value hedges are recognised initially at fair value. The carrying amount of our borrowings in fair value hedges (to hedge against changes in value due to interest rate or currency movements) is adjusted for fair value movements attributable to the hedged risk. Fair value is calculated using valuation techniques which utilise data from observable markets. Assumptions are based on market conditions existing at each balance date. The fair value is calculated as the present value of the estimated future cash flows using an appropriate market based yield curve which is independently derived and representative of Telstra’s cost of borrowing. These borrowings are remeasured each reporting period and the gains or losses are recognised in the income statement along with the associated gains or losses on the hedging instrument.
Borrowings subject to cash flow hedges (to hedge against currency movements) are recognised initially at fair value based on the applicable spot price plus any transaction costs that are directly attributable to the issue of the borrowing. These borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost, translated at the applicable spot exchange rate at reporting date. Any difference between the final amount paid to discharge the borrowing and the initial borrowing proceeds is recognised in the income statement over the borrowing period using the effective interest method. The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial liability and of allocating the interest expense over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments through the expected life of the financial liability, or, where appropriate, a shorter period.
Currency gains or losses on the borrowings are recognised in the income statement, along with the associated gains or losses on the hedging instrument, which have been transferred from the cash flow hedging reserve to the income statement.
(b) Borrowings not in a designated hedging relationship
Borrowings not in a designated hedging relationship include commercial paper borrowings, Telstra Bonds, loans from associates, unsecured promissory notes and other borrowings.
All such instruments are initially recognised at fair value plus any transaction costs that are directly attributable to the issue of the instrument and are subsequently measured at amortised cost. Any difference between the final amount paid to discharge the borrowing and the initial borrowing proceeds (including transaction costs) is recognised in the income statement over the borrowing period using the effective interest method.
Borrowings are included as non current liabilities except for those with maturities less than twelve months from the balance sheet date, which are classified as current liabilities.
2.16 Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the group has:
  a present legal or constructive obligation to make a future sacrifice of economic benefits as a result of past transactions or events;
  it is probable that a future sacrifice of economic benefits will arise; and
  a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.
The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at reporting date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured using the cash flows estimated to settle the present obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows.
(a) Employee benefits
We accrue liabilities for employee benefits to wages and salaries, annual leave and other current employee benefits at their nominal amounts. These are calculated based on remuneration rates expected to be current at the date of settlement and include related on costs.
Certain employees who have been employed by Telstra for at least ten years are entitled to long service leave of three months (or more depending on the actual length of employment), which is included in our employee benefits provision.
We accrue liabilities for other employee benefits not expected to be paid or settled within 12 months of balance date, including long service leave, at the present values of future amounts expected to be paid. This is based on projected increases in wage and salary rates over an average of 10 years, experience of employee departures and periods of service.

F-17


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.16 Provisions (continued)
We calculate present values using rates based on government guaranteed securities with similar due dates to our liabilities.
We apply management judgment in estimating the following key assumptions used in the calculation of our long service leave provision at reporting date:
  weighted average projected increases in salaries;
  weighted average discount rate; and
  leave taking rate.
Refer to note 19 for further details on the key management judgements used in the calculation of our long service leave provision.
(b) Workers’ compensation
We self insure our workers’ compensation liabilities. We take up a provision for the present value of these estimated liabilities, based on an actuarial review of the liability. This review includes assessing actual accidents and estimating claims incurred but not reported. Present values are calculated using appropriate rates based on the risks specific to the liability with similar due dates.
Certain controlled entities do not self insure, but pay annual premiums to third party insurance companies for their workers’ compensation liabilities.
(c) Restoration costs
We provide for costs of restoration or removal in relation to our fixed assets when we have a legal or constructive obligation. These costs include our obligations relating to the dismantling, removal, remediation, restoration and other expenditure associated with our fixed assets or site fitouts. Restoration provisions are initially recorded when a reliable estimate of the costs to be incurred can be determined, discounted to present value. Our estimates are based upon a review of lease contracts, legal requirements, historical information and expected future costs. Any changes to these estimates are adjusted on a progressive basis as required.
Where restoration costs are incurred due to the acquisition, construction or development of a non current asset, the provision is raised and recorded at that time as part of the cost of the asset where the cost is reliably measurable.
(d) Redundancy and restructuring costs
We recognise a provision for redundancy costs when a detailed formal plan for the redundancies has been developed and a valid expectation has been created that the redundancies will be carried out with those employees likely to be affected.
We recognise a provision for restructuring when a detailed formal plan has been approved and we have raised a valid expectation in those affected by the restructuring that the restructuring will be carried out.
2.17 Share capital
Issued and paid up capital is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received by the Company.
Any transaction costs arising on the issue of ordinary shares are recognised directly in equity, net of tax, as a reduction of the share proceeds received.
Where we undertake a share buy-back, contributed equity is reduced in accordance with the structure of the buy-back arrangement. Costs associated with the buy-back, net of tax, are also deducted from contributed equity. We also record the purchase of Telstra Entity shares by our employee share plan trusts as a reduction in share capital.
Share based remuneration associated with our employee share plans is recognised as additional share capital. Non-recourse loans provided to employees to participate in these employee share plans are recorded as a reduction in share capital.
Refer to note 2.25 for further details regarding our accounting for employee share plans.
2.18 Revenue recognition
The underlying accounting principles of revenue recognition are generally the same for both A-IFRS and the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (USGAAP). As such we have applied the more detailed guidance under USGAAP to the timing of revenue recognition for both A-IFRS and USGAAP financial statements where there is no conflict between the two.
Sales revenue
Our categories of sales revenue are recorded after deducting sales returns, trade allowances, duties and taxes.
(a) Rendering of services
Revenue from the provision of our telecommunications services includes telephone calls and other services and facilities provided, such as internet and data.

F-18


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.18 Revenue (continued)
We record revenue earned from:
  telephone calls on completion of the call; and
  other services generally at completion, or on a straight line basis over the period of service provided, unless another method better represents the stage of completion.
Installation and connection fee revenues are deferred and recognised over the average estimated customer life. Incremental costs directly related to these revenues are also deferred and amortised over the customer contract life. Also refer to note 2.13(d).
In relation to basic access installation and connection revenue, we apply our management judgement to determine the estimated customer contract life. Based on our reviews of historical information and customer trends, we have determined that our average estimated customer life is 5 years (2005: 5 years). As a result, basic access installation and connection revenue is recognised over this period.
(b) Sale of goods
Our revenue from the sale of goods includes revenue from the sale of customer equipment and similar goods. This revenue is recorded on delivery of the goods sold.
Generally we record the full gross amount of sales proceeds as revenue, however if we are acting as an agent under a sales arrangement, we record the revenue on a net basis, being the gross amount billed less the amount paid to the supplier. We review the facts and circumstances of each sales arrangement to determine if we are an agent or principal under the sale arrangement.
(c) Rent of network facilities
We earn rent mainly from access to retail and wholesale fixed and mobile networks and from the rent of dedicated lines, customer equipment, property, plant and equipment and other facilities. The revenue of providing access to the network is recorded on an accrual basis over the rental period.
(d) Construction contracts
We record construction revenue on a percentage of contract completion basis. The percentage of completion of contracts is calculated based on estimated costs to complete the contract.
Our construction contracts are classified according to their type. There are three types of construction contracts, these being material intensive, labour intensive and short duration. Revenue is recognised on a percentage of completion basis using the appropriate measures as follows:
  (actual costs / planned costs) x planned revenue — for material intensive projects;
 
  (actual labour hours / planned labour hours) x planned revenue — for labour intensive projects; and
  short duration projects are those that are expected to be completed within a month and revenues and costs are recognised on completion.
(e) Advertising and directory services
Classified advertisements and display advertisements are published on a daily, weekly and monthly basis for which revenues are recognised at the time the advertisement is published.
All of our Yellow Pages and White Pages directory revenues are recognised on delivery of the published directories using the delivery method. We consider our directories delivered when they have been published and delivered to customers’ premises. Revenue from online directories is recognised over the life of service agreements, which is on average one year. Voice directory revenues are recognised at the time of providing the service to customers.
(f) Royalties
Royalty revenue is recognised on an accrual basis in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreements.
(g) Interest revenue
We record interest revenue on an accruals basis. For financial assets, interest revenue is determined by the effective yield on the instrument (total return).
Revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables
Where two or more revenue-generating activities or deliverables are sold under a single arrangement, each deliverable that is considered to be a separate unit of accounting is accounted for separately. When the deliverables in a multiple deliverable arrangement are not considered to be separate units of accounting, the arrangement is accounted for as a single unit.

F-19


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.18 Revenue (continued)
We allocate the consideration from the revenue arrangement to its separate units based on the relative fair values of each unit. If the fair value of the delivered item is not available, then revenue is allocated based on the difference between the total arrangement consideration and the fair value of the undelivered item. The revenue allocated to each unit is then recognised in accordance with our revenue recognition policies previously described above.
2.19 Advertising expenses
Costs for advertising products and services or promoting our corporate image are expensed as incurred. These costs are included in promotion and advertising expenses within our other expenses category.
2.20 Borrowing costs
Borrowing costs are recognised as an expense in our income statement when incurred.
2.21 Taxation
(a) Income taxes
Our income tax expense represents the sum of current tax and deferred tax. Current tax is calculated on accounting profit after allowing for non-taxable and non-deductible items based on the amount expected to be paid to taxation authorities on taxable profit for the period. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when our asset is realised or the liability is settled. Both our current tax and deferred tax are calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted at reporting date.
We apply the balance sheet liability method for calculating our deferred tax. Deferred tax is the expected tax payable or recoverable on all taxable and deductible temporary differences determined through reference to the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amount for financial reporting purposes as at the reporting date.
We generally recognise deferred tax liabilities for all taxable temporary differences, except to the extent that the deferred tax liability arises from:
  the initial recognition of goodwill; or
  the initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and affects neither our accounting profit or taxable income at the time of the transaction.
In respect of our investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities, we recognise deferred tax liabilities for all taxable temporary differences, except where we are able to control the timing of our temporary difference reversal and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
Subject to the exceptions described above, we generally recognise deferred tax assets for all deductible temporary differences and for the carry forward of unused tax losses and tax credits. These tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences, and the carry forward of unused tax losses and tax credits can be utilised.
In respect of our investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities, we recognise deferred tax assets for all deductible temporary differences provided it is probable that our temporary differences will reverse in the future and taxable profit will be available against which our temporary differences can be utilised.
The carrying amount of our deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting date. We reduce the carrying amount to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow the benefit of part or the entire deferred tax asset to be utilised. At each reporting date, we subsequently reassess our unrecognised deferred tax assets to determine whether it has become probable that future taxable profit will allow this deferred tax asset to be recovered.
Our current and deferred tax is recognised as an expense or revenue in the income statement, except when it relates to items directly debited or credited to equity, in which case our current and deferred tax is also recognised directly in equity.
The Telstra Entity and its Australian resident wholly owned entities elected to form a tax consolidated group from 1 July 2002. The Telstra Entity, as the head entity in the tax consolidated group, recognises in addition to its transactions, the current tax liabilities and the deferred tax assets arising from unused tax losses and tax credits for all entities in the group. The Telstra Entity and the entities in the tax consolidated group account for their own current tax expense and deferred tax amounts. These tax amounts are measured as if each entity in the tax consolidated group continues to be a separate taxpayer within the group.

F-20


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.21 Taxation (continued)
Under our tax funding arrangements, amounts receivable recognised by the Telstra Entity for the current tax payable assumed of our wholly owned entities are booked as a current receivable. Amounts payable recognised by the Telstra Entity for the current tax receivable of our wholly owned entities are booked as a current payable. Amounts relating to unused tax losses and tax credits of the wholly owned entities and assumed by the Telstra Entity are recorded as dividend revenue. During fiscal 2005, no tax funding arrangement was in place and as a result, these funding amounts were recorded as equity contributions to or distributions from our controlled entities.
We offset deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities in the balance sheet where they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and to the extent that we intend to settle our current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis. Our deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are netted within the tax consolidation group, as these deferred tax balances relate to the same taxation authority. We do not net deferred tax balances between controlled entities, apart from those within the tax consolidation group.
(b) Goods and Services Tax (GST) (including other value added taxes)
We record our revenue, expenses and assets net of any applicable goods and services tax (GST), except where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). In these circumstances the GST is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as part of the expense item.
Receivables and payables balances include GST where we have either included GST in our price charged to customers or a supplier has included GST in their price charged to us. The net amount of GST due, but not paid, to the ATO is included under payables.
2.22 Earnings per share
(a) Basic earnings per share
Basic earnings per share (EPS) is determined by dividing profit for the year after income tax attributable to members of the company, excluding any costs of servicing equity other than ordinary shares, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Diluted earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period (adjusted for the effects of the instruments in the Telstra Growthshare Trust and the Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plans).
2.23 Insurance
We specifically carry the following types of insurance:
  property;
  travel/personal accident;
  third party liability;
  directors’ and officers’ liability;
  company reimbursement; and
  other insurance from time to time.
For risks not covered by insurance, any losses are charged to the income statement in the year in which the loss is reported.
The Telstra Entity and certain controlled entities are self insured for workers’ compensation.
2.24 Post-employment benefits
(a) Defined contribution plans
Our commitment to defined contribution plans is limited to making contributions in accordance with our minimum statutory requirements. We do not have any legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employee benefits relating to current and past employee services.
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recorded as an expense in the income statement as the contributions become payable. We recognise a liability when we are required to make future payments as a result of employee services provided.
(b) Defined benefit plans
We currently sponsor a number of post-employment benefit plans. As these plans have elements of both defined contribution and defined benefit, these hybrid plans are treated as defined benefit plans in accordance with AASB 119: “ Employee Benefits”. We recognise an asset/(liability) for the net surplus/(deficit) recorded in each of our post-employment defined benefit plans.
At reporting date, where the fair value of the plan assets exceeds the present value of the defined benefit obligations, the net surplus is recognised as an asset. We recognise the asset as we have the ability to control this surplus to generate future funds that are available to us in the form of reductions in future contributions or as a cash refund.
At reporting date, where the fair value of the plan assets is less than the present value of the defined benefit obligations, the net deficit would be recognised as a liability.

F-21


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.24 Post-employment benefits (continued)
We use fair value to determine the value of the plan assets at reporting date. Fair value is calculated by reference to the net market values of the plan assets.
Defined benefit obligations are based on the expected future payments required to settle the obligations arising from our current and past employee services. This obligation is influenced by many factors, including final salaries and employee turnover. We employ qualified actuaries to calculate the present value of the defined benefit obligations. These obligations are measured net of tax.
The actuaries use the projected unit credit method to determine the present value of the defined benefit obligations of each plan. This method determines each year of service as giving rise to an additional unit of benefit entitlement. Each unit is measured separately to calculate the final obligation. The present value is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using rates based on government guaranteed securities with similar due dates to these expected cash flows.
We recognise all our defined benefit costs in the income statement with the exception of actuarial gains and losses that are recognised directly in retained profits. Components of defined benefit costs include current and past service cost, interest cost and expected return on assets. Current and past service cost represents the increase in the present value of the defined benefit obligation resulting from our employees’ service in the current and prior periods respectively. Interest cost represents the increase in the present value of the defined benefit obligation resulting from the employee benefits being one period closer to settlement. Expected return on assets represents movement in market value interest, dividends and other revenue items that is expected to be derived from plan assets.
Actuarial gains and losses are based on an actuarial valuation of each defined benefit plan at reporting date. Actuarial gains and losses represent the differences between previous actuarial assumptions of future outcomes and the actual outcome, in addition to the effect of changes in actuarial assumptions.
The actuaries apply judgment in estimating the following key assumptions used in the calculation of our defined benefit assets at reporting date:
  discount rates;
  salary inflation rate; and
  expected return on plan assets.
The estimates applied in our calculation have a significant impact on the reported amount of our defined benefit plan assets of $1,029 million (2005: $247 million). If the estimates prove to be incorrect, the carrying value of our defined benefit assets may be materially impacted in the next reporting period. Additional volatility may also potentially be recorded in retained profits to reflect differences between actuarial assumptions of future outcomes applied at the current reporting date and the actual outcome in the next annual reporting period.
Refer to note 28 for details on the key estimates used in the calculation of our defined benefit assets.
2.25 Employee share plans
We own 100% of the equity of Telstra ESOP Trustee Pty Ltd, the corporate trustee for the Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plan Trust (TESOP97) and Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plan Trust II (TESOP99). We consolidate the results, position and cash flows of TESOP97 and TESOP99.
The Telstra Growthshare Trust (Growthshare) was established to allocate equity based instruments as required. Current equity based instruments include options, restricted shares, performance rights, deferred shares, incentive shares, directshares and ownshares. Options, performance rights, and restricted shares are subject to performance hurdles. Deferred shares and incentive shares are subject to a specified period of service.
We own 100% of the equity of Telstra Growthshare Pty Ltd, the corporate trustee for Growthshare. We also include the results, position and cash flows of Growthshare.
We recognise an expense for all share-based remuneration determined with reference to the fair value at grant date of the equity instruments issued. The fair value of our equity instruments is calculated using a valuation technique consistent with the Black Scholes methodology which utilises Monte Carlo simulations, to estimate the price of those equity instruments in an arms length transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties. The fair value is charged against profit over the relevant vesting periods, adjusted to reflect actual and expected levels of vesting.
Under the transitional exemptions of AASB 1, we have elected not to apply the requirements of AASB 2: “Share-Based Payment” (AASB 2) to equity instruments granted prior to 7 November 2002.
Directshare enables non-executive directors to acquire a minimum of 20% of their fees in Telstra shares. Ownshare enables eligible employees to be provided part of their remuneration in Telstra shares. Telstra purchases shares on market to meet the requirements of directshare and ownshare and expenses these costs as part of the participant’s remuneration.

F-22


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.26 Derivative financial instruments
We use derivative financial instruments such as forward exchange contracts, cross currency swaps and interest rate swaps to hedge risks associated with foreign currency and interest rate fluctuations.
The use of hedging instruments is governed by the guidelines set by our Board of Directors.
(a) From 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005
We have elected to apply the exemption available under AASB 1 to apply AASB 132 and AASB 139 from 1 July 2005. Accordingly, we have applied previous AGAAP in the comparative information on financial instruments within the scope of AASB 132 and AASB 139. For further information on previous AGAAP refer to the annual report for the year ended 30 June 2005.
(b) Adjustments on transition date: 1 July 2005
Under AASB 132/139, our accounting policy has changed to recognise our financial instruments in the balance sheet and to record all derivatives at fair value. At the date of transition, changes in the carrying amounts of derivatives are taken to retained profits or reserves, depending on the hedge type. For further information concerning the adjustments on transition date reference should be made to note 36.
(c) From 1 July 2005
Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured to fair value. The method of recognising the resulting remeasurement gain or loss depends on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument, and if so, the nature of the item being hedged. Where we hold derivative financial instruments that are not designated as hedges, they are categorised as ‘held for trading’ financial instruments. All of our derivative financial instruments are stated at fair value.
The carrying value of our cross currency and interest rate swaps refers to the fair value of our receivable or payable under the swap contract, recorded as a hedge receivable or hedge payable in our balance sheet. We do not offset the hedge receivable or hedge payable with the underlying financial asset or financial liability being hedged, as the transactions are generally with different counterparties and are not generally settled on a net basis.
Where we have a legally recognised right to set off the financial asset and the financial liability, and we intend to settle on a net basis or simultaneously, we record this position on a net basis in our balance sheet. Where we enter into master netting arrangements relating to a number of financial instruments, have a legal right of set off, and intend to do so, we also include this position on a net basis in our balance sheet.
Our derivative instruments that are held to hedge exposures can be classified into three different types, depending on the reason we are holding them — fair value hedges, cash flow hedges and hedges of net investment in foreign operations.
Hedge accounting can only be utilised where effectiveness tests are met on both a prospective and retrospective basis. Ineffectiveness may result in significant volatility in the income statement.
In order for a derivative instrument to qualify for hedge accounting it must be formally designated and documented as a hedge of a particular item or transaction, it must be expected to be highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows or fair value of the hedged item, and for cash flow hedges of forecast transactions, the forecast transaction must be highly probable.
We document at the inception of a transaction the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as our risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. We also document our assessment, both at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, of whether the hedging instruments that are used in hedging transactions have been, and will continue to be, highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items.
(i) Fair value hedges
We use fair value hedges to mitigate the risk of changes in the fair value of our foreign currency borrowings from foreign currency and interest rate fluctuations over the hedging period.
Where a fair value hedge qualifies for hedge accounting, gains or losses from remeasuring the fair value of the hedge instrument are recognised in the income statement, together with gains and losses in relation to the hedged item where those gains or losses relate to the risks intended to be hedged. This will increase volatility of reported profits due to the inclusion of some ineffectiveness arising from the application of hedge accounting.

F-23


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.26 Derivative financial instruments (continued)
(ii) Cash flow hedges
We use cash flow hedges to mitigate the risk of variability of future cash flows attributable to foreign currency fluctuations over the hedging period. Cash flow hedges are used for our foreign currency borrowings, and our ongoing business activities, predominantly where we have highly probable purchase or settlement commitments in foreign currencies.
Where a cash flow hedge qualifies for hedge accounting, the effective portion of gains or losses on remeasuring the fair value of the hedge instrument are recognised directly in equity in the cash flow hedging reserve until such time as the hedged item affects profit or loss, then the gains or losses are transferred to the income statement. However, in our hedges of forecast transactions, when the forecast transaction that is hedged results in the recognition of a non-financial asset (for example, inventory or fixed asset), the gains and losses previously deferred in equity are transferred from equity and included in the measurement of the initial cost or carrying amount of the asset. Gains or losses on any portion of the hedge determined to be ineffective are recognised immediately in the income statement. The application of hedge accounting will create some volatility in equity reserve balances.
When a hedging instrument expires or is sold or terminated, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative gain or loss existing in equity at that time remains in equity and is recognised when the hedged item is ultimately recognised in the income statement.
If a forecast hedged transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gains or losses on the hedging instrument that were reported in equity are transferred immediately to the income statement.
(iii) Hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation
Our investments in foreign operations are exposed to foreign currency risk, which arises when we translate the net assets of our foreign investments from their functional currency to Australian dollars. We hedge our net investments to mitigate exposure to this risk by using forward foreign currency contracts, cross currency swaps and/or commercial paper in the relevant currency of the investment.
Gains and losses on remeasurement of our derivative instruments designated as hedges of foreign investments are recognised in the foreign currency translation reserve in equity to the extent they are considered to be effective.
The cumulative amount of the recognised gains or losses included in equity are transferred to the income statement when the foreign operation is sold.
For all of our hedging instruments (fair value, cash flow or net investment), any gains or losses on remeasuring to fair value any portion of the instrument not considered to be effective are recognised directly in the income statement in the period in which they occur.
(iv) Derivatives that are not in a designated hedging relationship
For any ‘held for trading’ derivative instruments, i.e. those which are not in a designated hedging relationship, any gains or losses on remeasuring the instruments to fair value are recognised directly in the income statement in the period in which they occur.
(v) Embedded derivatives
Derivatives embedded in other financial instruments or other host contracts are treated as separate derivatives when their risks and characteristics are not closely related to those of the host contracts and the host contracts are not measured at fair value through profit or loss.

F-24


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.27 Fair value estimation
The fair value of our derivatives and some financial assets and financial liabilities must be estimated for recognition and measurement or for disclosure purposes.
Valuation techniques include where applicable, reference to prices quoted in active markets, discounted cash flow analysis, fair value of recent arm’s length transactions involving the same instruments or other instruments that are substantially the same, and option pricing models.
We calculate the fair value of our forward exchange contracts by reference to forward exchange market rates for contracts with similar maturity profiles at the time of valuation.
The net fair values of our cross currency and interest rate swaps and other financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value (apart from our listed investments) are determined using valuation techniques which utilise data from observable markets. Assumptions are based on market conditions existing at each balance date. The fair value is calculated as the present value of the estimated future cash flows using an appropriate market based yield curve, which is independently derived and representative of Telstra’s cost of borrowing. The net fair values of our listed investments are determined by reference to prices quoted on the relevant stock exchanges where the securities are traded.
Unless there is evidence to suggest otherwise, the nominal value of financial assets and financial liabilities less any adjustments for impairment with a short term to maturity are considered to approximate net fair value.
2.28 Financial assets
From 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005
We have elected to apply the exemption available under AASB 1 to apply AASB 132 and AASB 139 from 1 July 2005. Accordingly, we have applied previous AGAAP in the comparative information on financial instruments within the scope of AASB 132 and AASB 139. For further information on previous AGAAP refer to the annual report for the year ended 30 June 2005.
(a) Adjustments on transition date: 1 July 2005
The nature of the main adjustments to ensure this information complies with AASB 132 and AASB 139 are that, with the exception of held-to-maturity investments and loans and receivables which are measured at amortised cost (refer below), fair value is the measurement basis. Fair value is inclusive of transaction costs. At the date of transition, adjustments to carrying amounts are taken to retained profits or reserves. With the exception of those financial assets which are designated in hedge relationships (refer to note 2.26), at the date of transition to AASB 132 and AASB 139 there were no significant adjustments to carrying amounts. For further information concerning the adjustments on transition date, reference should be made to note 36.
(b) From 1 July 2005
We classify our financial assets in the following categories. These are financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables, held-to-maturity investments, and available-for-sale financial assets. The classification depends on the purpose for which the investments were acquired. We determine the classification at initial recognition and re-evaluate this designation at each reporting date.
(i) Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
This category has two sub-categories: financial assets held for trading, and those designated at fair value through profit or loss. Derivatives are categorised as held for trading unless they are designated as hedges. Assets in this category are classified as current assets if they are either held for trading or are expected to be realised within twelve months of the balance date.
(ii) Loans and receivables
Loans and receivables are non derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They arise when we provide money, goods or services directly to a debtor with no intention of selling the receivable. They are included in current assets, except for those with maturities greater than twelve months after the balance sheet date, which are classified as non current assets. Loans and receivables are included in receivables in the balance sheet.
(iii) Held-to-maturity investments
Held-to-maturity investments are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments and fixed maturities where we have the positive intention and ability to hold to maturity.

F-25


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
2.Summary of accounting policies (continued)
2.28 Financial assets (continued)
(iv) Available-for-sale financial assets
Available-for-sale financial assets, comprising principally marketable equity securities, are non-derivatives that are either designated in this category or not classified in any of the other categories. They are included in non current assets unless management intends to dispose of the investment within twelve months of the balance sheet date.
Available-for-sale financial assets and financial assets at fair value through profit and loss are subsequently carried at fair value. Loans and receivables and held-to-maturity investments are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method less impairment. The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial asset and of allocating the interest expense over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial asset, or, where appropriate, a shorter period.
In the event that we have ‘financial assets at fair value through the profit or loss’ realised and unrealised gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value are included in the income statement in the period in which they arise. Unrealised gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of financial assets classified as available-for-sale are recognised in equity in the available-for-sale investments reserve. When financial assets classified as available-for-sale are sold or impaired, the accumulated fair value adjustments, previously recognised in equity, are included in the income statement.
Purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised on settlement date — the date on which we receive or deliver an asset. Financial assets are initially recognised at fair value plus, in the case of a financial asset not at fair value through profit and loss, transaction costs. Financial assets are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows from the financial assets have expired or have been transferred and we have transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership.
2.29 Financial instrument transaction costs
We have elected to apply the exemption available under AASB 1 to apply AASB 132 and AASB 139 from 1 July 2005. Accordingly, we have applied previous AGAAP in the comparative information on financial instruments within the scope of AASB 132 and AASB 139. Under previous AGAAP, transaction costs were excluded from the carrying value of our financial assets and financial liabilities disclosed in the financial report. Under A-IFRS such costs are included in the carrying amounts. At the date of transition to AASB 132 and AASB 139 the adjustment to carrying amounts was immaterial.

F-26


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
3. Earnings per share
                 
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005  
    ¢     ¢  
 
Basic earnings per share
    25.7       34.7  
     
Diluted earnings per share
    25.7       34.6  
     
                 
    $m     $m  
Earnings used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share
               
Profit for the year
    3,181       4,309  
     
                 
    Number of shares  
    (millions)  
Weighted average number of ordinary shares (a)
               
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the calculation of basic earnings per share (b)
    12,366       12,430  
Effect of dilutive employee share instruments (c)
    35       37  
     
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the calculation of diluted earnings per share
    12,401       12,467  
     
(a) In order to underpin the equity instruments issued under the Growthshare plan, Growthshare purchase shares on market. These shares are not considered to be outstanding for the purposes of computing basic and diluted earnings per share.
(b) During fiscal 2005, we completed an off-market share buy-back of 185,284,669 ordinary shares as part of our capital management program. The ordinary shares were bought back at $4.05 per share, comprising a fully franked dividend component of $2.55 per share and a capital component of $1.50 per share. The Commonwealth of Australia did not participate in the share buy-back.
Refer to note 21 for full details on our movement in issued ordinary shares, including further discussion on our prior year share buy-back.
(c) In fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, the following equity instruments are considered dilutive to earnings per share:
  deferred share instruments issued under Telstra Growthshare Trust (Growthshare);
  incentive shares granted under the Growthshare short term incentive scheme; and
  share options issued under Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plan I (TESOP97).
In fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, the following equity instruments are not considered dilutive to earnings per share:
  performance rights, restricted shares and options issued under Growthshare; and
  share options issued under Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plan II (TESOP99).
Refer to note 31 for details regarding equity instruments issued under the Growthshare and TESOP share plans.

F-27


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
4. Dividends
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Dividends paid
                               
Previous year final dividend paid
    1,739       1,639       1,739       1,639  
Previous year special dividend paid with the final dividend
    746             746        
Interim dividend paid
    1,739       1,739       1,739       1,739  
Special dividend paid with the interim dividend
    746       746       746       746  
         
Total dividends paid
    4,970       4,124       4,970       4,124  
         
 
                               
Dividends per ordinary share paid
    ¢       ¢                  
                     
Previous year final dividend paid
    14.0       13.0                  
Previous year special dividend paid with the final dividend
    6.0                        
Interim dividend paid
    14.0       14.0                  
Special dividend paid with the interim dividend
    6.0       6.0                  
                     
Total dividends paid
    40.0       33.0                  
                     
Our dividends paid are fully franked at a tax rate of 30%
Dividends per ordinary share declared
Our dividends declared per share in respect of fiscal year as disclosed on the face of our income statement is detailed below:
                 
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005  
    ¢     ¢  
 
Dividends declared per ordinary share
               
Interim dividend
    14.0       14.0  
Special dividend paid with the interim dividend
    6.0       6.0  
Final dividend (a)
    14.0       14.0  
Special dividend paid with the final dividend
          6.0  
     
Total
    34.0       40.0  
     
 
(a) As our final dividend for fiscal 2006 was not declared, determined or publicly recommended by the Board as at 30 June 2006, no provision for dividend was raised prior to, or as at, that date in the balance sheet. Our final dividend has been reported as an event subsequent to balance date and the provision for dividend has been raised at the declaration date. Refer to note 34 for further details.

F-28


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
4. Dividends (continued)
                 
    Telstra Entity  
    Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005  
    $m     $m  
 
The combined amount of exempting and franking credits available to us for the next fiscal year are:
               
Combined exempting and franking account balance (a)
    6       285  
Franking credits that will arise from the payment of income tax payable as at 30 June (b)
    400       519  
Franking credits and exempting credits that we may be prevented from distributing in the next fiscal year
    (24 )     (24 )
     
 
    382       780  
     
 
               
Franking debits that will arise on the payment of dividends declared after 30 June (c)
               
Final dividend
    745       745  
Special dividend paid with the final dividend
          320  
     
 
    745       1,065  
     
 
(a) Previously, the Telstra Entity and its Australian resident wholly owned entities elected to form a tax consolidated group. As part of the election to enter tax consolidation, the tax consolidated group is treated as a single entity for income tax purposes. On entry into tax consolidation, the franking credits held in the franking accounts and exempting accounts of the subsidiary members was transferred to the Telstra Entity. As a result, one franking account and one exempting account is maintained by the Telstra Entity for the tax consolidated group.
As at 30 June 2006, the Telstra Entity had a combined exempting and franking account balance of $6 million (2005: $285 million). This total combines the deficit in our franking account of $18 million (2005: surplus of $261 million) and a surplus of $24 million (2005: $24 million) in our exempting account.
The franking account balance represents the amount of tax paid by the entity that is available for distribution to shareholders. As at 30 June 2006, our franking account balance was in deficit. As a result, we are required to pay franking deficit tax of $18 million in July 2006, which will eliminate the deficit in the franking account balance and be fully offset against our fiscal 2006 income tax assessment. In relation to our exempting account, there are statutory restrictions placed on the distribution of credits from this account.
Additional franking credits will arise when the Telstra Entity pays tax instalments during fiscal 2007, relating to the fiscal 2006 and 2007 income tax years. Franking credits will be used when the Telstra Entity pays its 2006 final ordinary dividend during fiscal 2007.
(b) Franking credits that will arise from the payment of income tax are expressed at the 30% tax rate on a tax paid basis. This balance represents the current tax liabilities as at 30 June 2006 for the tax consolidated group.
(c) The franking debits that will arise when we pay our final ordinary dividend are expressed as the amount of franking credits that will be attached to a fully franked distribution.
We believe our current balance of franking credits combined with the franking credits that will arise on tax instalments expected to be paid during fiscal 2007, will be sufficient to cover the franking debits arising from our final dividend. Refer to note 34 for further details in relation to our dividends declared subsequent to year end.

F-29


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
5. Segment information
We report our segment information on the basis of business segments as our risks and returns are affected predominantly by differences in the products and services we provide through those segments.
Our internal management reporting structure drives how our Company is organised and managed. This internal structure provides the initial basis for determining our business segments.
Our business segments are predominantly distinguishable by the different type of customers we deliver our key products and services to. Our customer facing business segments service different customer types. Other reportable business segments are also aligned with our specific customer or business needs. These segments provide operational support services or product support services to our customer facing business segments, or service other telecommunication carriers. Our “Other” segment consists of various business units that do not qualify as business segments in their own right and which service a variety of customer or business needs.
The main adjustments from our internal management reporting structure to our reported business segments are in relation to certain offshore operations. For internal management reporting purposes, our TelstraClear group (TelstraClear) is included with Telstra Enterprise and Government, our CSL New World Mobility group (CSL New World) is a business unit in its own right, and the International Head Office group is included as part of Strategic Marketing. These offshore operations are reported as part of a segment we have called Telstra International for segment reporting purposes.
For the purposes of the applicable accounting standard, we consider that the risks and returns of these offshore operations differ from those of our local operations and as a result we have grouped these operations into the Telstra International business segment.
Business segments
During fiscal 2006, we created the following new business segments:
  Telstra Business;
  Telstra Operations; and
  Strategic Marketing.
The Telstra Business group has been drawn from the Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels group (formerly known as Telstra Consumer and Marketing), Telstra Country Wide and the Telstra Enterprise and Government (formerly known as Telstra Business and Government) business units.
The Strategic Marketing group was drawn from various business units across Telstra comprising mainly Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels.
The Telstra Operations group combined Telstra Services (formerly known as Infrastructure Services), Telstra Technology, Innovation and Products, and Operations Support, which moved from being reported within our corporate areas.
Those business segments not impacted by the above restructures are substantially consistent with their structure in the prior year. We have restated all our comparative information to reflect our current reporting position as if all our new business segments and segment accounting policies existed in fiscal 2005.
For segment reporting purposes, the Telstra Group is organised into the following business segments:
Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels (TC&C) is responsible for:
  the provision of the full range of telecommunication products, services and communication solutions to consumers; and
  leading the mass market channels including inbound and outbound call centres, Telstra Shops and Telstra Dealers.
Telstra Business (TB) is responsible for:
  the provision of the full range of telecommunication products and services, communication solutions, and information and communication technology services to small to medium enterprises.
Telstra Enterprise and Government (TE&G) is responsible for:
  the provision of the full range of telecommunication products and services, communication solutions, and information and communication technology services to corporate and government customers; and
  the provision of global communication solutions to multi-national corporations through our interests in the United Kingdom, Asia and North America.
Telstra Wholesale (TW) is responsible for:
  the provision of a wide range of telecommunication products and services delivered over our networks and associated support systems to:
    non-Telstra branded carriers, carriage service providers, Internet service providers, system integrators and application service providers; and
 
    infrastructure owners and managers who acquire infrastructure services.

F-30


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
5. Segment information (continued)
Sensis is responsible for:
  the management and growth of the information, advertising and directories business, including printed publications, directory assistance, and online products and services.
Telstra International (TInt.) consists of the following offshore business operations:
  CSL New World is responsible for our operations in Hong Kong that mainly generate revenues from the mobiles market;
  International Head Office Group is responsible for our Asia-Pacific investments; and
  TelstraClear is our New Zealand subsidiary that provides integrated telecommunications services to the New Zealand market.
Telstra Operations (TO) is responsible for:
  co-ordination and execution for our company’s multi-year business improvement and transformation program;
  leading the identification, analysis, validation, development and implementation of product, technology and information technology strategies for both the network infrastructure and customer solutions of our Company;
  overall planning, design, specification of standards, commissioning and decommissioning of our communication networks;
  construction of infrastructure for our Company’s fixed, mobile, Internet protocol (IP) and data networks;
  operation and maintenance, including activation and restoration of these networks;
  supply and delivery of information technology solutions to support our products, services and customer support function;
  the development and lifecycle management of products and services over the networks, as well as application platforms and the online environment; and
  operational support functions for our Company, including procurement, billing, credit management and property management.
Telstra Country Wide (TCW) is responsible for:
  the management and control of providing telecommunication products and services to consumer, small business, enterprise and some government customers outside the mainland state capital cities, in outer metropolitan areas, and in Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Telstra BigPond is responsible for:
  the management and control of our retail Internet products, services and content, contact centres, customer relations and associated functions, for broadband and narrowband delivery.
Telstra Media is responsible for:
  the management of our investment interest in the FOXTEL partnership;
  the development and management of the hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) cable network; and
  investigation and development of an interactive PayTV (IPTV) service.
Strategic Marketing is responsible for:
  the co-ordination and delivery of marketing activities across our Company and market segments.
Corporate areas include:
  Legal Services — provides legal services across the Company;
  Public Policy and Communications — responsible for managing our relationships and positioning with key groups such as our customers, the media, governments, community groups and staff. It also has responsibility for regulatory positioning and negotiation;
  Finance and Administration — encompasses the functions of business and finance services, treasury, risk management and assurance, investor relations and the office of the company secretary. It also includes the financial management of the majority of the Telstra Entity fixed assets (including network assets) through the Asset Accounting Group; and
  Human Resources — encompasses talent management, organisational development, human resource operations, health, safety and environment, as well as workplace relations and remuneration.
In our segment financial results, the “Other” segment consists of various business units that do not qualify as reportable segments in their own right. These include:
  Telstra Country Wide;
  Telstra BigPond;
  Telstra Media;
  Strategic Marketing; and
  our corporate areas.

F-31


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
5. Segment information (continued)
Segment financial results
For segment reporting purposes, we have reallocated certain items between the respective business segments pursuant to the definitions of segment revenues, segment expenses, segment assets and segment liabilities contained in the applicable accounting standard, where a reasonable allocation basis exists.
Where no reasonable allocation basis exists, we have not reallocated individual items to alternative segments. For segment reporting purposes, these items are reported within the same business segment as for internal management reporting. As a result, our segment revenues, segment expenses, segment assets and segment liabilities do not reflect actual operating results achieved for our business segments in certain circumstances.
The following narrative further explains our segment results for those individual items where it is considered that no reasonable allocation basis exists:
  Sales revenue associated with mobile handsets for TC&C, TB and TE&G are allocated totally to the TC&C segment, with the exception of some products sold in relation to small to medium enterprises which are allocated to TB. Ongoing prepaid and postpaid mobile revenues derived from our mobile usage is recorded in TC&C, TB and TE&G depending on the type of customer serviced. In addition, the majority of goods and services purchased associated with our mobile revenues are allocated to the TC&C segment. As a result, the TC&C segment also holds segment assets and segment liabilities related to those revenues and expenses recorded in TC&C;
  trade debtors in relation to the mobile repayment option on mobile handsets sold by our dealers are allocated totally to TC&C; and
  revenue received in advance in relation to installation and connection fees is allocated totally to TC&C.
These allocations reflect management’s accountability framework and internal reporting system and accordingly no reasonable basis for reallocation to the respective business segments exist.
In addition, revenue derived from our BigPond Internet products and its related segment assets are recorded in the customer facing business segments of TC&C, TB and TE&G. Certain distribution costs in relation to these products are recognised in these three business segments. Telstra Operations recognise certain expenses in relation to the installation and running of the broadband cable network. The related segment assets are managed by the Asset Accounting Group. In accordance with our application of the business segment definition in relation to customer type, we have not reallocated these items to the Telstra Bigpond business segment.
Change in segment accounting policies
The following segment accounting policy changes occurred during fiscal 2006:
Interconnection revenue
In previous financial years, our segment accounting policy was to recognise our revenue relating to interconnection entirely in our TW business segment. In fiscal 2006, some parts of the revenue earned from interconnection were allocated to the TC&C, TB and TE&G business segments to match the revenue recognised with the associated expense. As a result, revenue in TW decreased by $633 million and revenue increased in TC&C by $500 million, TB by $52 million and TE&G by $81 million in fiscal 2005 to reflect this change in policy.
Segment assets and liabilities
Segment assets and segment liabilities form part of the operating activities of a segment and can be allocated directly to that segment.
The Asset Accounting Group performs a company wide function in relation to the financial management of certain assets. These assets are accounted for at the corporate level (aggregated in the “Other” segment) and not allocated across segments.
The “Other” segment also includes balances that do not meet the definition of segment assets and segment liabilities for our reportable business segments. As a result, borrowings and income tax assets and liabilities were recorded as reconciling items within the “Other” segment.
Inter-segment transfers
We account for all transactions of entities within the Telstra Group, including international transactions between Australian and non-Australian businesses, at market value. For segment reporting purposes, transfer pricing is not used within the Company. As such the inter-segment revenue line purely relates to intercompany revenue.
The Asset Accounting Group does not allocate depreciation expense related to the use of assets owned at the corporate level to other business segments.

F-32


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
5. Segment information (continued)
                                                                                 
Telstra Group                                                            
    TC&C     TB     TE&G     TW     Sensis     TInt.     TO     Other     Elimina-        
                                                            (a)     tions     Total  
Year ended 30 June 2006   $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Revenue from external customers
    8,897       3,053       4,607       2,607       1,826       1,450       226       106             22,772  
Add inter-segment revenue
                57       292       10       31       83       7       (480 )      
     
Total segment revenue
    8,897       3,053       4,664       2,899       1,836       1,481       309       113       (480 )     22,772  
     
 
                                                                               
Segment result under A-IFRS
    5,721       2,412       2,702       2,693       865       86       (4,175 )     (4,903 )     29       5,430  
Share of equity accounted net (losses)/profits
                            (1 )     12             (6 )           5  
Less net gain on sale of investments
                4                   58                         62  
     
Earnings before interest and income tax expense (EBIT) — segment result under USGAAP
    5,721       2,412       2,706       2,693       864       156       (4,175 )     (4,909 )     29       5,497  
     
 
                                                                               
Earnings has been calculated after charging/(crediting) the following non cash expenses:
                                                                               
Impairment losses
    140       10       8             13       11       143       26             351  
Reversal of impairment losses
                      (20 )                 (2 )                 (22 )
Depreciation and amortisation
                63             91       298       48       3,587             4,087  
Other significant non cash expenses
    26       4       20       5       1       3       144       7             210  
     
 
                                                                               
Non current segment assets acquired (excluding acquisition of investments)
    11             89       23       96       224       4,032       5             4,480  
     
 
                                                                               
As at 30 June 2006
                                                                               
Segment assets
    1,437       370       1,767       453       1,886       3,817       3,308       23,316       (179 )     36,175  
     
Segment assets include:
                                                                               
Investment in jointly controlled entities
                1                   1                         2  
Investment in associated entities
                18             3                               21  
     
 
                                                                               
Segment liabilities
    1,260       165       618       241       673       615       2,534       17,414       (177 )     23,343  
     
 
(a) Revenue for the other segment relates primarily to our revenue earned by Telstra Media from our share of FOXTEL cable subscriber revenue and for services provided to FOXTEL. The Asset Accounting Group is the main contributor to the segment result for this segment, which is primarily depreciation and amortisation charges.
Segment assets for the “Other” segment includes the Telstra Entity fixed assets (including network assets) managed through the centralised Asset Accounting Group. Segment liabilities includes income tax liabilities and borrowings, which have been reallocated from the reportable business segment in accordance with the applicable accounting standard.

F-33


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
5. Segment information (continued)
                                                                                 
Telstra Group                                                            
    TC&C     TB     TE&G     TW     Sensis     TInt.     TO     Other     Elimina-        
                                                            (a)     tions     Total  
Year ended 30 June 2005   $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Revenue from external customers
    8,931       3,099       4,570       2,267       1,708       1,360       161       85             22,181  
Add inter-segment revenue
                52       284       11       38       77       2       (464 )      
     
Total segment revenue
    8,931       3,099       4,622       2,551       1,719       1,398       238       87       (464 )     22,181  
     
 
                                                                               
Segment result under A-IFRS
    6,179       2,488       2,807       2,283       812       94       (3,371 )     (4,345 )     3       6,950  
Share of equity accounted net (losses)/profits
    3             5                   (96 )           (6 )           (94 )
Less net gain on sale of investments
    66                               13                         79  
     
Earnings before interest and income tax expense (EBIT) — segment result under USGAAP
    6,248       2,488       2,812       2,283       812       11       (3,371 )     (4,351 )     3       6,935  
     
 
                                                                               
Earnings has been calculated after charging/(crediting) the following non cash expenses:
                                                                               
Impairment losses
    115       18       12             17       7       20       30       (29 )     190  
Depreciation and amortisation
                46             64       266       1       3,152             3,529  
Other significant non cash expenses
    25       3       22       6       4       3       139       24             226  
     
 
                                                                               
Non current segment assets acquired (excluding acquisition of investments)
    16             45       503       74       246       3,052       110             4,046  
     
 
                                                                               
As at 30 June 2005
                                                                               
Segment assets
    1,448       343       1,635       356       1,836       3,641       2,750       23,702       (500 )     35,211  
     
Segment assets include:
                                                                               
Investment in jointly controlled entities
                3                   33                         36  
Investment in associated entities
                8             4                               12  
     
 
                                                                               
Segment liabilities
    1,021       119       639       148       665       547       2,024       16,887       (497 )     21,553  
     
 
(a) Revenue for the other segment relates primarily to our revenue earned by Telstra Media from our share of FOXTEL cable subscriber revenue and for services provided to FOXTEL. The Asset Accounting Group is the main contributor to the segment result for this segment, which is primarily depreciation and amortisation charges.
Segment assets for the other segment includes the Telstra Entity fixed assets (including network assets) managed through the centralised Asset Accounting Group. Segment liabilities excludes income tax liabilities and borrowings, which are included as part of the other segment.

F-34


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
5. Segment information (continued)
                         
            Telstra Group  
            Year ended 30 June  
            2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m  
 
Reconciliation of segment results to Telstra Group position:
                       
Earnings before interest and income tax expense (EBIT)
            5,497       6,935  
Finance income
            66       83  
Finance costs
            (1,002 )     (963 )
             
Profit before income tax expense
            4,561       6,055  
Income tax expense
            (1,380 )     (1,746 )
             
Profit for the year
            3,181       4,309  
             
 
                       
Information about sales revenue from our products and services:
                       
PSTN products
                       
Basic access
            3,318       3,362  
Local calls
            1,023       1,284  
PSTN value added services
            246       250  
National long distance calls
            913       1,013  
Fixed to mobile
            1,491       1,566  
International direct
            201       234  
Fixed interconnection
            286       309  
             
 
            7,478       8,018  
 
                       
Mobiles
                       
Mobile services
            4,505       4,307  
Mobile handsets
            467       381  
             
 
            4,972       4,688  
 
                       
Data and internet services
                       
Internet and IP solutions
            1,907       1,377  
ISDN products
            807       890  
Specialised data
            884       966  
             
 
            3,598       3,233  
 
                       
Other products and services
                       
Advertising and directories
            1,711       1,585  
Customer premises equipment
            274       231  
Payphones
            104       121  
Intercarrier services
            351       290  
Inbound calling products
            449       449  
Solutions management
            989       931  
Offshore controlled entities (a)
            1,745       1,611  
Pay TV bundling
            320       263  
Other sales and service
            759       741  
             
 
            6,702       6,222  
             
Sales revenue
            22,750       22,161  
             
Other revenue (excluding finance income)
            22       20  
             
Total revenue (excluding finance income)
    6       22,772       22,181  
             

F-35


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
5. Segment information (continued)
                 
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005  
    $m     $m  
 
Information about revenue from our products and services (continued):
               
(a) Sales revenue from our offshore controlled entities is split between the following
               
products and services:
               
International — PSTN products
    446       484  
International — Mobiles
    849       751  
International — Data and internet services
    287       264  
International — Intercarrier services
    20       24  
International — Other
    143       88  
     
 
    1,745       1,611  
     
 
               
Information about our geographic operations (i)
               
Segment revenue from external customers
               
Australian customers
    21,014       20,556  
International customers
    1,758       1,625  
     
 
    22,772       22,181  
     
 
               
Carrying amount of segment assets
               
Australian customers
    31,966       31,245  
International customers
    4,209       3,966  
     
 
    36,175       35,211  
     
 
               
Non current segment assets acquired (excluding acquisition of investments)
               
Located in Australia
    4,256       3,800  
Located in international countries
    224       246  
     
 
    4,480       4,046  
     
 
(i) Our geographical operations are split between our Australian and international operations. Our international operations include the business of our international business segment (primarily businesses in Hong Kong and New Zealand) and our international business that serves multi-national customers in the TE&G segment. No individual geographical area forms a significant part of our operations apart from our Australian operations.

F-36


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
6. Income
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Sales revenue
                                       
Rendering of services
            12,427       12,522       10,427       10,783  
Sale of goods
            808       691       536       430  
Rent of network facilities
            7,653       7,233       7,655       7,233  
Construction contracts
            151       130       174       136  
Advertising and directory services
            1,711       1,585       464       377  
Procurement (a)
                        647       628  
                 
 
            22,750       22,161       19,903       19,587  
                 
Other revenue (excluding finance income)
                                       
Dividend revenue
                                       
- controlled entities
    33                   560       223  
- jointly controlled entities
    33                         1  
                 
 
                        560       224  
Rent from property and motor vehicles
            22       20       22       20  
                 
 
            22       20       582       244  
                 
Total revenue (excluding finance income)
            22,772       22,181       20,485       19,831  
                 
 
                                       
Other income
                                       
Net gain on disposal of:
                                       
- property, plant and equipment
            23       9       20       10  
- investments in controlled entities
            4                    
- investments in jointly controlled and associated entities
            58       16       59       26  
- investments in listed securities and other investments
                  63             59  
                 
 
            85       88       79       95  
Other miscellaneous income (b)
            243       173       84       38  
                 
 
            328       261       163       133  
                 
Total income (excluding finance income)
            23,100       22,442       20,648       19,964  
                 
 
                                       
Finance income
                                       
- interest on cash and cash equivalents
            66       83       60       78  
- other
                        3       23  
                 
 
            66       83       63       101  
                 
Total income
            23,166       22,525       20,711       20,065  
                 

F-37


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
6. Income (continued)
(a) The Telstra Entity receives procurement revenue from its controlled entity Sensis Pty Ltd for the use of Yellow Pages® and White Pages® trademarks. Refer to note 33 for further details on transactions involving our related parties.
(b) Other miscellaneous income includes revenue recognised from subsidies received on the Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS) and Broadband Connect Incentive Scheme.
HiBiS, which has now concluded, and its replacement program, Broadband Connect, were established by the Commonwealth to allow service providers to provide high bandwidth services to eligible customers in the regional, rural and remote areas of Australia at prices broadly comparable to those prices charged to customers in metropolitan areas.
As a service provider, we are able to claim a rebate from the Commonwealth for each registered HiBIS or Broadband Connect service we provide to an eligible customer. The purpose of the incentive payment is to cover the short fall of providing these services to eligible customers in the regional, rural and remote areas of Australia at metropolitan prices. We recognise these incentive payments as other income.
We have no significant unfulfilled conditions and other contingencies relating to our obligations under the HiBIS and Broadband Connect programs.

F-38


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
7. Profit from continuing operations
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
(a) Profit before income tax expense (including items disclosed in note 7(b)) has been calculated after charging/(crediting) the following items:
                                       
 
                                       
Labour
                                       
Included in our labour expenses are the following:
                                       
Employee redundancy (b)
            534       91       516       85  
Share based payments
    21       15       10       15       10  
Defined benefit plan expense
    28       185       203       182       201  
 
                                       
Goods and services purchased
                                       
Included in our goods and services purchased are the following:
                                       
Cost of goods sold
            1,421       1,150       1,087       882  
Rental expense on managed services
            69       67       64       62  
 
                                       
Other expenses
                                       
Impairment losses:
                                       
- impairment in value of inventories (b)
            53       11       53       11  
- impairment in value of trade and other receivables (b)
            161       150       138       131  
- impairment in value of investments (b) (i)
                  6       245       27  
- impairment in amounts owed by controlled entities (b)
    33                   382       475  
- impairment in amounts owed by jointly controlled entities
    33       2       5              
- impairment in value of intangibles (b) (ii)
            66       1       64        
- impairment in value of property, plant and equipment (b) (ii)
            69       17       69       17  
                 
 
            351       190       951       661  
                 
Reversal of impairment losses:
                                       
- reversal of impairment in value of trade and other receivables
            (22 )           (22 )      
- reversal of impairment in value of investments (b)
                        (15 )     (334 )
- reversal of impairment in amounts owed by controlled entities
    33                         (15 )
                 
 
            (22 )           (37 )     (349 )
                 
 
                                       
Rental expense on operating leases
            667       675       496       502  
Net foreign currency translation losses/(gains)
            2       (40 )     (50 )     (5 )
Remuneration of auditors
    8       8       7       6       6  
Service contracts and other agreements
            1,836       1,556       1,796       1,521  
Promotion and advertising
            356       330       285       253  
General and administration
            723       739       542       564  
Other operating expenses (b)
            506       358       573       325  
                 
 
            4,427       3,815       4,562       3,478  
                 
 
(i) We have recognised impairment losses relating to the value of our investments in controlled entities, jointly controlled and associated entities, and other entities based on the value in use calculation. The impairment loss in the value of investment in controlled entities was eliminated on consolidation of the Telstra Group.
(ii) We have recognised impairment losses relating to project costs that were capitalised within capitalised software forming part of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment. These projects have subsequently been cancelled and the costs recognised in the income statement as an impairment loss. In fiscal 2006, additional impairment losses were recognised reflecting additional write offs due to our transformation, refer note 7(b) for details.

F-39


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
7. Profit from continuing operations (continued)
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
(a) Profit before income tax expense (including items disclosed in note 7(b)) has been calculated after charging/(crediting) the following items (continued):
                                       
 
                                       
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (b)
                                       
- general purpose buildings including leasehold improvements
    14       62       54       54       47  
- communication assets including leasehold improvements
    14       2,953       2,615       2,786       2,508  
- communication assets under finance lease
    14       67       75       67       75  
- equipment under finance lease
    14       8       9       6       7  
- other plant, equipment and motor vehicles
    14       93       123       45       50  
                 
 
            3,183       2,876       2,958       2,687  
                 
Amortisation of intangible assets
                                       
- patents and trademarks
    15       2       2       4       4  
- licences
    15       58       37       18       18  
- brandnames
    15       11       10              
- customer bases
    15       98       86       13       15  
- deferred expenditure
            9       8       35       10  
- software assets (b)
    15       726       510       629       472  
                 
 
            904       653       699       519  
                 
 
            4,087       3,529       3,657       3,206  
                 
Finance costs
                                       
- interest on bills of exchange and commercial paper
            65       35       65       35  
- interest on Telstra bonds
            486       223       486       223  
- interest on other loans
            242       497       242       497  
- interest on derivative instruments
            169       164       169       164  
- interest on finance leases
            6       7       2       3  
- unwinding of discount on liabilities recognised at present value
            40       35       9       2  
- gain in fair value hedge instruments
            (26 )           (26 )      
- other
            20       2       38       19  
                 
 
            1,002       963       985       943  
                 
 
                                       
Research and development
                                       
Research and development expenses
            23       29       23       29  
                 

F-40


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
7. Profit from continuing operations (continued)
(b) Income statement items requiring specific disclosure
The separate disclosure of the following material items is relevant in explaining our financial performance.
Our profit for the year has been calculated after charging specific expense items from our continuing operations as detailed below:
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Redundancy and restructuring related costs (i)
                                       
Labour
                                       
- redundancy expense
            356             352        
- restructuring expense
            50             50        
                 
 
            406             402        
                 
Goods and services purchased
                                       
- restructuring expense
            54             54        
                 
 
                                       
Other expenses
                                       
- restructuring expense
            105             105        
- impairment in value of inventories
            18             18        
- impairment in value of trade and other receivables
            14             14        
- impairment in value of intangibles
            61             61        
- impairment in value of property, plant and equipment
            46             46        
                 
 
            244             244        
                 
 
                                       
Depreciation and amortisation
                                       
- accelerated amortisation of intangibles
            160             145        
- accelerated depreciation of property, plant and equipment
            262             262        
                 
 
            422             407        
                 
 
            1,126             1,107        
                 
Other
                                       
- impairment in value of controlled entities (ii)
                        205        
- reversal of impairment in value of controlled entities (ii)
                              (334 )
- impairment in amounts owed by controlled entities (iii)
                        382       475  
                 
 
                        587       141  
Total expense items
            1,126             1,694       141  
Income tax benefit attributable to those items requiring specific disclosure
            (338 )           (332 )      
                 
Net items after income tax benefit
            788             1,362       141  
                 
 
(i) On 15 November 2005, we announced the results from the strategic review that was initiated on 1 July 2005. We unveiled a strategy for improving our business by:
  introducing a company wide market based management system;
 
  the adoption of a one factory approach to managing operations; and
 
  delivering integrated services to our customers.
We also announced several key decisions and commitments regarding our systems, processes and products which will impact the future performance of the Company.

F-41


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
7. Profit from continuing operations (continued)
For the year ended 30 June 2006, we have recorded a number of restructuring related expenses associated with the implementation of the strategic review initiatives. The redundancy and restructuring costs include the following:
  redundancy costs associated with the reduction in our workforce, including those redundancies that have been provided for (refer to note 19);
 
  the provision for restructuring costs associated with shutting down certain networks, platforms and applications, property rationalisation, onerous lease costs and replacing customer equipment (refer to note 19);
 
  the impairment of certain assets due to the decision to shut down certain networks and platforms that are no longer considered recoverable. This also includes the decision to cancel certain projects relating to the development of software and the construction of property, plant and equipment; and
 
  the accelerated recognition of depreciation and amortisation of certain assets that, while currently in use, will be decommissioned as part of our decision to shut down certain networks, platforms and applications.
A total provision of $427 million has been raised for redundancy and restructuring for the Telstra Group as at 30 June 2006. This includes $395 million recorded in current and non current provisions, $18 million recorded as a reduction in inventory and $14 million recorded as an allowance for other receivables.
(ii) In fiscal 2006, the profit before income tax expense of the Telstra Entity included an expense of $205 million in relation to the impairment of the value of three controlled entities. In fiscal 2005, the profit before income tax expense of the Telstra Entity included a $334 million net gain in relation to the reversal of an impairment of the value of four controlled entities. These balances are eliminated on consolidation for Telstra Group reporting purposes.
Each fiscal year, we review the value of our investment in controlled entities. As a result, we have incurred an impairment loss (or a reversal of an impairment loss) by assessing the carrying value of our controlled entity with its recoverable amount. We review our recoverable amount by reference to its value in use. Refer to note 25 for further details regarding impairment.
(iii) The profit before income tax expense of the Telstra Entity included an impairment loss of $382 million (2005: $475 million) relating to a movement in allowance for amounts owed by a controlled entity. This balance was eliminated on consolidation for Telstra Group purposes. Refer to note 25 for further details regarding impairment.

F-42


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
8. Remuneration of auditors
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Audit fees
                                       
The Australian National Audit Office has charged the following amounts for:
                                       
Auditing and reviewing the financial reports (i)
            4.981       5.038       4.431       4.404  
Ernst and Young has charged the following amounts for:
                                       
Auditing and reviewing the financial reports (ii)
            2.900       2.290       1.601       1.391  
                 
Total audit fees
    7 (a)     7.881       7.328       6.032       5.795  
                 
 
                                       
Other services
                                       
In addition to auditing and reviewing the financial reports, other services were provided by Ernst and Young in their own right as follows:
                                       
Audit related (iii)
            0.829       0.571                  
Tax (iv)
            0.118       0.423                  
Other services (v)
            0.331       0.703                  
                             
Total other services
            1.278       1.697                  
                             
 
Audit fees
(i) Our Australian statutory auditor is the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO). The audit provided by the ANAO has been subcontracted to Ernst and Young (EY) since fiscal 2000.
(ii) Audit fees charged by EY relate to audit services provided in completing our statutory and regulatory filings other than those subcontracted directly from the ANAO. These services include the audit and review of our offshore controlled entities, the regulatory audits and our USGAAP audit. In addition, this category includes the audit of our other statutory filings such as the filing we are required to make under Japanese law, and the annual report on Form 20-F to meet our United States listing requirements.
Other services
We have processes in place to maintain the independence of the external auditor, including the level of expenditure on non audit services. Fees earned by EY for non audit work are capped at a maximum of 1.0 times the total audit and audit related fees.
Non audit services are pre-approved by the Audit Committee provided they fall within a defined list of services specified by the Audit Committee. Those non-audit services that are not listed have to be specifically approved by the Audit Committee prior to the commencement of any engagement. In addition, all non-audit services with a value over $100,000 must be separately approved by the Audit Committee, even if the service is listed as a pre-approved service.
The provision of non-audit services by EY is monitored by the Audit Committee via bi-annual reports to the Audit Committee. In addition, where engagements involve services from the defined list of services, these are reported to the Audit Committee at the following meeting.
EY has specific internal processes in place to ensure auditor independence.
(iii) Audit related fees charged by EY relate to services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements, and other assurance engagements. These services include our privacy audit, various accounting advice provided and additional audit work arising on the acquisition of our newly acquired controlled entities.
(iv) Tax fees charged by EY mainly relates to licence fee and technical services including training and support services in relation to our tax return software.
(v) Other services relate to all additional services performed by EY, other than those disclosed as auditing and reviewing the financial report, audit related and tax. These services include performance of system and security reviews, and various other reviews and non assurance services across the Company.

F-43


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
9. Income taxes
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Major components of income tax expense
                               
Current tax expense
    1,730       1,740       1,860       1,907  
Deferred tax resulting from the origination and reversal of temporary differences
    (386 )     4       (411 )     (28 )
Under provision of tax in prior years
    36       2       33       3  
         
 
    1,380       1,746       1,482       1,882  
         
 
                               
Notional income tax expense on profit differs from actual income tax expense recorded as follows:
                               
Profit before income tax expense
    4,561       6,055       4,719       6,398  
         
 
                               
Notional income tax expense on profit calculated at 30% (a):
    1,368       1,817       1,416       1,919  
 
                               
Which is adjusted by the tax effect of:
                               
Effect of different rates of tax on overseas income
    (19 )     (11 )            
Non assessable and non deductible items
    (5 )     (62 )     33       (40 )
Under provision of tax in prior years
    36       2       33       3  
         
Income tax expense on profit
    1,380       1,746       1,482       1,882  
         
 
                               
Amounts recognised directly in equity during the year
                               
Deferred tax debited/(credited) directly in equity during the year
    291       (24 )     289       (24 )
         
 
(a) The Commonwealth statutory income tax rate for fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 was 30%. This tax rate is the income tax rate applied to Australian resident companies pursuant to the Income Tax Rates Act.

F-44


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
9. Income taxes (continued)
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Deferred tax asset/(deferred tax liability)
                               
 
                               
Deferred tax items recognised in income statement
                               
Property, plant and equipment
    (1,872 )     (1,918 )     (1,911 )     (2,019 )
Intangible assets
    (356 )     (474 )     (175 )     (280 )
Provision for employee entitlements
    268       281       246       263  
Revenue received in advance
    116       130             5  
Provision for workers’ compensation
    65       64       62       62  
Allowance for doubtful debts
    42       46       33       37  
Defined benefit assets
    (45 )     (98 )     (43 )     (97 )
Trade and other payables
    57       38       54       36  
Provision for redundancy
    56             55        
Other provisions
    91       10       85       1  
Income tax losses (a)
    106       69             4  
Other
    36       26       27       3  
         
 
    (1,436 )     (1,826 )     (1,567 )     (1,985 )
         
Deferred tax items recognised in equity (b)
                               
Defined benefit assets
    (260 )     24       (258 )     24  
Derivative financial instruments
    (7 )           (7 )      
         
 
    (267 )     24       (265 )     24  
         
Net deferred tax liability
    (1,703 )     (1,802 )     (1,832 )     (1,961 )
         
 
                               
Our net deferred tax liability is split as follows (c):
                               
Deferred tax assets recognised in the balance sheet
    1       2              
Deferred tax liabilities recognised in the balance sheet
    (1,704 )     (1,804 )     (1,832 )     (1,961 )
         
 
    (1,703 )     (1,802 )     (1,832 )     (1,961 )
         
 
(a) We have recognised a deferred tax asset for the unused tax losses of our offshore controlled entities to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the unused tax losses can be utilised. We have prepared management budgets and forecasts in line with our current knowledge of future events to support our view of sufficient future taxable profits being available to offset our unused tax losses.
(b) When the underlying transactions to which our deferred tax relates is recognised directly to equity in accordance with applicable accounting standards, the temporary differences associated with these adjustments are also recognised directly in equity.
(c) We are able to offset deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities in the balance sheet when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and to the extent we intend to settle our current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.
Our deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are netted within the tax consolidation group, as these deferred tax balances relate to income taxes levied by the Australian Taxation Office. We do not net deferred tax balances between controlled entities, apart from those within the tax consolidation group.

F-45


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
9. Income taxes (continued)
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Deferred tax assets not recognised in the balance sheet (a):
                               
Income tax losses
    185       161              
Capital tax losses
    196       198       160       161  
Deductible temporary differences
    353       334       192       99  
         
 
    734       693       352       260  
         
 
(a) Our deferred tax assets not recognised in the balance sheet may be used in future years if the following criteria are met:
  our controlled entities have sufficient future taxable profit to enable the income tax losses and temporary differences to be offset against that taxable profit;
 
  the Telstra Entity and our controlled entities have sufficient future capital gains to be offset against those capital losses;
 
  we continue to satisfy the conditions required by tax legislation to be able to use the tax losses; and
 
  there are no future changes in tax legislation that will adversely affect us in using the benefit of the tax losses.
As at 30 June 2006, the deferred tax assets not recognised in our balance sheet are able to be carried forward indefinitely for both our domestic and offshore operations, except in relation to one offshore controlled entity that has income tax losses of $9 million (fiscal 2005: $13 million) that will expire in fiscal 2027.
In the event of the further privatisation of our Company, certain income tax losses and capital tax losses, not currently recognised as a deferred tax asset, may not be able to be utilised in the future to offset income tax and capital tax gains for some offshore controlled entities and the tax consolidated group. The ability to utilise income and capital losses in the future will depend on various factors, including the number of shares the Commonwealth continues to hold, either directly or indirectly.
Tax consolidation
The Telstra Entity and its Australian resident wholly owned entities previously elected to form a tax consolidated group. As part of the election to enter tax consolidation, the tax consolidated group is treated as a single entity for income tax purposes.
The Telstra Entity, as the head entity in the tax consolidated group, recognises, in addition to its own transactions, the current tax liabilities and the deferred tax assets arising from unused tax losses and tax credits for all entities in the group. However, the Telstra Entity and its resident wholly owned entities account for their own current tax expense and deferred tax amounts.
Upon tax consolidation, the entities within the tax consolidated group entered into a tax sharing agreement. The terms of this agreement specified the methods of allocating any tax liability in the event of default by the Telstra Entity on its group payment obligations and the treatment where a subsidiary member exits the group. The tax liability of the group otherwise remains with the Telstra Entity for tax purposes.
During fiscal 2006, the entities within the tax consolidated group entered into a tax funding arrangement under which:
  the Telstra Entity compensates its wholly owned controlled entities for any current tax receivable assumed;
 
  the Telstra Entity compensates its wholly owned controlled entities for any deferred tax assets relating to unused tax losses and tax credits; and
 
  wholly owned entities compensate the Telstra Entity for any current tax payable assumed.
The funding amounts are based on the amounts recorded in the financial statements of the wholly owned entities.
Amounts receivable of $40 million to the Telstra Entity and amounts payable from the Telstra Entity of $194 million under the tax funding arrangements are due in the next financial year upon final settlement of the current tax payable for the tax consolidated group. During fiscal 2005, no tax funding arrangement was in place and as a result these funding amounts were recorded as equity contributions to or distributions from our controlled entities.

F-46


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
10. Cash and cash equivalents
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Current
                               
Cash at bank and on hand
    238       225       87       83  
Bank deposits, bills of exchange and commercial paper (a)
    451       1,323       387       1,285  
         
 
    689       1,548       474       1,368  
         
 
(a) Bank deposits are held in the short term money market. The carrying amount of bank deposits, bills of exchange and commercial paper approximates net fair value due to their short term to maturity.

F-47


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
11. Trade and other receivables
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Current
                                       
Trade debtors (a)
            2,565       2,434       1,881       1,774  
Allowance for doubtful debts
            (144 )     (159 )     (110 )     (125 )
                 
 
            2,421       2,275       1,771       1,649  
                 
 
                                       
Amounts owed by controlled entities (other than trade debtors)
    33                   2,267       2,194  
Allowance for amounts owed by controlled entities (other than trade debtors)
    33                   (1,851 )     (1,469 )
                 
 
                        416       725  
                 
 
                                       
Accrued revenue
            1,027       976       971       929  
 
                                       
Other receivables (b)
            262       298       195       235  
Allowance for doubtful debts (b)
            (9 )           (9 )      
                 
 
            1,280       1,274       1,157       1,164  
                 
 
            3,701       3,549       3,344       3,538  
                 
Non current
                                       
Amounts owed by controlled entities (other than trade debtors)
    33                   60       56  
                 
 
                                       
Amounts owed by jointly controlled and associated entities (c)
    33       229       242       210       204  
Allowance for amounts owed by jointly controlled and associated entities (c)
    33       (215 )     (210 )     (210 )     (204 )
                 
 
            14       32              
                 
 
                                       
Other receivables (b)
            78       65       72       59  
Allowance for doubtful debts (b)
            (5 )           (5 )      
                 
 
            73       65       67       59  
                 
 
            87       97       127       115  
                 
 
(a) Our policy requires trade debtors to pay us in accordance with agreed payment terms. Depending on the customer segment, our settlement terms are generally 14 to 30 days from date of invoice. All credit and recovery risk associated with trade debtors has been provided for in the balance sheet.
(b) Our other receivables relates mainly to customer deferred debt. Our customer deferred debt allows eligible post paid customers the opportunity to repay the cost of their mobile handset and approved accessories monthly over 12, 18 or 24 months. The loan is provided interest free to our mobile postpaid customers.
(c) In fiscal 2006, amounts owed by jointly controlled and associated entities relates mainly to loans provided to Reach Ltd (Reach) of $210 million (2005: $204 million) and the 3GIS Partnership (3GIS) of $14 million (2005: $32 million). An allowance for the total loan provided to Reach has been recognised. Refer to note 33 for further details.

F-48


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
12. Inventories
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Current
                               
Finished goods recorded at net realisable value
    79       4       67        
Finished goods recorded at cost
    123       197       91       167  
         
Total finished goods
    202       201       158       167  
 
                               
Raw materials and stores recorded at cost
    15       16       10       12  
Construction contracts (a)
    7       15       7       15  
         
 
    224       232       175       194  
         
 
                               
Non current
                               
Finished goods recorded at net realisable value
    15             15        
Finished goods recorded at cost
    5       15       5       15  
         
 
    20       15       20       15  
         
 
                               
(a) Construction contract disclosures are shown as follows:
                               
Contract costs incurred and recognised profits
    108       69       108       69  
Progress billings
    (101 )     (54 )     (101 )     (54 )
         
 
    7       15       7       15  
         
 
                               
Advances received for construction work in progress (included in trade and other payables)
    7       7       7       7  
         

F-49


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
13. Investments
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Investments — accounted for using the equity method
                                       
 
                                       
Investments in jointly controlled entities
            4       40       2       83  
Allowance for impairment in value
            (2 )     (4 )     (2 )     (50 )
                 
Carrying amount of investments in jointly controlled entities
    30       2       36             33  
                 
 
                                       
Investments in associated entities
            45       36       18       33  
Allowance for impairment in value
            (24 )     (24 )           (25 )
                 
Carrying amount of investments in associated entities
    30       21       12       18       8  
                 
 
            23       48       18       41  
                 
 
                                       
Investments — other
                                       
 
                                       
Investments in controlled entities
    29                   13,062       12,975  
Allowance for impairment in value
                        (7,109 )     (6,839 )
                 
Total investments in controlled entities
                        5,953       6,136  
                 

F-50


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
14. Property, plant and equipment
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Land and site improvements
                               
At cost
    35       40       32       37  
         
 
                               
Buildings (including leasehold improvements)
                               
At cost
    822       822       706       722  
Accumulated depreciation/impairment
    (392 )     (392 )     (352 )     (356 )
         
 
    430       430       354       366  
         
 
                               
Communication assets (including leasehold improvements)
                               
At cost
    45,848       43,217       43,222       41,127  
Accumulated depreciation/impairment
    (23,398 )     (21,541 )     (22,393 )     (20,946 )
         
 
    22,450       21,676       20,829       20,181  
         
 
                               
Communication assets under finance lease
                               
At cost
    858       858       858       858  
Accumulated depreciation/impairment
    (501 )     (434 )     (501 )     (434 )
         
 
    357       424       357       424  
         
 
                               
Other plant, equipment and motor vehicles
                               
At cost
    1,068       1,011       692       753  
Accumulated depreciation/impairment
    (740 )     (710 )     (519 )     (554 )
         
 
    328       301       173       199  
         
 
                               
Equipment under finance lease
                               
At cost
    60       52       33       26  
Accumulated depreciation/impairment
    (38 )     (32 )     (13 )     (10 )
         
 
    22       20       20       16  
         
 
                               
Total property, plant and equipment
                               
At cost
    48,691       46,000       45,543       43,523  
Accumulated depreciation
    (25,069 )     (23,109 )     (23,778 )     (22,300 )
         
 
    23,622       22,891       21,765       21,223  
         

F-51


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
14. Property, plant and equipment (continued)
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
      
Land and site improvements
                                       
 
                                       
Opening cost
            40       43       37       42  
- additions
                  4             3  
- disposals
            (5 )     (8 )     (5 )     (8 )
- acquisitions through business combinations
                  1              
                  
Closing cost
            35       40       32       37  
                  
 
                                       
Buildings (including leasehold improvements)
                                       
 
                                       
Opening net book value
            430       393       366       376  
                  
 
                                       
Opening cost
            822       733       722       689  
- additions
            72       47       60       43  
- disposals
            (104 )     (16 )     (98 )     (15 )
- acquisitions through business combinations
            10       55              
- foreign currency exchange differences
            (4 )     (6 )            
- other
            26       9       22       5  
                  
Closing cost
            822       822       706       722  
                  
 
                                       
Opening accumulated depreciation/impairment
            (392 )     (340 )     (356 )     (313 )
- disposals
            74       4       70       3  
- acquisitions through business combinations
            (1 )                  
- depreciation expense
    7       (62 )     (54 )     (54 )     (47 )
- impairment losses
            (6 )           (6 )      
- foreign currency exchange differences
            3       3              
- other
            (8 )     (5 )     (6 )     1  
                  
Closing accumulated depreciation/impairment
            (392 )     (392 )     (352 )     (356 )
                  
 
                                       
                  
Closing net book value
            430       430       354       366  
                 

F-52


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
14. Property, plant and equipment (continued)
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
      
Communication assets (including leasehold improvements) (a)
                                       
 
                                       
Opening net book value
            21,676       21,093       20,181       20,095  
                  
 
                                       
Opening cost
            43,217       40,575       41,127       39,093  
- additions
            3,681       3,378       3,501       2,732  
- disposals
            (1,416 )     (740 )     (1,432 )     (740 )
- acquisitions through business combinations
            421                    
- foreign currency exchange differences
            (105 )     (37 )            
- other
            50       41       26       42  
                  
Closing cost
            45,848       43,217       43,222       41,127  
                  
 
                                       
Opening accumulated depreciation/impairment
            (21,541 )     (19,482 )     (20,946 )     (18,998 )
- disposals
            1,376       584       1,393       588  
- acquisitions through business combinations
            (265 )                  
- depreciation expense
    7       (2,953 )     (2,615 )     (2,786 )     (2,508 )
- impairment losses
            (37 )     (14 )     (37 )     (14 )
- foreign currency exchange differences
            41       8              
- other
            (19 )     (22 )     (17 )     (14 )
                  
Closing accumulated depreciation/impairment
            (23,398 )     (21,541 )     (22,393 )     (20,946 )
                  
 
                                       
                  
Closing net book value
            22,450       21,676       20,829       20,181  
                 
 
                                       
Communication assets under finance lease
                                       
 
                                       
Opening net book value
            424       499       424       499  
                  
 
                                       
Opening and closing cost (b)
            858       858       858       858  
                  
 
                                       
Opening accumulated depreciation/impairment
            (434 )     (359 )     (434 )     (359 )
- depreciation expense
    7       (67 )     (75 )     (67 )     (75 )
                  
Closing accumulated depreciation/impairment
            (501 )     (434 )     (501 )     (434 )
                  
 
                                       
                  
Closing net book value
            357       424       357       424  
                 
 
(a) Includes certain network land and buildings which are essential to the operation of our communication assets.
(b) During fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, there were no additions or disposals to this class of asset. As a result, our opening and closing cost has remained unchanged.

F-53


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
14. Property, plant and equipment (continued)
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
      
Other plant, equipment and motor vehicles
                                       
 
                                       
Opening net book value
            301       380       199       211  
                  
 
                                       
Opening cost
            1,011       1,335       753       1,004  
- additions
            124       114       34       52  
- disposals
            (111 )     (301 )     (96 )     (295 )
- acquisitions through business combinations
            48       15              
- foreign currency exchange differences
            (8 )     (14 )            
- other
            4       (138 )     1       (8 )
                  
Closing cost
            1,068       1,011       692       753  
                  
 
                                       
Opening accumulated depreciation/impairment
            (710 )     (955 )     (554 )     (793 )
- disposals
            98       287       85       281  
- acquisitions through business combinations
            (37 )                  
- depreciation expense
    7       (93 )     (123 )     (45 )     (50 )
- impairment losses
            (26 )     (3 )     (26 )     (3 )
- foreign currency exchange differences
            6       9              
- other
            22       75       21       11  
                  
Closing accumulated depreciation/impairment
            (740 )     (710 )     (519 )     (554 )
                  
 
                                       
Closing net book value
            328       301       173       199  
                 
 
                                       
Equipment under finance lease
                                       
 
                                       
Opening net book value
            20       11       16       10  
                  
 
                                       
Opening cost
            52       48       26       20  
- additions
            9       13       9       11  
- disposals
                  (9 )           (5 )
- acquisitions through business combinations
                  4              
- foreign currency exchange differences
            (1 )                  
- other
                  (4 )     (2 )      
                  
Closing cost
            60       52       33       26  
                  
 
                                       
Opening accumulated depreciation/impairment
            (32 )     (37 )     (10 )     (10 )
- disposals
                  3              
- depreciation expense
    7       (8 )     (9 )     (6 )     (7 )
- other
            2       11       3       7  
                  
Closing accumulated depreciation/impairment
            (38 )     (32 )     (13 )     (10 )
                  
 
                                       
Closing net book value
            22       20       20       16  
                 

F-54


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
14. Property, plant and equipment (continued)
Work in progress
In fiscal 2006, the Telstra Group has property, plant and equipment under construction amounting to $1,695 million (2005: $1,040 million). In fiscal 2006, the Telstra Entity has property, plant and equipment under construction amounting to $1,596 million (2005: $945 million). As these assets are not installed and ready for use, there is no depreciation being charged on these amounts.
Other
Details of our expenditure and lease commitments in relation to property, plant and equipment are shown in note 26 to these financial statements.
In fiscal 2006, the Telstra Group has property, plant and equipment that was fully depreciated and still in use with a cost of $1,767 million (2005: $2,224 million). In fiscal 2006, the Telstra Entity has property, plant and equipment that was fully depreciated and still in use with a cost of $1,412 million (2005: $1,905 million).

F-55


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
15. Intangible assets
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
      
Goodwill
    2,073       2,037       16       16  
          
 
                               
Internally generated intangible assets
                               
Software assets developed for internal use
    3,188       3,622       2,651       3,173  
Accumulated amortisation
    (1,406 )     (1,652 )     (1,171 )     (1,499 )
          
 
    1,782       1,970       1,480       1,674  
          
Acquired intangible assets
                               
Mastheads
    447       447              
          
 
                               
Patents and trademarks
    34       34       20       20  
Accumulated amortisation
    (8 )     (6 )     (11 )     (7 )
          
 
    26       28       9       13  
          
 
                               
Licences
    833       793       267       267  
Accumulated amortisation
    (241 )     (183 )     (132 )     (116 )
          
 
    592       610       135       151  
          
 
                               
Brandnames
    235       215              
Accumulated amortisation
    (53 )     (42 )            
          
 
    182       173              
          
 
                               
Customer bases
    846       749       70       70  
Accumulated amortisation
    (407 )     (305 )     (64 )     (51 )
          
 
    439       444       6       19  
          
Total acquired intangible assets
    1,686       1,702       150       183  
          
 
                               
Deferred expenditure
                               
Deferred expenditure
    1,589       1,272       1,841       1,533  
Accumulated amortisation
    (1,007 )     (652 )     (1,022 )     (655 )
          
 
    582       620       819       878  
          
 
                               
Total intangibles
                               
At cost
    9,245       9,169       4,865       5,079  
Accumulated amortisation
    (3,122 )     (2,840 )     (2,400 )     (2,328 )
          
 
    6,123       6,329       2,465       2,751  
         

F-56


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
15. Intangible assets (continued)
Movements in intangible assets
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
      
Goodwill
                                       
 
                                       
Opening value
            2,037       1,790       16       16  
- acquisitions through business combinations
    24       324       385              
- disposals
            (312 )                  
- foreign currency exchange differences
            27       (138 )            
- impairment losses
            (1 )                  
- other
            (2 )                  
                  
Closing value (a)
            2,073       2,037       16       16  
                  
 
                                       
Intangibles — internally generated
                                       
 
                                       
Software assets developed for internal use (b)
                                       
 
                                       
Opening net book value
            1,970       1,882       1,674       1,698  
                  
 
                                       
Opening cost
            3,622       3,249       3,173       3,005  
- additions
            602       552       498       470  
- acquisitions through business combinations
            1       15              
- disposals
            (969 )     (310 )     (965 )     (302 )
- impairment losses (f)
            (65 )           (64 )      
- foreign currency exchange differences
            (10 )                  
- other
            7       116       9        
                  
Closing cost
            3,188       3,622       2,651       3,173  
                  
 
                                       
Opening accumulated amortisation
            (1,652 )     (1,367 )     (1,499 )     (1,307 )
- amortisation expense (e)
    7       (726 )     (510 )     (629 )     (472 )
- disposals
            969       310       965       302  
- foreign currency exchange differences
            7                    
- other
            (4 )     (85 )     (8 )     (22 )
                  
Closing accumulated amortisation
            (1,406 )     (1,652 )     (1,171 )     (1,499 )
                  
 
                                       
Closing net book value
            1,782       1,970       1,480       1,674  
                 
 
                                       
Acquired Intangible assets
                                       
 
                                       
Mastheads
                                       
 
                                       
Opening net book value
            447       448              
                  
 
                                       
Opening cost
            447       448              
- impairment losses
                  (1 )            
                  
Closing cost
            447       447              
                  
 
                                       
Closing net book value (c)
            447       447              
                 

F-57


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
15. Intangible assets (continued)
Movements in intangible assets (continued)
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
      
Patents and trademarks
                                       
 
                                       
Opening net book value
            28       3       13       17  
                  
 
                                       
Opening cost
            34       7       20       20  
- additions
            1                    
- acquisitions through business combinations
                  27              
- other
            (1 )                  
                  
Closing cost
            34       34       20       20  
                  
 
                                       
Opening accumulated amortisation
            (6 )     (4 )     (7 )     (3 )
- amortisation expense (e)
    7       (2 )     (2 )     (4 )     (4 )
                  
Closing accumulated amortisation
            (8 )     (6 )     (11 )     (7 )
                  
 
                                       
Closing net book value
            26       28       9       13  
                 
 
                                       
Licences
                                       
 
                                       
Opening net book value
            610       651       151       169  
                  
 
                                       
Opening cost
            793       801       267       267  
- additions
            16       5       2        
- acquisitions through business combinations
            23       5              
- foreign currency exchange differences
                  (18 )            
- other
            1             (2 )      
                  
Closing cost
            833       793       267       267  
                  
 
                                       
Opening accumulated amortisation
            (183 )     (150 )     (116 )     (98 )
- amortisation expense (e)
    7       (58 )     (37 )     (18 )     (18 )
- foreign currency exchange differences
            1       4              
- other
            (1 )           2        
                  
Closing accumulated amortisation
            (241 )     (183 )     (132 )     (116 )
                  
 
                                       
Closing net book value
            592       610       135       151  
                 

F-58


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
15. Intangible assets (continued)
Movements in intangible assets (continued)
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
      
Brandnames
                                       
 
                                       
Opening net book value
            173       180              
                  
 
                                       
Opening cost
            215       215              
- acquisitions through business combinations
            21       16              
- foreign currency exchange differences
            (1 )     (16 )            
                  
Closing cost
            235       215              
                  
 
                                       
Opening accumulated amortisation
            (42 )     (35 )            
- amortisation expense (e)
    7       (11 )     (10 )            
- foreign currency exchange differences
                  3              
                  
Closing accumulated amortisation
            (53 )     (42 )            
                  
 
                                       
Closing net book value
            182       173              
                 
 
                                       
Customer bases
                                       
 
                                       
Opening net book value
            444       353       19       34  
                  
 
                                       
Opening cost
            749       593       70       70  
- additions
            30                    
- acquisitions through business combinations
            76       191              
- foreign currency exchange differences
            (9 )     (35 )            
                  
Closing cost
            846       749       70       70  
                  
 
                                       
Opening accumulated amortisation
            (305 )     (240 )     (51 )     (36 )
- amortisation expense (e)
    7       (98 )     (86 )     (13 )     (15 )
- foreign currency exchange differences
            (4 )     21              
                  
Closing accumulated amortisation
            (407 )     (305 )     (64 )     (51 )
                  
 
                                       
Closing net book value
            439       444       6       19  
                 

F-59


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
15. Intangible assets (continued)
Movements in intangible assets (continued)
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
      
Deferred expenditure
                               
 
                               
Opening net book value
    620       636       878       593  
          
 
                               
Opening cost
    1,272       1,031       1,533       988  
- additions (d)
    317       241       315       545  
- other
                (7 )      
          
Closing cost
    1,589       1,272       1,841       1,533  
          
 
                               
Opening accumulated amortisation
    (652 )     (395 )     (655 )     (395 )
- amortisation expense (e)
    (355 )     (257 )     (367 )     (260 )
          
Closing accumulated amortisation
    (1,007 )     (652 )     (1,022 )     (655 )
          
 
                               
Closing net book value
    582       620       819       878  
         
Details of our expenditure commitments in relation to our intangible assets are shown in note 26 to our financial statements.
(a) We allocate goodwill to our relevant cash generating units (CGU’s) for the purposes of impairment testing. Refer to note 25 for further details.
(b) In fiscal 2006, the Telstra Group had software assets under development amounting to $352 million (2005: $362 million). In fiscal 2006, the Telstra Entity had software assets under development amounting to $296 million (2005: $301 million). As these assets were not installed and ready for use there is no amortisation being charged on the amounts.
(c) We do not currently amortise the cost of our mastheads as they have been assessed to have an indefinite useful life. We do not expect there to be a foreseeable limit to the period over which the mastheads are expected to generate net cash inflows and, based on industry experience and current information, it is extremely rare for leading mastheads to become commercially or technically obsolete. We believe we could dispose of the mastheads in the foreseeable future for an amount not less than the current carrying value and that the acquirer could retain the strong market position that the mastheads currently represent.
(d) During fiscal 2005, we entered into an arrangement with our jointly controlled entity, Reach Ltd (Reach), and our co-shareholder PCCW, whereby Reach’s international cable capacity was allocated between us and PCCW under an indefeasible right of use (IRU) agreement, including committed capital expenditure for the period until 2022.
The IRU is amortised over the contract periods for the capacity on the various international cable systems, which range from 5 to 22 years. The Telstra Entity has recorded the IRU within deferred expenditure. For the Telstra Group, the IRU was deemed to be an extension of our investment in Reach. The IRU has a carrying value of $nil in the consolidated financial statements due to the recognition of equity accounted losses in Reach.
(e) Amortisation expense is included in depreciation and amortisation expense in the income statement, with the exception of items of deferred expenditure which are expensed to the relevant line of the income statement. The majority of the deferred expenditure relates to the deferral of basic access installation costs, which are amortised to goods and services purchased in the income statement.
(f) We have recognised impairment losses relating to project costs that were included in our capitalised software and relate to our software work-in-progress. These projects have subsequently been cancelled and the costs recognised in the income statement as an impairment loss.

F-60


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
16. Derivative financial assets
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
      
Current
                               
Cross currency swap hedge receivable
    20       4       20       4  
Forward contract asset
    1             1        
          
 
    21       4       21       4  
         
 
                               
Non current
                               
Cross currency swap hedge receivable
    222             222        
Interest rate swap asset
    169             169        
          
 
    391             391        
         
Refer to note 35 for details on the financial risk management of our derivative financial instruments.
The transitional rules for first time adoption of A-IFRS required that we restate our comparative financial report using A-IFRS, except for AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement”, where comparative information was not required to be restated. Accordingly, we have applied previous AGAAP in the comparative information.

F-61


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
17. Trade and other payables
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
      
Current
                                       
Trade creditors (a)
            738       649       586       480  
Accrued expenses
            1,338       1,044       1,081       815  
Accrued capital expenditure
            844       289       772       210  
Accrued interest
            258       227       258       227  
Deferred cash settlement for acquisitions (b)
            123       316              
Other creditors (a)
            269       282       171       219  
Amounts owed to controlled entities (other than trade creditors)
    33                   197       5  
                  
 
            3,570       2,807       3,065       1,956  
                 
 
                                       
Non current
                                       
Deferred cash settlement for acquisitions (b)
            127       187              
Other creditors
            70       63       65       61  
                  
 
            197       250       65       61  
                 
(a)  Trade creditors and other creditors are non interest bearing liabilities. We generally process trade creditor payments once they have reached 30 days from the date of invoice for electronic funds transfer payments, or 30 days from the end of the month of invoice for other payments.
(b)  Included in our deferred cash settlement for acquisitions are our remaining obligations for the purchase of the third generation radio access network assets from Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Ltd.
During fiscal 2005, we purchased these assets for an amount of $450 million, payable over two years. We recognised this payable at its present value in our balance sheet of $403 million and are releasing the associated financing cost over the period of the payablein the income statement. For fiscal 2006, this release of finance costs amounted to $19 million (2005: $28 million).

F-62


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
18. Borrowings
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
      
Current
                                       
Short term debt
                                       
Bank overdraft (a)
                  14              
Bank loans
            111             110        
Bills of exchange and commercial paper (b)
            1,457       449       1,457       449  
Loans from wholly owned controlled entities
    33                   1,408       2,400  
                  
 
            1,568       463       2,975       2,849  
                  
 
                                       
Long term debt — current portion
                                       
Telstra bonds (c)
                  516             516  
Other loans (d)
            394       523       394       523  
Finance leases
    26       7       5       5       4  
                  
 
            401       1,044       399       1,043  
                  
 
            1,969       1,507       3,374       3,892  
                 
 
                                       
Non current
                                       
Long term debt
                                       
Telstra bonds (c)
            2,613       2,605       2,613       2,605  
Other loans (d)
            8,748       8,289       8,748       8,289  
Finance leases
    26       48       47       15       13  
                  
 
            11,409       10,941       11,376       10,907  
                 
 
                                       
Total debt payable
                                       
Short term debt
                                       
Bank overdraft (a)
                  14              
Bank loans
            111             110        
Bills of exchange and commercial paper (b)
            1,457       449       1,457       449  
Loans from wholly owned controlled entities
    33                   1,408       2,400  
                  
 
            1,568       463       2,975       2,849  
                  
 
                                       
Long term debt (including current portion)
                                       
Telstra bonds (c)
            2,613       3,121       2,613       3,121  
Other loans (d)
            9,142       8,812       9,142       8,812  
Finance leases
    26       55       52       20       17  
                  
 
            11,810       11,985       11,775       11,950  
                  
 
            13,378       12,448       14,750       14,799  
                 

F-63


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
18. Borrowings (continued)
Our long term debt is repayable over years ending 30 June as follows:
                                                         
    Telstra Group  
Due in the year ending 30 June   2007     2008     2009     2010     2011     after 2011     Total  
Telstra bonds   $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Coupon interest rate
                                                       
up to 6.0%
                                  35       35  
up to 8.0%
                500       500             1,510       2,510  
up to 10.0%
                                  28       28  
up to 12.0%
                                  44       44  
up to 16.0%
                                  32       32  
             
 
                500       500             1,649       2,649  
             
Unamortised discount
                                                    (36 )
 
                                                     
 
                                                    2,613  
 
                                                     
 
                                                       
Other loans (d)
    394       1,373       81       815       2,642       3,837       9,142  
             
Unamortised discount
                                                     
 
                                                     
 
                                                    9,142  
 
                                                     
 
                                                       
Finance leases
    13       12       10       8       5       52       100  
             
Future finance charges
                                                    (45 )
 
                                                     
 
                                                    55  
 
                                                     
 
                                                       
Total long term debt payable
    407       1,385       591       1,323       2,647       5,538       11,891  
             
Unamortised discount
                                                    (81 )
 
                                                     
 
                                                    11,810  
 
                                                     
Assets pledged as security
Our 50% owned pay television joint venture FOXTEL previously entered into a $550 million bank facility arrangement to fund its full digital conversion and launch of new digital services. The use of this facility is subject to certain conditions being met and full repayment is due on 30 September 2008.
As part of this arrangement, our controlled entity Telstra Media Pty Ltd as a FOXTEL partner, and FOXTEL itself, have pledged their respective assets as collateral in favour of the banks. The carrying value of the assets pledged in Telstra Media Pty Ltd as at 30 June 2006 was $nil (2005: $nil). Refer to note 27 for details of an equity contribution deed entered as part of this agreement.
On 31 July 2006, FOXTEL entered into a $600 million syndicated secured term loan facility to fund the refinancing of the above facility. Refer to note 34 for further details.
Our borrowings are unsecured, except for finance leases which are secured, as the rights to the leased asset transfer to the lessor in the event of a default by us.
(a) Bank overdraft
As at 30 June 2006, we had a bank overdraft of $nil (2005: $14 million). Our bank overdraft in fiscal 2005 related to a controlled entity. This bank overdraft was unsecured, with interest being charged daily, net of the controlled entity’s offsetting position of cash in bank and any outstanding loans.
(b) Bills of exchange and commercial paper
We have issued bills of exchange and commercial paper of $1,457 million (2005: $449 million) to financial institutions with an original maturity of less than 180 days. At 30 June 2006, all $1,457 million (2005: $449 million) of the commercial paper matures in less than three months.
(c) Telstra bonds
Telstra bonds currently on issue relate to wholesale investors and mature up until the year 2020. During fiscal 2006, $508 million (2005: $273 million) of Telstra bonds matured.

F-64


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
18. Borrowings (continued)
(d) Other loans
Details of our other loans, including currency of borrowing, interest rates and maturity dates, are presented in the table below:
                                                 
Telstra Group - Other loans details   A$ amount     Interest rates     Maturity dates  
    As at 30 June     Year ended 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005     2006   2005
    A$m     A$m     %     %                  
 
Australian dollar loans
    245       247       5.93       5.93     November 2007   November 2007
US dollar loans
    1,028       1,306       5.22 to 6.47       3.49 to 6.50     between April 2008   between Nov 2005
 
                                  and Dec 2015   and April 2012
Euro eurobond loan
    6,336       5,893       3.14 to 6.49       3.00 to 6.38     between Dec 2006   between Dec 2006
 
                                  and July 2015   and July 2015
Swiss franc eurobond loan
    326       304       2.61       2.50     April 2013   April 2013
Japanese yen loans
    472       333       0.44 to 2.51       0.31 to 1.89     between July 2007   between July 2007
 
                                  and June 2016   and Nov 2014
Singapore dollar loans
    84       78       3.80       3.80     March 2008   March 2008
New Zealand dollar loans
    164       183       7.03 to 7.19       6.99 to 7.15     between Nov 2011   between Nov 2011
 
                                  and Nov 2014   and Nov 2014
British pound sterling loans
    487       468       6.23       6.13     August 2014   August 2014
     
Total other loans including current portion
    9,142       8,812                                  
                                     
(e) Financing arrangements
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
We have access to the following lines of credit:
                               
 
                               
Credit standby arrangements
                               
Unsecured committed cash standby facilities which are subject to annual review
    902       892       894       887  
Amount of credit unused
    900       891       894       887  
         
We have commercial paper facilities in place with financial institutions under which we may issue up to $14,651 million (2005: $13,842 million). As at 30 June 2006, we had drawn down $1,457 million (2005: $449 million) of these commercial paper facilities. These facilities are not committed or underwritten and we have no guaranteed access to the funds.
Generally, our facilities are available unless we default on any terms applicable under the relevant agreements or become insolvent.

F-65


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
19. Provisions
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Current
                               
Employee benefits (a)
    319       336       272       288  
Workers’ compensation
    32       32       31       31  
Provision for restructuring
    81             81        
Provision for redundancies (a)
    158             155        
Other provisions
    147       53       140       37  
         
 
    737       421       679       356  
         
 
                               
Non current
                               
Employee benefits (a)
    573       610       548       588  
Workers’ compensation
    184       182       177       175  
Provision for restructuring
    128             128        
Provision for redundancies (a)
    28             28        
Other provisions
    61       102       43       74  
         
 
    974       894       924       837  
         
 
                               
(a) Aggregate employee benefits and related on-costs liability
                               
Current provision for employee benefits
    319       336       272       288  
Non current provision for employee benefits
    573       610       548       588  
Current provision for redundancies
    158             155        
Non current provision for redundancies
    28             28        
Accrued labour and on-costs (i)
    317       237       303       225  
         
 
    1,395       1,183       1,306       1,101  
         
(i) Accrued labour and related on-costs are included within our current trade and other payables (refer to note 17).
Provision for employee benefits consist of amounts for annual leave and long service leave accrued by employees.
Non current employee benefits for long service leave are measured at their present value. The following assumptions were adopted in measuring this amount:
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
     
Weighted average projected increase in salaries, wages and associated on-costs
    4.2 %     4.0 %     4.3 %     4.0 %
Weighted average discount rates
    5.4 %     5.4 %     5.4 %     5.4 %
Leave taking rates
    13.2 %     13.3 %     13.3 %     13.3 %

F-66


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
19. Provisions (continued)
(b) Information about our provisions, other than provision for employee benefits
Workers’ compensation
We self insure for our workers’ compensation liabilities. We provide for our obligations through an assessment of accidents and estimated claims incurred. The provision is based on a semi-annual actuarial review of our workers’ compensation liability. Actual compensation paid may vary where accidents and claims incurred vary from those estimated. The timing of these payments may vary, however the average time payments are expected for is 11 years (2005: 12 years).
Certain controlled entities do not self insure, but pay annual premiums to third party insurance companies for their workers’ compensation.
Provision for redundancy and restructuring
The provision for redundancy and restructuring relates to our transformation project that was announced on 15 November 2005. A provision has only been raised for those redundancy and restructuring costs where a detailed formal plan has been approved and we have raised a valid expectation in those affected that the plan will be carried out. Only those costs that are not associated with the ongoing activities of the Company have been included. The costs included in the redundancy and restructuring provision are based on current estimates of the likely amounts to be incurred and include:
  an estimate of the termination benefits that affected employees will be entitled to;
 
  costs associated with shutting down certain networks, platforms and applications;
 
  property rationalisation and other onerous lease costs; and
 
  costs of replacing customer equipment in order to meet our current service obligations.
A total provision of $427 million has been raised for redundancy and restructuring for the Telstra Group as at 30 June 2006. This includes $18 million for the additional impairment of inventory and a $14 million allowance for other receivables. Refer to note 7(b) for further details.
The execution of these detailed formal plans, for which a restructuring and redundancy provision has been raised, is expected to be completed by fiscal 2011 for the restructuring provision, and fiscal 2008 for the redundancy provision.
Other
Other provisions include provision for Reach Ltd’s committed capital expenditure, provision for restoration costs, and other general provisions.

F-67


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
19. Provisions (continued)
(c) Movement in provisions, other than employee benefits
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Workers’ compensation
                               
 
                               
Opening balance
    214       216       206       207  
- additional provisions
    24       22       23       22  
- amount used
    (32 )     (32 )     (31 )     (31 )
- unwinding of discount on liabilities recognised at present value
    11       11       11       11  
- effect of any change in the discount rate
    (1 )     (3 )     (1 )     (3 )
         
Closing balance
    216       214       208       206  
         
 
                               
Restructuring provision
                               
 
                               
Opening balance
          3             3  
- additional provisions
    209             209        
- reversal of amounts unused
          (3 )           (3 )
         
Closing balance
    209             209        
         
 
                               
Redundancy provision
                               
 
                               
Opening balance
                       
- additional provisions
    186             183        
         
Closing balance
    186             183        
         
 
                               
Other
                               
 
                               
Opening balance
    155       46       111       24  
- additional provisions
    113       125       113       93  
- amount used
    (51 )     (12 )     (38 )     (5 )
- reversal of amounts unused
    (17 )     (10 )     (16 )     (3 )
- unwinding of discount on liabilities recognised at present value
    9       2       9       2  
- foreign currency exchange differences
    (2 )                  
- other
    1       4       4        
         
Closing balance
    208       155       183       111  
         

F-68


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
20. Derivative financial liabilities
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Current
                               
Cross currency swap hedge payable
    6       11       6       11  
Forward contract liability
    6             6        
         
 
    12       11       12       11  
         
 
                               
Non current
                               
Cross currency swap hedge payable
    612       864       612       864  
Interest rate swap payable
    156             156        
         
 
    768       864       768       864  
         
Refer to note 35 for details on the financial risk management of our derivative financial instruments.
The transitional rules for first time adoption of A-IFRS required that we restate our comparative financial report using A-IFRS, except for AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement”, where comparative information was not required to be restated. Accordingly, we have applied previous AGAAP in the comparative information.

F-69


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
21. Share capital
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Contributed equity
    5,793       5,793       5,793       5,793  
Share loan to employees
    (130 )     (154 )     (130 )     (154 )
Shares held by employee share plan trusts
    (99 )     (113 )     (99 )     (113 )
Net services received under employee share plans
    5       10       5       10  
         
 
    5,569       5,536       5,569       5,536  
         
Contributed equity
Our contributed equity represents our authorised fully paid ordinary shares. Each of our fully paid ordinary shares carries the right to one vote at a meeting of the company. Holders of our shares also have the right to receive dividends as declared, and to participate in the proceeds from sale of all surplus assets in proportion to the total shares issued in the event of the company winding up.
The movement in the number of our authorised fully paid ordinary shares is:
                 
    Telstra Group
    Year ended 30 June
    2006   2005
    Number of   Number of
    shares   shares
 
Opening balance
    12,443,074,357       12,628,359,026  
Shares bought back (i)
          (185,284,669 )
     
Closing balance
    12,443,074,357       12,443,074,357  
     
 
(i)   On 15 November 2004, we completed an off-market share buy-back of 185,284,669 ordinary shares as part of our capital management program. The ordinary shares were bought back at $4.05 per share, comprising a fully franked dividend component of $2.55 per share and a capital component of $1.50 per share. The Commonwealth of Australia did not participate in the share buy-back.
The shares bought back were subsequently cancelled, reducing the number of fully paid ordinary shares on issue. In total, 1.47% of our total issued ordinary shares, or 3.0% of our non Commonwealth owned ordinary shares, were bought back.
The cost of the share buy-back comprised a purchase consideration of $750 million and associated transaction costs of $6 million.
In accordance with the substance of the buy-back, shareholders’ equity decreased as follows:
         
    Year ended  
    30 June  
    2005  
    $m  
 
Contributed equity
    280  
Retained profits
    476  
 
     
 
    756  
 
     
Share loan to employees
The share loan to employees account represents the outstanding balance of the non recourse loans provided to our employees under the Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plans (TESOP 97 and TESOP 99).
Shares held by employee share plan trusts
The shares held by employee share plan trusts account represents the value of shares held by the Telstra Growthshare Trust (Growthshare) in Telstra Corporation Limited. The purchase of these shares has been fully funded by Telstra Corporation Limited. As at 30 June 2006 the number of shares totalled 17,931,918 (2005: 20,216,091).
Net services received under employee share plans
The net services received under employee share plans account is used to record the cumulative value of our incentive shares, options, restricted shares, performance rights and deferred shares issued under Growthshare. Contributions by Telstra Corporation Limited to Growthshare are also included in this account. These contributions are used by the Trust to purchase Telstra shares on market to underpin the issue of our equity instruments.

F-70


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
21. Share capital (continued)
Movements in our share capital
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Share capital
                                       
 
                                       
Contributed equity
                                       
Opening balance
            5,793       6,073       5,793       6,073  
- share buy-back
                  (280 )           (280 )
                 
Closing balance
            5,793       5,793       5,793       5,793  
                 
 
                                       
Share loan to employees
                                       
Opening balance
            (154 )     (174 )     (154 )     (174 )
- amounts repaid on share loans provided to employees
            24       20       24       20  
                 
Closing balance
            (130 )     (154 )     (130 )     (154 )
                 
 
                                       
Shares held by employee share plan trusts
                                       
Opening balance
            (113 )     (117 )     (113 )     (117 )
- additional shares purchased
            (6 )           (6 )      
- shares issued to employees under employee share plans
            20       4       20       4  
                 
Closing balance
            (99 )     (113 )     (99 )     (113 )
                 
 
                                       
Net services received under employee share plans
                                       
Opening balance
            10       4       10       4  
- share based payments
    7       15       10       15       10  
- shares issued to employees under employee share plans
            (20 )     (4 )     (20 )     (4 )
                 
Closing balance
            5       10       5       10  
                 
 
            5,569       5,536       5,569       5,536  
                 

F-71


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
22. Reserves
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Foreign currency translation reserve
    (210 )     (195 )            
Cash flow hedging reserve
    14             16        
Consolidation fair value reserve
    32       38              
General reserve
    4       4       194       194  
         
 
    (160 )     (153 )     210       194  
         
Foreign currency translation reserve
The foreign currency translation reserve is used to record exchange differences arising from the conversion of the financial statements into Australian dollars.
This reserve is also used to record our percentage share of exchange differences arising from equity accounting our non-Australian investments in jointly controlled entities and associated entities. The foreign currency translation reserve applicable to jointly controlled and associated entities is shown in note 30.
Cash flow hedging reserve
The cash flow hedging reserve represents, where a hedge qualifies for hedge accounting, the effective portion of gains or losses on remeasuring the fair value of the hedge instrument until such time as the hedged item affects the income statement. At this time the gains or losses are transferred to the income statement.
The transitional rules for first time adoption of A-IFRS required that we restate our comparative financial report using A-IFRS, except for AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement”, where comparative information was not required to be restated. Accordingly, we have applied previous AGAAP in the comparative information.
Consolidation fair value reserve
The consolidation fair value reserve represents our share of the fair value adjustments to TelstraClear Limited net assets upon acquisition of a controlling interest. The reserve balance is amortised over the useful life of the underlying revalued assets.
General reserve
The general reserve represents other items we have taken directly to equity.

F-72


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
22. Reserves (continued)
Movements in our reserves
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Reserves
                                       
 
                                       
Foreign currency translation reserve
                                       
Opening balance
            (195 )                  
- reserves recognised on equity accounting our interest in jointly controlled and associated entities
            1       (2 )            
- adjustment on translation of financial statements of non-Australian controlled entities
            (36 )     (193 )            
- transfer of foreign currency translation reserve on sale of jointly controlled entity
            1                    
- reduction on dilution of ownership of Telstra CSL Limited
    24       19                    
                 
Closing balance
            (210 )     (195 )            
                 
 
                                       
Cash flow hedging reserve
                                       
Opening balance
                               
- adjustment to opening balance on adoption of new accounting standard (i)
            79             82        
                 
Adjusted opening balance
            79             82        
- net hedging gains recognised directly in equity
            327             327        
- net hedging gains removed from equity and included in profit for the year
            (420 )           (421 )      
- income tax on cash flow hedging reserve
            28             28        
                 
Closing balance
            14             16        
                 
 
                                       
Consolidation fair value reserve
                                       
Opening balance
            38       44              
- transfers to retained profits
    23       (6 )     (6 )            
                 
Closing balance
            32       38              
                 
 
                                       
General reserve
                                       
Opening balance
            4       5       194       194  
- reserves recognised on equity accounting our interest in jointly controlled and associated entities
                  5              
- transfer of reserve on sale of associates
                  (6 )            
                 
Closing balance
            4       4       194       194  
                 
 
            (160 )     (153 )     210       194  
                 
 
(i)   Adjustment on adoption of AASB 132 “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” from 1 July 2005. Refer to note 36 for further details.

F-73


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
23. Retained profits and minority interests
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Retained profits
                                       
 
                                       
Opening balance
            8,273       8,618       7,413       7,558  
- adjustment to opening balance on adoption of new accounting standard (i)
            (5 )           (5 )      
                 
Adjusted opening balance
            8,268       8,618       7,408       7,558  
- profit for the year
            3,181       4,309       3,237       4,516  
- actuarial gain/(loss) on our defined benefit plans
            958       (90 )     945       (85 )
- income tax on our actuarial gain on our defined benefit plans
            (284 )     24       (284 )     24  
- dividends paid
    4       (4,970 )     (4,124 )     (4,970 )     (4,124 )
- share buy-back
    21             (476 )           (476 )
- transfers from consolidation fair value reserve
    22       6       6              
- transfer of reserve on sale of associates
                  6              
- dilution gain recognised on CSL New World Mobility Group merger (ii)
    24       18                    
                 
Closing balance
            7,177       8,273       6,336       7,413  
                 
 
                                       
Minority interest
                                       
 
                                       
Opening balance
            2       2              
- increase in minority interests due to acquisitions
            244                    
                 
Closing balance
            246       2              
                 
 
(i)   Adjustment on adoption of AASB 132 “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” from 1 July 2005. Refer to note 36 for further details.
 
(ii)   Dilution gain represents net gain recognised on the merger of the Telstra CSL Group and New World Mobility Group. Refer to note 24 for details.

F-74


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
24. Notes to the statement of cash flows
                                                 
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
            2006     2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     US$m     $m     $m     $m  
     
(a) Reconciliation of profit to net cash provided by operating activities
                                               
 
                                               
Profit for the year
            3,181       2,362       4,309       3,237       4,516  
Add/(subtract) the following transactions
                                               
Depreciation and amortisation
    7       4,087       3,034       3,529       3,657       3,206  
Finance income
    6       (66 )     (49 )     (83 )     (63 )     (101 )
Finance costs
    7       1,002       744       963       985       943  
Dividend revenue
    6                         (560 )     (224 )
Share based payments
    7       15       11       10       15       10  
Defined benefit expense
    7       185       137       203       182       201  
Net gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment
    6       (23 )     (17 )     (9 )     (20 )     (10 )
Net gain on disposal of controlled entities
    6       (4 )     (3 )                  
Net gain on disposal of other investments
    6       (58 )     (43 )     (79 )     (59 )     (85 )
Share of net (gain)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities
    30       (5 )     (4 )     94              
Impairment losses (excluding inventories, trade and other receivables)
    7       137       102       29       760       519  
Reversal of impairment losses (excluding trade and other receivables)
                              (15 )     (349 )
Decrease in non cash receivable from related entity
                                    (361 )
Foreign exchange differences
            28       21       (25 )     (46 )     4  
Other
            4       3       (52 )     9       (20 )
Movements in operating assets and liabilities (net of acquisitions of controlled entity balances)
                                               
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables
            (140 )     (104 )     43       (204 )     62  
(Increase)/decrease in inventories
            10       7       9       14       7  
(Increase)/decrease in prepayments and other assets
            30       22       (23 )     20       (26 )
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables
            243       180       (8 )     517       25  
Increase/(decrease) in revenue received in advance
            55       41       (13 )     23       10  
Increase/(decrease) in net taxes payable
            (502 )     (373 )     32       (537 )     193  
Increase/(decrease) in provisions
            383       285       31       396       32  
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
            8,562       6,356       8,960       8,311       8,552  
                 
 
                                               
(b) Reconciliation of cash balances
                                               
Cash at the end of the year as shown in the statement of cash flows agrees to the net amount of the following items in the notes to the financial statements:
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
    10       689       511       1,548       474       1,368  
Bank overdraft
    18                   (14 )            
                 
 
            689       511       1,534       474       1,368  
                 

F-75


 

o

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
24. Notes to the statement of cash flows (continued)
(c) Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Our receipts from trade and other receivables includes estimated GST of $2,223 million (2005: $2,121 million) collected by us as agent for the ATO. Our payments of accounts payable and to employees include estimated GST payments made by us for goods and services obtained in undertaking both operating and investing activities. GST paid associated with operating activities amounted to $941 million (2005: $784 million) and GST paid relating to investing activities amounted to $159 million (2005: $243 million).
(d) Significant financing and investing activities that involve components of non cash
Acquisition of 3G assets
During fiscal 2005, we acquired a 50% interest in Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Ltd’s existing third generation (3G) radio access network amounting to $403 million at acquisition date. As at 30 June 2006, we have paid an additional $312 million (2005: $22 million) to our joint venture partner for the acquisition of these assets as the purchase price is being paid in instalments. The balance outstanding as at 30 June 2006 was settled on 3 July 2006 and is reflected in our trade and other payables. Refer to note 17 for further information.
(e) Acquisitions
CSL New World Mobility Group
We merged our 100% owned Hong Kong mobile operations (Telstra CSL Group) with the Hong Kong mobile operations of New World PCS Holdings Limited and its controlled entities (New World Mobility Group) to form the CSL New World Mobility Group.
Under the merger agreement, Telstra CSL Limited (Telstra CSL) issued new shares to New World Mobility Holdings Limited in return for 100% of the issued capital of the New World Mobility Group and $44 million in cash. The share issue diluted Telstra’s ownership in the merged group to 76.4%. The effect on the Telstra Group of the merger is detailed below:
                 
    New World Mobility Group  
    2006     2006  
    $m     $m  
 
Consideration for acquisition
               
Fair value of Telstra CSL shares issued
    577          
Cash received on acquisition
    (44 )        
 
             
Total purchase consideration
    533          
 
             
                 
            Carrying  
    Fair value     value  
     
Assets/(liabilities) at acquisition date
               
Trade and other receivables
    21       21  
Inventories
    4       4  
Property, plant and equipment
    174       174  
Intangible assets
    109        
Other assets
    14       14  
Deferred tax assets
    21       29  
Trade and other payables
    (97 )     (75 )
     
Net identifiable assets acquired
    246       167  
Goodwill on acquisition
    287          
 
             
 
    533          
 
             
Profit from acquisition date until 30 June 2006
    1          
 
             

F-76


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
24. Notes to the statement of cash flows (continued)
(e) Acquisitions (continued)
CSL New World Mobility Group (continued)
The net impact of the merger on the Telstra Group results at the date of merger are detailed below.
         
    Year ended  
    30 June  
    2006  
    $m  
 
Net increase in Telstra Group net assets
       
Inflow of cash on acquisition (net of transaction costs)
    42  
New World Mobility Group net identifiable assets acquired
    246  
Goodwill on acquisition of New World Mobility Group
    287  
Reduction of Telstra CSL goodwill on dilution
    (308 )
 
     
 
    267  
Represented by the following movements in equity
       
Minority interest recognised
    (230 )
Reduction in foreign currency translation reserve on dilution
    (19 )
 
     
Dilution gain recognised as a result of merger
    18  
 
     
The CSL New World Mobility Group is a provider of mobile telecommunication products and services which operates primarily in Hong Kong. Refer to note 29 for further details on the acquisition.
Other fiscal 2006 acquisitions
During fiscal 2006, we have also acquired several other entities. These entities are not individually significant and have been aggregated as ‘Other’ in the below table.
                 
    Other  
    2006     2006  
    $m     $m  
 
Consideration for acquisitions
               
 
               
Cash consideration for acquisitions
    31          
Costs of acquisitions
    2          
 
             
Total purchase consideration
    33          
 
             
Payments of deferred consideration for prior years’ acquisition
    10          
 
             
Outflow of cash on acquisition
    43          
 
             
                 
            Carrying  
    Fair value     value  
     
Assets/(liabilities) at acquisition date
               
Trade and other receivables
    5       5  
Property, plant and equipment
    2       2  
Intangible assets — goodwill
    26       26  
Intangible assets — other
    12        
Provisions
    (3 )     (3 )
Deferred tax liabilities
    (4 )      
Other liabilities
          (2 )
     
Net assets
    38       28  
Adjustment to reflect minority interests acquired
    (14 )        
Adjustment upon increase in ownership interest from associated entity to controlled
    (2 )        
Goodwill on acquisition
    11          
 
             
 
    33          
 
             
Profit from acquisition date until 30 June 2006
    1          
 
             
Our other acquisitions include:
  100% of the issued share capital of the Converged Networks Group;
 
  additional 25% interest in the issued share capital of Invizage Pty Ltd giving us 100% ownership of this entity;
 
  additional 40% interest in the issued share capital of Enhanced Processing Technologies Inc giving us 100% ownership of this entity; and
 
  additional 24.7% interest in the issued share capital of Adstream (Aust) Pty Ltd and its controlled entities giving us a controlling 58% interest.
These entities are not individually significant and have been aggregated as ‘Other’. Refer to note 29 for further details on our acquisitions.

F-77


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
24. Notes to the statement of cash flows (continued)
(e) Acquisitions (continued)
Fiscal 2005 acquisitions
During fiscal 2005, we completed the following significant acquisitions:
  100% of the issued share capital of KAZ Group Limited and its controlled entities (KAZ Group); and
  100% of the issued share capital of PSINet UK Limited and its controlled entities (PSINet Group).
We also acquired several other entities during fiscal 2005. These entities were not individually significant and have been aggregated as ‘Other’ in the below table.
                                                                 
    KAZ Group (i)     PSINet Group (ii)     Other (iii)     Total  
    $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
             
Consideration for acquisitions
                                                               
Cash consideration for acquisition
    333               108               124               565          
Deferred cash consideration
                  13                             13          
Costs of acquisition
    7               3               3               13          
 
                                                       
Total purchase consideration
    340               124               127               591          
 
                                                       
Cash balances acquired
    (4 )             (6 )             (3 )             (13 )        
Payments of deferred consideration for prior years’ acquisition
                                8               8          
Consideration deferred
                  (13 )                           (13 )        
 
                                                       
Outflow of cash on acquisition
    336               105               132               573          
 
                                                       
                                                                 
            Carrying             Carrying             Carrying             Carrying  
    Fair value     value     Fair value     value     Fair value     value     Fair value     value  
Assets/(liabilities) at acquisition date
                                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
    4       4       6       6       2       2       12       12  
Trade and other receivables
    75       75       18       18       24       24       117       117  
Inventories
    6       6                   11       11       17       17  
Property, plant and equipment
    22       21       47       47       6       6       75       74  
Intangible assets
    123       15       42             89       14       254       29  
Other assets
    3       3       5       5       5       5       13       13  
Deferred tax assets
    13       13       1       1       7       7       21       21  
Trade and other payables
    (54 )     (54 )     (23 )     (23 )     (22 )     (22 )     (99 )     (99 )
Provisions
    (52 )     (52 )                 (5 )     (5 )     (57 )     (57 )
Borrowings
    (3 )     (3 )     (35 )     (35 )     (10 )     (10 )     (48 )     (48 )
Deferred tax liabilities
    (33 )           (14 )           (17 )     (1 )     (64 )     (1 )
Current tax liabilities
    3       3                   (1 )     (1 )     2       2  
Other liabilities
    (5 )     (5 )     (18 )     (18 )     (13 )     (13 )     (36 )     (36 )
                 
Net assets
    102       26       29       1       76       17       207       44  
Adjustment upon increase in ownership interest from associated entity to controlled entity
                                (1 )             (1 )        
Goodwill on acquisition
    238               95               52               385          
 
                                                       
 
    340               124               127               591          
 
                                                       
Profit/(loss) from acquisition date until 30 June 2005
    11               8               (3 )             16          
 
                                                       

F-78


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
24. Notes to the statement of cash flows (continued)

(e) Acquisitions (continued)
 
(i)   The KAZ Group is a provider of business process outsourcing, systems integration, consulting, applications development and information technology management services. It operates primarily in Australia, but also conducts business in the United States and Asia.
 
(ii)   The PSINet Group is a provider of e-business infrastructure solutions and corporate internet protocol based communication services.
 
(iii)   During fiscal 2005, we acquired the following entities:
  100% of the issued share capital of ESA Holding Pty Ltd and its controlled entity Damovo (Australia) Pty Ltd, and of Damovo HK Limited (now known as Telstra Business Systems);
  100% of the issued share capital of Universal Publishers Pty Ltd;
  100% of the issued share capital of Chief Entertainment Pty Ltd;
  100% of the issued share capital of Sytec Resources and its controlled entities; and
 
  additional 10% interest in the issued share capital of 1300 Australia Pty Ltd giving us a 60% controlling interest.
These entities are not individually significant and have been aggregated as ‘Other’ per the previous table.
Other information relating to our acquisitions
We have recognised goodwill of $324 million (2005: $385 million) on acquisition of our controlled entities. The following factors contributed to the recognition of goodwill:
  forecast revenues and profitability of the acquired entities;
 
  cost synergies expected by combining our current operations with the acquired entities; and
 
  strategic benefits to the operations of the Telstra Group.
We have identified and measured any significant intangible assets separately from goodwill on acquisition of our controlled entities.
If our acquisitions during fiscal 2006 had occurred on 1 July 2005, our adjusted consolidated income and consolidated profit for the year ended 30 June 2005 for the Telstra Group would have been $23,350 million and $3,174 million respectively.
If our acquisitions during fiscal 2005 had occurred on 1 July 2004, our adjusted consolidated income and consolidated profit for the year ended 30 June 2005 for the Telstra Group would have been $22,515 million and $4,303 million respectively.

F-79


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
25. Impairment
Cash generating units
For the purposes of undertaking our impairment testing, we identify cash generating units (CGU’s). Our CGU’s are determined according to the smallest group of assets that generate cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.
The carrying amount of our goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are allocated across the following CGU’s:
                                 
                    Intangibles with indefinite  
    Goodwill     useful lives  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
CGU’s   $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Telstra CSL Group
    970       1,228              
New World Mobility Group
    276                    
Kaz Group
    270       274              
TelstraClear Group
    137       152              
United Kingdom Group
    113       110              
Sensis Group (a)
    36       36              
Trading Post Group
    179       178       447       447  
Universal Publishers
    15       15       8       8  
Adstream Group
    30                    
Telstra Business Systems
    30       26              
Other
    17       18       8       7  
     
 
    2,073       2,037       463       462  
     
 
(a)   Our assessment of the Sensis CGU excludes the Trading Post Group, Universal Publishers and the Adstream Group that form part of the Sensis reportable segment.
In addition to the above CGU’s, we have two further significant CGU’s that are assessed for impairment. These two CGUs are:
  the Telstra Entity CGU, excluding the HFC network; and
 
  the CGU comprising the HFC network.
The Telstra Entity CGU consists of our ubiquitous telecommunications infrastructure network in Australia, excluding the HFC network that we consider not to be integrated with the rest of our telecommunications network. Assets that form part of the ubiquitous telecommunications network are considered to be working together to generate our net cash flows. No one item of telecommunications equipment is of any value without the other assets to which it is connected in order to achieve delivery of our products and services.

F-80


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
25. Impairment (continued)
Impairment testing
Our impairment testing compares the carrying value of an individual asset or CGU with its recoverable amount as determined using a value in use calculation.
Our assumptions for determining the recoverable amount of each CGU are based on past experience and our expectations for the future. Our cash flow projections are based on five year management approved forecasts. These forecasts use management estimates to determine income, expenses, capital expenditure and cash flows for each CGU.
We have used the following key assumptions in determining the recoverable amount of our CGUs to which goodwill or indefinite life intangible assets has been allocated:
                                 
    Discount rate     Terminal value  
    (b)     growth rate (c)  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    %     %     %     %  
 
Telstra CSL Group
    11.1       14.5       2.0       5.0  
New World Mobility Group
    12.5             2.0        
Kaz Group
    16.6       16.7       3.0       3.0  
TelstraClear Group
    18.0       18.0       3.0       3.0  
United Kingdom Group
    14.9       15.0       3.0       3.0  
Sensis Group (a)
    13.7       13.7       3.0       3.0  
Trading Post Group
    15.3       14.3       2.5       2.5  
Universal Publishers
    14.3       14.3       2.5       2.5  
Adstream Group
    18.6             2.5        
Telstra Business Systems
    15.0       17.1       2.5       2.5  
 
(a)   Our assessment of the Sensis CGU excludes the Trading Post Group, Universal Publishers and the Adstream Group that form part of the Sensis reportable segment.
 
(b)   Discount rate represents the pre tax discount rate applied to the cash flow projections. The discount rate reflects the market determined, risk adjusted, discount rate which was adjusted for specific risks relating to the CGU and the countries in which they operate.
 
(c)   Terminal value growth rate represents the growth rate applied to extrapolate our cash flows beyond the five year forecast period. These growth rates are based on our expectation of the CGU’s long term performance in their respective markets.

F-81


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
26.Expenditure commitments
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
(a) Capital expenditure commitments
                               
Total capital expenditure commitments contracted for at balance date but not recorded in the financial statements:
                               
Property plant and equipment commitments
                               
Within 1 year
    665       529       634       482  
Within 1-2 years
    62       15       60       15  
Within 2-3 years
    32             32        
Within 3-4 years
    9             9        
Within 4-5 years
    6             6        
After 5 years
    2             2        
         
 
    776       544       743       497  
         
 
                               
Commitments relating to our intangible assets
                               
Within 1 year
    159       38       124        
Within 1-2 years
    130       26       105        
Within 2-3 years
    16             16        
         
 
    305       64       245        
         
 
                               
(b) Operating lease commitments
                               
Future lease payments for non-cancellable operating leases not recorded in the financial statements:
                               
Within 1 year
    424       380       260       232  
Within 1-2 years
    290       260       170       154  
Within 2-3 years
    201       209       108       117  
Within 3-4 years
    139       149       60       64  
Within 4-5 years
    118       128       47       49  
After 5 years
    358       397       152       154  
         
 
    1,530       1,523       797       770  
         
In addition, in fiscal 2006 the Telstra Group had total future commitments under cancellable operating leases of $356 million (2005: $343 million). In fiscal 2006, the Telstra Entity has total future commitments under cancellable operating leases of $354 million (2005: $338 million).
Description of our operating leases
We have operating leases for the following types of assets:
  rental of land and buildings;
 
  rental of motor vehicles, caravan huts and trailers, and mechanical aids; and
 
  rental of personal computers, laptops, printers and other related equipment that are used in non communications plant activities.
The average lease term is:
  7 years for land and buildings;
  2 years for motor vehicles, 4 years for light commercial vehicles and 7 to 12 years for trucks and mechanical aids; and
  3 years for personal computers and related equipment.
The majority of our operating leases relate to land and buildings. We have several subleases with total minimum lease payments of $59 million (2005: $75 million) for the Telstra Group and $43 million (2005: $54 million) for the Telstra Entity. Our property operating leases generally contain escalation clauses, which are fixed increases generally between 3% and 5%, or increases subject to the consumer price index. We do not have any significant purchase options.
Contingent rental payments exist for motor vehicles and are not significant compared with total rental payments made. These are based on unfair wear and tear, excess kilometres travelled, additional fittings and no financial loss to be suffered by the leasing company from changes to the original agreements. Our motor vehicles and related equipment must also remain in Australia.
A number of our operating leases are considered onerous due to our transformation project and as such, have been provided for in our financial statements. Refer to note 19 for details.

F-82


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
26. Expenditure commitments (continued)
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
      Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
(c) Finance lease commitments
                                       
Within 1 year
            13       12       7       5  
Within 1-2 years
            12       10       6       5  
Within 2-3 years
            10       10       6       5  
Within 3-4 years
            8       8       3       5  
Within 4-5 years
            5       5       1       1  
After 5 years
            52       54              
                 
Total minimum lease payments
            100       99       23       21  
Future finance charges on finance leases
            (45 )     (47 )     (3 )     (4 )
                 
Present value of net future minimum lease payments
            55       52       20       17  
                 
 
                                       
Recorded as current borrowings
    18       7       5       5       4  
Recorded as non current borrowings
    18       48       47       15       13  
                 
Total finance lease liabilities
    18       55       52       20       17  
                 
Description of our finance leases
We have finance leases for the following types of assets:
  property leases in our controlled entity, Telstra (PSINet) Limited;
 
  computer mainframes, computer processing equipment and other related equipment.
The average lease term is:
  24 years for the property leases with a remaining weighted average life of 17 years; and
  5 years for computer mainframe and associated equipment.
Interest rates for our finance leases are:
  property leases interest rate of 10.5%; and
 
  computer mainframe, computer processing equipment and associated equipment weighted average interest rate of 7.6%.
In addition to the above finance lease commitments, we previously entered into US finance leases for communications exchange equipment with various entities denominated in US dollars. We have prepaid all lease rentals due under the terms of these leases and have no additional payment obligations.
These entities lease the communications equipment from the ultimate lessor and then sublease the equipment to us. We have guaranteed that the lease payments will be paid by these entities to the ultimate lessor as scheduled over the lease terms (refer to note 27 for further information).
We hold an early buyout option that we could exercise in fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2013, otherwise the relevant lease period ends during fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2016. Refer to note 14 for further details on communication assets and equipment that are held under finance lease.

F-83


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
26. Expenditure commitments (continued)
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
(d) Other commitments
                               
Other expenditure commitments, other than commitments dealt with in (a), (b) and (c) above, which have not been recorded in the financial statements are:
                               
Within 1 year
    481       600       317       411  
Within 1-2 years
    236       301       118       127  
Within 2-3 years
    176       213       79       64  
Within 3-4 years
    215       160       46       40  
Within 4-5 years
    111       111       16       18  
After 5 years
    1,162       1,195       5       6  
         
 
    2,381       2,580       581       666  
         
 
                               
Our other expenditure commitments include contracts for printing, engineering and operational support services, information technology services and building maintenance. In addition, other commitments also include commitments relating to our investment in FOXTEL.
                               
 
                               
Commitments relating to our investment in FOXTEL (i):
                               
Within 1 year
    144       154              
Within 1-2 years
    113       154              
Within 2-3 years
    93       128              
Within 3-4 years
    95       103              
Within 4-5 years
    92       93              
After 5 years
    1,140       1,189              
         
 
    1,677       1,821              
         
 
(i)   Our jointly controlled entity, FOXTEL, has other commitments amounting to approximately $3,354 million (2005: $3,642 million). The majority of our 50% share of these commitments relate to minimum subscriber guarantees (MSG) for pay television programming agreements. These agreements are for periods of between 1 and 25 years and are based on current prices and costs under agreements entered into between the FOXTEL Partnership and various other parties. These minimum subscriber payments fluctuate in accordance with price escalation/reduction formulas contained in the agreements, as well as foreign currency movements. In addition to our MSG, FOXTEL has other commitments including obligations for satellite transponder costs and digital set top box units.

F-84


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
27. Contingent liabilities and contingent assets
We have no significant contingent assets as at 30 June 2006. The details and maximum amounts (where reasonable estimates can be made) are set out below for our contingent liabilities.
Telstra Entity
Common law claims
Certain common law claims by employees and third parties are yet to be resolved. As at 30 June 2006, management believes that the resolution of these contingencies will not have a significant effect on the Telstra Entity’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The maximum amount of these contingent liabilities cannot be reasonably estimated.
Included in our common law claims are the following litigation cases:
(a) In November 2002, Seven Network Limited and C7 Pty Limited (‘Seven’) commenced litigation against us and various other parties (‘the respondents’) in relation to the contracts and arrangements between us and some of those other parties relating to the right to broadcast Australian Football League and National Rugby League, the contract between FOXTEL and us for the provision of HFC cable services (the Broadband Co-operation Agreement) and other matters.
Seven seeks damages and other relief, including that some of these contracts and arrangements are void. Seven also seeks orders which would, in effect, require a significant restructure of the subscription television/sports rights markets in Australia. Expert reports filed by Seven were at one time used to suggest that Seven sought total damages of around $1.1 billion. However, some significant components of this expert evidence have since been ruled inadmissible by the trial judge and many of the facts on which Seven’s loss claim is based are contested. In addition to denying liability at all, the respondents have filed expert reports to the effect that, even if liability were found to exist, damages should be assessed at a very significantly lesser amount. If Seven obtained any order damages or for legal costs affecting Telstra, the liability arising from that order may subsequently be apportioned between the relevant respondents, with Telstra bearing only a portion of the total liability.
The matter is proceeding before the courts, with final oral submissions scheduled to commence in September 2006. In light of the progress of this case to date, Telstra considers that it is unlikely to have any material effect on our overall business or financial position.
(b) In January 2006, a shareholder commenced a representative proceeding in the Federal Court against Telstra. The statement of claim alleges that Telstra breached the Corporations Act and the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) Listing Rules by failing to disclose:
  that Telstra’s senior management had formed an opinion that there had been past deficiencies in operating expenditure and capital expenditure on telecommunications infrastructure;
 
  that Telstra had forecast a long term decline in PSTN revenues; and
 
  that Telstra had communicated these matters to the Government.
The claim seeks orders for compensation for the class of shareholders who bought shares between the time that these matters became known to Telstra and the time at which they were disclosed to the market. The proceeding is at an early stage and is unlikely to have any material effect on our overall business or financial position. Telstra will vigorously defend the claim.
(c) In December 2005, we increased our prices for line access provided to our competitors to prices closer to our average costs of providing that access. The ACCC appears to allege that these increases left insufficient margin for our competitors in respect of a “lower spend” segment of the retail market. The ACCC somehow considers that our conduct has or is likely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition across the retail market and therefore that we are in breach of the competition rule. On 12 April 2006, the ACCC issued a competition notice against us to this effect.
The ACCC has yet to commence enforcement proceedings against us but the maximum potential penalties which had accrued as at 30 June 2006 exceeded $200 million and are accruing at $3 million per day. Optus has issued proceedings in the Federal Court which, in part, rely on the competition notice and seek damages, a refund and an injunction preventing us from charging the increased prices and recovering our costs. Telstra will vigorously defend the Optus proceedings and any enforcement proceedings which may be brought by the ACCC.
Telstra has challenged the validity of the ACCC’s decision to issue the competition notice (and the preceding consultation notice) in the Federal Court on administrative law grounds. Amongst other things, we allege that the competition notice (and the preceding consultation notice) should be set aside for uncertainty and that the ACCC did not accord us procedural fairness by failing to properly consult with us prior to the issue of the competition notice. The ACCC argues that it does not owe us any duty of procedural fairness or natural justice when issuing competition notices.

F-85


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
27. Contingent liabilities and contingent assets (continued)
Telstra Entity (continued)
Indemnities, performance guarantees and financial support
We have provided the following indemnities, performance guarantees and financial support through the Telstra Entity as follows:
  Indemnities to financial institutions to support bank guarantees to the value of $347 million (2005: $329 million) in respect of the performance of contracts.
 
  Indemnities to financial institutions in respect of the obligations of our controlled entities. The maximum amount of our contingent liabilities for this purpose was $311 million (2005: $282 million).
 
  Financial support for certain controlled entities to the amount necessary to enable those entities to meet their obligations as and when they fall due. The financial support is subject to conditions including individual monetary limits totalling $150 million (2005: $69 million) and a requirement that the entity remains our controlled entity.
 
  Guarantees of the performance of jointly controlled entities under contractual agreements to a maximum amount of $69 million (2005: $126 million).
 
  Guarantees over the performance of third parties under defeasance arrangements, whereby lease payments are made on our behalf by the third parties over the remaining terms of the finance leases. The lease payments over the remaining expected term of the leases amount to $843 million (US$626 million) (2005: $850 million (US$650 million)). We hold an early buyout option that we could exercise in fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2013, otherwise the relevant lease period ends during fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2016. Refer to note 26 for further details on the above finance leases.
 
  During fiscal 1998, we resolved to provide IBM Global Services Australia Limited (IBMGSA) with guarantees issued on a several basis up to $210 million as a shareholder of IBMGSA. We issued a guarantee of $68 million on behalf of IBMGSA during fiscal 2000. During fiscal 2004, we sold our shareholding in this entity. The $68 million guarantee is provided to support service contracts entered into by IBMGSA and third parties, and was made with IBMGSA bankers, or directly to IBMGSA customers. As at 30 June 2006, this guarantee has still been provided and $142 million (2005: $142 million) of the $210 million guarantee facility remains unused.
 
    Upon sale of our shareholding in IBMGSA and under the deed of indemnity between shareholders, our liability under these performance guarantees has been indemnified for all guarantees that were in place at the time of sale. Therefore, the overall net exposure to any loss associated with a claim has effectively been offset.
Controlled entities
Indemnities provided by our controlled entities
In fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, our controlled entities had no significant outstanding indemnities in respect of obligations to financial institutions and corporations.
Other
FOXTEL minimum subscriber guarantees and other obligations
The Telstra Entity and its partners, News Corporation Limited and Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, and Telstra Media Pty Ltd and its partner, Sky Cable Pty Ltd, have entered into agreements relating to pay television programming with various parties and other miscellaneous contracts. Our commitments under these agreements relate mainly to minimum subscriber guarantees (MSG) (refer to note 26 for details of MSG commitments).
As we are subject to joint and several liability in relation to certain agreements entered into by the FOXTEL partnership, we would be contingently liable if our partners in this relationship failed to meet any of their obligations. As a result, our contingent liabilities arising from FOXTEL’s MSG and other agreements are $1,531 million (2005: $1,689 million).
FOXTEL Equity Contribution Deed (ECD)
FOXTEL previously entered into a $550 million bank facility arrangement to fund its full digital conversion and launch of new digital services. As part of this arrangement, we and FOXTEL’s other ultimate shareholders, News Corporation Limited and Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, entered into an ECD. Under the ECD, FOXTEL is required to call on a maximum of $200 million in equity contributions in certain specified circumstances as necessary to avoid default of a financial covenant. These equity contributions are based on ownership interests and, as a result, our maximum contingent liability is $100 million.
We have no joint or several liability relating to our partners’ contributions under the ECD. On 31 July 2006, FOXTEL entered into a $600 million syndicated secured term loan facility. As a result, the ECD has subsequently been terminated. Refer to note 34 for further details.

F-86


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
27. Contingent liabilities and contingent assets (continued)
Other (continued)
3GIS Partnership
During fiscal 2005, Telstra OnAir Holdings Pty Ltd and its partner, Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Ltd entered into agreements relating to the occupation of premises to provide 3GSM radio access network services.
As we are subject to joint and several liability in relation to agreements entered into by the 3GIS partnership, we would be contingently liable if our partners in this relationship failed to meet any of their obligations. As a result, our contingent liabilities arising from the above agreements are $154 million (2005: $132 million).
Reach working capital facility
We, together with our co-shareholder PCCW Limited (PCCW), previously bought a loan facility owed to a banking syndicate by Reach Finance Ltd, a subsidiary of our 50% owned joint venture Reach Ltd (Reach). As part of this arrangement, the shareholders also agreed to provide a US$50 million working capital facility to Reach. Under the facility Reach is entitled to request from Telstra a maximum of US$25 million to assist in meeting ongoing operational requirements. Drawdowns under this facility must be repaid at the end of each interest period as agreed between the parties and the loan must be fully repaid by 31 December 2007. The applicable interest rate is LIBOR plus 2.5%. As at 30 June 2006, Reach had not made any drawdown under this facility.
We have no joint or several liability relating to PCCW’s US$25 million share of the working capital facility.
ASIC deed of cross guarantee
A list of the companies that are part of our deed of cross guarantee appear in note 29. Each of these companies (except Telstra Finance Limited) guarantees the payment in full of the debts of the other named companies in the event of their winding up. Refer to note 29 for further information.

F-87


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
28. Post employment benefits
The employee superannuation schemes that we participate in or sponsor exist to provide benefits for our employees and their dependants after finishing employment with us. It is our policy to contribute to the schemes at rates specified in the governing rules for defined contribution schemes, or at rates determined by the actuaries for defined benefit schemes.
The defined contribution divisions receive fixed contributions and our legal or constructive obligation is limited to these contributions.
The present value of our defined benefit obligations for our defined benefit plans are calculated by an actuary using the projected unit credit method. This method determines each year of service as giving rise to an additional unit of benefit entitlement and measures each unit separately to calculate the final obligation.
Details of our plans are set out below.
Telstra Superannuation Scheme (Telstra Super)
On 1 July 1990, Telstra Super was established and the majority of Telstra staff who were previously members of the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) transferred into Telstra Super. The Commonwealth has responsibility for past, present and future liabilities in respect of former and current Telstra employees who remain in the CSS. As a result, we have no current ongoing obligations for these CSS members, other than associated administration fees.
The Telstra Entity and some of our Australian controlled entities participate in Telstra Super. Telstra Super has both defined benefit and defined contribution divisions. The defined benefit divisions of Telstra Super are closed to new members.
Our defined benefit divisions provide benefits based on years of service and final average salary. Post employment benefits do not include payments for medical costs.
The funding policy adopted in respect of the defined benefit divisions is directed at ensuring that benefits accruing to members and beneficiaries are fully funded as the benefits fall due. The benefits received by members of each defined benefit division take into account factors such as the employee’s length of service, final average salary, employer and employee contributions.
An actuarial investigation of this scheme is carried out at least every three years.
HK CSL Retirement Scheme
Our controlled entity, Hong Kong CSL Limited (HK CSL), participates in a superannuation scheme known as the HK CSL Retirement Scheme. This scheme was established under the Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance (ORSO) and is administered by an independent trustee. The scheme has three defined benefit sections and one defined contribution section.
The benefits received by members of the defined benefit schemes are based on the employees’ remuneration and length of service.
Actuarial investigations are undertaken annually for this scheme.
Other defined contribution schemes
A number of our subsidiaries also participate in defined contribution schemes which receive employer and employee contributions based on a percentage of the employees salaries. Telstra Group made contribution to these schemes of $32 million for fiscal 2006.

F-88


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
28. Post employment benefits (continued)
We use the following measurement dates for our defined benefit plans:
         
    Measurement  
    date  
 
Telstra Super
  30 June
HK CSL Retirement Scheme
  31 May
The fair value of the defined benefit plan assets and the present value of the defined benefit obligations as at the reporting date is determined by our actuary. The details of the defined benefit divisions are set out below:
(a) Net defined benefit plan asset
Our net defined benefit plan asset recognised in the balance sheet is determined as follows:
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $ m  
           
Fair value of defined benefit plan assets
    4,553       4,518       4,459       4,439  
Present value of the defined benefit obligation
    3,675       4,308       3,605       4,234  
             
 
                               
Net defined benefit asset before adjustment for contributions tax
    878       210       853       205  
Adjustment for contributions tax
    151       37       151       37  
             
Net defined benefit asset in the balance sheet at 30 June (i)
    1,029       247       1,004       242  
         
 
Experience adjustments:
                               
Aggregate actuarial gain included in defined benefit plan assets
    480       155       474       152  
Aggregate actuarial gain/(loss) included in the defined benefit obligation
    340       (233 )     329       (225 )
             
Net actuarial gain/(loss)
    820       (78 )     803       (73 )
         
 
(i)   At 30 June the fair value of defined benefit plan assets exceeds the present value of defined benefit obligations resulting in a net surplus. We recognise the net surplus as an asset as we have the ability to control this surplus to generate future funds that are available to us in the form of reductions in future contributions, or as a cash refund. The asset recognised does not exceed the present value of any economic benefits available in the form of refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan.

F-89


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
28. Post employment benefits (continued)
(b) Amounts recognised in the income statement and in equity
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
       
The components of defined benefit plan expense recognised in the income statement are as follows:
                               
Current service cost
    227       214       220       210  
Interest cost
    205       205       202       202  
Expected return on plan assets
    (322 )     (317 )     (316 )     (312 )
Member contributions
    (40 )     (20 )     (39 )     (20 )
Curtailment gain
    (17 )           (17 )      
Plan expenses after tax
    15       16       15       16  
Notional transfer of funds for defined contribution benefits
    89       75       89       75  
Adjustment for contributions tax
    28       30       28       30  
         
 
    185       203       182       201  
         
 
                               
The movements in our defined benefit plan asset recognised directly in equity in the statement of recognised income and expense are as follows:
                               
Actuarial (gains)/losses on our defined benefit plans
    (820 )     78       (803 )     73  
Adjustment to contributions tax
    (142 )     12       (142 )     12  
         
 
    (962 )     90       (945 )     85  
         

F-90


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
28. Post employment benefits (continued)
(c) Plan assets
Our weighted average asset allocation by major asset category as a percentage of the fair value of total plan assets as at 30 June are as follows:
                                                                 
    Telstra Super     HK CSL Retirement Scheme  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Target     Actual     Target     Actual     Target     Actual     Target     Actual  
    %     %     %     %     %     %     %     %  
                   
Asset allocations
                                                               
Equity instruments
    68       69       67       62       60       61       60       64  
Debt instruments
    12       10       10       14       35       32       35       30  
Property
    15       16       18       13                          
Cash
    5       5       5       11       5       7       5       6  
                     
 
    100       100       100       100       100       100       100       100  
         
Our defined benefit plan’s investment strategy is to control the level of risk by investing in a broad range of quality investments, and using a range of Australian and International investment managers who specialise in cash, fixed interest, shares and property. We constantly review our investments and adjust our investment strategy in order to maximise returns within this controlled risk profile and take advantage of perceived market inefficiencies.
Investment goals are to earn the best possible returns within the appropriate strategic level of risk, and maintain the financial viability of the funds by ensuring plan assets exceed benefit obligations.
Derivatives are used to limit exposure to market fluctuations and are used within appropriate control environments for direct and externally managed investments. Derivatives are not used for speculative purposes.

F-91


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
28. Post employment benefits (continued)
(d) Reconciliation of change in fair value of plan assets
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
             
Fair value of defined benefit plan assets at beginning of year
    4,518       4,294       4,439       4,224  
Expected return on plan assets
    322       317       316       312  
Employer contributions
    3       3              
Member contributions
    46       24       46       24  
Notional transfer of funds for defined contribution benefits
    (89 )     (75 )     (89 )     (75 )
Benefits paid (i)
    (715 )     (185 )     (712 )     (182 )
Actuarial gains
    480       155       474       152  
Plan expenses after tax
    (15 )     (16 )     (15 )     (16 )
Foreign currency exchange rate changes
    3       1              
             
Fair value of defined benefit plan assets at end of year
    4,553       4,518       4,459       4,439  
         
Our actual return on defined benefit plan assets was 16.2% (2005: 12.5%) for Telstra Super and 12.5% (2005: 6.8%) for HK CSL Retirement Scheme.
(e) Reconciliation of change in present value of wholly funded defined benefit obligation
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
             
Present value of defined benefit obligation at beginning of year
    4,308       3,837       4,234       3,775  
Current service cost
    227       214       220       210  
Interest cost
    205       205       202       202  
Member contributions
    7       4       7       4  
Benefits paid (i)
    (715 )     (185 )     (712 )     (182 )
Actuarial (gains)/losses
    (340 )     233       (329 )     225  
Curtailment gain
    (17 )           (17 )      
             
Present value of wholly funded defined benefit obligation at end of year
    3,675       4,308       3,605       4,234  
         
 
(i)   Benefits paid includes $640 million (2005: $116 million) of entitlements (to exiting defined benefit members) which have been retained in Telstra Super but transferred to the defined contribution scheme.
The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected to be paid.
                                                 
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
                                            2012 -  
    2007     2008     2009     2010     2011     2016  
    $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Expected benefit payments
    197       204       215       237       257       1,712  
     

F-92


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
28. Post employment benefits (continued)
(f) Principal actuarial assumptions
We used the following major assumptions to determine our defined benefit plan expense for the year ended 30 June:
                                 
    Telstra Super     HK CSL Retirement Scheme  
    Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    %     %     %     %  
     
Discount rate (i)
    4.7       5.1       3.7       3.8  
Expected rate of return on plan assets (ii)
    7.5       7.5       6.8       6.8  
Expected rate of increase in future salaries
    4.0       4.0       2.5       2.5  
We used the following major assumptions to determine our defined benefit obligations at 30 June:
                                 
    Telstra Super     HK CSL Retirement Scheme  
    Year ended 30 June     Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    %     %     %     %  
     
Discount rate (i)
    5.1       4.7       5.0       3.8  
Expected rate of increase in future salaries (ii)
    3.0       4.0       4.0       4.0  
 
(i)   The present value of our defined benefit obligations is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using a discount rate based on government guaranteed securities with similar due dates to these expected cash flows.
 
    For Telstra Super we have used the 10-year Australian government bond rate as it has the closest term that one could get from the Australian bond market to match the term of the defined benefit obligations. We have not made any adjustment to reflect the difference between the term of the bonds and the estimated term of liabilities due to the observation that the current government bond yield curve is reasonably flat implying that the yields from government bonds with a term less than 10 years are expected to be very similar to the extrapolated bond yields with a term of 12 to 13 years.
 
    Based on industry practice in Australia, we have adjusted the discount rate for Telstra Super to take into account future investment tax of the fund which is considered part of the ultimate cost to settle the obligation.
 
    Similarly, for the HK CSL Retirement Scheme we have used the 10 year Hong Kong exchange fund yields as it has the closest term that one could get from the Hong Kong market to match the term of the defined benefit obligations.
 
    The discount rate used in calculating the defined benefit obligation at 30 June 2006 was 5.1% p.a. after the adjustment to take into account future investment tax. Holding all other assumptions constant, the effect of a one percentage point decline in the discount rate assumption would be an increase in the 2007 defined benefit plan expense of approximately $69 million and an increase in the defined benefit obligation at 30 June 2006 of approximately $334 million.
 
(ii)   The expected rate of return on assets has been based on historical and future expectations of returns for each of the major categories of asset classes over the subsequent 10 year period, or longer. Estimates are based on a combination of factors including the current market outlook for interest rates, inflation, earnings growth and currency strength. To determine the aggregate return, the expected future return of each asset class is weighted according to the strategic asset allocation of total plan assets.
 
    Our assumption for the expected long-term rate of return on assets is 7% for 2007. As a sensitivity measure, holding all other assumptions constant, the effect of a one percentage point decline in the return on assets assumption would be an increase in our fiscal 2007 defined benefit plan expense of approximately $44 million.

F-93


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
28. Post employment benefits (continued)
(g) Employer contributions
Telstra Super
In accordance with our funding deed with the trustee of Telstra Super, we are required to make future employer payments to Telstra Super in relation to the defined benefit plan as may be required. Our contributions to Telstra Super will recommence when the vested benefits index (VBI) — the ratio of defined benefit plan assets to defined benefit members’ vested benefits — falls to 103%. Our actuary is satisfied that contributions to maintain the VBI at this rate will maintain the financial position of Telstra Super at a satisfactory level. The VBI of the defined benefit divisions is 115% as at 30 June 2006 (30 June 2005: 111%).
As at 30 June 2003, K O’Sullivan FIAA completed an actuarial investigation of Telstra Super. The next actuarial investigation of Telstra Super is due to be completed by 30 June 2007 based on the scheme’s financial position as at 30 June 2006.
The actuarial investigation of Telstra Super reported that a surplus continued to exist. In accordance with the recommendations within the actuarial investigation, we were not expected to, and did not make employer contributions to the Telstra Super defined benefit divisions for the financial year ended 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2005. The current contribution holiday includes the contributions otherwise payable to the accumulation divisions of Telstra Super. The continuance of the holiday is however dependent on the performance of the fund and we are monitoring the situation on a monthly basis in light of current market performance.
Telstra Entity’s contribution to the defined contribution divisions of Telstra Super were insignificant for fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005. Based on the latest actuarial investigation, we do not expect to make any contributions to Telstra Super during fiscal 2007.
HK CSL Retirement Scheme
The contributions payable to the defined benefit divisions are determined by the actuary using the attained age normal funding actuarial valuation method.
Employer contributions made to the HK CSL Retirement Scheme for the financial year ended 30 June 2006 were $3 million (2005: $3 million). We expect to contribute $3 million (2005: $3 million) to our HK CSL Retirement Scheme in fiscal 2007.
Annual actuarial investigations are currently undertaken for this scheme by Watson Wyatt Hong Kong Limited.

F-94


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
28. Post employment benefits (continued)
(h) Net financial position of plan
The financial position of the defined benefit divisions of Telstra Super and the HK CSL Retirement Scheme is shown as follows:
                                                                 
    Net scheme assets     Accrued benefits     Net surplus (i)     Vested benefits  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June     As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005     2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Telstra Super (ii)
    4,459       4,439       3,079       3,281       1,380       1,158       3,853       3,995  
HK CSL Retirement Scheme (iii)
    94       79       74       74       20       5       68       63  
     
 
    4,553       4,518       3,153       3,355       1,400       1,163       3,921       4,058  
     
 
(i)   In accordance with AAS 25: “Financial Reporting by Superannuation Plans” the plan’s net surplus is determined as the difference between the present value of the accrued benefits and the net market value of plan assets.
 
(ii)   Amounts for Telstra Super have been taken from the audited financial report of the scheme as at 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2005. The scheme assets are stated at net market values.
 
(iii)   Amounts for the defined benefit divisions of the HK CSL Retirement Scheme have been taken from the actuarial valuation of the scheme as at 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2005. The scheme assets are stated at net market values.
 
    The estimated period over which the benefits of our members will be returned is 11 years for Telstra Super (2005: 12 years) and 14.5 years for the HK CSL Retirement Scheme (2005: 14.7 years).
 
    The net surplus under AAS 25 of $1,400 million (30 June 2005: $1,163 million) differs from the net defined benefit asset of $1,029 million (30 June 2005: $247 million) recognised in the balance sheet due to different measurement rules in the relevant accounting standards AAS 25 and AASB 119: “Employee Benefits”. Both standards require present value discounting of future benefits, however AAS 25 requires the use of a discount rate equal to an expected asset return whereas AASB 119 requires an after-tax bond yield.

F-95


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
29. Investments in controlled entities
The ultimate parent entity of the Telstra Group is the Commonwealth Government of Australia. Below is a list of our investments in controlled entities.
                                     
    Country of   Telstra Entity’s recorded     % of equity held by  
Name of entity   incorporation   amount of investment (#)     immediate parent  
        As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
        2006     2005     2006     2005  
        $m     $m     %     %  
       
Parent entity
                                   
Telstra Corporation Limited (a)
  Australia                        
Controlled entities
                                   
Telecommunications Equipment Finance Pty Ltd * (d)
  Australia                        
Telstra Finance Limited (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Corporate Services Pty Limited * (a)
  Australia     7       7       100.0       100.0  
Transport Communications Australia Pty Ltd *
  Australia     4       4       100.0       100.0  
Telstra ESOP Trustee Pty Limited *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Growthshare Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Media Pty Limited *
  Australia     393       380       100.0       100.0  
Telstra Multimedia Pty Limited (a)
  Australia     2,678       2,678       100.0       100.0  
Telstra International Limited (a)
  Australia     2       84       100.0       100.0  
Telstra New Wave Pty Ltd * (a)
  Australia     1       1       100.0       100.0  
Hypertokens Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Hypermax Holdings Pty Ltd *
  Australia     8       8       100.0       100.0  
Chief Entertainment Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Data & Text Mining Technologies Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Lyrebird Technologies Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra OnAir Infrastructure Holdings Pty Ltd * (d)
  Australia                       100.0  
Telstra 3G Spectrum Holdings Pty Ltd *
  Australia     302       302       100.0       100.0  
1300 Australia Pty Ltd *
  Australia     5       5       60.0       60.0  
Telstra OnAir Holdings Pty Ltd *
  Australia     478       302       100.0       100.0  
Converged Networks Pty Ltd * (h)
  Australia     1             100.0        
Telstra Payment Solutions Pty Limited (formerly Keycorp Solutions Limited) * (c) (h)
  Australia     56             100.0        
ESA Holding Pty Ltd * (j)
  Australia           16       100.0       100.0  
Telstra Business Systems Pty Ltd *
  Australia     69             100.0       100.0  
Telstra Communications Limited (a)
  Australia     29       29       100.0       100.0  
Telecom Australia (Saudi) Company Limited (d) (e) (f) (g)
  Saudi Arabia                 50.0       50.0  
Telstra Rewards Pty Ltd *
  Australia     14       14       100.0       100.0  
Telstra Visa Card Trust (d)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Qantas Telstra Card Trust (d)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Visa Business Card Trust (d)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Media Holdings Pty Limited (a)
  Australia     30       30       100.0       100.0  
Telstra Enterprise Services Pty Limited * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Pay TV Pty Ltd (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Communications Network Holdings Pty Ltd * (h)
  Australia     4             100.0        
Advanced Digital Communications (WA) Pty Ltd * (h)
  Australia                 100.0        
Western Communications Solutions Pty Ltd * (h)
  Australia                 100.0        
Adstream (Aust) Pty Ltd (i)
  Australia     23             58.0        
Adstream Ltd (g) (i)
  New Zealand                 100.0        
Quickcut (Aust) Pty Ltd (i)
  Australia                 100.0        
(continued over page)

F-96


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
29. Investments in controlled entities (continued)
                                     
    Country of   Telstra Entity’s recorded     % of equity held by  
Name of entity   incorporation   amount of investment (#)     immediate parent  
        As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
        2006     2005     2006     2005  
        $m     $m     %     %  
       
Controlled entities (continued)
                                   
Telstra Holdings Pty Ltd (a)
  Australia     7,176       7,176       100.0       100.0  
Beijing Australia Telecommunications Technical Consulting Services Company Limited (e) (g)
  China                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Holdings (Bermuda) No. 2 Limited (g)
  Bermuda                 100.0       100.0  
CSL New World Mobility Limited (formerly Telstra CSL Limited) (c) (g) (h)
  Bermuda                 76.4       100.0  
Bestclass Holdings Ltd (g)
  British Virgin Islands                 100.0       100.0  
Hong Kong CSL Limited (g)
  Hong Kong                 100.0       100.0  
Integrated Business Systems Limited (g)
  Hong Kong                 100.0       100.0  
One2Free Personalcom Limited (g)
  Hong Kong                 100.0       100.0  
CSL Limited (g)
  Hong Kong                 100.0       100.0  
New World PCS Holdings Limited (g) (h)
  Cayman Islands                 100.0        
New World 3G Limited (g) (h)
  Hong Kong                 100.0        
New World PCS Limited (g) (h)
  Hong Kong                 100.0        
New World Mobility Limited (g) (h)
  Hong Kong                 100.0        
Telstra Holdings (Bermuda) No 1 Limited (g)
  Bermuda                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra International HK Limited (g)
  Hong Kong                 100.0       100.0  
Damovo HK Ltd (g)
  Hong Kong                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Japan Retail K.K. (g)
  Japan                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Singapore Pte Ltd (g)
  Singapore                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Global Limited (g)
  United Kingdom                 100.0       100.0  
PT Telstra Nusantara (g)
  Indonesia                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Europe Limited (g)
  United Kingdom                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra (Cable Telecom) Limited (g)
  United Kingdom                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra (PSINet) Limited (g)
  United Kingdom                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra (CTE) Limited (g)
  United Kingdom                 100.0       100.0  
Cable Telecommunication Ltd (g)
  United Kingdom                 100.0       100.0  
PSINet Datacentre UK Ltd (g)
  United Kingdom                 100.0       100.0  
Inteligen Communications Limited (g)
  United Kingdom                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Jersey Limited (g)
  Jersey                 100.0       100.0  
PSINet Hosting Centre Ltd (g)
  Jersey                 100.0       100.0  
Cordoba Holdings Ltd (g)
  Jersey                 100.0       100.0  
London Hosting Centre Ltd (g)
  Jersey                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Inc. (g)
  United States                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra India (Private) Limited (g)
  India                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra Limited (g)
  New Zealand                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra New Zealand Holdings Limited (g)
  New Zealand                 100.0       100.0  
TelstraClear Limited (g)
  New Zealand                 100.0       100.0  
TelstraSaturn Holdings Limited (g)
  New Zealand                 100.0       100.0  
(continued over page)

F-97


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
29. Investments in controlled entities (continued)
                                     
    Country of   Telstra Entity’s recorded     % of equity held by  
Name of entity   incorporation   amount of investment (#)     immediate parent  
        As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
        2006     2005     2006     2005  
        $m     $m     %     %  
       
Controlled entities (continued)
                                   
Sytec Resources Ltd (g)
  New Zealand                 100.0       100.0  
Sytec Resources (Australia) Pty Ltd * (g)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
DMZ Global Limited (g)
  New Zealand                 100.0       100.0  
DMZ Global (Australia) Pty Ltd * (g)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
CLEAR Communications Limited (g)
  New Zealand                 100.0       100.0  
Network Design and Construction Limited (a)
  Australia     20       177       100.0       100.0  
NDC Global Holdings Pty Limited * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
NDC Telecommunications India Private Limited (g)
  India                 98.0       98.0  
PT NDC Indonesia (d) (g)
  Indonesia                 95.0       95.0  
NDC Global Philippines, Inc (d) (e) (g)
  Philippines                 100.0       100.0  
NDC Global Services (Thailand) Limited (d) (g)
  Thailand                       49.0  
NDC Global Holdings (Thailand) Limited (d) (g)
  Thailand                       49.0  
NDC Global Services (Thailand) Limited (d) (g)
  Thailand                       51.0  
NDC Global Services Pty Limited * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
NDC Telecommunications India Private Limited (g)
  India                 2.0       2.0  
Telstra Services Solutions Holdings Limited (a)
  Australia     911       911       100.0       100.0  
Telstra CB.net Limited (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra CB.Com Limited (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra CB.fs Limited (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Telstra eBusiness Services Pty Limited (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Australasian Insurance Systems Pty Ltd * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
TRC Computer Systems Pty Ltd * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
DBA Ltd * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Brokerlink Pty Ltd * (a)
  Australia                 81.3       81.3  
DBA Computer Systems Pty Ltd * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Brokerlink Pty Ltd * (a)
  Australia                 18.7       18.7  
Unilink Group Pty Ltd * (d)
  Australia                       100.0  
KAZ Group Pty Limited (a) (i)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
KAZ Computer Services (SEA) Pte Limited (d) (g)
  Singapore                 100.0       100.0  
KAZ Computer Services (HK) Ltd (g)
  Hong Kong                 75.0       75.0  
Enhanced Processing Technologies Inc (g) (i)
  United States                 100.0        
Australian Administration Services Pty Ltd
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
AAS Superannuation Services Pty Limited
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
KAZ Business Services Australia Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
KAZ Business Services Pty Ltd (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
KAZ Software Solutions Pty Ltd * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Atune Financial Solutions Pty Ltd * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
KAZ Technology Services Pty Ltd
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
IOCORE Asia Pacific Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Techsouth Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
KAZ Technology Services Australia Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Fundi Software Pty Ltd * (j)
  Australia                       100.0  
(continued over page)

F-98


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
29. Investments in controlled entities (continued)
                                     
    Country of   Telstra Entity’s recorded     % of equity held by  
Name of entity   incorporation   amount of investment (#)     immediate parent  
        As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
        2006     2005     2006     2005  
        $m     $m     %     %  
       
Controlled entities (continued)
                                   
Sensis Pty Ltd (a) (j)
  Australia     851       851       100.0       100.0  
Platefood Limited (h) (g)
  United Kingdom                 61.0        
Just Listed Pty Limited * (a) (j)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
CitySearch Australia Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
CitySearch Canberra Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Trading Post Group Pty Limited (a) (j)
  Australia                 0.0       33.0  
Trading Post (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd (a) (j)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Trading Post Group Pty Limited (a) (j)
  Australia                 100.0       67.0  
The Melbourne Trading Post Pty Ltd (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
The National Trading Post Pty Ltd * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Australian Retirement Publications Pty Limited * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Collectormania Australia Pty Ltd * (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
The Personal Trading Post Pty Limited (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Auto Trader Australia Pty Ltd (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
WA Auto Trader Pty Ltd (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Sydney Buy & Sell Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Sydney Auto Trader Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Ad Mag SA & NSW Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Ad Mag AGI Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Trading Post (AW) Pty Limited *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Warranty Direct (Australia) Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Trading Post (TCA) Pty Ltd (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Research Resources Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Queensland Trading Post Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Trading Post Marketing (Qld) Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Trading Post on the Net Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Trading Post Australia Pty Limited (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Appraised Staff Agency Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Tradernet Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Trading Post Classifieds Pty Limited *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Trading Post On Line Pty Limited *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Sensis Holdings Pty Ltd * (i)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Invizage Pty Ltd * (i)
  Australia                 100.0       75.0  
PC S.O.S. Pty Ltd *
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Universal Publishers Pty Limited (a)
  Australia                 100.0       100.0  
Sensis (Victoria) Pty Ltd * (h)
  Australia                 100.0        
 
Total investment in consolidated entities
        13,062       12,975                  
 
                               
 
#   The amounts recorded are before any provision for reduction in value.
 
*   These entities are Australian small proprietary limited companies, which are not required to prepare and lodge individual audited financial reports with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.

F-99


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
29. Investments in controlled entities (continued)
(a) ASIC deed of cross guarantee
On 31 May 2006 and 28 June 2006, the Telstra Entity and certain of its controlled entities entered into two revocation deeds, the combined effect of which is to revoke the deed of cross guarantee dated 4 June 1996 (1996 Deed) in its entirety. In accordance with the terms of the 1996 Deed, revocation of the deed does not take effect until the date which is 6 months after lodgement of the relevant revocation deed with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
A new deed of cross guarantee was entered into on 28 June 2006 (New Deed), pursuant to an ASIC Order dated 22 June 2006 (ASIC Order). The New Deed was entered into between the parties to the revocation deed dated 28 June 2006 and a number of additional controlled entities of the Telstra Entity. The New Deed took effect immediately upon lodgement with ASIC on 30 June 2006.
The following companies have entered into the 1996 Deed and/or the New Deed:
  Telstra Corporation Limited (i) (ii);
  Telstra Corporate Services Pty Limited (i) (ii);
  Telstra Multimedia Pty Limited (i) (ii);
  Telstra International Limited (i) (ii);
  Telstra Communications Limited (i) (ii);
  Telstra Media Holdings Pty Limited (i);
  Telstra Enterprise Services Pty Limited (i);
  Telstra Pay TV Pty Ltd (i);
  Telstra Holdings Pty Ltd (i) (ii);
  Network Design and Construction Limited (i) (ii);
  NDC Global Holdings Pty Limited (i) (ii);
  NDC Global Services Pty Limited (i) (ii);
  Telstra Services Solutions Holdings Limited (i) (ii);
  Telstra eBusiness Services Pty Limited (i) (ii);
  Australasian Insurance Systems Pty Ltd (i);
  TRC Computer Systems Pty Ltd (i);
  DBA Ltd (i);
  Brokerlink Pty Ltd (i);
  DBA Computer Systems Pty Ltd (i);
  KAZ Group Limited (ii);
  KAZ Business Services Pty Ltd (ii);
  KAZ Software Solutions Pty Ltd (ii);
  Atune Financial Services Pty Ltd (ii);
  Sensis Pty Ltd (i) (ii);
  Trading Post (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd (i) (ii);
  Trading Post Group Pty Limited (i) (ii);
  The Melbourne Trading Post Pty Ltd (i) (ii);
  The National Trading Post Pty Ltd (i) (ii);
  Collectormania Australia Pty Ltd (i) (ii);
  Australian Retirement Publications Pty Limited (i);
  The Personal Trading Post Pty Limited (i) (ii);
  Auto Trader Australia Pty Ltd (i) (ii);
  WA Auto Trader Pty Ltd (i) (ii);
  Just Listed Pty Limited (i) (ii);
  Trading Post (TCA) Pty Ltd (i) (ii);
  Trading Post Australia Pty Limited (i) (ii); and
  Universal Publishers Pty Limited (ii).
(i) Companies which form the 1996 Deed
(ii) Companies which form the New Deed
Telstra Finance Limited is trustee under both the 1996 Deed and the New Deed, however is not a group entity under either deed.
In respect of both the 1996 Deed and the New Deed, the relevant group entities under the deed:
  form a closed group and extended closed group as defined in the ASIC Class Order 98/1418 (Class Order) and the ASIC Order;
 
  do not have to prepare and lodge audited financial reports under the Corporations Act 2001. This does not apply to Telstra Corporation Limited; and
 
  guarantee the payment in full of the debts of the other parties to the deed in the event of their winding up.
The following companies ceased to be party to the 1996 Deed due to a revocation deed as at 11 September 2005:
  Telstra New Wave Pty Ltd;
  Telstra CB.net Limited;
  Telstra CB.Com Limited; and
  Telstra CB.fs Limited.
(b) ASIC deed of cross guarantee financial information
The consolidated assets and liabilities of the closed group and extended closed group is presented according to both the Class Order and the ASIC Order as follows. This excludes Telstra Finance Limited. All significant transactions between members of the closed group have been eliminated.

F-100


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
29. Investments in controlled entities (continued)
(b) ASIC deed of cross guarantee financial information (continued)
                         
Closed group balance sheet   New Deed     1996 Deed  
    As at 30        
    June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m  
Current assets
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
    479       501       1,421  
Trade and other receivables
    3,377       3,533       3,553  
Inventories
    182       175       191  
Derivative financial assets
    22       22       4  
Prepayments
    190       202       217  
           
Total current assets
    4,250       4,433       5,386  
           
Non current assets
                       
Trade and other receivables
    876       870       884  
Inventories
    19       19       15  
Investments — accounted for using the equity method
    22       21       46  
Investments — other
    3,348       3,421       3,244  
Property, plant and equipment
    21,792       21,785       21,190  
Intangibles
    3,491       3,389       3,655  
Derivative financial assets
    392       392        
Defined benefit assets
    1,004       1,004       241  
           
Total non current assets
    30,944       30,901       29,275  
           
Total assets
    35,194       35,334       34,661  
           
 
                       
Current liabilities
                       
Trade and other payables
    2,991       2,973       2,041  
Borrowings
    2,531       2,323       2,159  
Current tax liabilities
    400       400       518  
Provisions
    708       697       378  
Derivative financial liabilities
    13       13       11  
Revenue received in advance
    1,089       1,089       1,090  
           
Total current liabilities
    7,732       7,495       6,197  
           
Non current liabilities
                       
Trade and other payables
    65       65       62  
Borrowings
    11,376       11,376       10,907  
Deferred tax liabilities
    1,582       1,589       1,664  
Provisions
    951       945       855  
Derivative financial liabilities
    768       768       864  
Revenue received in advance
    401       400       387  
           
Total non current liabilities
    15,143       15,143       14,739  
           
Total liabilities
    22,875       22,638       20,936  
           
Net assets
    12,319       12,696       13,725  
           
Equity
                       
Share capital
    5,569       5,569       5,536  
Reserves
    18       18       12  
Retained profits
    6,732       7,109       8,177  
           
Equity available to the closed group
    12,319       12,696       13,725  
           

F-101


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
29. Investments in controlled entities (continued)
(b) ASIC deed of cross guarantee financial information (continued)
The consolidated profit for the year of the closed group and extended closed group is presented according to both the Class Order and the ASIC Order as follows. This excludes Telstra Finance Limited. All significant transactions between members of the closed group have been eliminated.
                                 
Closed group income statement and retained profits reconciliation           New Deed     1996 Deed  
            Year ended     Year ended 30 June  
            30 June 2006     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m  
Income
                               
Revenue (excluding finance income)
            20,323       20,594       20,173  
Other income
            304       318       254  
                   
 
            20,627       20,912       20,427  
                   
 
                               
Expenses
                               
Labour
            3,843       3,796       3,387  
Goods and services purchased
            3,372       3,652       3,266  
Other expenses
            4,317       4,349       3,648  
                   
 
            11,532       11,797       10,301  
 
                               
Share of net (gain)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities
            (10 )     (12 )     (13 )
                   
 
            11,522       11,785       10,288  
                   
 
                               
Earnings before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
            9,105       9,127       10,139  
Depreciation and amortisation
            3,721       3,717       3,228  
                   
Earnings before interest and income tax expense (EBIT)
            5,384       5,410       6,911  
                   
 
                               
Finance income
            120       120       156  
Finance costs
            978       975       936  
                   
Net finance costs
            858       855       780  
                   
 
                               
Profit before income tax expense
            4,526       4,555       6,131  
 
                               
Income tax expense
            1,380       1,378       1,766  
 
                               
                   
Profit for the year available to the closed group
            3,146       3,177       4,365  
                   
 
                               
Retained profits at the beginning of the financial year available to the closed group
            7,894       8,177       8,467  
Actuarial gain/(loss) on our defined benefit plans (net of tax effect)
            661       661       (61 )
Share buy-back
    21                   (476 )
Transfer out of closed group
                  64        
Transfers to retained profits
                        6  
                   
Total available for distribution
            11,701       12,079       12,301  
Dividends paid
            4,969       4,970       4,124  
                   
Retained profits at the end of the financial year available to the closed group
            6,732       7,109       8,177  
                   

F-102


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
29. Investments in controlled entities (continued)
(c) Change of company names
  Keycorp Solutions Limited changed its name to Telstra Payment Solutions Limited on 2 September 2005.
 
    Furthermore, the status of this controlled entity changed from a public to a private company on 18 May 2006 to be named Telstra Payment Solutions Pty Limited.
 
  On 31 March 2006, Telstra CSL Limited changed its name to CSL New World Mobility Limited.
(d) Liquidations
As at 30 June 2006, the following controlled entities were in voluntary liquidation:
  Telecom Australia (Saudi) Company Limited;
  NDC Global Philippines, Inc;
  PT NDC Indonesia;
  Qantas Telstra Card Trust;
  Telstra Visa Business Card Trust;
  Telstra Visa Card Trust; and
  KAZ Computer Services (SEA) Pte Limited.
The following companies were liquidated or deregistered during fiscal 2006:
  NDC Global Services (Thailand) Limited;
  NDC Global Holdings (Thailand) Limited;
  Telecommunications Equipment Finance Pty Ltd;
  Telstra OnAir Infrastructure Holdings Pty Ltd; and
  Unilink Group Pty Ltd.
(e) Controlled entities with different balance dates
The following companies have balance dates that differ from our balance date of 30 June for fiscal 2006:
  Telecom Australia (Saudi) Company Limited — 31 December;
  Beijing Australia Telecommunications Technical Consulting Services Company Limited — 31 December; and
  NDC Global Philippines, Inc — 31 December.
Financial reports prepared as at 30 June are used for consolidation purposes.
(f) Controlled entities in which our equity ownership is less than or equal to 50%
We own 50% of the issued capital of Telecom Australia (Saudi) Company Limited. We can exercise control over the Board of Directors of this entity in perpetuity, and therefore we have consolidated the financial results, position and cash flows of this entity into our group financial report.
(g) Controlled entities not individually audited by the Australian National Audit Office
Companies not audited by the Australian National Audit Office, our Australian statutory auditor.

F-103


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
29. Investments in controlled entities (continued)
(h) New incorporations and investments
  On 11 August 2005, we established a new entity named Platefood Limited to facilitate a new investment for nominal consideration.
  On 25 August 2005, we established a new entity named Sensis (Victoria) Pty Ltd to facilitate a new investment for nominal consideration.
  On 1 July 2005, we acquired 100% of the issued capital of Keycorp Solutions Limited for a total consideration of $56 million including acquisition costs. Subsequent to acquisition, the entity was renamed to Telstra Payment Solutions Pty Limited.
  On 31 March 2006, we acquired 100% of the issued capital of the Converged Networks Group for a total consideration of $5 million including acquisition costs. Converged Networks Group included the following controlled entities:
    Converged Networks Pty Ltd;
 
    Communications Network Holdings Pty Ltd;
    Advanced Digital Communications (WA) Pty Ltd; and
 
    Western Communications Solutions Pty Ltd.
    Converged Networks Group is a provider of voice and data networks which operates primarily in Western Australia.
 
  On 31 March 2006, we merged our 100% owned Hong Kong mobile operations (Telstra CSL Group) with the Hong Kong mobile operations of New World PCS Holdings Limited and its controlled entities (New World Mobility Group) to form the CSL New World Mobility Group.
 
    Under the merger agreement, Telstra CSL Limited issued new shares to New World Mobility Holdings Limited in return for 100% of the issued capital of the New World Mobility Group and $42 million in net proceeds (net of acquisition costs). The fair value of the Telstra CSL Limited shares issued amounted to $577 million and diluted our ownership in the merged group to 76.4%. Our merger with the New World Mobility Group included the acquisition of the following controlled entities:
 
  New World PCS Holdings Limited;
 
  New World 3G Limited;
 
  New World PCS Limited; and
    New World Mobility Limited.
The CSL New World Mobility Group is a provider of mobile telecommunication products and services which operates primarily in Hong Kong.
(i) Other acquisitions
  On 1 July 2005, our controlled entity Sensis Holdings Pty Ltd acquired a further 25% of the issued share capital of Invizage Pty Ltd for a total cash consideration of $5 million including acquisition costs.
 
    Invizage Pty Ltd is a provider of information technology services for small and medium Australian organisations.
 
  On 22 December 2005, our controlled entity Kaz Group Pty Limited acquired a further 40% of the issued share capital of Enhanced Processing Technologies Inc for nominal consideration, giving us ownership of the entity. Prior to this date, Enhanced Processing Technologies was classified as a jointly controlled entity.
 
    Enhanced Processing Technologies Inc is a provider of cheque processing technology and services which operates primarily in the United States.
 
  On 1 February 2006, we acquired a further 24.7% of the issued capital of Adstream (Aust) Pty Ltd and its controlled entities (Adstream Group) for a total consideration of $21 million including acquisition costs, giving us a controlling interest of 58%. Prior to this date, Adstream (Aust) Pty Ltd was classified as a jointly controlled entity. Our acquisition of the Adstream Group included the following controlled entities:
    Adstream Ltd; and
 
    Quickcut (Aust) Pty Ltd.
    The Adstream Group is a provider of on-line services to advertisers that streamlines client approval and distribution of electronic advertising to media outlets.
(j) Sales and disposals
  On 31 August 2005, Trading Post Group Pty Limited (TPG) sold its investment in Just Listed Pty Ltd to Sensis Pty Ltd (Sensis).
 
    In addition, Sensis sold its 33% interest in TPG to Trading Post (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd on 31 August 2005.
 
    These controlled entities are all within the Telstra Group.
 
  On 1 May 2006, our controlled entity KAZ Group Pty Limited divested its interest in Fundi Software Pty Ltd in a management buy-out for a total consideration of $4 million.
 
  On 26 June 2006, ESA Holding Pty Ltd sold its investment in Telstra Business Systems Pty Ltd to the Telstra Entity.

F-104


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
30. Investments in jointly controlled and associated entities
Our investments in jointly controlled and associated entities are listed below:
                                                     
    Principal   Ownership     Telstra Group’s carrying     Telstra Entity’s carrying  
Name of Entity   activities   interest     amount of investment (*)     amount of investment (*)  
        As at 30 June     As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
        2006     2005     2006     2005     2006     2005  
        %     %     $m     $m     $m     $m  
Jointly controlled entities
                                                   
FOXTEL Partnerships (h) (i)
  Pay television     50.0       50.0                          
Customer Services Pty Limited (h)
  Customer service     50.0       50.0                          
FOXTEL Management Pty Limited
  Management services     50.0       50.0                          
FOXTEL Cable Television Pty Ltd (a) (h)
  Pay television     80.0       80.0                          
Reach Ltd (incorporated in Bermuda) (e) (h)
  International connectivity                                                
 
  services     50.0       50.0                          
Xantic B.V. (incorporated in The Netherlands) (b)
  Global satellite                                                
 
  communications           35.0             32             30  
TNAS Limited (incorporated in New Zealand) (e) (h)
  Toll free number                                                
 
  portability in New Zealand     33.3       33.3                          
 
  Financial advice and                                                
Money Solutions Pty Ltd (h)
  education services     50.0       50.0                          
HelpYouPay Systems Pty Ltd (b)
  Debt management services           50.0                          
HelpYouPay Pty Ltd (b)
  Debt management services           50.0                          
 
  Business process                                                
Enhanced Processing Technologies Pty Ltd (a)
  outsourcing     60.0       60.0       1                    
Enhanced Processing Technologies Inc (incorporated in United States) (c)
  Software sales           60.0                          
 
  Digital advertising and                                                
Adstream (Aust) Pty Ltd (c)
  asset management           33.3             3             3  
3GIS Pty Ltd (e)
  Management services     50.0       50.0                          
3GIS Partnership (e)
  3G network services     50.0       50.0                          
Bridge Mobile Pte Ltd (incorporated in Singapore)
  Regional roaming provider     12.5       12.5       1       1              
 
  Mobile phone content                                                
m.Net Corporation Limited (d)
  provider     26.4       39.5                          
                         
 
                        2       36             33  
                         
 
                                                   
Associated entities
                                                   
Australia-Japan Cable Holdings Limited (incorporated in Bermuda) (d) (e) (h)
  Network cable provider     46.9       39.9                          
Telstra Super Pty Ltd (a) (h)
  Superannuation trustee     100.0       100.0                          
 
  Electronic transactions                                                
Keycorp Limited (d)
  solutions     47.6       47.8       18       8       18       8  
 
  Charitable trustee                                                
Telstra Foundation Ltd (a)
  organisation     100.0       100.0                          
 
  Internet recruitment                                                
LinkMe Pty Ltd
  provider     40.0       40.0       3       4              
                         
 
                        21       12       18       8  
                         
Unless noted at (e), all investments have a balance date of 30 June and are incorporated in Australia. Our voting power is the same as our ownership interest unless otherwise noted.
 
(i) This includes both the FOXTEL Partnership and the FOXTEL Television Partnership.
(*) The Telstra Group carrying amounts are calculated using the equity method of accounting. The Telstra Entity’s carrying amounts are at cost less any accumulated impairment loss.

F-105


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
30. Investments in jointly controlled and associated entities (continued)
(a) Associated entities and jointly controlled entities in which we own more than 50% equity
  We own 80% of the equity of FOXTEL Cable Television Pty Ltd. This entity is disclosed as a jointly controlled entity as the outside equity shareholders have participating rights that prevent us from dominating the decision making of the Board of Directors. Effective voting power is restricted to 50% and we have joint control.
 
  We own 100% of the equity of Telstra Super Pty Ltd, the trustee for the Telstra Superannuation Scheme (Telstra Super). We do not consolidate Telstra Super Pty Ltd as we do not control the Board of Directors. We have equal representation with employee representatives on the Board. Our voting power is limited to 44%, which is equivalent to our representation on the Board. The entity is therefore classified as an associated entity as we have significant influence over it.
 
  We own 100% of the equity of Telstra Foundation Ltd (TFL). TFL is limited by guarantee (guaranteed to $100) with Telstra Corporation Limited being the sole member. We did not contribute any equity to TFL on incorporation. TFL is the trustee of the Telstra Community Development Fund and manager of the Telstra Kids Fund. We do not consolidate TFL as we do not control the Board. However, due to our Board representation we significantly influence this entity. Our voting power is limited to 43%, which is equivalent to our representation on the Board.
 
  We own 60% of the equity of Enhanced Processing Technologies Pty Ltd. This entity is subject to joint control based on the shareholders’ agreement, under which mutual consent of the shareholders is required in determining the financial and operating policies of the entity. As a result, it has been classified as a jointly controlled entity.
(b) Sale of investments
  On 30 July 2005, we completed the sale of our 50% shareholding in HelpYouPay Pty Ltd. The revenue on sale of the investment was not considered significant.
  On 30 July 2005, we completed the sale of our 50% shareholding in HelpYouPay Systems Pty Ltd. The revenue on sale of the investment was not considered significant.
  On 16 February 2006, we completed the sale of our 35% shareholding in Xantic B.V. for $89 million (US$67 million). During fiscal 2006, we received $18 million (US$13 million) as a result of a capital return by Xantic B.V.
(c) Investments no longer equity accounted
  On 22 December 2005, we acquired the remaining 40% shareholding in Enhanced Processing Technologies Inc giving us ownership of the entity. Prior to this date Enhanced Processing Technologies Inc was a jointly controlled entity and was equity accounted. Refer to note 29 for further details.
  On 1 February 2006, we acquired an additional 24.7% shareholding in Adstream (Aust) Pty Ltd giving us a controlling interest. Prior to this date Adstream (Aust) Pty Ltd was a jointly controlled entity and was equity accounted. Refer to note 29 for further details.
(d) Other changes in jointly controlled and associated entities
  On 1 July 2005, we acquired an intangible asset from our associated entity Keycorp Limited (Keycorp) for $55 million. We reduced the value of the intangible asset recognised and increased our investment in Keycorp to the extent to which this transaction is unrealised outside the Telstra Group. This resulted in a $26 million increase in the carrying value of our investment. Under the terms of the transaction Keycorp also returned capital to its shareholders, our share amounting to $16 million. Refer to (g) for details on our movements in the consolidated equity amount of our associated entities.
 
    In addition, our investment in Keycorp decreased from 47.8% to 47.6% on 29 August 2005. The decrease was due to a dilution in our shareholding.
  On 10 August 2005, our investment in m.Net Corporation Limited decreased from 39.5% to 26.4%. The decrease was due to a dilution in our shareholding.
  On 16 November 2005, our investment in Australia-Japan Cable Holdings Limited increased from 39.9% to 46.9%. The increase was due to another investor forfeiting their interest in the investment.

F-106


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
30. Investments in jointly controlled and associated entities (continued)
(e) Jointly controlled and associated entities with different balance dates
The following jointly controlled and associated entities have different balance dates to our balance date of 30 June for fiscal 2006:
  Reach Ltd — 31 December;
 
  TNAS Limited — 31 March;
 
  3GIS Pty Ltd — 31 December;
 
  3GIS Partnership — 31 December; and
 
  Australia-Japan Cable Holdings Limited — 31 December.
Financial reports prepared as at 30 June are used for equity accounting purposes. Our ownership interest in jointly controlled and associated entities with different balance dates is the same at that balance date as 30 June unless otherwise noted.
(f) Share of jointly controlled and associated entities’ net (profits)/ losses
                 
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005  
    $ m     $ m  
     
Net (profit)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities has been contributed by the following entities:
               
Jointly controlled entities
               
- FOXTEL Partnerships
    5       5  
- Stellar Call Centres Pty Ltd
          (3 )
- Xantic B.V.
    (12 )     (5 )
     
 
    (7 )     (3 )
     
Associated entities
               
- Keycorp Limited
    1       (5 )
- LinkMe Pty Ltd
    1        
     
 
    2       (5 )
     
 
    (5 )     (8 )
     
Net (profit)/loss from jointly controlled entities has been adjusted by the following:
               
Jointly controlled entities
               
- Reach Ltd (i)
          102  
     
 
    (5 )     94  
     
 
(i)   In fiscal 2005, previously unrecognised equity accounted losses in Reach Ltd (Reach) were recognised due to our commitment to fund 50% of Reach’s committed capital expenditure, which was accounted for as an investment in Reach. Refer to note 36 for further details.

F-107


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
30. Investments in jointly controlled and associated entities (continued)
(g) Other disclosures for jointly controlled and associated entities
The movements in the consolidated equity accounted amount of our jointly controlled and associated entities are summarised as follows:
                                         
            Jointly controlled        
            entities     Associated entities  
            Telstra Group     Telstra Group  
                     
            Year ended/As at     Year ended/As at  
            30 June     30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Carrying amount of investments at beginning of year
            36       40       12        
Additional investments made during the year
            5       14             3  
                 
 
            41       54       12       3  
Share of profits/(losses) before income tax expense
            6       2       (3 )     12  
Share of income tax expense
                  (1 )     1       (7 )
                 
Share of profits/(losses) for the year after income tax expense
            6       1       (2 )     5  
Amortisation of unrealised inter-entity profits after income tax
            1       2              
                 
Share of profits/(losses) for the year
            7       3       (2 )     5  
Dividends and distributions received
                  (1 )           (1 )
Share of reserves
                              5  
Share of foreign currency translation reserve and movements due to exchange rate translations
            1       (2 )            
Sale, transfers and reductions of investments during the year
            (47 )     (16 )     (15 )      
Other
                        26        
                 
Carrying amount of investments before reduction to recoverable amount
            2       38       21       12  
Impairment losses recognised in the income statement during the year
                  (2 )            
                 
Carrying amount of investments at end of year
    13       2       36       21       12  
                 
 
Our share of contingent liabilities of jointly controlled and associated entities — we are not directly liable for these
                        6        
 
Our share of capital commitments contracted for by our jointly controlled and associated entities — we are not directly liable for these (i)
            11       9              
 
Our share of other expenditure commitments contracted for by our jointly controlled and associated entities (other than the supply of inventories) — we are not directly liable for these (i)
            40       52       2       4  
                 
 
(i)   The commitments and guarantees of our jointly controlled entities for which we are directly liable are included within note 26 and note 27 respectively.

F-108


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
30. Investments in jointly controlled and associated entities (continued)
(g) Other disclosures for jointly controlled and associated entities (continued)
Summarised presentation of all of our jointly controlled and associated entities’ assets, liabilities, revenue and expense items (including jointly controlled and associated entities where equity accounting has been suspended):
                                 
    Jointly controlled        
    entities     Associated entities  
    Telstra Group     Telstra Group  
    Year ended/As at     Year ended/As at  
    30 June     30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Current assets
    556       695       73       131  
Non current assets
    811       909       346       354  
         
Total assets
    1,367       1,604       419       485  
         
 
                               
Current liabilities
    950       1,521       58       88  
Non current liabilities
    927       579       536       502  
         
Total liabilities
    1,877       2,100       594       590  
         
Net assets
    (510 )     (496 )     (175 )     (105 )
         
 
                               
Total income
    2,152       2,335       150       174  
Total expenses
    2,067       2,140       180       211  
         
Profit/(loss) before income tax expense
    85       195       (30 )     (37 )
Income tax expense
    3       8       4       6  
         
Profit/(loss) for the year
    82       187       (34 )     (43 )
         
 
                               
Summarised presentation of our share of all our jointly controlled and associated entities revenue and expense items (including jointly controlled entities where equity accounting has been suspended):
                               
 
                               
Total income
    1,369       1,377       71       81  
Total expenses
    1,326       1,280       85       96  
         
Profit/(loss) before income tax expense
    43       97       (14 )     (15 )
Income tax expense
    2       5       2       3  
         
Profit/(loss) for the year
    41       92       (16 )     (18 )
         

F-109


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
30. Investments in jointly controlled and associated entities (continued)
(h) Suspension of equity accounting
Our unrecognised share of (profits)/losses for the period and cumulatively, for our entities where equity accounting has ceased and the investment is recorded at zero due to losses made by these entities and/or reductions in the equity accounted carrying amount, is shown below:
                                 
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
    Period Cumulative     Period Cumulative  
    2006     2006     2005     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Jointly controlled entities
                               
FOXTEL Partnerships
    (1 )     117       80       118  
Reach Ltd
    (34 )     575       (206 )     609  
 
                               
Associated entities
                               
Australia-Japan Cable Holdings Limited
    36       143       14       107  
         
 
    1       835       (112 )     834  
         
Equity accounting has also been suspended for the following jointly controlled and associated entities:
  Customer Services Pty Limited;
 
  FOXTEL Cable Television Pty Ltd;
 
  TNAS Limited;
 
  Money Solutions Pty Ltd; and
 
  Telstra Super Pty Ltd.
There are no significant unrecognised profits/losses in these entities.

F-110


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans
The Company has a number of employee share plans that are available for directors, executives and employees, these include:
  the Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plans (TESOP99 and TESOP97); and
 
  those conducted through the Telstra Growthshare Trust.
The nature of each plan, details of plan holdings, movements in holdings, and other relevant information is disclosed below:
(a) TESOP99 and TESOP97
As part of the Commonwealth’s sale of its shareholding in fiscal 2000 and fiscal 1998 we offered eligible employees the opportunity to buy ordinary shares of Telstra. These share plans were:
  the Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plan II (TESOP99); and
 
  the Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plan (TESOP97).
Participating employees are entitled to receive dividends and voting rights in the shares. Telstra ESOP Trustee Pty Ltd is the trustee for TESOP99 and TESOP97 and holds the shares on behalf of participants. This company is 100% owned by Telstra.
Generally, employees were offered interest free loans by the Telstra Entity to acquire certain shares and in some cases became entitled to certain extra shares and loyalty shares as a result of participating in the plans. All shares acquired under the plans were transferred from the Commonwealth either to the employees or to the trustee for the benefit of the employees.
While a participant remains an employee of the Telstra Entity, a company in which Telstra owns greater than 50% equity, or the company which was their employer when the shares were acquired, there is no date by which the employee has to repay the loan. The loan may, however, be repaid in full at any time by the employee using his or her own funds.
The loan shares, extra shares and in the case of TESOP99, the loyalty shares, were subject to a restriction on the sale of the shares or transfer to the employee for three years, or until the relevant employment ceased. This restriction period has now been fulfilled under each plan.
If a participating employee leaves the Telstra Entity, a company in which Telstra owns greater than 50% equity, or the company which was their employer when the shares were acquired, to acquire the relevant shares the employee must repay their loan within two months of leaving. This is the case except where the restriction period has ended because of the employee’s death or disablement (in this case the loan must be repaid within 12 months).
If the employee does not repay the loan when required, the trustee can sell the shares. The sale proceeds must then be used to pay the costs of the sale and any amount outstanding on the loan, after which the balance will be paid to the employee. The Telstra Entity’s recourse under the loan is limited to the amount recoverable through the sale of the employee’s shares.

F-111


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(a) TESOP99 and TESOP97 (continued)
The following information details the number of outstanding equity instruments and loan balances relevant to the TESOP99 and TESOP97 plans:
                 
    Employee share plans
    As at 30 June
    2006   2005
 
Market price of Telstra shares
  $ 3.68 per share     $ 5.06 per share  
Employee share loan balance
  $ 130 million     $ 154 million  
 
               
TESOP99
               
Remaining number of loan shares
    14,387,400       14,535,900  
 
               
TESOP97
               
Remaining number of loan shares
    32,573,300       36,674,100  
Remaining number of extra shares
    8,143,325       9,168,525  
The fair value of these shares as at 30 June 2006 based on the market value of Telstra shares at balance date amounts to $203 million (2005: $306 million).
The Telstra ESOP Trustee continues to hold the loan shares where the employee has ceased employment and elected not to repay the loan, until the share price is sufficient to recover the loan amount and associated costs. The Trustee will then sell the shares. As at 30 June 2006, there were 6,418,300 shares held for this purpose (2005: 5,603,100).
The movements in the number of instruments are as follows:
                 
    TESOP97   TESOP99
    number   number
 
Equity instruments outstanding as at 30 June 2004
    48,327,000       14,622,000  
Exercised
    (2,484,375 )     (86,100 )
     
Equity instruments outstanding as at 30 June 2005
    45,842,625       14,535,900  
Exercised
    (5,126,000 )     (148,500 )
     
 
               
Equity instruments outstanding as at 30 June 2006
    40,716,625       14,387,400  
     
The weighted average loan still to be repaid for the TESOP97 equity instrument is $1.04 (2005: $1.33), and TESOP99 equity instrument is $6.13 (2005: $6.42).
The weighted average share price at the date of the transfers of Telstra shares relating to the exercise of these instruments was $3.95 for TESOP 99 (2005: $4.77) and $3.96 for TESOP 97 (2005: $4.77) based on the closing market price on those dates. The total proceeds received on exercise of TESOP99 was $5 million (2005: $4 million) and TESOP97 was $19 million (2005: $15 million).

F-112


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust
The Telstra Growthshare Trust commenced in fiscal 2000. Under the trust, Telstra operates a number of different short and long term incentive equity plans whereby the following equity based instruments may be allocated:
  incentive shares;
 
  sign-on bonus shares;
 
  performance rights;
 
  deferred shares;
 
  restricted shares; and
 
  options.
In addition, the following share plans are operated for our non executive directors and certain eligible employees:
  directshares; and
 
  ownshares.
The trustee for the trust is Telstra Growthshare Pty Ltd. This company is 100% owned by Telstra. Funding is provided to the Telstra Growthshare Trust to purchase Telstra shares on the market to underpin the equity instruments issued.
In fiscal 2006, we recorded an expense of $15 million for our share based payments (2005: $10 million). As at 30 June 2006, we had a total expense yet to be recognised of $25 million (2005: $17 million), which is expected to be recognised over a weighted average of 2 years (2005: 2 years).
Our election not to apply AASB 2: “Share based payment” (AASB 2) to equity instruments granted prior to 7 November 2002, as permitted under AASB 1: “First-time Adoption of Australian Equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards” (AASB 1), has reduced the expense we have recorded, as well as the total expense we are yet to recognise. Refer to note 36(a) for further details.
Short term incentive equity plan
Incentive shares
In fiscal 2006, the Board allocated the executives’ half of their short term incentive payments as rights to acquire Telstra shares. These incentive shares vest in equal parts over a period of one, two and three years on the anniversary of their allocation date, subject to the executive’s continued employment with any entity that forms part of the Telstra Group. The executive can exercise their vested incentive shares at a cost of $1 in total for all of the incentive shares exercised on a particular day.
Once the vested incentive shares are exercised, Telstra shares will be transferred to the executive. Until this time, the executive cannot use the incentive shares (or vested incentive shares) to vote or receive dividends. Any dividends paid by the Company prior to exercise will increase the number of incentive shares allocated to the executive. The Board has decided not to continue the short term incentive share plan and the short term incentive payment for fiscal 2006 will be delivered in cash.
Incentive shares movements during the year
The following incentive shares were granted during fiscal 2006:
         
Effective commencement date of instruments
  19 August 2005
Number of incentive shares issued
  1,986,435
Market price of Telstra shares on grant date
  $4.77
Exercise date — 1 year incentive shares
  19 August 2006
Exercise date — 2 year incentive shares
  19 August 2007
Exercise date — 3 year incentive shares
  19 August 2008
Expiration date
  2 years from each
exercise date
During fiscal 2006, 53,467 incentive shares were forfeited due to resignation, and 97,382 incentive shares were exercised as a result of those executives being made redundant. As a result of the above movements, 1,835,586 incentive shares were outstanding as at 30 June 2006. There were no incentive shares that were exercisable at 30 June 2006.
The fair value of the August 2005 allocation of incentive shares was $4.77. This was calculated using a Black Scholes option pricing model. The following weighted average assumptions were used in determining the valuation:
         
    Growthshare
    incentive shares
    August 2005
Risk free rate - 1 year incentive shares
    5.12 %
Risk free rate - 2 year incentive shares
    5.06 %
Risk free rate - 3 year incentive shares
    5.06 %
Expected stock volatility
    15 %
Long term incentive equity plans
(i) Nature of share plans
The purpose of the long term incentive plans is to align key executives’ rewards with shareholders’ interests, and reward performance improvement whilst supporting business plans and corporate strategies. These plans are administered through the Telstra Growthshare Trust. The Board determines who is invited to participate in the share plans.

F-113


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
Long term incentive equity plans
(i) Nature of share plans (continued)
Allocations have been made over a number of years in the form of performance rights, restricted shares and options under our long term incentive plan, and deferred shares under our deferred remuneration plan. Instruments issued represent a right to acquire a share in Telstra. Generally, the performance rights, restricted shares and options may only be exercised to acquire Telstra shares if a performance hurdle is satisfied in the performance period and in the case of options, the exercise price is paid by the executive. Deferred shares may only be exercised when a prescribed period of service has been completed.
Performance rights
We have seven types of performance rights on issue. These are:
  total shareholder return (TSR) performance rights — are based on Telstra’s total shareholder return;
 
  earnings per share (EPS) performance rights — are based on the growth of earnings per share in the year of allocation and two subsequent years;
 
  operating expense growth (OEG) performance rights - are based on a reduction in Telstra’s operating expenses;
 
  revenue growth (RG) performance rights — are based on increases in Telstra’s revenue;
 
  network transformation (NT) performance rights — are based on completion of certain elements in Telstra’s network transformation program;
 
  information technology transformation (ITT) performance rights -are based on a reduction in the number of business support systems (BSS) and operational support systems (OSS) systems used by companies in the Telstra Group; and
 
  return on investment (ROI) performance rights — are based on an increase in the earnings before interest and tax for Telstra relative to the average investment.
For all types of performance rights, an executive is not entitled to Telstra shares before the performance rights allocated under Telstra Growthshare become vested performance rights and are therefore exercisable. If the performance hurdle is satisfied during the performance period, a specified number of performance rights as determined in accordance with the trust deed and terms of issue, will become vested performance rights. The vested performance rights can then be exercised at any time before the expiry date, otherwise they will lapse. Once the vested performance rights are exercised, Telstra shares will be transferred to the executive. Until this time, the executive cannot use the performance rights (or vested performance rights) to vote or receive dividends.
Telstra shares will be transferred to the executive on exercise of vested performance rights. The executive may exercise the performance rights at a cost of $1 in total for all of the performance rights exercised on a particular day.
Deferred shares
The executives were previously provided part of their annual fixed remuneration in the form of rights to Telstra shares that vest upon completing certain employment requirements. Generally, if an executive continues to be employed by an entity that forms part of the Telstra Group three years after the commencement date of the instrument, the deferred share will become a vested deferred share.
Vested deferred shares must be exercised before the expiry date, otherwise they will lapse. Once exercised, Telstra shares will be transferred to the executive. Until this time, the executive can not use the deferred shares or vested deferred shares to vote or receive dividends. The executive may exercise the deferred shares at a cost of $1 in total for all of the deferred shares exercised on a particular day.
Restricted shares
The executive is not entitled to Telstra shares before the restricted shares allocated under the trust are exercised. If the performance hurdle is satisfied in the performance period, the restricted shares will vest and may be exercised at any time before the expiry date, otherwise they will lapse. Once the restricted shares have vested, they become restricted trust shares, which will generally be held by the trustee for the executive for a certain period. Once converted into restricted trust shares, the executive has an interest in Telstra shares and is entitled to dividends, other distributions, and voting rights.
Restricted trust shares are held by the Trustee until the earlier of:
  the period determined in accordance with the trust deed;
 
  the executive finishes employment with Telstra; or
 
  a date nominated by the Board.
The executive may exercise restricted shares at a cost of $1 in total for all of the restricted shares exercised on a particular day.

F-114


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
(i) Nature of the share plans (continued)
Options
An executive is not entitled to Telstra shares before the options allocated under Telstra Growthshare initially vest, and then are exercised. This means that the executive cannot use options to vote or receive dividends. If the performance hurdle is satisfied in the performance period, options may be exercised at any time before the expiry date otherwise they will lapse. Details of the performance hurdle for options is detailed below.
Once the options are exercised and the option price paid, Telstra shares will be transferred to the executive.
(ii) Performance hurdles
Performance hurdles for instruments issued in fiscal 2006
TSR performance rights
For allocations of TSR performance rights issued in fiscal 2006, the applicable performance hurdle is based on the market value of Telstra shares and the value of accumulated dividends paid to Telstra shareholders. TSR performance rights vest if Telstra’s total shareholder return exceeds certain targets over the performance period, which is the five years to 30 June 2010. If the total shareholder return is:
  equal to the minimum target then 50% of the allocation becomes exercisable (except for the CEO, who will receive 75% of the allocated performance rights);
 
  between the maximum and minimum targets then the number of exercisable TSR performance rights is scaled proportionately between 50% and 100% (with the exception of the CEO whose number of performance rights is scaled proportionately between 75% and 100%);
 
  equal to or greater than the maximum target then 100% of the TSR performance rights will become exercisable; or
 
  is less than the minimum target all TSR performance rights will lapse.
OEG, RG, NT and ITT performance rights
For allocations of the OEG, RG, NT and ITT performance rights issued in fiscal 2006, the performance hurdles for the initial performance period are:
  if the minimum target is achieved in the initial performance period, (1 July 2005 to 30 June 2008) then 50% of the allocation of performance rights will become exercisable (except for the CEO, who will receive 75% of the allocated performance rights);
 
  if the result achieved is between the maximum and minimum targets, then the number of exercisable performance rights is scaled proportionately between 50% and 100% (with the exception of the CEO whose number of performance rights is scaled proportionately between 75% and 100%);
 
  if the maximum target is achieved then 100% of the performance rights will become exercisable; or
 
  if the minimum target is not achieved 25% of the performance rights allocated to the initial performance period will lapse.
Of the performance rights that have not become exercisable in the initial performance period, 75% will be added to the subsequent performance period allocation. The performance targets for the subsequent performance period (1 July 2005 to 30 June 2010) are:
  if the minimum target is met, 50% of the allocation will become exercisable (except for the CEO, who will receive 75% of the allocated performance rights);
 
  if the result achieved is between the maximum and minimum targets, then the number of exercisable performance rights is scaled proportionately between 50% and 100% (with the exception of the CEO whose number of performance rights is scaled proportionately between 75% and 100%); or
 
  if the maximum target is achieved then all of the performance rights will become exercisable.
If the minimum target is not met in the subsequent performance period, all performance rights will lapse.
ROI performance rights
For the allocation of ROI performance rights issued in fiscal 2006, if the return on investment is:
  equal to the minimum target then 50% of the allocation will become exercisable (except for the CEO, who will receive 75% of the allocated performance rights);
 
  between the maximum and minimum targets, the number of exercisable ROI performance rights is scaled proportionately between 50% and 100% (with the exception of the CEO whose number of performance rights is scaled proportionately between 75% and 100%);
 
  greater than the maximum target then 100% of the ROI performance rights will become exercisable; or
 
  is less than the minimum target 25% of the allocated ROI performance rights will lapse.
If the ROI performance rights have not become exercisable in this period, 75% of these performance rights will be added to the allocation of TSR performance rights for measurement against the TSR performance hurdle. If this TSR performance hurdle is not achieved, all ROI performance rights will lapse.

F-115


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
(ii) Performance hurdles (continued)
Performance hurdle for instruments issued between 30 June 2001 and 30 June 2005
EPS performance rights
The number of EPS performance rights that become vested EPS performance rights, and therefore become exercisable, is based on the following:
  if the cumulative growth in EPS from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2007 is equal to 15.7% then 50% of the allocation becomes exercisable;
  if the cumulative growth in EPS is greater than 15.7% and less than 33.1% then the number of exercisable performance rights is scaled proportionately between 50% and 100%;
  if the cumulative growth in EPS exceeds 33.1% then 100% of the EPS performance rights will become exercisable; or
  if Telstra does not achieve cumulative growth in EPS of 15.7%, all EPS performance rights will lapse.
TSR performance rights and options
For allocations of TSR performance rights made between 30 June 2001 and 30 June 2005, and options issued during fiscal 2002, the applicable performance hurdle is based on comparing Telstra’s total shareholder return (TSR) with the TSRs of the companies in the S&P/ASX 200 (Industrial) Index (peer group) within the performance period.
The companies in the peer group are anchored at the effective date of allocation, and this same peer group of companies are then tracked during the performance period. At the end of each quarter during the performance period, the 30 day average TSR is calculated for Telstra and the companies in the peer group for each trading day during that quarter.
Both the number of TSR performance rights and the number of options potentially exercisable are based on the following.
If in the first quarter of the performance period, Telstra’s percentile ranking is the 50th percentile or above then:
  the number of TSR performance rights and options that become exercisable for that quarter is scaled proportionately from the 50th percentile (at which 50% of the allocation becomes exercisable) to the 75th percentile (at which 100% of the allocation becomes exercisable); and
  in subsequent quarters, the number that become exercisable is based on the same proportionate scale, but is reduced by the number of performance rights or options that have previously become exercisable. The percentile ranking achieved needs to be above that achieved in previous quarters for additional performance rights and options to become exercisable.
If in the first quarter of the performance period, the percentile ranking is less than the 50th percentile then:
  half of the allocation will lapse; and
  in subsequent quarters, the remaining 50% of the options or performance rights will become exercisable if the ranking is the 50th percentile or above for that quarter.
If Telstra does not achieve or exceed the 50th percentile ranking in any quarter of the performance period, all TSR performance rights and options will lapse.
Performance hurdle for instruments issued prior to 30 June 2001
For all allocations prior to 30 June 2001, which include restricted shares and options, the applicable performance hurdle was that the average Telstra Accumulation Index must exceed the average S&P/ASX 200 (Industrial) Index (replacing the superseded All Industrials Accumulation Index) for thirty consecutive days within the performance period. If the performance hurdle is satisfied for these allocations, all of the relevant options or restricted shares would become exercisable (i.e. they do not become exercisable on a proportionate basis).

F-116


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
(ii) Performance hurdles (continued)
The following outlines the targets to be achieved for the fiscal 2006 allocation of performance rights to become exercisable:
                 
    3 Year performance rights   5 Year performance rights
    Initial performance period   Subsequent performance period
    Minimum target   Maximum target   Minimum target   Maximum target
 
TSR performance rights
  N/A   N/A   (a)   (a)
 
               
OEG performance rights
  2.2% operating expense growth   1.2% operating expense growth   1.1% operating expense growth   0.0% operating expense growth
 
               
RG performance rights
  2.0% revenue growth   2.5% revenue growth   2.0% revenue growth   2.5%revenue growth
 
               
NT performance rights


  IP Core and Ethernet complete by 30 June 2008   IP Core and Ethernet complete by 31 December 2007   Multi Service Edge, Soft Switch Platform, Fibre to the Node and Wireless NGN complete by 30 June 2010   Multi Service Edge, Soft Switch Platform, Fibre to the Node and Wireless NGN complete by 31 December 2009
 
               
ITT performance rights
  350 OSS and BSS systems   250 OSS and BSS systems   250 OSS and BSS systems   200 OSS and BSS systems
 
               
ROI performance rights
  23.5% return on investment   24.5% return on investment   N/A   N/A
 
(a)   The applicable performance hurdle is based on the market value of Telstra shares and the value of accumulated dividends paid to Telstra shareholders. This has been set by the Board.

F-117


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
(iii) Instruments outstanding at the beginning of fiscal 2006
The following performance rights, deferred shares, restricted shares and options were outstanding at the start of fiscal 2006, but were yet to vest with executives.
                                 
    Number of                       Exercise date
    instruments   Commencement   Performance   Exercise   (once performance
    outstanding   date   hurdle period   price   hurdle met)
                from   to           anytime before:
 
Growthshare 2001 - Sept 2000 allocation                        
Options
    2,413,900     8 Sept 2000   8 Sept 2003   8 Sept 2005       $6.28   8 Sept 2010
Restricted shares
    500,600     8 Sept 2000   8 Sept 2003   8 Sept 2005   $1 per parcel exercised   8 Sept 2005
 
                               
Growthshare 2001 - March 2001 allocation                        
Options
    150,000     16 March 2001   16 March 2004   16 March 2006       $6.55   16 March 2011
Restricted shares
    40,000     16 March 2001   16 March 2004   16 March 2006   $1 per parcel exercised   16 March 2006
 
                               
Growthshare 2002 - Sept 2001 allocation                        
Options
    13,325,153     6 Sept 2001   6 Sept 2004   6 Sept 2006       $4.90   6 Sept 2011
TSR Performance rights
    1,273,782     6 Sept 2001   6 Sept 2004   6 Sept 2006   $1 per parcel exercised   8 Dec 2006
 
                               
Growthshare 2002 - March 2002 allocation                        
Options
    1,602,000     14 March 2002   14 March 2005   14 March 2007       $5.63   14 March 2012
TSR Performance rights
    136,000     14 March 2002   14 March 2005   14 March 2007   $1 per parcel exercised   14 June 2007
 
                               
Growthshare 2003 - Sept 2002 allocation                        
Deferred shares
    1,774,023     5 Sept 2002   N/A       $1 per parcel exercised   5 Sept 2007
TSR Performance rights
    3,687,224     5 Sept 2002   5 Sept 2005   5 Sept 2007   $1 per parcel exercised   5 Dec 2007
 
                               
Growthshare 2003 - March 2003 allocation                        
Deferred shares
    18,600     7 March 2003   N/A       $1 per parcel exercised   7 March 2008
TSR Performance rights
    37,200     7 March 2003   7 March 2006   7 March 2008   $1 per parcel exercised   7 June 2008
 
                               
Growthshare 2004 - Sept 2003 allocation                        
Deferred shares
    2,025,008     5 Sept 2003   N/A       $1 per parcel exercised   5 Sept 2008
TSR Performance rights
    4,099,546     5 Sept 2003   5 Sept 2006   5 Sept 2008   $1 per parcel exercised   5 Dec 2008
 
                               
Growthshare 2004 - February 2004 allocation                        
Deferred shares
    18,350     20 Feb 2004   N/A       $1 per parcel exercised   20 Feb 2009
TSR Performance rights
    36,700     20 Feb 2004   20 Feb 2007   20 Feb 2009   $1 per parcel exercised   20 May 2009
 
                               
Growthshare 2005 - August 2004 allocation                        
TSR Performance rights
    2,424,714     20 Aug 2004   20 Aug 2007   20 Aug 2009   $1 per parcel exercised   20 Nov 2009
EPS Performance rights
    2,424,714     20 Aug 2004   1 July 2004   30 June 2007   $1 per parcel exercised   20 Nov 2009
As deferred shares are allocated as annual fixed remuneration, there is no performance hurdle. Generally, deferred shares will become vested deferred shares after a specified service period.

F-118


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
(iv) Instruments granted during the financial year
The following performance rights were granted in February 2006 in relation to the 2005 long term incentive plan:
                                                 
      TSR     OEG     RG     NT     ITT     ROI
      performance     performance     performance     performance     performance     performance
      rights     rights     rights     rights     rights     rights
 
Number of executives who were allocated performance rights
      220       220       220       220       220       220
Effective commencement date of instruments
  24 Feb 2006   24 Feb 2006   24 Feb 2006   24 Feb 2006   24 Feb 2006   24 Feb 2006
 
                                               
Performance hurdle period — i.e. over what time period executives have to satisfy the performance hurdle for the instruments to vest
  1 July 2005 to
30 June 2010
  1 July 2005 to
30 June 2008
  1 July 2005 to
30 June 2008
  1 July 2005 to
30 June 2008
  1 July 2005 to
30 June 2008
  1 July 2005 to
30 June 2008
 
          1 July 2005 to   1 July 2005 to   1 July 2005 to   1 July 2005 to        
Subsequent performance hurdle period
      N/A   30 June 2010   30 June 2010   30 June 2010   30 June 2010       N/A
Number of performance rights issued
      571,943       1,143,886       1,143,886       857,914       857,914       1,143,886
  $1per parcel   $1per parcel   $1per parcel   $1per parcel   $1per parcel   $1per parcel
Exercise price (once the performance rights
  of instruments   of instruments   of instruments   of instruments   of instruments   of instruments
become exercisable)
  exercised   exercised   exercised   exercised   exercised   exercised
Market price of Telstra shares on commencement date
    $ 3.87     $ 3.87     $ 3.87     $ 3.87     $ 3.87     $ 3.87
Fair value (per instrument)
    $ 0.66     $ 3.18     $ 3.18     $ 3.18     $ 3.18     $ 3.37
  any time   any time   any time   any time   any time   any time
Exercise date (once the instruments become
  before   before   before   before   before   before
exercisable)
  19 Aug 2012   19 Aug 2012   19 Aug 2012   19 Aug 2012   19 Aug 2012   19 Aug 2012
The following performance rights were granted in August 2004:
                 
      TSR performance     EPS performance
      rights     rights
 
Number of executives who were allocated performance rights
      178       178
Effective commencement date of performance rights
  20 Aug 2004   20 Aug 2004
Performance hurdle period — i.e. over what time period executives have to satisfy the performance hurdle for the instruments to vest
  20 Aug 2007 to
20 Aug 2009
  1 Jul 2004 to
30 Jun 2007
Number of performance rights issued
      2,473,000       2,473,000
 
  $1per parcel of   $1per parcel of
Exercise price (once the instruments become exercisable)
  instruments
exercised
  instruments
exercised
Market price of Telstra shares on commencement date
    $ 4.89     $ 4.89
Fair value (per instrument)
    $ 2.63     $ 4.18
Exercise date (once the instruments become exercisable)
  any time before
20 Nov 2009
  any time before
20 Nov 2009

F-119


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
(iv) Instruments granted during the financial year (continued)
The fair value was calculated using a valuation technique that is consistent with the Black Scholes methodology and utilises Monte Carlo simulations. The following weighted average assumptions were used in determining the valuation:
                 
    Growthshare
    performance rights
    Feb 2006   Aug 2004
 
Share price
  $ 3.87     $ 4.89  
Risk free rate
    5.20 %     5.39 %
Dividend yield
    6.0 %     5.5 %
Expected stock volatility
    19 %     13.1 %
Expected life — performance rights
  date the
instruments
become
exercisable
    5.25 years  
Expected rate of achievement of TSR performance hurdles
    15 %     62 %
     
The expected stock volatility is a measure of the amount by which the price is expected to fluctuate during a period. This was based on historical daily and weekly closing share prices.
As the RG, OEG, NTT, IT and ROI performance rights are not based on market conditions, no adjustment for the expected achievement of the performance hurdles was made in the valuation.

F-120


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
(v) Instruments which have been forfeited during the financial year
The following instruments issued to participating employees have been forfeited during the financial year due to cessation of employment:
                 
    Instruments forfeited  
    during year ended 30 June  
Allocation   2006     2005  
 
Options
               
September 2000
          419,447  
September 2001
    888,153       1,631,444  
March 2002
          80,000  
 
Restricted shares
               
September 2000
          86,608  
 
Deferred shares
               
September 2002
    41,292       105,856  
March 2003
    506       3,500  
September 2003
    94,713       116,595  
 
TSR Performance rights
               
September 2001
    5,500       158,762  
March 2002
          6,800  
September 2002
    180,281       223,096  
March 2003
    1,012       7,000  
September 2003
    272,118       244,648  
August 2004
    198,314       48,286  
February 2006
    4,612        
 
EPS Performance rights
               
August 2004
    198,314       48,286  
 
OEG Performance rights
               
February 2006
    9,225        
 
RG Performance rights
               
February 2006
    9,225        
 
NT Performance rights
               
February 2006
    6,918        
 
ITT Performance rights
               
February 2006
    6,918        
 
ROI Performance rights
               
February 2006
    9,225        
(vi) Instruments exercised during the financial year
In fiscal 2006, there were 2,000 (2005: nil) options that were exercised from the September 2001 allocation at the exercise price of $4.90. The total proceeds received on exercise of these options was $9,800 (2005: nil). The share price at the date of the transfers of Telstra shares relating to these options was $4.81 (2005: nil).
There were 1,241,282 (2005: nil) performance rights exercised from the September 2001 allocation. These instruments were exercised at various dates throughout the year. The weighted average share price at the date of the transfers of Telstra shares relating to the exercise of these instruments was $4.69 (2005: nil) based on the closing market price on those dates.
There was also 1,516,003 deferred shares (2005: 49,834) that were exercised from the September 2002 allocation, 2,094 (2005: nil) deferred shares from the March 2003 and 500,054 deferred shares (2005: 27,486) that were exercised from the September 2003 allocation. These instruments were exercised at various dates throughout the year. The weighted average share price at the date of the transfers of Telstra shares relating to the exercise of these instruments was $4.43 (2005: $4.87) based on the closing market price on those dates.
The total proceeds received on exercise of our options, deferred shares and performance rights was $10,027 (2005: $8), which includes $9,800 from the exercise of our September 2001 allocation of options.

F-121


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
(vii) Instruments which have expired during the financial year
The following instruments issued to participating employees have expired due to the performance hurdle not being met:
                 
    Instruments expired  
    during year ended 30 June  
Allocation   2006     2005  
 
Options
               
September 1999
          1,395,000  
September 2000
    2,413,900        
March 2001
    150,000        
September 2001
          16,846,680  
March 2002
    801,000        
 
Restricted shares
               
September 1999
          236,500  
September 2000
    500,600        
March 2001
    40,000        
 
TSR Performance rights
               
September 2001
            1,607,066  
March 2002
    68,000        
September 2002
    1,865,832        
(viii) Instruments outstanding at the end of fiscal 2006
After movements in our share plans during the financial year, the following instruments remain outstanding as at 30 June 2006:
         
    Number
    outstanding
    As at 30 June 2006
 
Growthshare 2002 - Sept 2001 allocation
       
Options
    12,435,000  
TSR Performance rights
    27,000  
 
       
Growthshare 2002 - March 2002 allocation
       
Options
    801,000  
TSR Performance rights
    68,000  
 
       
Growthshare 2003 - Sept 2002 allocation
       
Deferred shares
    216,728  
TSR Performance rights
    1,641,111  
 
       
Growthshare 2003 - March 2003 allocation
       
Deferred shares
    16,000  
TSR Performance rights
    36,188  
 
       
Growthshare 2004 - Sept 2003 allocation
       
Deferred shares
    1,430,241  
TSR Performance rights
    3,827,428  
 
       
Growthshare 2004 - February 2004 allocation
       
Deferred shares
    18,350  
TSR Performance rights
    36,700  
 
       
Growthshare 2005 - August 2004 allocation
       
TSR Performance Rights
    2,226,400  
EPS Performance Rights
    2,226,400  
 
       
Growthshare 2006 - February 2006 allocation
       
TSR Performance Rights
    567,331  
OEG Performance Rights
    1,134,661  
RG Performance Rights
    1,134,661  
NT Performance Rights
    850,996  
ITT Performance Rights
    850,996  
ROI Performance Rights
    1,134,661  
Only the September 2001 allocation of options and TSR performance rights, and the September 2002 allocation of deferred shares have become vested instruments, however, they are yet to be exercised.

F-122


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
(ix) Summary of movements
                                                                                 
    Incentive shares (i)   Options   Restricted shares   Deferred shares   Performance rights (ii)
            Weighted           Weighted           Weighted           Weighted           Weighted
            average fair           average fair           average fair           average fair           average fair
    Number   value   Number   value   Number   value   Number   value   Number   value
                 
Equity instruments outstanding as at 30 June 2004                 37,863,624     $ 1.18       863,708     $ 4.18       4,139,252     $ 4.34       11,517,824     $ 2.98  
Granted
                                                    4,946,000     $ 3.41  
Forfeited
                (2,130,891 )   $ 1.22       (86,608 )   $ 3.62       (225,951 )   $ 4.34       (736,878 )   $ 3.04  
Exercised
                                        (77,320 )   $ 4.37              
Expired
                (18,241,680 )   $ 1.15       (236,500 )   $ 5.64                   (1,607,066 )   $ 2.86  
     
Equity instruments outstanding as at 30 June 2005                 17,491,053     $ 1.20       540,600     $ 3.63       3,835,981     $ 4.34       14,119,880     $ 3.14  
Granted
    1,986,435     $ 4.77                                           5,719,429     $ 2.97  
Forfeited
    (150,849 )   $ 4.77       (888,153 )   $ 1.13                   (136,511 )   $ 4.32       (901,662 )   $ 3.19  
Exercised
                (2,000 )   $ 1.13                   (2,018,151 )   $ 4.38       (1,241,282 )   $ 2.86  
Expired
                (3,364,900 )   $ 1.49       (540,600 )   $ 3.63                   (1,933,832 )   $ 2.99  
                     
Equity instruments outstanding as at 30 June 2006
    1,835,586     $ 4.77       13,236,000     $ 1.13                   1,681,319     $ 4.30       15,762,533     $ 3.12  
                     
Equity instruments exercisable as at 30 June 2006
    105,899     $ 4.77       12,435,000     $ 1.13                   216,728     $ 4.41       27,000     $ 2.86  
                     
 
(i)   The incentive shares exercisable relate to those executives that have been made redundant and are then consequently entitled to the incentive shares.
 
(ii)   Performance rights include TSR, EPS, OEG, RG, NT, ITT and ROI performance rights.

F-123


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
Telstra directshare and ownshare
(i) Nature of Telstra directshare and ownshare
Telstra directshare
Non-executive directors are required to sacrifice a minimum of 20% of their fees toward the acquisition of restricted Telstra shares, known as directshares. Shares are acquired by the trustee from time to time and allocated to the participating directors on a 6 monthly basis, on dates determined by the trustee at its discretion. Although the trustee holds the shares in trust, the participant retains the beneficial interest in the shares (dividends, voting rights, bonuses and rights issues) until they are transferred at expiration of the restriction period.
The restriction period continues:
  for five years from the date of allocation of the shares;
  until the participating director is no longer a director of, or is no longer employed by, a company in the Telstra Group; or
  until the Board of Telstra determines that an ‘event’ has occurred.
At the end of the restriction period, the directshares will be transferred to the participating director. The participating director is not able to deal in the shares until this transfer has taken place.
The expense associated with shares allocated under this plan is included in the disclosure for directors’ remuneration.
Telstra ownshare
Certain eligible employees may be provided part of their remuneration in Telstra shares. Those employees indicate a preference to be provided Telstra shares as part of their remuneration. Shares are acquired by the trustee from time to time and allocated to these employees at the time their application is accepted. Although the trustee holds the shares in trust, the participant retains the beneficial interest in the shares (dividends, voting rights, bonuses or rights issues) until they are transferred at expiration of the restriction period.
The restriction period continues:
  for three years or five years depending on the elections available to the participant at the time of allocation;
 
  until the participant ceases employment with the Telstra Group; or
 
  until the Board of Telstra determines that an ‘event’ has occurred.
At the end of the restriction period, the ownshares will be transferred to the participant. The participant is not able to deal in the shares until this transfer has taken place.
(ii) Instruments outstanding at the beginning of fiscal 2006
The following directshares and ownshares were outstanding at the start of fiscal 2006 but were held by the trustee for the benefit of the relevant directors or employees pending expiration of the restriction period:
         
    Number of
    instruments
    outstanding
   
Directshares
       
15 September 2000 allocation
    4,364  
19 March 2001 allocation
    7,439  
14 September 2001 allocation
    9,463  
14 March 2002 allocation
    11,857  
5 September 2002 allocation
    12,937  
7 March 2003 allocation
    29,922  
5 September 2003 allocation
    23,132  
20 February 2004 allocation
    26,369  
20 August 2005 allocation
    7,567  
19 February 2005 allocation
    26,013  
 
       
 
    159,063  
 
       
 
       
Ownshares
       
15 September 2000 allocation
    49,928  
14 September 2001 allocation
    47,202  
5 September 2002 allocation
    471,135  
28 October 2002 allocation
    138,232  
5 September 2003 allocation
    333,587  
31 October 2003 allocation
    207,140  
20 August 2004 allocation
    318,074  
29 October 2004 allocation
    247,168  
 
       
 
    1,812,466  
 
       

F-124


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
(iii) Instruments granted during the financial year
The following directshares were granted in August and February of fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005:
                                 
            Directshare Equity Plan        
    Aug 2005     Feb 2006     Aug 2004     Feb 2005  
 
Number of eligible non-executive directors
    6       6       8       8  
Number of participants in the plan
    6       6       8       8  
Grant date of shares
  19 August 2005     17 February 2006     20 August 2004     19 February 2005  
Number of shares allocated
    20,699       31,286       7,567       26,013  
Fair value of shares allocated
  $4.78 per share     $4.05 per share     $4.89 per share     $5.29 per share  
Total fair value of shares allocated
    $98,941       $126,708       $37,003       $137,609  
The following ownshares were granted in August and October of fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005:
                                 
            Ownshare Equity Plan        
    Aug 2005     Oct 2005     Aug 2004     Oct 2004  
 
Number of eligible participants
    9,612       17,559       8,975       16,062  
Number of participants in the plan
    414       151       311       173  
Grant date of shares
  19 August 2005     28 October 2005     20 August 2004     29 October 2004  
Number of shares allocated
    506,420       270,415       348,240       250,386  
Fair value of shares allocated
  $4.78 per share   $4.18 per share   $4.89 per share   $4.67 per share
Total fair value of shares allocated
    $2,420,688       $1,130,335       $1,702,894       $1,169,303  
On an allocation of directshares and ownshares, the participants in the plans are not required to make any payment to the Telstra Entity. The August allocation of ownshares relates to employees short term incentive payments and the October allocation relates to shares acquired through salary sacrifice by employees.
The fair value of the instruments issued is determined by the remuneration foregone by the participant. The number of directshares or ownshares allocated is based on the weighted average price of a Telstra share in the week ending on the day before allocation date, in conjunction with the remuneration foregone.

F-125


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
31. Employee share plans (continued)
(b) Telstra Growthshare Trust (continued)
(iv) Instruments exercised during the financial year
Directshares and ownshares are not required to be exercised. The fully paid shares held by the Telstra Growthshare Trust relating to these instruments are merely transferred to the participants at the completion of the restriction period.
The following fully paid shares have been distributed from the Telstra Growthshare Trust at various dates throughout fiscal 2006 to directors and executives under the directshare and ownshare plans respectively:
                 
    No. of shares    
    distributed   Fair value
 
Directshares
    45,060     $ 189,415  
Ownshares
    901,607     $ 3,763,870  
The following fully paid shares relating to the same plans were distributed during fiscal 2005:
                 
    No. of shares    
    distributed   Fair value
 
Directshares
    13,644     $ 68,629  
Ownshares
    425,950     $ 2,033,620  
The fair value of directshares and ownshares distributed is determined through reference to the closing market price of a Telstra share on the date of transfer.
(v) Instruments outstanding at the end of fiscal 2006
         
    No. of instruments  
    outstanding as at  
    30 June 2006  
 
Directshares
       
14 September 2001 allocation
    5,616  
14 March 2002 allocation
    8,348  
5 September 2002 allocation
    8,933  
7 March 2003 allocation
    23,879  
5 September 2003 allocation
    18,488  
20 February 2004 allocation
    21,380  
20 August 2005 allocation
    6,223  
19 February 2005 allocation
    21,136  
19 August 2005 allocation
    20,699  
17 February 2006 allocation
    31,286  
 
     
 
    165,988  
 
     
         
    No. of instruments  
    outstanding as at  
    30 June 2006  
 
Ownshares
       
14 September 2001 allocation
    32,395  
5 September 2003 allocation
    293,764  
31 October 2003 allocation
    165,932  
20 August 2004 allocation
    282,031  
29 October 2004 allocation
    194,084  
19 August 2005 allocation
    474,237  
28 October 2005 allocation
    245,251  
 
     
 
    1,687,694  
 
     
Sign-on bonus shares
Certain eligible employees may be provided sign-on bonus shares upon commencing employment at Telstra. These shares are held in trust, although the participant retains the beneficial interest in the shares (dividends, voting rights, bonuses or rights issues) until they are transferred at expiration of the restriction period.
The restriction period continues:
  until a date determined by the chief executive officer; or
 
  until the Board of Telstra determines that an ‘event’ has occurred.
At the end of the restriction period, the sign-on bonus shares will be transferred to the participating employee. The employee is not able to deal in the shares until this transfer has taken place.
There were 67,694 (2005: nil) sign-on bonus shares issued in fiscal 2006 to one employee (2005: nil) on 30 March 2006. The fair value of the shares allocated was $3.69 with a total fair value allocated of $249,791. These shares were still outstanding at 30 June 2006.
The fair value of the sign-on bonus shares is based on the weighted average price of a Telstra share in the week ending on the day before allocation date.

F-126


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
32. Key management personnel compensation
Our key management personnel (KMP) have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Telstra Group. Our KMP consist of:
  the directors’ of the Telstra Entity; and
  certain executives in the Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO’s) senior leadership team, referred to as a ‘senior executive’ in this report.
Directors
During fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, the directors’ of the Telstra Entity were:
     
Name   Position
 
Current directors
   
 
   
Donald G McGauchie
  Chairman, Non Executive Director, appointed Chairman 20 July 2004
 
   
Solomon D Trujillo
  Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, appointed 1 July 2005
 
   
Belinda J Hutchinson
  Non Executive Director,
 
   
Catherine B Livingstone
  Non Executive Director,
 
   
Charles Macek
  Non Executive Director,
 
   
John W Stocker
  Non Executive Director,
 
   
Peter Willcox
  Non Executive Director, appointed 17 May 2006
 
   
John Zeglis
  Non Executive Director, appointed 17 May 2006
 
   
Former directors
   
 
   
John T Ralph
  Deputy Chairman, Non Executive Director, retired 11 August 2005
 
   
Zygmunt E Switkowski
  Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, resigned 1 July 2005
 
   
Samuel H Chisholm
  Non Executive Director, resigned 28 October 2004
 
   
Anthony J Clark
  Non Executive Director, retired 11 August 2005
 
   
John E Fletcher
  Non Executive Director, resigned 30 June 2006
Senior executives
On 1 July 2005, Mr Solomon Trujillo was appointed CEO and Executive Director. Subsequent to Mr Trujillo’s appointment, we reassessed our KMP in light of the new organisational structure. The senior executives that qualified as KMP for the current year were:
     
Name   Position
 
Fiscal 2006 senior
executives
   
 
   
Bruce Akhurst
  Chief Executive Officer, Sensis
 
   
Kate McKenzie
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Wholesale, appointed 16 January 2006
 
   
David Moffatt
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Consumer Marketing and Channels
 
   
Deena Shiff
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Business, appointed 30 January 2006; previously Group Managing Director
Telstra Wholesale from 1 January 2005 to 30 January 2006
 
   
John Stanhope
  Chief Financial Officer and Group Managing Director, Finance and Administration
 
   
David Thodey
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Enterprise and Government
 
   
Gregory Winn
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Operations, appointed 11 August 2005

F-127


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
32. Key management personnel compensation (continued)
Senior executives (continued)
During fiscal 2005, the senior executives that formed part of our KMP were:
     
Name   Position
 
Fiscal 2005 senior
executives
   
 
   
Bruce Akhurst
  Chief Executive Officer, Sensis, appointed 1 January 2005; previously Group General Council and Group
Managing Director, Telstra Wholesale, Telstra Broadband and Media until 31 December 2004
 
   
Douglas Campbell
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Country Wide, retired 31 December 2005
 
   
David Moffatt
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Consumer and Marketing
 
   
Ted Pretty
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Technology, Innovation and Products, ceased 19 August 2005
 
   
Michael Rocca
  Group Managing Director, Infrastructure Services
 
   
Bill Scales
  Group Managing Director, Regulatory, Corporate and Human Relations, retired 12 August 2005
 
   
Deena Shiff
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Wholesale appointed 1 January 2005
 
   
John Stanhope
  Chief Financial Officer and Group Managing Director, Finance and Administration
 
   
David Thodey
  Group Managing Director, Telstra Enterprise and Government
Certain senior executives classified as KMP in the prior year have either resigned, retired or are no longer considered KMP for the purposes of the applicable accounting standard in fiscal 2006.
KMP aggregate compensation
During fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, the aggregate compensation provided to our KMP was:
                                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Short term employee benefits
    21,841,244       16,183,799       21,841,244       16,183,799  
Post employment benefits
    2,029,681       1,468,559       2,029,681       1,468,559  
Other long term benefits
    245,279       272,833       245,279       272,833  
Termination benefits
    4,027,495             4,027,495        
Equity settled share based payments
    4,907,315       9,249,062       4,907,315       9,249,062  
         
 
    33,051,014       27,174,253       33,051,014       27,174,253  
         
The compensation for each individual KMP with additional details regarding the category of compensation is provided on the following pages.

F-128


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
32. Key management personnel compensation (continued)
KMP individual compensation
During fiscal 2006, the compensation provided to each individual KMP was:
                                                                                                         
    Short term employee benefits     Post employment     Other long     Termin-     Equity settled share based payments     Total  
    Salary &     Short term     Non-             Superan-     Retirement     term     ation     Short term             Deferred     Other        
Year ended   fees     incentives     monetary     Other     nuation     benefits     benefits     benefits     incentives     Directshare     shares     equity        
30 June 2006   $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  
 
Directors
                                                                                                       
D McGauchie
    312,236             3,078             12,158       60,094                         81,099                   468,665  
J Ralph (a) (e)
    17,474             380                               462,548                               480,402  
S Trujillo (b) (c)
    2,987,861       2,581,200             1,745,011       1,012,139             75,000                               309,305       8,710,516  
Z Switkowski (a) (d)
    5,451             35             281                   3,151,526                   491,049       4,516       3,652,858  
A Clark (a) (e)
    9,015             458             970                   278,846                               289,289  
J Fletcher (a) (e)
    94,209             2,775             8,056                   134,575             26,422                   266,037  
B Hutchinson
    100,611             2,288             18,551       11,943                         29,740                   163,133  
C Livingstone
    113,063             2,288             10,998       11,849                         31,015                   169,213  
C Macek
    123,032             2,748             11,227       12,099                         33,565                   182,671  
J Stocker
    110,817             2,288             39,006       13,026                         37,390                   202,527  
P Willcox (b)
    11,872                         1,069                               3,235                   16,176  
J Zeglis (b)
    12,941                                                       3,235                   16,176  
     
 
    3,898,582       2,581,200       16,338       1,745,011       1,114,455       109,011       75,000       4,027,495             245,701       491,049       313,821       14,617,663  
 
                                                                                                       
Senior executives
                                                                                                       
B Akhurst
    984,974       1,519,035       11,740             188,026             29,325             276,443             115,592       650,036       3,775,171  
K McKenzie (b)
    223,280       180,950                   20,787             6,026             22,067                   30,871       483,981  
D Moffatt
    876,970       1,019,991       18,138             316,030             29,825             131,095             129,101       779,461       3,300,611  
D Shiff
    645,857       768,951       6,062             116,643             20,000             155,829             37,438       214,391       1,965,171  
J Stanhope
    919,499       655,412       9,668             101,001             25,825             126,792             76,968       335,804       2,250,969  
D Thodey
    1,031,086       926,798       8,248             52,914             27,100             108,869             105,198       560,789       2,821,002  
G Winn (b) (f)
    1,280,944       1,408,918       1,685       1,101,907       10,814             32,178                                     3,836,446  
     
 
    5,962,610       6,480,055       55,541       1,101,907       806,215             170,279             821,095             464,297       2,571,352       18,433,351  
     
 
    9,861,192       9,061,255       71,879       2,846,918       1,920,670       109,011       245,279       4,027,495       821,095       245,701       955,346       2,885,173       33,051,014  
     

F-129


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
32. Key management personnel compensation (continued)
KMP individual compensation (continued)
(a) These personnel retired or resigned from their position during fiscal 2006. After the date of retirement or resignation, these personnel were not considered to be KMP. As a result, the disclosed compensation includes only compensation during their period of services as a KMP.
(b) These personnel were appointed to the position during fiscal 2006. Prior to the date of appointment, these personnel were not considered to be KMP. As a result, the disclosed compensation includes only compensation from the date of appointment.
(c) On commencement of employment, Mr Trujillo received a one-off sign-on bonus of $1,000,000. This bonus was subsequently transferred to superannuation during fiscal 2006.
In addition, Mr Trujillo received a sign-on incentive in the amount of 50% of his maximum potential benefit under the short term incentive plan ($1,500,000), which has been included in short term incentives. The amount of the sign-on incentive was deducted from his potential short term incentive for the first year of employment.
Other compensation for Mr Trujillo relates to compensation provided for tax equalisation, travel, accommodation and certain relocation costs.
(d) Dr Switkowski ceased employment with the Company effective 1 July 2005. As a result, Dr Switkowski’s compensation includes one day of benefits, together with his termination benefits and equity settled share based payments.
Termination benefits relate to entitlements under Dr Switkowski’s employment contract, equal to 12 months fixed remuneration, in addition to accrued annual leave and long service leave entitlements. Fixed remuneration comprises salary, superannuation and the value of salary sacrificed items.
Other equity compensation represents one day of expense for various instruments, including options, performance rights and restricted shares. These instruments are subject to performance hurdles and may become exercisable in future reporting periods. Refer note 33 for further details on Dr. Switkowski’s holdings of equity instruments upon leaving the Company.
Upon ceasing employment, the deferred shares previously allocated to Dr Switkowski vested and became immediately exercisable. As such, the unamortised amount of compensation was immediately recognised.
(e) Termination benefits paid during fiscal 2006 are to directors that resigned or retired during the year. Termination benefits represent the payment of retirement benefits that accumulated during the period of employment.
(f) Other compensation for Mr Winn comprises a one-off sign-on bonus of $500,000 and compensation provided for tax equalisation, travel, accommodation and certain relocation costs.

F-130


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
32. Key management personnel compensation (continued)
KMP individual compensation (continued)
During fiscal 2005, the compensation provided to each individual KMP was:
                                                                                         
    Short term employee benefits     Post employment     Other long     Equity settled share based payments     Total  
            Short term     Non-             Superan-     Retirement     term             Deferred              
Year ended   Salary & fees     incentives     monetary     Other     nuation     benefits     benefits     Directshare     shares     Other equity        
30 June 2005   $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  
 
Directors
                                                                                       
D McGauchie
    225,503             2,317       2,837       11,484       195,396             60,054                   497,591  
J Ralph
    142,957             2,253                   79,940             19,305                   244,455  
Z Switkowski
    1,830,900       1,961,000       24,357             101,850             52,300             725,912       2,045,313       6,741,632  
S Chisholm (a)
                                                                 
A Clark
    75,706             2,753             8,493       48,811             13,114                   148,877  
J Fletcher
    43,795             3,015             6,705       35,603             40,000                   129,118  
B Hutchinson
    70,065             2,253             6,692       32,004             19,189                   130,203  
C Livingstone
    77,764             2,253             8,537       46,216             21,575                   156,345  
C Macek
    79,584             2,057             8,717       40,160             22,075                   152,593  
J Stocker
    71,975             2,253             6,478       73,130             52,173                   206,009  
     
 
    2,618,249       1,961,000       43,511       2,837       158,956       551,260       52,300       247,485       725,912       2,045,313       8,406,823  
 
                                                                                       
Senior executives
                                                                                       
B Akhurst
    927,664       523,600       11,893             177,086             29,325             196,141       732,594       2,598,303  
D Campbell
    941,394       310,600       10,149             88,356             26,825             196,141       732,354       2,305,819  
D Moffatt (c)
    1,133,165       248,300       18,781       400,000       11,585             29,825             220,968       801,183       2,863,807  
T Pretty (c)
    1,120,581       540,500       22,370       260,000       24,169             29,825             224,936       789,217       3,011,598  
M Rocca
    735,791       416,600       9,817             140,459             23,375             145,754       401,479       1,873,275  
B Scales
    681,167       428,700       9,635             117,583             21,625             121,946       326,788       1,707,444  
D Shiff (b)
    277,321       295,150       1,326             47,680             8,058             30,641       102,562       762,738  
J Stanhope
    800,685       240,150       11,398             99,065             24,575             105,628       365,338       1,646,839  
D Thodey
    966,890       206,200       8,375             52,360             27,100             176,235       560,447       1,997,607  
     
 
    7,584,658       3,209,800       103,744       660,000       758,343             220,533             1,418,390       4,811,962       18,767,430  
     
 
    10,202,907       5,170,800       147,255       662,837       917,299       551,260       272,833       247,485       2,144,302       6,857,275       27,174,253  
     

F-131


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
32. Key management personnel compensation (continued)
KMP individual compensation (continued)
(a) During fiscal 2005, Mr Chisholm declined to receive fees for his Board duties to Telstra. Mr Chisholm resigned during fiscal 2005.
(b) Ms Shiff was appointed to the position of Group Managing Director during fiscal 2005. Prior to the date of appointment, Ms Shiff was not considered to be a KMP. As a result, the disclosed compensation includes only compensation from the date of appointment.
(c) Relates to annual contract payments made to certain executives for continued service with Telstra or as part of their employment contract. These payments were determined at the executives’ initial entry into their contract for employment with the Company.
Principles of compensation
Our directors are remunerated in accordance with the constitution, which provides for the aggregate limit for directors’ fees to be set and varied only by approval of a resolution at the annual general meeting of shareholders. Our constitution provides that the allocation of fees to directors within the pool limit shall be determined by the Board.
In order to maintain the directors independence and impartiality, the compensation of the non-executive directors is not linked to the performance of the Company, except through their participation in Directshares. Our directors must sacrifice at least 20% of their fees into Telstra shares to align their interests with those of our shareholders, refer to note 31 for further details on Directshares.
The Telstra Entity has a Remuneration Committee, which is a committee of Board members responsible for reviewing and recommending to the Board the compensation arrangements for the CEO and executives, which includes the senior executives defined as KMP.
Our compensation structure includes both fixed remuneration and performance incentives designed to complement each other and support the execution of our business strategy in both the short and long term. Fixed compensation comprised salary, superannuation and the value of salary sacrificed items.
We reward our senior executives for performance through a combination of short term incentives (STI) and long term incentives (LTI). The STI rewards the CEO and executives for meeting or exceeding specific key annual business and individual performance measures. Measures and targeted achievement levels are reviewed each year to reflect changes in the business priorities for the forthcoming year.
The STI in relation to fiscal 2006 will be delivered in cash. The STI in relation to fiscal 2005 was allocated half in cash and half in rights to Telstra shares, called ‘incentive shares’. The cash portion of the fiscal 2005 STI was included in short term employee benefits during fiscal 2005 and the incentive shares component was included in equity settled share based payments during fiscal 2006 to represent when the instruments were granted.
The incentive shares vest equally over a period of one, two and three years on the anniversary of their allocation date, subject to the executives’ continued employment with any entity that forms part of the Telstra Group. The first third granted will vest on 19 August 2006.
In fiscal 2005, Mr Scales and Dr Switkowski were the only senior executives that received their STI in cash, as they ceased employment with the Company prior to the allocation of the equity component.
The LTI is intended to support our business strategy by aligning executive compensation with key performance measures and targets that support our transformation. On an annual basis, we invite selected executives who contribute significantly to sustained improvement in shareholder value to participate in an equity based LTI plan, administered through Growthshare. LTI equity instruments issued through the trust can only be exercised to obtain normal ordinary shares between certain time periods and if specific long term Company performance hurdles have been achieved.
During fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, our executives received performance rights which will vest in future reporting periods depending upon the company’s achievement of the relevant performance measures. The performance rights have been recorded in other equity in the KMP individual compensation tables.
During fiscal 2005, our deferred share program was discontinued. As the deferred shares will continue to vest over the relevant performance periods, a portion of the value of the deferred shares will continue to be allocated to the executive’s compensation until all deferred shares have vested or lapsed. This treatment is consistent with our other equity plans which have been discontinued, such as our option plan and restricted share plan. The deferred shares have been recorded as deferred remuneration in the KMP individual compensation tables.
For further details of our LTI plans, including detailed explanation of performance hurdles and allocations, refer to note 31.
We recognise an expense for all share-based compensation determined with reference to the fair value at grant date of the equity instruments issued. The fair value is reflected in the KMP’s compensation over the relevant vesting periods, adjusted to reflect actual and expected levels of vesting. Refer to note 2.25 for details on our accounting policy for equity settled share based payments.

F-132


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
32. Key management personnel compensation (continued)
Individual contracts for services
There are no individual contracts for service with our non-executive directors other than retirement benefits classified as post employment benefits. Only directors appointed prior to 30 June 2002 are eligible to receive retirement benefits upon leaving office.
Our individual senior executives are employed under contracts without a fixed duration, except Mr Winn who was appointed on a two year fixed duration contract. Where both parties mutually agree, Mr Winn’s contract can be extended for a further one year.
Where Telstra terminates an executives’ employment prior to the expiration of their employment contract for reasons other than for misconduct, the senior executive is entitled to between 1 and 6 months notice depending on their respective contract conditions. Alternatively, the individual is entitled to payment in lieu of notice and between 6 and 12 months pay depending on their respective contract conditions. Both elements are calculated on fixed remuneration at the time of termination.
We have included detailed disclosures in relation to the principles of compensation and individual contracts for services in the Remuneration Report, which forms part of the Directors’ Report for the year ended 30 June 2006. In accordance with the Corporations Amendment Regulations 2006 (No.4), 2001, please refer to the Remuneration Report for detailed commentary.

F-133


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
33. Related party disclosures
Transactions involving our controlled entities
Our transactions with our controlled entities recorded in the income statement and balance sheet are as follows:
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Year ended/As at     Year ended/As at  
            30 June     30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Income from controlled entities:
                                       
Sale of goods and services (a)
                        1,092       1,072  
Finance income (a)
                        3       5  
Dividend revenue (b)
    6                   560       223  
                 
 
                                       
Expenses to controlled entities:
                                       
Purchase of goods and services (a)
                        399       362  
Finance costs (a)
                        20       19  
                 
 
                                       
Impairment of receivables:
                                       
Impairment in amounts owed by controlled entities (c)
    7 (a)                 382       475  
Reversal of impairment in amounts owed by controlled entities (c)
    7 (a)                       (15 )
                 
 
                                       
Total amounts receivable at 30 June from:
                                       
Current
                                       
Controlled entities (a) (d)
    11                   2,267       2,194  
Allowance for amounts owed by controlled entities (c)
    11                   (1,851 )     (1,469 )
                 
 
                        416       725  
                 
 
                                       
Non current
                                       
Controlled entities (a)
    11                   60       56  
                 
 
                                       
Total amounts payable at 30 June to:
                                       
Current
                                       
Controlled entities — payables (a) (d)
    17                   197       5  
Controlled entities — loans (e)
    18                   1,408       2,400  
                 
 
                        1,605       2,405  
                 
(a) The Telstra Entity sold and purchased goods and services and received and paid interest to its controlled entities. These transactions are in the ordinary course of business and are on normal commercial terms and conditions.
The Telstra Entity and certain Australian controlled entities have entered into a deed of cross guarantee. Under this deed, each company (except Telstra Finance Limited) guarantees the payment in full of the debts of the other named companies in the event of their winding up. Refer to note 29 for further details regarding our closed group.
Details of our individual significant transactions involving our controlled entities during fiscal 2006 are detailed as follows:
  the Telstra Entity received procurement fees from its controlled entity Sensis Pty Ltd for the use of Yellow Pages® and White Pages® trademarks amounting to $647 million (2005: $628 million). As at 30 June 2006, the Telstra Entity recorded revenue received in advance amounting to $332 million (2005: $344 million) for the use of these trademarks;
 
  the Telstra Entity paid management fees to its controlled entity Sensis Pty Ltd amounting to $218 million (2005: $211 million) for undertaking agency and contract management services for the national directory service; and
 
  the Telstra Entity received income from its controlled entity Telstra Multimedia Pty Ltd amounting to $292 million (2005: $284 million) for access to ducts that store the national hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) cable network.

F-134


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
33. Related party disclosures (continued)
Transactions involving our controlled entities (continued)
(b) The Telstra Entity recorded dividend revenue during fiscal 2006 from the following controlled entities:
  Network Design and Construction Limited of $200 million (2005: $nil); and
 
  Telstra International Limited of $360 million (2005: $nil).
During fiscal 2005, the Telstra Entity recognised tax consolidation distributions from certain wholly owned Australian entities amounting to $223 million in relation to tax losses incurred by these entities that were able to be utilised by the Telstra Entity. This was on the basis that no tax funding arrangement was in place between the entities within the tax consolidated group. Refer to note 9 for further details on tax consolidation.
(c) The profit before income tax expense of the Telstra Entity included an impairment loss of $382 million (2005: $475 million) relating to a movement in allowance for amounts owed by a controlled entity. Refer to note 25 for further details regarding impairment.
(d) The Telstra Entity and its Australian controlled entities have formed a tax consolidated group, which is treated as a single entity for income tax purposes.
During fiscal 2006, the entities within the tax consolidated group entered into a tax funding arrangement. The amounts receivable or amounts payable to the Telstra Entity under this arrangements are due in the next financial year upon final settlement of the current tax payable for the tax consolidated group. During fiscal 2005, no tax funding arrangement was in place and as a result, these funding amounts were recorded in our investment in controlled entities. Refer to note 9 for further details on tax consolidation.
(e) The Telstra Entity operates a current account with some of its Australian controlled entities, being an internal group bank account used to settle transactions with its controlled entities or between two controlled entities. Cash deposit balances in the current account owed to our controlled entities are recorded as loans. All loan balances with our controlled entities are unsecured, with settlement required in cash. Refer to note 18 for further discussion on our borrowings.
Transactions involving our parent entity
The Commonwealth of Australia is the ultimate parent and controlling entity of the Telstra Group. Telstra Corporation Limited is the parent entity in the Telstra Group comprising the Telstra Entity and its controlled entities.
We supply telecommunications services to, and acquire other services from, the Commonwealth of Australia, its Departments of State, trading and other agencies. These transactions are made within normal customer/supplier relationships on terms and conditions no more favourable than those available to other customers or suppliers. There are no exclusive rights to supply any of these services.
Services provided to any one governmental department or agency or the combination of all of these services in total, do not represent a significant component of our operating revenues. For these reasons, the financial report does not disclose transactions relating to the purchase and sale of goods and services from or to the Commonwealth of Australia, its Departments of State, trading and other agencies.

F-135


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
33. Related party disclosures (continued)
Transactions involving our jointly controlled and associated entities
Our transactions with our jointly controlled and associated entities recorded in the income statement and balance sheet are as follows:
                                         
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Year ended/As at     Year ended/As at  
            30 June     30 June  
            2006     2005     2006     2005  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
Income from jointly controlled and associated entities:
                                       
Sale of goods and services (a)
            177       165       83       97  
Finance income (a)
                              18  
Dividend revenue
    6                         1  
                 
 
                                       
Expenses to jointly controlled and associated entities:
                                       
Purchase of goods and services (a)
            510       533       245       277  
                 
 
                                       
Impairment of receivables:
                                       
Impairment in amounts owed by jointly controlled entities
    7 (a)     2       5              
                 
 
                                       
Total amounts receivable at 30 June from:
                                       
Current
                                       
Jointly controlled and associated entities — trade debtors (a)
            32       16       22       12  
                 
 
                                       
Non current
                                       
Jointly controlled and associated entities — loans (b)
    11       229       242       210       204  
Allowance for amounts owed by jointly controlled and associated entities (b)
    11       (215 )     (210 )     (210 )     (204 )
                 
 
            14       32              
                 
 
                                       
Total amounts payable at 30 June to:
                                       
Current
                                       
Jointly controlled and associated entities — payables (a)
            62       21       59       13  
                 
(a) We sold and purchased goods and services, and received interest from our jointly controlled and associated entities. These transactions are in the ordinary course of business and are on normal commercial terms and conditions.
Details of our individual significant transactions involving our jointly controlled and associated entities during fiscal 2006 are detailed as follows:
  we purchased pay television services amounting to $250 million (2005: $218 million) from our jointly controlled entity FOXTEL. The purchases were to enable the resale of FOXTEL services, including pay television content, to our existing customers as part of our ongoing product bundling initiatives. In addition, we made sales for our cost recoveries from FOXTEL of $77 million (2005: $55 million); and
 
  purchases were made by the Telstra Group of $198 million (2005: $226 million) and Telstra Entity of $192 million (2005: $192 million) from our jointly controlled entity Reach Ltd (Reach) in line with market prices. These were for both the purchase of, and entitlement to, capacity and connectivity services. Sales were made for international inbound call termination services, construction and consultancy by the Telstra Group of $61 million (2005: $71 million) and the Telstra Entity of $52 million (2005: $62 million) to Reach.

F-136


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
33. Related party disclosures (continued)
Transactions involving our jointly controlled and associated entities (continued)
(b) Loans provided to jointly controlled and associated entities relates mainly to loans provided to Reach Ltd (Reach) of $210 million (2005: $204 million) and the 3GIS Partnership (3GIS) of $14 million (2005: $32 million).
Previously, the Telstra Entity and co-shareholder PCCW Limited (PCCW) bought out a loan facility owed to a banking syndicate by Reach Finance Ltd, a controlled entity of our 50% jointly controlled entity Reach. Our share of the acquisition cost of the loan was US$155.5 million, which was recognised as a receivable at the date of the transaction. During fiscal 2005, we restructured our arrangements with Reach. As a result, the terms of maturity were altered such that the facility is now an interest free loan and repayable on or after 31 December 2010 upon the giving of 6 months notice by both PCCW and us. We have provided for the non-recoverability of the loan as we do not consider that Reach is in a position to be able to repay the loan amount in the medium term.
During fiscal 2005, we formed the jointly controlled entity 3GIS, together with Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Ltd (H3GA), to jointly own and operate H3GA’s existing 3G radio access network and fund future network development. We provided interest free funding to 3GIS for operational expenditure purposes. As a result, we have recognised our share of the loan outstanding by 3GIS amounting to $14 million (2005: $32 million).
Transactions involving other related entities
Post-employment benefits
As at 30 June 2006, Telstra Super owned 12,881,343 (2005: 13,280,885) shares in Telstra Corporation Limited at a cost of $56 million (2005: $67 million) and a market value of $47 million (2005: $67 million). In fiscal 2006, we paid dividends to Telstra Super of $4 million (2005: $5 million). We own 100% of the equity of Telstra Super Pty Ltd, the trustee for Telstra Super.
Telstra Super also holds bonds issued by Telstra Corporation Limited. As at 30 June 2006, Telstra Super holds bonds with a cost of $9 million (2005: $13 million) and a market value of $9 million (2005: $12 million).
All purchases and sales of Telstra shares and bonds by Telstra Super are determined by the trustee and/or its investment managers on behalf of the members of Telstra Super.
Key management personnel (KMP)
Our KMP consists of the Telstra Entity non executive directors and certain senior executives who form part of the chief executive officer’s senior leadership team. Our KMP have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Telstra Group.
Compensation to our KMP
The compensation of each individual director and senior executive defined as a KMP including our compensation policy are discussed in note 32.
Other transactions with our KMP and their related entities
Our KMP have telecommunications services transactions with the Telstra Group, which are not significant and are both trivial and domestic in nature. The KMP related entities also have telecommunications services with us on normal commercial terms and conditions.
Our KMP are provided with telecommunications and other services and equipment to assist them in performing their duties. From time to time, we also make products and services available to our KMP without charge to enable them to familiarise themselves with our products, services and recent technological developments. To the extent it is considered that this provides a benefit to a KMP, it is included in their compensation. Refer note 32 for compensation details.

F-137


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
33. Related party disclosures (continued)
KMP interests in shares of Telstra Entity
During fiscal 2006, our KMP and their related entities held share capital of the Telstra Entity directly, indirectly or beneficially as follows:
                                                 
    Total shares           Equity   Shares acquired   Total shares    
    held at   Directshare   instruments   or disposed of   held at   Shares that are
    30 June 2005   allocation (a)   exercised   by other means   30 June 2006 (b)   held nominally
    Number   Number   Number   Number   Number   Number
Directors
                                               
Donald G McGauchie
    41,445       16,196                   57,641       55,775  
John T Ralph (b)
    105,641                         105,641       104,641  
Solomon D Trujillo
                                   
Zygmunt E Switkowski (b)
    155,810                         155,810       109,010  
Anthony J Clark (b)
    83,026                         83,026       73,026  
John E Fletcher (b)
    52,934       9,870                   62,804       61,567  
Belinda J Hutchinson
    67,107       5,870             1,801       74,778       35,866  
Catherine B Livingstone
    39,734       6,104             10,000       55,838       44,201  
Charles Macek
    44,005       6,571                   50,576       50,576  
John W Stocker
    109,657       7,374                   117,031       114,078  
Peter Willcox
    10,000                         10,000       10,000  
John Zeglis
                                   
     
 
    709,359       51,985             11,801       773,145       658,740  
     
 
                                               
Senior executives
                                               
Bruce Akhurst
    62,491             125,900       (150,532 )     37,859       32,979  
Kate McKenzie
                                   
David Moffatt
    3,700             147,300             151,000       3,100  
Deena Shiff
    14,480             36,800       (36,800 )     14,480       8,800  
John Stanhope
    10,940             46,800       3,441       61,181       3,960  
David Thodey
    18,262             51,000       (5,000 )     64,262       800  
Gregory Winn
                                   
     
 
    109,873             407,800       (188,891 )     328,782       49,639  
     
 
    819,232       51,985       407,800       (177,090 )     1,101,927       708,379  
     
Total shareholdings include shares held by our KMP and their related entities. Unless related to our employee share plans, shares acquired or disposed by our KMP during fiscal 2006 were on an arm’s length basis at market price.
(a) Shares provided to directors under directshare are subject to a restriction period. The participating directors are not able to deal in the shares until the end of the restriction period, refer to note 31 for further details.
(b) During fiscal 2006, certain directors resigned or retired from office. For these KMP, the number of shares represent those held at the date of leaving office.

F-138


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
33. Related party disclosures (continued)
KMP interests in shares of Telstra Entity (continued)
During fiscal 2005, our KMP and their related entities held share capital of the Telstra Entity directly, indirectly or beneficially as follows:
                                         
                    Shares acquired or        
    Total shares held   Directshare   disposed of by   Total shares held   Shares that are
    at 30 June 2004   allocation (a)   other means   at 30 June 2005   held nominally
    Number   Number   Number   Number   Number
Directors
                                       
Donald G McGauchie
    34,328       7,117             41,445       41,445  
John T Ralph
    101,943       3,698             105,641       104,641  
Zygmunt E Switkowski
    155,810                   155,810       109,010  
Anthony J Clark
    89,196       2,523       (8,693 )     83,026       73,026  
John E Fletcher
    48,060       4,874             52,934       52,934  
Belinda J Hutchinson
    64,948       2,159             67,107       29,996  
Catherine B Livingstone
    37,191       2,543             39,734       29,334  
Charles Macek
    41,462       2,543             44,005       44,005  
John W Stocker
    101,534       8,123             109,657       108,857  
     
 
    674,472       33,580       (8,693 )     699,359       593,248  
     
 
                                       
Senior executives
                                       
Bruce Akhurst
    62,491                   62,491       54,711  
Douglas Campbell
    37,200                   37,200       27,500  
David Moffatt
    3,700                   3,700       3,100  
Ted Pretty
    2,400                   2,400       2,400  
Michael Rocca
    12,000                   12,000        
Bill Scales
    9,916                   9,916       1,400  
Deena Shiff
    14,480                   14,480       8,800  
John Stanhope
    10,940                   10,940       3,960  
David Thodey
    18,262                   18,262       5,800  
     
 
    171,389                   171,389       107,671  
     
 
    845,861       33,580       (8,693 )     870,748       700,919  
     
Total shareholdings include shares held by the KMP and their related entities. Unless related to our employee share plans, shares acquired or disposed by our KMP during fiscal 2005 were on an arm’s length basis at market price.
(a) Shares provided to directors under directshare are subject to a restriction period. The participating directors are not able to deal in the shares until the end of the restriction period, refer to note 31 for further details.

F-139


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
33. Related party disclosures (continued)
KMP interests in equity instruments of Telstra Entity
The following details the balances and changes in instruments issued for our KMP and their related entities during fiscal 2006.
                                                         
                                            Vested and    
    Total held   Granted   Exercised           Total held   exercisable    
    at 30 June   during the   during the   Other   at 30 June   at 30 June   Vested during
Instrument type   2005   year   year   changes (a)   2006 (b)   2006   the year
director/senior executive   Number   Number   Number   Number   Number   Number   Number
 
Performance rights
                                                       
Solomon D Trujillo
          836,821                   836,821              
Bruce Akhurst
    473,600       147,240       (59,000 )     (66,900 )     494,940              
Kate McKenzie
    36,000       55,576                   91,576              
David Moffatt
    521,600       149,750       (71,000 )     (76,300 )     524,050              
Deena Shiff
    151,600       100,420       (17,000 )     (19,800 )     215,220              
John Stanhope
    290,000       129,666       (23,000 )     (23,800 )     372,866              
David Thodey
    427,200       136,068       (51,000 )     (59,000 )     453,268              
Restricted shares
                                                       
Bruce Akhurst
    39,000                   (39,000 )                  
David Moffatt
    40,000                   (40,000 )                  
Deena Shiff
    5,000                   (5,000 )                  
John Stanhope
    14,000                   (14,000 )                  
Options
                                                       
Bruce Akhurst
    805,000                   (188,000 )     617,000       617,000        
David Moffatt
    890,000                   (150,000 )     740,000       740,000        
Deena Shiff
    202,200                   (24,200 )     178,000       178,000        
John Stanhope
    310,000                   (69,000 )     241,000       241,000        
David Thodey
    534,000                         534,000       534,000        
Incentive shares
                                                       
Bruce Akhurst
          109,540             11,427       120,967              
Kate McKenzie
          17,119             1,786       18,905              
David Moffatt
          51,946             5,419       57,365              
Deena Shiff
          61,747             6,441       68,188              
John Stanhope
          50,241             5,241       55,482              
David Thodey
          43,139             4,500       47,639              
Deferred shares
                                                       
Bruce Akhurst
    135,300             (66,900 )           68,400             66,900  
David Moffatt
    152,400             (76,300 )           76,100             76,300  
Deena Shiff
    42,300             (19,800 )           22,500             19,800  
John Stanhope
    73,200             (23,800 )           49,400             23,800  
David Thodey
    121,600                         121,600       59,000       59,000  
TESOP97
                                                       
Bruce Akhurst
    2,500                         2,500              
John Stanhope
    2,500                         2,500              
TESOP99
                                                       
Bruce Akhurst
    400                         400              
Deena Shiff
    400                         400              
John Stanhope
    400                         400              

F-140


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
33. Related party disclosures (continued)
KMP interests in equity instruments of Telstra Entity (continued)
(a) During fiscal 2006, other changes for our performance rights, restricted shares and options are a result of instruments expiring due to the specified performance hurdles not being achieved.
Other changes for incentive shares relate to additional incentive shares provided to our senior executives. Any dividends paid by the Company prior to the exercise of their incentives shares will increase the number of Telstra shares allocated to the senior executive when the vested incentive shares are exercised.
(b) For those KMP that have resigned or retired during fiscal 2006, the number of equity instruments represent those instruments held at the date of leaving office.
Equity instruments held by the former chief executive officer
Dr Switkowski ceased employment with the Company effective 1 July 2005. The number of equity instruments held by Dr Switkowski at the date of leaving office were:
         
    Holding as at 1 July
    2005
    Number
 
Performance rights
    1,643,600  
Restricted shares
    96,000  
Options
    1,810,000  
Deferred shares
    500,700  
TESOP97
    2,500  
TESOP99
    400  
Upon ceasing employment, the deferred shares allocated to Dr Switkowski vested and became immediately exercisable, and as such were included in fiscal 2006 compensation. In addition, the TESOP97 shares were exercised during fiscal 2006.
Other equity instruments held by Dr Switkowski were not exercised. These equity instruments are subject to performance hurdles and may become exercisable during future reporting periods.

F-141


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
33. Related party disclosures (continued)
KMP interests in equity instruments of Telstra Entity (continued)
The following table details the balances and changes in equity instruments issued under our employee share plans for our KMP and their related entities during fiscal 2005.
                                                 
                                    Vested and    
    Total held   Granted during   Other   Total held   exercisable at   Vested during
Instrument type   at 30 June 2004   the year   changes (a)   at 30 June 2005   30 June 2005   the year
director/senior executive   Number   Number   Number   Number   Number   Number
 
Performance rights
                                               
Zygmunt E Switkowski
    1,259,400       513,200       (129,000 )     1,643,600       129,000       129,000  
Bruce Akhurst
    388,600       144,000       (59,000 )     473,600       59,000       59,000  
Douglas Campbell
    388,600       131,600       (59,000 )     461,200       59,000       59,000  
David Moffatt
    446,200       146,400       (71,000 )     521,600       71,000       71,000  
Ted Pretty
    446,200       146,400             592,600              
Michael Rocca
    251,200       115,000       (25,000 )     341,200       25,000       25,000  
Bill Scales
    210,400       106,400       (21,000 )     295,800       21,000       21,000  
Deena Shiff
    118,600       50,000       (17,000 )     151,600       17,000       17,000  
John Stanhope
    192,400       120,600       (23,000 )     290,000       23,000       23,000  
David Thodey
    345,200       133,000       (51,000 )     427,200       51,000       51,000  
Restricted shares
                                               
Zygmunt E Switkowski
    146,000             (50,000 )     96,000              
Bruce Akhurst
    60,000             (21,000 )     39,000              
Douglas Campbell
    68,000             (26,000 )     42,000              
David Moffatt
    40,000                   40,000              
Ted Pretty
    21,000             (21,000 )                  
Michael Rocca
    22,000             (9,000 )     13,000              
Bill Scales
    5,000                   5,000              
Deena Shiff
    5,000                   5,000              
John Stanhope
    25,000             (11,000 )     14,000              
Options
                                               
Zygmunt E Switkowski
    3,456,000             (1,646,000 )     1,810,000       1,346,000       1,346,000  
Bruce Akhurst
    1,542,000             (737,000 )     805,000       617,000       617,000  
Douglas Campbell
    1,597,000             (777,000 )     820,000       617,000       617,000  
David Moffatt
    1,630,000             (740,000 )     890,000       740,000       740,000  
Ted Pretty
    1,722,000             (120,000 )     1,602,000              
Michael Rocca
    640,000             (315,000 )     325,000       262,000       262,000  
Bill Scales
    465,000             (220,000 )     245,000       220,000       220,000  
Deena Shiff
    380,200             (178,000 )     202,200       178,000       178,000  
John Stanhope
    616,000             (306,000 )     310,000       241,000       241,000  
David Thodey
    1,068,000             (534,000 )     534,000       534,000       534,000  
Deferred Shares
                                               
Zygmunt E Switkowski
    500,700                   500,700              
Bruce Akhurst
    135,300                   135,300              
Douglas Campbell
    135,300                   135,300              
David Moffatt
    152,400                   152,400              
Ted Petty
    155,100                   155,100              
Michael Rocca
    100,600                   100,600              
Bill Scales
    84,200                   84,200              
Deena Shiff
    42,300                   42,300              
John Stanhope
    73,200                   73,200              
David Thodey
    121,600                   121,600              

F-142


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
33. Related party disclosures (continued)
KMP interests in equity instruments issued from Growthshare (continued)
The following table details the balances and changes in equity instruments issued from Growthshare for our KMP and their related entities during fiscal 2005 (continued).
                                                 
                                    Vested and    
Instrument type   Total held   Granted during   Other   Total held   exercisable at   Vested during
director/senior executive   at 30 June 2004   the year   changes (a)   at 30 June 2005   30 June 2005   the year
    Number   Number   Number   Number   Number   Number
 
TESOP97
                                               
Zygmunt E Switkowski
    2,500                   2,500              
Bruce Akhurst
    2,500                   2,500              
Douglas Campbell
    2,500                   2,500              
Michael Rocca
    2,500                   2,500              
John Stanhope
    2,500                   2,500              
TESOP99
                                               
Zygmunt E Switkowski
    400                   400              
Bruce Akhurst
    400                   400              
Douglas Campbell
    400                   400              
Deena Shiff
    400                   400              
John Stanhope
    400                   400              
 
(a) Other changes have arisen in fiscal 2005 as a result of instruments lapsing due to the specified performance hurdles not being achieved.

F-143


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
34. Events after balance date
We are not aware of any matter or circumstance that has occurred since 30 June 2006 that, in our opinion, has significantly affected or may significantly affect in future years:
  our operations;
 
  the results of those operations; or
 
  the state of our affairs;
 
other than:
Dividend declaration
On 10 August 2006, the directors of Telstra Corporation Limited declared a fully franked final dividend of 14 cents per ordinary share. The record date for the final dividend will be 25 August 2006 with payment being made on 22 September 2006. Shares will trade excluding the entitlement to the dividend on 21 August 2006.
A provision for dividend payable has been raised as at the date of declaration, amounting to $1,739 million. The final dividend will be fully franked at a tax rate of 30%. The financial effect of the dividend declaration was not brought to account as at 30 June 2006.
There are no income tax consequences for the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity resulting from the declaration and payment of the final ordinary dividend, except for $745 million franking debits arising from the payment of this dividend that will be adjusted in our franking account balance.
FOXTEL loan facility
On 31 July 2006, our 50% owned pay television joint venture FOXTEL entered into a new $600 million syndicated secured term loan facility to fund the refinancing of previous loan facilities (including the $550 million syndicated facility), and to enable it to meet future cash flow and expenditure requirements.
The equity contribution deed (ECD) entered into by us and FOXTEL’s other ultimate shareholders, News Corporation Limited and Publishing and Broadcasting Limited has been terminated.
Under this arrangement, recourse to our controlled entity Telstra Media Pty Ltd, as a FOXTEL partner, is limited to the assets of the FOXTEL Partnerships.

F-144


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management
Financial risk factors
We undertake transactions in a range of financial instruments including:
  cash assets;
 
  receivables;
 
  payables;
 
  deposits;
 
  bills of exchange and commercial paper;
 
  listed investments and investments in other corporations;
 
  various forms of borrowings, including medium term notes, commercial paper, bank loans and private placements; and
 
  derivatives.
Our activities result in exposure to a number of financial risks, including market risk (interest rate risk, foreign currency risk and other price risk), credit risk, operational risk and liquidity risk.
Our overall risk management program seeks to mitigate these risks and reduce volatility on our financial performance. Risk management is carried out centrally by our Treasury department, which is part of our Finance and Administration business unit, under policies approved by the Board of Directors. The Board provides written principles for overall risk management, as well as written policies covering specific areas, such as foreign exchange risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, use of derivative financial instruments and non-derivative financial instruments, and the investment of excess liquidity.
We enter into derivative transactions in accordance with Board approved policies to manage our exposure to market risks and volatility of financial outcomes that arise as part of our normal business operations. These derivative instruments create an obligation or right that effectively transfers one or more of the risks associated with an underlying financial instrument, asset or obligation. Derivative instruments that we use to hedge risks such as interest rate and foreign currency movements include:
  cross currency swaps;
 
  interest rate swaps; and
 
  forward foreign currency contracts.
We do not speculatively trade in derivative instruments. Our derivative transactions are entered into to hedge the risks relating to underlying physical positions arising from our business activities.
Comparatives
We have elected to apply the exemption available under AASB 1: “First-time Adoption of Australian Equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards” (AASB 1) to apply AASB132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” from 1 July 2005. Accordingly, we have changed our accounting policies for financial instruments from 1 July 2005. We have elected to early adopt AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures” from 1 July 2005. AASB 7 supersedes the disclosure requirements, but not the presentation requirements of AASB 132. The early adoption of AASB 7 did not require comparative information for fiscal 2005 to be restated and disclosed.
Risks and mitigation
The risks associated with our main financial instruments and our policies for minimising these risks are detailed below.
(a) Market risk
Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of our financial instruments will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. Components of market risk to which we are exposed are discussed below.
(i) Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk refers to the risk that the value of a financial instrument or cash flows associated with the instrument will fluctuate due to changes in market interest rates.
Interest rate risk arises from interest bearing financial assets and liabilities that we use. Non-derivative interest-bearing assets are predominantly short term liquid assets. Our interest rate liability risk arises primarily from long term foreign debt issued at fixed rates which exposes us to fair value interest rate risk. Our borrowings which have a variable interest rate attached give rise to cash flow interest rate risk.

F-145


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
(a) Market risk (continued)
(i) Interest rate risk (continued)
Our debt is sourced from a number of financial markets covering domestic and offshore, short term and long term funding. The majority of our debt consists of foreign currency denominated borrowings. We manage our debt in accordance with targeted currency, interest rate, liquidity, and debt portfolio maturity profiles. Specifically, we manage interest rate risk on our net debt portfolio by:
  controlling the proportion of fixed to variable rate positions in accordance with target levels;
 
  ensuring access to diverse sources of funding;
 
  reducing risks of refinancing by establishing and managing in accordance with target maturity profiles; and
 
  undertaking hedging activities through the use of derivative instruments.
We manage the interest rate exposure on our net debt portfolio to adjust the ratio of fixed interest debt to variable interest debt to our target rates, as required by our debt management policy. Where the actual interest rate profile on the physical debt profile differs substantially from our desired target, we use derivatives, principally interest rate swaps, to adjust towards the target net debt profile. Under the interest rate swaps we agree with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals (mainly quarterly), the difference between fixed contract rates and floating rate interest amounts calculated by reference to the agreed notional principal amounts.
We hedge interest rate and currency risk on most of our foreign currency borrowings by entering into cross currency principal swaps and interest rate swaps when required, which have the economic effect of converting foreign currency borrowings to Australian dollar borrowings.
The ‘Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities’ contained in this note provides further information.
The exposure to interest rate changes and the contractual repricing timeframes at 30 June 2006 on our floating rate financial instruments, which do not have offsetting risk positions, are shown in Table A below. These instruments also include cross currency swaps used to hedge our net foreign investments.
                 
    Contractual repricing dates  
    Notional / Principal  
Table A   amounts  
    6 months or less  
    Telstra     Telstra  
    Group     Entity  
    As at 30 June     As at 30 June  
    2006     2006  
    $m     $m  
       
Floating rate instruments
               
Financial assets
               
Cash at bank
    181       32  
Bills of exchange and commercial paper
    451       387  
Cross currency swaps
    511       511  
 
           
 
Financial liabilities
               
Bills of exchange and commercial paper
    1,457       1,457  
Interest rate swaps
    450       450  
Cross currency swaps
    5,246       5,246  
Bank loans
    111       110  
 
           

F-146


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
(a) Market risk (continued)
(i) Interest rate risk (continued)
Interest rates on our fixed and floating rate financial instruments which do not have offsetting risk positions are shown in Table B below. Foreign interest rate positions on our foreign cross currency and foreign interest rate swaps and on the majority of our foreign borrowings are fully offset, resulting in a nil net foreign interest position.
Accordingly, apart from some foreign borrowings and cross currency swaps which are used to hedge our net foreign investments, only the Australian interest rate positions are included in the table below.
                                                         
Table B           Telstra Group   Telstra Entity
            As at 30 June 2006   As at 30 June 2006
                    Interest rate range           Interest rate range
            Average                   Average        
            rate (a)   From   To   rate (a)   From   To
    Note   %   %   %   %   %   %
     
Australian dollar interest rates
                                                       
Fixed rate instruments
                                                       
Financial liabilities
                                                       
Interest rate swaps
            6.47       5.60       7.66       6.47       5.60       7.66  
Cross currency swaps
            6.69       6.25       7.05       6.69       6.25       7.05  
Telstra bonds
            7.21       6.48       12.60       7.21       6.48       12.60  
Finance lease liabilities
            9.33       7.56       10.50       7.56       7.56       7.56  
Deferred cash settlements
            12.40       12.00       12.90                    
Floating rate instruments
                                                       
Financial assets
                                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
            5.87       5.75       5.93       5.87       5.75       5.93  
Cross currency swaps
            5.89       5.89       5.89       5.89       5.89       5.89  
Financial liabilities
                                                       
Bills of exchange and commercial paper
            5.68       5.65       5.73       5.68       5.65       5.73  
Interest rate swaps
            6.21       5.34       7.71       6.21       5.34       7.71  
Cross currency swaps
            6.67       5.88       7.49       6.67       5.88       7.49  
Bank loans
            5.82       5.80       5.85       5.82       5.80       5.85  
Foreign currency interest rates
                                                       
Fixed rate instruments
                                                       
Financial liabilities
                                                       
Other loans (c)
            7.11       7.03       7.19       7.11       7.03       7.19  
Floating rate instruments
                                                       
Financial liabilities
                                                       
Bills of exchange and commercial paper (c)
            7.48       7.44       7.54       7.48       7.44       7.54  
Cross currency swaps — Hong Kong dollar (c)
            4.61       4.60       4.62       4.61       4.60       4.62  
Financial assets
                                                       
Cash at bank
            5.00       0.16       7.25                    
 
(a) The average rate is calculated as the weighted average (based on principal/notional value) effective interest rate.
(b) The effective yield (effective interest rate) on our net debt at 30 June 2006 was 6.85% for the Telstra Group and 6.51% for the Telstra Entity.
(c) Used to hedged our net foreign investments.

F-147


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
(a) Market risk (continued)
(i) Interest rate risk (continued)
Sensitivity analysis
Table C shows the effect on profit and equity after tax as at 30 June 2006 if interest rates at that date had been 10 per cent higher or lower with all other variables held constant, taking into account all underlying exposures and related hedges. Concurrent movements in interest rates and parallel shifts in the yield curves is assumed.
Also included in Table C is the effect on finance costs on our floating rate instruments if interest rates had been 10 per cent higher or lower during the year.
A sensitivity of 10 per cent has been selected as this is considered reasonable given the current level of both short term and long term Australian dollar interest rates. A 10 per cent sensitivity would move short term interest rates from around 6.25% to 6.875% representing a 62.5 basis points shift. This would represent two to three rate increases which is reasonably possible in the current environment with the bias coming from the Reserve Bank of Australia and confirmed by market expectations that interest rates in Australia are more likely to move up than down in the coming period.
It should be noted that the results reflect the net impact on a hedged basis which will be primarily reflecting the Australian dollar floating or Australian dollar fixed position from the cross currency and interest rate swap hedges and therefore it is the movement in the Australian dollar interest rates which is the important assumption in this sensitivity analysis.
The impact of the sensitivity analysis on finance costs is due to two factors, the impact on interest expense being incurred on our net floating rate Australian dollar positions during the year and the ineffectiveness resulting from the change in fair value of both our derivatives and borrowings which are designated in a fair value hedge. These two factors offset each other as the ineffective component results in a gain and the increase in finance costs results in an increase in expense. The net impact on net profit is relatively small reflecting the hedge strategy adopted by Telstra in terms of repricing risk.
                                                 
Table C   Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June 2006     As at 30 June 2006  
                    Equity (Cash                     Equity (Cash  
                    flow hedging             Profit before     flow hedging  
    Finance costs     Net profit     reserve)     Finance costs     income tax     reserve  
    $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
If interest rates were 10 per cent higher with all other variables held constant — increase/(decrease)
    8       (8 )     29       8       (8 )     29  
If interest rates were 10 per cent lower with all other variables held constant — increase/(decrease)
    (8 )     8       (29 )     (8 )     8       (29 )
(ii) Foreign currency risk
Foreign currency risk refers to the risk that the value of a financial commitment, recognised asset or liability will fluctuate due to changes in foreign currency rates. Our foreign currency exchange risk arises primarily from:
  borrowings denominated in foreign currencies;
 
  firm commitments or highly probable forecast transactions for receipts and payments settled in foreign currencies or with prices dependent on foreign currencies; and
 
  net investments in foreign operations.
We are exposed to foreign exchange risk from various currency exposures, primarily with respect to:
  United States dollars;
 
  British pounds sterling;
 
  New Zealand dollars;
 
  Euro;
 
  Swiss francs;
 
  Hong Kong dollars;
 
  Japanese yen;
 
  Swedish krona; and
 
  Singapore dollar.

F-148


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
(a) Market risk (continued)
(ii) Foreign currency risk (continued)
Our economic foreign currency risk is assessed for each individual currency and for each hedge type, calculated by aggregating the net exposure for that currency for that hedge type.
We minimise our exposure to foreign currency risk by initially seeking contracts effectively denominated in Australian dollars where possible and economically favourable to do so. Where this is not possible we manage our exposure as follows.
Foreign exchange risk that arises from firm commitments or highly probable transactions are managed principally through the use of forward foreign currency derivatives. We hedge a proportion of these transactions (such as international telecommunications traffic transactions settled in foreign currencies) in each currency in accordance with our risk management policy.
Cash flow foreign currency risk arises primarily from foreign currency overseas borrowings. We hedge this risk on the major part of our foreign currency denominated borrowings by effectively converting them to Australian dollar borrowings by entering into cross currency swaps at inception to maturity. A relatively small proportion of our foreign currency borrowings are not swapped into Australian dollars where they are used as hedges for foreign exchange exposure such as translation foreign exchange risk from our offshore business investments.
Foreign currency risk also arises on translation of the net assets of our non-Australian controlled entities which have a different functional currency. The foreign currency gains or losses arising from this risk are recorded through the foreign currency translation reserve. We manage this translation foreign exchange risk with forward foreign currency contracts, cross currency swaps and/or borrowings denominated in the currency of the entity concerned.
Where a subsidiary hedges foreign exchange transactions it designates hedging instruments with the Treasury department as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges as appropriate. External foreign exchange contracts are designated at the group level as hedges of foreign exchange risk on specific assets, liabilities or future transactions.
Also refer to ‘Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities’ contained in this note.
Sensitivity analysis
The following Table D shows the effect on profit and equity after tax as at 30 June 2006 from a 10 percent adverse/favourable movement in exchange rates at that date on a total portfolio basis with all other variables held constant, taking into account all underlying exposures and related hedges.
Adverse versus favourable movements are determined relative to the underlying exposure. An adverse movement in exchange rates implies an increase in our foreign currency risk exposure and a worsening of our financial position. A favourable movement in exchange rates implies a reduction in our foreign currency risk exposure and an improvement of our financial position.
A sensitivity of 10 per cent has been selected as this is considered reasonable given the current level of exchange rates and the volatility observed both on an historical basis and market expectations for future movement. Looking at the Australian dollar exchange rate against the United States dollar, the year end rate of 0.74235 would generate a 10 per cent adverse position of 0.6681 and a favourable position of 0.8166. This range is considered reasonable given the historic ranges that have been observed, for example over the last five years, the Australian dollar exchange rate against the US dollar has traded in the range 0.7985 to 0.4848.
Our foreign currency risk exposure from recognised assets and liabilities arises primarily from our long term borrowings denominated in foreign currencies. There is no significant impact on profit from foreign currency movements associated with these borrowings as they are effectively hedged.
The net gain in the cash flow hedge reserve reflects the result of exchange rate movements on the derivatives held in our cash flow hedges which will be released to the income statement in the future as the underlying hedged items affect profit.
For the Telstra Group, our foreign currency translation risk associated with our foreign investments results in some volatility to the foreign currency translation reserve. The impact on the foreign currency translation reserve relates to the hedging of our net investments in New Zealand dollars and Hong Kong dollars where the notional amount hedged equates to approximately 40%. The net loss of $211 million in the foreign currency translation reserve takes into account the related hedges and represents the impact of the unhedged portion. For the Telstra Entity there is a gain of $78 million resulting from the hedging instruments used to hedge our net foreign investments. This amount is transferred to the foreign currency translation reserve in the Telstra Group.

F-149


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
Sensitivity analysis
                                         
Table D   Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June 2006     As at 30 June 2006  
    Equity                     Equity        
    (foreign     Equity             (foreign     Equity  
    currency     (cash flow             currency     (cash flow  
    translation     hedging             translation     hedging  
    reserve)     reserve)           Net profit   reserve)     reserve)  
    $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
If there was a 10% adverse movement in exchange rates with all other variables held constant — increase/(decrease)
    (211 )     43       78             41  
If there was a 10% favourable movement in exchange rates with all other variables held constant — increase/(decrease)
    211       (43 )     (78 )           (41 )
(b) Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that a contracting entity will not complete its obligations under a financial instrument and cause us to make a financial loss. We have exposure to credit risk on all financial assets included in our balance sheet. To help manage this risk:
  we have a policy for establishing credit limits for the entities we deal with;
 
  we may require collateral where appropriate; and
 
  we manage exposure to individual entities we either transact with or enter into derivative contracts with (through a system of credit limits).
The major concentrations of credit risk for the Telstra Group and the Telstra Entity arise from our transactions in money market instruments, forward foreign currency contracts, cross currency and interest rate swaps. For credit purposes, there is only a credit risk where the contracting entity is liable to pay us in the event of a closeout. We have policies that limit the amount of credit exposure to any financial institution. Derivative counterparties and cash transactions are limited to financial institutions that meet minimum credit rating criteria in accordance with our policy requirements.
One of the methods that we use to manage the risk relating to these instruments is to monitor our exposure by country of financial institution. When reviewing concentrations of risk, we adjust for the period to maturity of relevant instruments in our portfolio to accurately consider our exposure at a point in time. On this basis, our credit risk exposure on financial assets outstanding at balance date (which includes a time based volatility allowance (VAR)) by country of financial institution is included in Table E below.
                                 
Table E   Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    Credit risk concentrations (VAR based)  
    As at 30 June 2006     As at 30 June 2006  
    %     $m     %     $m  
Australia
    34.6       1,983       35.1       1,983  
United States
    32.5       1,858       32.9       1,858  
Japan
    3.9       223       3.9       223  
Europe
    14.1       807       14.3       807  
United Kingdom
    4.0       229       4.1       229  
Canada
    2.3       133       2.4       133  
Switzerland
    7.1       409       7.2       409  
Hong Kong
    1.0       59              
New Zealand
    0.5       26       0.1       9  
         
 
    100.0       5,727       100.0       5,651  
         
Our maximum exposure to credit risk based on the recorded amounts of our financial assets reported at 30 June 2006, net of any applicable provisions for loss, amounts to $4,889 million for the Telstra Group and $4,357 million for the Telstra Entity. For the Telstra Group this comprises current financial assets of $4,411 million (Telstra Entity: $3,839 million) and non current financial assets of $478 million (Telstra Entity: $518 million). Details of our financial assets are shown in Table G. Where entities have a right of set-off and intend to settle on a net basis under master netting arrangements, this set-off has been recognised in the financial statements on a net basis.
We do not have any other significant operating exposure to any individual contracting entity.
We may also be subject to credit risk for transactions which are not included in the balance sheet, such as when we provide a guarantee for another party. Details of our contingent liabilities and contingent assets are available at note 27.

F-150


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
(c) Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk includes the risk that, as a result of our operational liquidity requirements:
  we will not have sufficient funds to settle a transaction on the due date;
 
  we will be forced to sell financial assets at a value which is less than what they are worth; or
 
  we may be unable to settle or recover a financial asset at all.
To help reduce these risks we:
  have a liquidity policy which targets a minimum and average level of cash and cash equivalents to be maintained;
 
  have readily accessible standby facilities and other funding arrangements in place;
 
  generally use instruments that are tradeable in highly liquid markets; and
 
  have a liquidity portfolio structure that requires surplus funds to be invested within various bands of liquid instruments ranging from ultra liquid, highly liquid and liquid instruments.

F-151


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
(c) Liquidity risk (continued)
The contractual maturity of our fixed and floating rate financial liabilities and derivatives at 30 June 2006 are shown in Table F below.
                                                                 
Table F   Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June 2006     As at 30 June 2006  
    Contractual maturity     Contractual maturity  
    (nominal cash flows)     (nominal cash flows)  
    Less than     1 to 2     2 to 5     over     Less than     1 to 2     2 to 5     over 5  
    1 year     years     years     5 years     1 year     years     years     years  
    $ m     $ m     $ m     $ m     $ m     $ m     $ m     $ m  
Derivative financial assets and liabilities
                                                               
Derivative financial liabilities
                                                               
Interest rate swaps — pay fixed (i)
    (17 )     (15 )     (16 )     (16 )     (17 )     (15 )     (16 )     (16 )
Interest rate swaps — pay variable (i)
    2       (1 )     (7 )     (7 )     2       (1 )     (7 )     (7 )
Cross currency swaps — AUD leg (fixed) (ii)
    (18 )     (18 )     (54 )     (316 )     (18 )     (18 )     (54 )     (316 )
Cross currency swaps — AUD leg (variable) (ii)
    (837 )     (1,648 )     (3,716 )     (3,153 )     (837 )     (1,648 )     (3,716 )     (3,153 )
Forward foreign currency contracts (ii)
    (779 )                       (779 )                  
Derivative financial assets
                                                               
Interest rate swaps — receive fixed (i)
    61       39       97       56       61       39       97       56  
Interest rate swaps — receive variable (i)
    1       2       7             1       2       7        
Cross currency swaps — foreign leg (fixed) (ii)
    53       1,072       69       166       53       1,072       69       166  
Cross currency swaps — foreign leg (variable) (ii)
    647       359       3,351       2,724       647       359       3,351       2,724  
Forward foreign currency contracts (ii)
    773                         773                    
Non-derivative financial liabilities
                                                               
Telstra bonds
    (184 )     (184 )     (1,428 )     (2,014 )     (184 )     (184 )     (1,428 )     (2,014 )
Bank loans
    (111 )                       (110 )                  
Other loans
    (866 )     (1,813 )     (4,656 )     (4,553 )     (866 )     (1,813 )     (4,656 )     (4,553 )
Finance lease liabilities
    (13 )     (12 )     (23 )     (52 )     (7 )     (6 )     (10 )      
Bills of exchange and commercial paper
    (1,490 )                       (1,490 )                  
Deferred cash settlements
    (123 )     (10 )     (29 )     (283 )                        
Non-derivative financial assets
                                                               
Bills of exchange and commercial paper
    451                         387                    
 
(i) net amounts for interest rate swaps for which net cash flows are exchanged.
(ii) contractual amounts to be exchanged representing gross cash flows to be exchanged.
(iii) for floating rate instruments, the amount disclosed is determined by reference to the interest rate at the last re-pricing date.

F-152


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
Net fair value of our financial assets and financial liabilities
The carrying amounts and fair value of our financial assets and financial liabilities is shown in Table G below:
                                 
Table G   Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June 2006     As at 30 June 2006  
    Carrying             Carrying        
    amount     Fair value     amount     Fair value  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
Financial assets — current
                               
Cash at bank and on hand
    238       238       87       87  
Bills of exchange and commercial paper
    451       451       387       387  
Trade debtors
    2,421       2,421       1,771       1,771  
Accrued revenue
    1,027       1,027       971       971  
Amounts owed by controlled entities
                416       416  
Other receivables
    253       253       186       186  
Cross currency swap hedge receivable
    20       20       20       20  
Forward contract asset
    1       1       1       1  
         
 
    4,411       4,411       3,839       3,839  
         
 
                               
Financial assets — non current
                               
Amounts owed by jointly controlled and associated entities
    14       14              
Amounts owed by controlled entities
                60       60  
Other receivables
    73       73       67       67  
Cross currency swap hedge receivable
    222       222       222       222  
Interest rate swap asset
    169       169       169       169  
         
 
    478       478       518       518  
         
 
    4,889       4,889       4,357       4,357  
         
 
                               
Financial liabilities — current
                               
Trade creditors
    738       738       586       586  
Accrued interest and other accrued expenses
    2,440       2,440       2,111       2,111  
Other creditors
    269       269       171       171  
Amounts owed to controlled entities
                197       197  
Deferred cash settlements
    123       123             -  
Loans from wholly owned controlled entities
                1,408       1,408  
Bills of exchange and commercial paper
    1,457       1,481       1,457       1,481  
Bank loans
    111       111       110       110  
Other loans
    394       396       394       396  
Finance leases
    7       7       5       5  
Cross currency swap hedge payable
    6       6       6       6  
Forward contract liability
    6       6       6       6  
         
 
    5,551       5,577       6,451       6,477  
         
 
                               
Financial liabilities — non current
                               
Other creditors
    70       70       65       65  
Deferred cash settlements
    127       127              
Telstra bonds
    2,613       2,658       2,613       2,658  
Other loans
    8,748       9,336       8,748       9,273  
Finance leases
    48       48       15       15  
Cross currency hedge payable
    612       612       612       612  
Interest rate swap payable
    156       156       156       156  
         
 
    12,374       13,007       12,209       12,779  
         
 
    17,925       18,584       18,660       19,256  
         

F-153


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
Net fair value of our financial assets and financial liabilities (continued)
(i) Unless there is evidence to suggest otherwise, financial assets and financial liabilities with a short term to maturity are considered to approximate net fair value.
(ii) The reported balance of our borrowings and derivative instruments excludes accrued interest which is recorded in current ‘trade and other receivables’ and current ‘trade and other payables’ in the balance sheet.
(iii) Derivative financial assets and derivative financial liabilities are carried at fair value. Fair value is based on the present value of the estimated future cash flows using an appropriate market based yield curve (also refer to note 2.27).
(iv) The fair value of the Telstra bonds is calculated as the present value of the estimated future cash flows using an appropriate market based yield curve (refer also to note 2.27). The carrying value of Telstra bonds is at amortised cost.
(v) Other loans comprise predominantly foreign denominated debt. The difference between the fair value and carrying value arises from the mixed measurement bases where only part of the foreign currency borrowing portfolio is carried at fair value with the remaining part at amortised cost. Fair value is based on the present value of the estimated future cash flows using an appropriate market based yield curve (also refer to note 2.27).
The carrying amount of other loans are denominated in the following currencies:
                 
Table H   Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    Carrying value  
    As at     As at  
    30 June 2006     30 June 2006  
    $m     $m  
Australian dollar
    245       245  
Euro
    6,336       6,336  
United States dollar
    1,028       1,028  
United Kingdom pound
    487       487  
Japanese yen
    472       472  
New Zealand dollar
    164       164  
Swiss francs
    326       326  
Singapore dollar
    84       84  
 
           
 
    9,142       9,142  
 
           
(vi) During the year we incurred impairment losses on our financial assets of $163 million for the Telstra Group and $520 million for the Telstra Entity. For the Telstra Group impairment losses comprised $161 million on trade and other receivables and $2 million on amounts owed by associated entities. For the Telstra Entity impairment losses comprised $138 million on trade and other receivables and $382 million on amounts owed by controlled entities.

F-154


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities
We hold a number of different financial instruments to hedge risks relating to underlying transactions. Our major exposure to interest rate risk and foreign currency risk arises from our long term borrowings. Details of our hedging activities are provided below.
We designate certain derivatives as either:
  hedges of the fair value of recognised liabilities (fair value hedges);
 
  hedges of foreign currency risk associated with recognised liabilities or highly probable forecast transactions (cash flow hedges); or
 
  hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation (net investment hedge).
Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured at their fair value.
The terms and conditions in relation to our derivative instruments are similar to the terms and conditions of the underlying hedged items. During the year we discontinued hedge accounting for our British pound borrowing in a fair value hedge. There was no material impact on our income statement. All other hedging relationships were effective at the reporting date.
For further details reference should be made to note 2.26.
(a) Fair value hedges
During the period we held cross currency principal and interest rate swaps to mitigate our exposure to changes in the fair value of foreign denominated debt from fluctuations in foreign currency and interest rates. The hedged items designated were a portion of our foreign currency denominated borrowings. The changes in the fair values of the hedged items resulting from movements in exchange rates and interest rates are offset against the changes in the value of the cross currency and interest rate swaps. The objective of this hedging is to convert foreign currency borrowings to floating Australian dollar borrowings.
Gains or losses from remeasuring the fair value of the hedge instrument are recognised within ‘finance costs’ in the income statement, together with gains and losses in relation to the hedged item where those gains or losses relate to the hedged risks. This net result largely represents ineffectiveness attributable to movements in Telstra’s borrowing margins. The remeasurement of the hedged items resulted in a loss before tax of $3 million (Telstra Entity: $3 million) and the changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments resulted in a gain before tax of $29 million (Telstra Entity: $29 million) resulting in a net gain before tax of $26 million (Telstra Entity: $26 million) recorded in ‘finance costs’ in the 2006 financial year.
The effectiveness of the hedging relationship is tested prospectively and retrospectively by means of statistical methods using a regression analysis. Regression analysis is used to analyse the relationship between the derivative instruments (the dependent variable) and the underlying borrowings (the independent variable). The primary objective is to determine if changes to the hedged item and derivative are highly correlated and, thus, supportive of the assertion that there will be a high degree of offset in fair values achieved by the hedge.
Refer to Table J and Table K for the value of our derivatives designated as fair value hedges at 30 June 2006.
(b) Cash flow hedges
Cash flow hedges are used to hedge exposures relating to our borrowings and our ongoing business activities, where we have highly probable purchase or settlement commitments in foreign currencies.
During the year, we entered into cross currency and interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges of future payments denominated in foreign currency resulting from our long-term overseas borrowings. The hedged items designated were a portion of the outflows associated with these foreign denominated borrowings. The objective of this hedging is to hedge foreign currency risks arising from spot rate changes and thereby mitigate the risk of payment fluctuations as a result of exchange rate movements.
We also entered into forward foreign currency contracts as cash flow hedges to hedge forecast transactions denominated in foreign currency which hedge foreign currency risk arising from spot rate changes. The hedged items comprised highly probable forecast foreign currency payments for operating and capital items.
The effectiveness of the hedging relationship relating to our borrowings is calculated prospectively and retrospectively by means of statistical methods using a regression analysis. The actual derivative instruments in a cash flow hedge are regressed against the hypothetical derivative. The primary objective is to determine if changes to the hedged item and derivative are highly correlated and, thus, supportive of the assertion that there will be a high degree of offset in cash flows achieved by the hedge.
The effectiveness of our hedges relating to highly probable transactions is assessed prospectively based on matching of critical terms. As both the nominal volumes and currencies of the hedged item and the hedging instrument are identical, a highly effective hedging relationship is expected. An effectiveness test is carried out retrospectively using the cumulative dollar-offset method. For this, the changes in the fair values of the hedging instrument and the hedged item attributable to exchange rate changes are calculated and a ratio is created. If this ratio is between 80 and 125 per cent, the hedge is effective.

F-155


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities (continued)
(b) Cash flow hedges (continued)
The effective portion of gains or losses on remeasuring the fair value of the hedge instrument are recognised directly in equity in the cash flow hedging reserve until such time as the hedged item affects profit or loss, then the gains or losses are transferred to other revenue or other expenses in the income statement. In our hedge of forecast transactions, when the forecast transaction that is hedged results in the recognition of a non-financial asset (for example, inventory or fixed asset), the gains and losses previously deferred in equity are transferred from equity and included in the measurement of the initial cost or carrying amount of the asset. Gains or losses on any portion of the hedge determined to be ineffective are recognised immediately in the income statement within other expenses or other revenue. During the year there was no material ineffectiveness attributable to our cash flow hedges.
If a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gains or losses on the hedging instrument that were deferred in equity are transferred immediately to the income statement. During the year we did not discontinue hedge accounting for forecast transactions no longer expected to occur.
During 2006, net gains totalling $229 million after tax (Telstra Entity: $229 million) resulting from the change in the fair value of derivatives were taken directly to equity in the cash flow hedge reserve. These changes constitute the effective portion of the hedging relationship. Net gains amounting to $294 million after tax (Telstra Entity: $295 million) recognised in the cash flow hedge reserve were transferred to the income statement during the year.
Refer to Table J, Table K and Table L for the value of our derivatives designated as cash flow hedges at 30 June 2006.
The following table shows the maturities of the payments, that is when the cash flows are expected to occur.
                 
Table I   Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    Nominal cash outflows  
    As at     As at  
    30 June 2006     30 June 2006  
    $m     $m  
             
Highly probable forecast purchases (i)
               
- less than one year
    (757 )     (734 )
 
           
 
               
Borrowings (ii)
               
- less than one year
    (431 )     (431 )
- one to five years
    (2,924 )     (2,924 )
- greater than five years
    (1,978 )     (1,978 )
 
           
 
    (5,333 )     (5,333 )
 
           
 
(i)  These amounts will affect our income statement in the same time period as the cash flows are expected to occur except for purchases of fixed assets in which case the gains and losses on the associated hedging instruments are included in the measurement of the initial cost of the asset. The hedged asset purchases affect profit as the assets are depreciated over their useful lives. Included in the forecast purchases of $757 million (Telstra Entity: $734 million) are $593 million of fixed asset purchases (Telstra Entity: $593 million).
(ii) The impact on our income statement from foreign currency translation movements associated with these hedged borrowings is expected to be nil as these borrowings are effectively hedged.
(c) Hedges of net investments in foreign operations
We have exposure to foreign currency risk as a result of our investments in offshore activities, including our investments in TelstraClear Limited and Hong Kong CSL Limited (CSL). This risk is created by the translation of the net assets of these entities from their functional currency to Australian dollars. We hedge our investments in foreign operations to mitigate exposure to this risk using forward foreign currency contracts, cross currency swaps and/or borrowings in the relevant currency of the investment.
The effectiveness of the hedging relationship is tested using prospective and retrospective effectiveness tests. In a retrospective effectiveness test, the changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments and the change in the value of the hedged net investment from spot rate changes are calculated and a ratio is created. If this ratio is between 80 and 125 per cent, the hedge is effective. The prospective effectiveness test is performed based on matching of critical terms. As both the nominal volumes and currencies of the hedged item and the hedging instrument are identical, a highly effective hedging relationship is expected.

F-156


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities (continued)
(c) Hedges of net investments in foreign operations (continued)
Gains or losses on remeasurement of our derivative instruments designated as hedges of foreign investments are recognised in the foreign currency translation reserve in equity to the extent they are effective. The cumulative amount of the recognised gains or losses included in equity are transferred to the income statement when the foreign operation is sold.
Gains or losses on any portion of the hedge determined to be ineffective are recognised in the income statement within other expenses or other revenue. During the year there was no material ineffectiveness attributable to our net investment hedges.
During the year net gains of $50 million on our hedging instruments were taken directly to equity in the foreign currency translation reserve in the consolidated balance sheet.
Refer to Table J and Table L for the value of our derivatives designated as hedges of net foreign investments at 30 June 2006.
In addition, included in the carrying value of ‘other loans’ and ‘bills of exchange and commercial paper’ at 30 June 2006 are New Zealand dollar denominated borrowings of $164 million (fair value: $164 million) and New Zealand dollar denominated commercial paper of $334 million (fair value: $334 million). These were designated as a hedging instrument of our net investment in TelstraClear. The loans are included within non current financial liabilities and the commercial paper is included within current financial liabilities of the Telstra Group and the Telstra Entity. A foreign exchange gain of $58 million on translation of these borrowings and commercial paper to Australian dollars was recognised in equity in the foreign currency translation reserve in the consolidated balance sheet.

F-157


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities (continued)
(d) Hedging instruments
Derivative hedging instruments
Details of our derivative hedging instruments as at balance date are shown in Table J, Table K and Table L below. The fair value of a hedging derivative is classified as a non-current asset or liability if the remaining maturity of the hedged item is more than 12 months, and as a current asset or liability if the remaining maturity of the hedged item is less than 12 months.
                                 
Table J   Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June 2006     As at 30 June 2006  
    Assets     Liabilities     Assets     Liabilities  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Cross currency swaps
                               
Current
                               
Cross currency swaps — designated cash flow hedges of other loans (i)
    11             11        
Cross currency swaps — designated fair value hedges of other loans
    9             9        
Cross currency swaps — designated hedge of net foreign investment
          6             6  
         
Total
    20       6       20       6  
         
Non current
                               
Cross currency swaps — designated cash flow hedges of other loans (i)
    53       350       53       350  
Cross currency swaps — designated fair value hedges of other loans
    169       259       169       259  
Cross currency swaps — designated hedge of net foreign investment
          3             3  
         
Total
    222       612       222       612  
         
 
(i)   Gains or losses recognised in the cash flow hedging reserve in equity (refer note 22) on cross currency swap contracts as at 30 June 2006 will be continuously released to the income statement until the underlying borrowings are repaid.
                                 
Table K   Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June 2006     As at 30 June 2006  
    Assets     Liabilities     Assets     Liabilities  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Interest rate swaps
                               
Non current
                               
Interest rate swaps — designated cash flow hedges of other loans (ii)
    106       107       106       107  
Interest swaps — designated fair value hedges of other loans
    63       49       63       49  
         
Total
    169       156       169       156  
         
 
(ii)   Gains or losses recognised in the cash flow hedging reserve in equity (refer to note 22) on interest rate swap contracts as at 30 June 2006 will be continuously released to the income statement until the underlying borrowings are repaid.

F-158


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities (continued)
(d) Hedging instruments (continued)
Derivative hedging instruments (continued)
The fair value of our net Australian dollar amounts receivable/(payable), settlement dates and average contractual forward exchange rates are as follows:
                                 
Table L   Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at 30 June 2006     As at 30 June 2006  
    Assets     Liabilities     Assets     Liabilities  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
     
Forward foreign currency contracts
                               
United States (US) dollars — designated as cash flow hedges: highly probable purchases
                               
— less than 3 months, at contractual forward exchange rates averaging United States dollars 0.7328
          2             2  
— 3 to 12 months, at contractual forward exchange rates averaging United States dollars 0.7347
          2             2  
         
 
          4             4  
         
New Zealand (NZ) dollars — designated as hedge: net foreign investment — 3 than 12 months, at contractual forward exchange rates averaging New Zealand dollars 1.1946
          2             2  
         
 
                               
Hong Kong (HK) dollars — designated as hedge: net foreign investment — 3 to 12 months, at contractual forward exchange rates averaging Hong Kong dollars 5.7248
    1             1        
         
Total
    1       6       1       6  
         
 
(i)   Gains or losses recognised in the cash flow hedging reserve in equity (refer to note 22) on forward foreign exchange contracts as at 30 June 2006 will be released to the income statement at dates when the cash flow from the underlying forecast transactions will occur. However, where the underlying forecast transaction is a purchase of a non-financial asset (for example, inventory or a fixed asset) the gain or loss in the cash flow hedging reserve will be transferred and included in the measurement of the initial cost of the asset at the date the asset is recognised.
 
(ii)   Other forward exchange contracts which are not included in the above designated hedging relationships have been entered into to hedge exposure of other payables and receivables recognised in the balance sheet. These balances are not significant.

F-159


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
35. Financial and capital risk management (continued)
Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities (continued)
Breaches
During the year we have not breached any of our agreements with our lenders.
Capital Risk Management
Our objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can continue to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.
In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, we may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders or issue new shares.
We monitor capital on the basis of the gearing ratio. This ratio is calculated as net debt divided by total capital. Net debt is calculated as total borrowings (including ‘borrowings’ and ‘derivative financial instruments’ as shown in the consolidated balance sheet) less cash and cash equivalents. Total capital is calculated as equity as shown in the consolidated balance sheet plus net debt.
During 2006, our strategy was to maintain the net debt gearing ratio within 55 to 75 per cent, in order to secure access to finance at a reasonable cost.
The gearing ratios at 30 June 2006 were as follows:
                 
    Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
    As at     As at  
    30 June 2006     30 June 2006  
    $m     $m  
         
Total borrowings
    13,746       14,642  
less cash and cash equivalents
    (689 )     (474 )
Net debt
    13,057       14,168  
Total equity
    12,832       12,115  
Total capital
    25,889       26,283  
 
           
Gearing ratio
    50.4 %     53.9 %
 
           

F-160


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards
We are required by the Corporations Act 2001 to prepare our financial reports for financial years commencing on or after 1 January 2005 under the Australian equivalents of International Financial Reporting Standards (A-IFRS) as adopted by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB). We implemented accounting policies in accordance with A-IFRS on 1 July 2004, except for those relating to financial instruments, which were implemented on 1 July 2005.
The transitional rules for first time adoption of A-IFRS required that we restate our comparative financial report using A-IFRS, except for AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement”, where comparative information was not required to be restated. In addition, we have elected to early adopt AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures”, which supersedes the disclosure requirements of AASB 132.
Comparatives were remeasured and restated for the year ended 30 June 2005. Most of the adjustments on transition were required to be made to opening retained profits at the beginning of the first comparative period (i.e. at 1 July 2004).
Amendments to A-IFRS transition adjustments disclosed at 31 December 2005
We have made certain amendments to the impacts of adopting A-IFRS on the Telstra Group disclosed at 31 December 2005. These amendments are set out below.
(i) 3G spectrum licence
Under previous Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (AGAAP) we expensed the annual payments made under our Hong Kong 3G spectrum licence as incurred, except for those incurred during the construction of our 3G network in Hong Kong which were capitalised as part of the asset cost.
Based on the IFRS interpretation adopted by other 3G mobile operators in Hong Kong, on transition we have recorded an intangible asset of $121 million (30 June 2005: $108 million) associated with our Hong Kong 3G spectrum licence. This includes $25 million (30 June 2005: $24 million) previously capitalised under AGAAP as part of property, plant and equipment. A corresponding accrual liability has also been recorded.
This intangible asset is amortised over the term of the licence agreement. Net profit before tax has increased by $4 million for the year ended 30 June 2005 due to this additional amortisation and the unwinding of the present value discount on the accrual, partially offset by the elimination of the licence expense. For further details refer to note 36(k).
The recognition of this spectrum licence has resulted in a reduction in the deferred tax liability of the Telstra Group as at 1 July 2004 of $21 million (30 June 2005: $19 million).
(ii) Determination of tax bases
The tax base of our defined benefit asset changed as a result of an interpretation on the treatment of the contribution tax adjustment made to the carrying value of the asset. As a result there was an increase to the deferred tax liability associated with the defined benefit asset on transition of $24 million (30 June 2005: $11 million).
In addition, we reduced the deferred tax asset of one of our controlled entities due to the reassessment of the tax base of certain items of property, plant and equipment on transition by $28 million (30 June 2005: $29 million).
For further details refer to note 36(c).
(iii) Operating leases
Under A-IFRS operating lease rental expense is recognised on a straight line basis over the term of the lease, even if the payments are not on that basis. Under previous AGAAP operating lease rentals were expensed as incurred. This has resulted in the recognition of an additional non-current liability on transition to A-IFRS of $37 million (30 June 2005: $48 million). Operating lease expense increased by $11 million for the year ended 30 June 2005. Refer to note 36(e) for further details.
A-IFRS adjustments with effect from 1 July 2004
(a) AASB 2: “Share-Based Payment” (AASB 2)
Under previous AGAAP we recognised an expense for all restricted shares, performance rights, deferred shares and Telstra shares (consisting of “directshares” and “ownshares”) issued. This expense was equal to the funding provided to the Telstra Growthshare Trust (Growthshare) to purchase Telstra shares on market to underpin these equity instruments, and was recognised in full in the income statement when the funding was provided. Under previous AGAAP, we did not recognise an expense for options issued on the basis that instrument holders are required to pay the option exercise price once the options vest and are exercised.
Under AASB 2, we recognise an expense for all share-based remuneration. This expense is based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued, determined at the grant date. The fair value is calculated using an appropriate valuation technique to estimate the price of those equity instruments in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties. The fair value calculated is charged against profit over the relevant vesting period, adjusted to reflect actual and expected levels of vesting.

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Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
A-IFRS adjustments with effect from 1 July 2004 (continued)
(a) AASB 2: “Share-Based Payment” (AASB 2) (continued)
Under the transitional exemptions of AASB 1: “First-time Adoption of Australian Equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards” (AASB 1), we elected not to apply AASB 2 to equity instruments granted prior to 7 November 2002.
This approach gave rise to a net positive transitional adjustment to retained profits. If we had not made this election, resulting in all equity instruments granted prior to 7 November 2002 being subject to AASB 2, then opening retained profits on transition would decrease, with a corresponding increase in share capital.
Furthermore, there would have been an increase in labour expense for the year ended 30 June 2005. Equity instruments granted prior to 7 November 2002, for which we have elected not to apply AASB 2, include those granted under Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plan Trust (TESOP97) and Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plan Trust II (TESOP99), as well as certain Growthshare issues.
We own 100% of the equity of Telstra Growthshare Pty Ltd and the Telstra ESOP Trustee Pty Ltd, the corporate trustees for the Telstra Growthshare Trust (Growthshare), TESOP97 and TESOP99, which administer our share-based payment plans. Under previous AGAAP we did not control or significantly influence these trusts, as beneficial ownership and control remained with the employees who participate in the share plans, administered by the Trustee on their behalf.
Under A-IFRS, we have included the results, position and cash flows of Growthshare, TESOP97 and TESOP99 within our financial statements.
(i) On transition as at 1 July 2004
To record the initial recognition of Growthshare within the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity, the loan receivable from Growthshare was eliminated ($65 million), share capital reduced to reflect the shares held by Growthshare in the Telstra Entity ($117 million), and the cash held by Growthshare was recognised ($3 million).
Other assets and liabilities held by the trusts were considered insignificant to Telstra Group and Telstra Entity.
Shares issued under TESOP97 and TESOP99, in conjunction with the non-recourse loans, have been accounted for as options. As a result, the outstanding balance of the loans to employees under TESOP97 and TESOP99 amounting to $174 million (comprising $24 million current receivables and $150 million non current receivables), was deducted from share capital of the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity on transition to A-IFRS.
A transitional adjustment to increase Telstra Group and Telstra Entity opening retained profits by $55 million represents the reversal of the expense previously recorded under AGAAP. We also recognised a transitional expense in retained profits under AASB 2 of $4 million relating to the amortisation over the vesting period of equity instruments issued subsequent to 7 November 2002. This transitional expense increased share capital by $4 million.
(ii) At 30 June 2005
The cumulative effect on the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity at 30 June 2005 was to increase cash assets by $8 million, decrease current receivables by $24 million, non current receivables by $175 million, and share capital by $257 million. Labour expense decreased by $10 million, finance income decreased by $2 million, and dividends decreased by $7 million for the year ended 30 June 2005.
(b) AASB 3: “Business Combinations” (AASB 3)
We previously amortised goodwill over the period of expected benefit, not exceeding 20 years. Under A-IFRS goodwill acquired in a business combination is not amortised, but instead is subject to impairment testing at each reporting date, or upon the occurrence of triggers that may indicate a potential impairment. If there is an indication of impairment resulting in an impairment loss, it is recognised immediately in the income statement.
Under the transitional arrangements of AASB 1 we had the option of applying AASB 3 prospectively from the transition date to A-IFRS (from 1 July 2004). We chose this option rather than to restate all previous business combinations. If this election had not been made, there would not have been a significant impact on the balance sheet or income statement because our accounting for significant business combinations under previous AGAAP was consistent with A-IFRS and USGAAP, whereby we recognised all identifiable assets and liabilities upon acquisition, including intangible assets.
The impact of AASB 3 and associated transitional arrangements is as follows:
  all prior business combination accounting was frozen as at 1 July 2004; and
  the value of goodwill was frozen as at transition date, with any amortisation that was reported under previous AGAAP subsequent to transition date was reversed for A-IFRS restatements.
(i) On transition as at 1 July 2004
There were no adjustments on transition as a result of AASB 3.

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Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
A-IFRS adjustments with effect from 1 July 2004 (continued)
(b) AASB 3: “Business Combinations” (AASB 3) (continued)
(ii) At 30 June 2005
The effect on the Telstra Group at 30 June 2005 of the cessation of amortisation of goodwill was to increase goodwill and decrease amortisation expense by $145 million (Telstra Entity: $4 million). Investments accounted for using the equity method increased by $2 million for the Telstra Group, with a corresponding decrease in share of net loss from jointly controlled and associated entities.
(c) AASB 112: “Income Taxes” (AASB 112)
On transition to A-IFRS, a new method of accounting for income taxes, known as the “balance sheet approach”, was adopted, replacing the “income statement approach” required by previous AGAAP. Under the new method we generally recognise deferred tax balances in the balance sheet when there is a difference between the carrying value of an asset or liability and its tax base.
The adoption of the “balance sheet approach” has resulted in a number of additional deferred tax balances being recognised, as well as adjustments to existing deferred tax balances. Furthermore, additional deferred tax liabilities have been recognised associated with fair value adjustments on entities acquired by us. Where the acquisition has occurred after 1 July 2004 a corresponding adjustment has been made to goodwill in accordance with AASB 3.
The Telstra Entity has formed a tax consolidated group with its Australian resident wholly owned subsidiaries. Under previous AGAAP the Telstra Entity, as head entity of the tax consolidated group, recognised tax balances for all entities in the group.
Under A-IFRS and in accordance with UIG 1052 “Tax Consolidation Accounting” (UIG 1052), the Telstra Entity only accounts for its own tax balances, with the exception of the following:
  the current tax liability for the tax consolidated group; and
 
  the current and deferred tax arising from unused tax losses and tax credits for all entities in the tax consolidated group.
Under UIG 1052, the current tax liability of the tax consolidated group is required to be allocated to each of the entities in the group. As there was no tax funding arrangement in place at 30 June 2005, this allocation was recorded as a contribution by or distribution to the Telstra Entity.
(i) On transition as at 1 July 2004
The Telstra Group and Telstra Entity’s deferred tax liabilities decreased as a result of the transition to other A-IFRS standards. The transition adjustment comprised:
                         
            Telstra     Telstra  
            Group     Entity  
    Note     $m     $m  
 
Operating leases
    36 (e)     (11 )     (11 )
Defined benefit asset
    36 (f)     159       158  
Borrowing costs
    36 (h)     (129 )     (129 )
3G spectrum licence
    36 (k)     (21 )      
Handset subsidies
    36 (k)     (72 )     (72 )
             
Net decrease in deferred tax liabilities
            (74 )     (54 )
             
A corresponding increase in opening retained profits was recorded as a result of these adjustments.
In addition, there was a transitional adjustment to deferred tax liabilities as a result of the change in accounting for income taxes to the balance sheet approach, and the adoption of UIG 1052. This adjustment consisted of:
                 
    Telstra     Telstra  
    Group     Entity  
    $m     $m  
 
Tax base differences on buildings
    77       77  
Tax effect of fair value adjustments on entities acquired by us
    66        
Adoption of UIG 1052
          329  
Adjustments to plant and equipment and other temporary differences
    (105 )     (104 )
     
Net increase in deferred tax liabilities
    38       302  
     
For the Telstra Group opening retained profits decreased by $6 million (Telstra Entity: $142 million), and the asset revaluation reserve reduced by $32 million (Telstra Entity: $83 million) as a result of these entries. Furthermore, the balance of investments recorded by the Telstra Entity increased by $77 million.

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Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
A-IFRS adjustments with effect from 1 July 2004 (continued)
(c) AASB 112: “Income Taxes” (AASB 112) (continued)
(ii) At 30 June 2005
The Telstra Group and Telstra Entity’s deferred tax liabilities decreased as a result of the impact of other A-IFRS standards as at 30 June 2005. This adjustment consisted of:
                         
            Telstra     Telstra  
            Group     Entity  
    Note     $m     $m  
 
Deferred payment for equipment
    36(d )     (8 )      
Operating leases
    36(e )     (14 )     (14 )
Defined benefit asset
    36 (f )     79       79  
Borrowing costs
    36(h )     (129 )     (129 )
3G spectrum licence
    36(k )     (19 )      
Handset subsidies
    36(k )     (91 )     (91 )
             
Net decrease in deferred tax liabilities
            (182 )     (155 )
             
The Telstra Group and Telstra Entity retained profits increased by $24 million due to the tax effect of the defined benefit actuarial loss. Telstra Group tax expense for the year ended 30 June 2005 decreased by $84 million (Telstra Entity: $77 million).
In addition, an adjustment to deferred tax liabilities was attributable to the change in accounting for income taxes to the balance sheet approach and the adoption of UIG 1052. This adjustment consisted of:
                 
    Telstra     Telstra  
    Group     Entity  
    $m     $m  
 
Tax base differences on buildings
    74       74  
Tax effect of fair value adjustments on entities acquired by us
    104        
Adoption of UIG 1052
          299  
Adjustments to plant and equipment and other temporary differences
    (77 )     (83 )
     
Net increase in deferred tax liabilities
    101       290  
     
As a result of adjustments associated with the change to the balance sheet approach, Telstra Group goodwill increased by $63 million and the FCTR increased by $9 million as at 30 June 2005. Income tax expense for the Telstra Group for the year ended 30 June 2005 increased by $8 million.
For the Telstra Entity, investments increased by $107 million as at 30 June 2005. Dividend revenue increased by $223 million and income tax expense increased by $182 million for the year ended 30 June 2005.
(d) AASB 116: “Property, Plant and Equipment” (AASB 116)
Under the transitional exemptions of AASB 1 we had the option to use an asset’s fair value, or previously revalued amount, as its deemed cost from the date of transition. We elected to apply the cost model under AASB 116, and therefore the carrying value of our property, plant and equipment (some of which had been previously revalued) and intangible assets on the date of transition were deemed to be cost under A-IFRS. If this election had not been made, we would have had to restate these assets to their original historical cost.
On transition to A-IFRS an entity is required to derecognise items where A-IFRS does not permit such recognition. As we have adopted the cost model under AASB 116, the asset revaluation reserve will be derecognised as it is not a valid reserve under the cost model. The balance, after taking into consideration other A-IFRS adjustments, has been transferred to the general reserve.
Under previous AGAAP, we recognised the gross proceeds on sale of non current assets as revenue and the cost in other expenses. A-IFRS requires the net gain on sale of non current assets to be classified as other income, not separately treated as revenue and other expenses.
(i) On transition as at 1 July 2004
For the Telstra Entity, the balance of the asset revaluation reserve of $194 million was transferred to the general reserve on transition to A-IFRS.
(ii) At 30 June 2005
On 6 December 2004, we acquired a 50% interest in the 3G Radio Access Network (RAN) assets of Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Ltd (H3GA) for $450 million, payable over 2 years. Due to the deferred payment terms, under previous AGAAP our property, plant and equipment balance increased by $428 million, representing the present value of the purchase price calculated using our incremental borrowing rate. AASB 116 requires that a discount rate specific to the asset be used, rather than our incremental borrowing rate.
Under previous AGAAP, the release of interest associated with the unwinding of the present value discount was capitalised as part of property, plant and equipment until the assets were installed ready for use. Under A-IFRS the release of interest associated with the unwinding of the present value discount was expensed as incurred.
For the Telstra Group, the change in the discount rate and the cessation of interest capitalisation resulted in a decrease in our property, plant and equipment of $37 million, and a decrease in current and non current payables of $10 million (comprising $3 million current and $7 million non current). Finance costs of the Telstra Group for the year ended 30 June 2005 increased by $27 million.

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Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
A-IFRS adjustments with effect from 1 July 2004 (continued)
(d) AASB 116: “Property, Plant and Equipment” (AASB 116) (continued)
For the Telstra Group we have reclassified revenue of $476 million (Telstra Entity: $336 million) and other expenses of $215 million (Telstra Entity: $203 million) to other income associated with the net gain on sale of non current assets for the year ended 30 June 2005.
(e) AASB 117: “Leases” (AASB 117)
Under previous AGAAP, operating lease payments were expensed in the periods in which they were incurred. Under A-IFRS, operating lease payments are expensed on a straight line basis over the term of the lease, even if the payments are not on that basis. Where the lease contains a fixed rental increase each year, the total impact of the rental increase is expensed evenly over the lease term.
(i) On transition as at 1 July 2004
For the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity, non-current trade and other payables increased by $37 million, representing an increase to previously recognised operating lease expense associated with using the straight line method for A-IFRS, with a corresponding decrease in opening retained profits.
(ii) At 30 June 2005
For the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity, non-current trade and other payables increased by $48 million. For the year ended 30 June 2005, operating lease expense increased by $11 million.
(f) AASB 119: “Employee Benefits” (AASB 119)
Under previous AGAAP, we did not recognise an asset or liability on our balance sheet for the net position of the defined benefit plans we sponsor in Australia and Hong Kong.
On adoption of A-IFRS, we recognised the net position of each plan as a transitional adjustment to the balance sheet, with a corresponding entry to retained profits. The transitional adjustment was based on an actuarial valuation of each scheme at transition date determined in accordance with AASB 119.
A revised AASB 119 was issued in December 2004 and applies to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2006. We have elected under s.334(5) of the Corporations Act 2001 to early adopt this revised accounting standard for the financial year commencing 1 July 2004.
This revised standard is similar to the current accounting standard, with the exception of the treatment of actuarial gains and losses. This revised standard enables us to either:
  recognise actuarial gains and losses directly in the income statement;
  recognise actuarial gains and losses in the income statement using the “corridor approach”; or
  recognise actuarial gains and losses directly in retained profits.
Under this revised standard, we have elected to recognise actuarial gains and losses directly in retained profits. The actuarial gains and losses are based on an actuarial valuation of each plan at reporting date. Other components of pension costs are recognised in the income statement as a labour expense. Where appropriate, this additional labour cost is capitalised as part of our constructed plant and equipment.
(i) On transition as at 1 July 2004
The Telstra Group adjustment on transition resulted in the recognition of a defined benefit asset of $537 million (Telstra Entity: $529 million), with a corresponding increase in opening retained profits.
(ii) At 30 June 2005
The cumulative effect on the Telstra Group balance sheet at 30 June 2005 was to recognise a defined benefit asset of $247 million, increase property, plant and equipment by $24 million and decrease retained profits for actuarial losses by $90 million. Telstra Group labour expense increased by $175 million and depreciation expense increased by $1 million for the year ended 30 June 2005
The cumulative effect on the Telstra Entity balance sheet at 30 June 2005 was to recognise a defined benefit asset of $242 million, increase property, plant and equipment by $24 million and decrease retained profits for actuarial losses by $85 million. Telstra Group labour expense increased by $176 million and depreciation expense increased by $1 million for the year ended 30 June 2005.
(g) AASB 121: “The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates” (AASB 121)
AASB 121 requires goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign controlled entity to be expressed in the functional currency of the foreign operation. Previously, we fixed goodwill and certain fair value adjustments in Australian dollars based on the exchange rate at the acquisition date.

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Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
A-IFRS adjustments with effect from 1 July 2004 (continued)
(g) AASB 121: “The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates” (AASB 121) (continued)
Under the transitional rules of AASB 1 we have taken advantage of an exemption that permits application of AASB 121 retrospectively to goodwill and fair value adjustments arising in all business combinations that occurred before the date of transition to A-IFRS. This exemption allows us to reset the goodwill and fair value adjustments to the functional currency of the foreign operations at the original date of acquisition. This adjustment is primarily attributable to our investments in the Telstra CSL Group (HKCSL) and TelstraClear Limited (TelstraClear).
Under AASB 1 we have also applied an exemption that permitted the resetting of the FCTR to nil as at the date of transition to A-IFRS.
(i) On transition as at 1 July 2004
The Telstra Group transitional adjustments to reset goodwill and fair value adjustments of foreign controlled entities resulted in a decrease to the FCTR of $297 million, corresponding with an increase to property, plant and equipment of $3 million, an increase of $14 million to intangible assets and a decrease in goodwill of $314 million. The A-IFRS FCTR following these and other A-IFRS adjustments was $343 million. This FCTR balance was reset to nil with a corresponding decrease to opening retained profits.
(ii) At 30 June 2005
The cumulative effect on the Telstra Group balance sheet at 30 June 2005 was to decrease goodwill by $454 million, increase other intangibles by $9 million, increase property, plant and equipment by $2 million and decrease FCTR by $111 million. The impact on the income statement for the year ended 30 June 2005 was a decrease in other expenses of $11 million representing a change in the functional currency of a foreign controlled entity.
(h) AASB 123: “Borrowing Costs”
In accordance with previous AGAAP, we previously capitalised borrowing costs incurred in respect of internally constructed property, plant and equipment and software assets that met the criteria for qualifying assets. The benchmark treatment required under A-IFRS is to expense borrowing costs. AASB 123 does however permit the alternative treatment of capitalising these costs where they relate to qualifying assets. We have elected to change our policy in line with the benchmark treatment and expense our borrowing costs.
(i) On transition as at 1 July 2004
We transferred the unamortised balance of capitalised borrowing costs included in property, plant and equipment and software assets to retained profits. This gave rise to a reduction in Telstra Group property, plant and equipment of $399 million (Telstra Entity: $367 million) and a reduction in software assets of $63 million (Telstra Entity: $63 million), with a corresponding decrease in opening retained profits.
(ii) At 30 June 2005
For the Telstra Group the effect on the balance sheet at 30 June 2005 was to decrease property, plant and equipment by $401 million (Telstra Entity: $374 million) and reduce software assets by $57 million (Telstra Entity: $57 million). Telstra Group depreciation expense decreased by $94 million (Telstra Entity: $90 million) and finance costs increased by $90 million (Telstra Entity: $90 million) for the year ended 30 June 2005.
(i) AASB 128: “Investments in Associates” (AASB 128) and AASB 131: “Interests in Joint Ventures” (AASB 131)
AASB 128/131 requires amounts that are in substance part of the net investment in associates or jointly controlled entities to be accounted for as part of the carrying value of the investment for the purposes of equity accounting the results of the associate or jointly controlled entity. Accordingly, we have reclassified amounts that are not currently recorded in the carrying value of our investment in associates or jointly controlled entities to be treated as an extension of our equity investment. This treatment gave rise to the continuation of equity accounting of our share of the operating losses in respect of those associates and jointly controlled entities that are incurring losses and have balances as described above.
(i) On transition as at 1 July 2004
On transition to AASB 128/131, there was a decrease to Telstra Group non current receivables of $208 million representing the capacity prepayment with our joint venture entity Reach Ltd (Reach). This non current asset was deemed to be an extension of our investment in Reach under A-IFRS and was absorbed by the carried forward losses in Reach not previously recognised. The impact of this change on the Telstra Group was to decrease opening retained profits by $348 million for our share of the accumulated losses, offset by an increase of $140 million to the FCTR for the translation differences on our investment in Reach. The FCTR attributable to Reach was reset to nil as detailed in the adjustment outlined in note 36(g).

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Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
A-IFRS adjustments with effect from 1 July 2004 (continued)
(i) AASB 128: “Investments in Associates” (AASB 128) and AASB 131: “Interests in Joint Ventures” (AASB 131) (continued)
(ii) At 30 June 2005
On 16 April 2005 we swapped our capacity prepayment with Reach for an Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU). This IRU was recorded as a deferred expense under previous AGAAP and was being amortised over the term of the IRU being 15 years. As part of this arrangement, we agreed to fund Reach’s committed capital expenditure together with our co-shareholder PCCW Limited for the period until 2022, up to a value of US$106 million each, if required. Our share was disclosed as a contingent liability under previous AGAAP.
Under A-IFRS, the IRU was deemed to be an extension of our investment in Reach, similar to the capacity prepayment. Furthermore, our commitment to Reach for the committed capital expenditure required us to recognise additional equity accounted losses in Reach of $102 million for the year ended 30 June 2005. This gave rise to a provision of $90 million ($32 million current and $58 million non current) as at 30 June 2005 for the net present value of our share of the committed capital expenditure. Other assets — current decreased by $1 million, intangibles decreased by $217 million and trade and other payables decreased by $1 million. For the year ended 30 June 2005, finance costs increased by $2 million associated with the unwinding of the present value discount, amortisation expense decreased by $3 million, finance income decreased by $18 million and exchange losses decreased by $20 million.
The effect on the Telstra Entity for our commitment to Reach for the committed capital expenditure was to recognise a provision of $90 million ($32 million current and $58 million non current) as at 30 June 2005. Other current assets decreased by $1 million, intangible assets increased by $87 million and trade and other payables decrease by $1 million. For the year ended 30 June 2005, finance costs increased by $2 million and amortisation expense increased by $1 million.
Investments accounted for using the equity method decreased by $3 million as a result of the adoption of A-IFRS by our jointly controlled and associated entities. For the year ended 30 June 2005, our share of equity accounted losses increased by $3 million.
(j) AASB 136: “Impairment of Assets” (AASB 136)
Our accounting policy under previous AGAAP was to assess our current and non current assets for impairment by determining the recoverable amount of those assets. We wrote down the value of the non current asset where the carrying amount exceeded recoverable amount. We assessed recoverable amount for a group of non current assets where those assets were considered to work together as one.
With the adoption of AASB 136, impairment of assets is assessed on the basis of individual cash generating units. We have assessed our Australian telecommunications network to be a single cash generating unit for the purpose of this standard with the exception of the HFC network. This approach has been adopted as we consider that, in the generation of our revenue streams, the delivery of our end products or services is heavily reliant on the use of one core of commonly shared communication assets, encompassing the customer access network and the core network. This ubiquitous network carries all our telecommunications traffic throughout Australia.
Under previous AGAAP, we assessed recoverable amount on this same ubiquitous network basis, and as a result, there were no initial adjustments to the value of our network assets under A-IFRS.
Each of our controlled entities, jointly controlled entities and associated entities has also been assessed, and generally each significant entity has at least one separate cash generating unit in its own right. Under AGAAP, we assessed recoverable amount on a similar basis, and there is no initial adjustment to the value of our assets. In accordance with AASB 1, the carrying amount of goodwill at transition date has been tested for impairment and no initial impairment losses were recognised on transition to A-IFRS.
(k) AASB 138: “Intangible Assets” (AASB 138)
As part of the IFRS project, intangibles recognised under previous AGAAP, including software assets developed for internal use and deferred expenditure, were reviewed to confirm that the criteria in AASB 138 have been met. Software assets developed for internal use, and deferred expenditure were reclassified from other current and non current assets to intangible assets on transition to AASB 138. We have also reclassified some software assets from property, plant and equipment to intangible assets for software that is not an integral part of property, plant and equipment.
Under previous AGAAP, we capitalised the subsidised component of mobile handsets that were sold as part of a service contract as a subscriber acquisition cost. This capitalised balance was then amortised over the contract term.
UIG 1042 “Subscriber Acquisition Costs in the Telecommunications Industry” (UIG 1042) was released by the AASB in December 2004 and prescribes the appropriate accounting treatment of subscriber acquisition costs based on the requirements of AASB 138. Specifically, UIG 1042 requires the cost of telephones provided to subscribers to be excluded from subscriber acquisition costs. As a result, under A-IFRS we have elected to expense mobile handset subsidies as incurred.

F-167


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
A-IFRS adjustments with effect from 1 July 2004 (continued)
(k) AASB 138: “Intangible Assets” (AASB 138) (continued)
Our subsidiary in Hong Kong, HKCSL, has a licence to utilise 3G spectrum in Hong Kong until 2016. As part of this licence agreement, HKCSL are required to make annual payments for the right to use this spectrum. Under previous AGAAP we expensed these payments as incurred, except for those incurred during the construction of our 3G network in Hong Kong which were capitalised as part of the asset cost.
On adoption of AASB 138 and consistent with other 3G mobile operators in Hong Kong, the Telstra Group has recorded an intangible asset for this 3G spectrum licence, based on the present value of our expected future payments. This intangible asset is amortised over the term of the agreement. A corresponding accrual has also been recorded for our future obligations.
(i) On transition as at 1 July 2004
On transition, other current and non current assets of the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity decreased by $205 million and $34 million respectively for the write-off of deferred mobile handset subsidies, with a corresponding decrease in opening retained profits.
The intangible asset associated with our Hong Kong 3G spectrum licence amounted to $121 million on transition in the Telstra Group, representing the present value of our expected future payments under the licence. Under previous AGAAP these payments were expensed as incurred, with certain payments capitalised as part of the cost of our Hong Kong 3G network. Of the balance of the intangible asset, $25 million has been reclassified from property, plant and equipment that was capitalised under previous AGAAP. Trade and other payables have increased by $96 million ($3 million current and $93 million non current).
Software assets developed for internal use and deferred expenditure were reclassified from other assets and property, plant and equipment to intangible assets on transition to A-IFRS. This reclassification adjustment for the Telstra Group amounted to $2,601 million (Telstra Entity: $2,375 million) as at transition date. This comprised $286 million (Telstra Entity: $249 million) from other current assets, $2,292 million (Telstra Entity: $2,126 million) from other non current assets and $23 million from property, plant and equipment.
(ii) At 30 June 2005
The write-off of deferred mobile handset subsidies decreased other current and non current assets of the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity by $241 million and $62 million respectively. Goods and services purchased for the year ended 30 June 2005 increased by $64 million.
The recognition of the Hong Kong 3G spectrum licence increased intangibles by $108 million, decreased property, plant and equipment by $24 million and increased trade and other payables by $89 million ($2 million current and $87 million non current) for the Telstra Group as at 30 June 2005. Other expenses decreased by $5 million, amortisation increased by $4 million and finance costs increased by $5 million for the year ended 30 June 2005.
The cumulative effect on the Telstra Group balance sheet at 30 June 2005 for the reclassification of software and deferred expenditure was to increase intangibles by $2,875 million (Telstra Entity: $2,534 million). This comprised $305 million (Telstra Entity: $264 million) from other current assets, $2,546 million (Telstra Entity: $2,270 million) from other non current assets and $24 million from property, plant and equipment.
(l) Nature of A-IFRS adjustments with effect from 1 July 2004
In the following tables, presentation adjustments reflect the reclassification of previously recognised amounts into their A-IFRS categories.
Accounting adjustments reflect the remeasurement of previously recognised amounts, or the recognition of additional amounts required under A-IFRS.

F-168


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(l) Reconciliation of profit under previous AGAAP to A-IFRS for the year ended 30 June 2005 for the consolidated Telstra Group.
                                         
            Telstra Group
            Year ended 30 June 2005
                    Effect of transition to A-IFRS    
            Previous   Presentation   Accounting    
            AGAAP   adjustments   adjustments   A-IFRS
    Note   $m   $m   $m   $m
 
Income
Revenue (excluding finance income)
    36 (d)     22,657       (476 )           22,181  
Other income
    36 (d)           261             261  
             
 
            22,657       (215 )           22,442  
             
 
                                       
Expenses
                                       
Labour
    36(a), (f)     3,693             165       3,858  
Goods and services purchased
    36 (k)     4,147             64       4,211  
Other expenses
    36(d),(e),(g),(i), (k)     4,055       (215 )     (25 )     3,815  
             
 
            11,895       (215 )     204       11,884  
 
                                       
Share of net (gain)/loss from jointly controlled and associated entities
    36(b), (i)     (9 )           103       94  
             
 
            11,886       (215 )     307       11,978  
             
 
                                       
Earnings before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
            10,771             (307 )     10,464  
Depreciation and amortisation
    36(b),(f),(h),(i), (k)     3,766             (237 )     3,529  
             
Earnings before interest and income tax expense (EBIT)
            7,005             (70 )     6,935  
             
 
                                       
Finance income
    36(a), (i)     103             (20 )     83  
Finance costs
    36(d),(h),(i), (k)     839             124       963  
             
Net finance costs
            736             144       880  
             
 
                                       
Profit before income tax expense
            6,269             (214 )     6,055  
 
                                       
Income tax expense
    36 (c)     1,822             (76 )     1,746  
 
                                       
             
Profit for the year
            4,447             (138 )     4,309  
             

F-169


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(l) Reconciliation of profit under previous AGAAP to A-IFRS for the year ended 30 June 2005 for the Telstra Entity.
                                         
            Telstra Group  
            Year ended 30 June 2005  
                    Effect of transition to A-IFRS        
            Previous     Presentation     Accounting        
            AGAAP     adjustments     adjustments     A-IFRS  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Income
Revenue (excluding finance income)
    36(c), (d)     19,944       (336 )     223       19,831  
Other income
    36 (d)           133             133  
             
 
            19,944       (203 )     223       19,964  
             
 
                                       
Expenses
                                       
Labour
    36(a), (f)     2,916             166       3,082  
Goods and services purchased
    37 (k)     2,894             64       2,958  
Other expenses.
    36(d),(e), (i)     3,666       (203 )     15       3,478  
             
 
            9,476       (203 )     245       9,518  
             
 
                                       
Earnings before interest, income tax expense, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
            10,468             (22 )     10,446  
Depreciation and amortisation
    36(b),(f),(h), (i)     3,298             (92 )     3,206  
             
Earnings before interest and income tax expense (EBIT)
            7,170             70       7,240  
             
 
                                       
Finance income
    36 (a)     103             (2 )     101  
Finance costs
    36(h), (i)     851             92       943  
             
Net finance costs
            748             94       842  
             
 
                                       
Profit before income tax expense
            6,422             (24 )     6,398  
 
                                       
Income tax expense
    36 (c)     1,777             105       1,882  
 
                                       
             
Profit for the year
            4,645             (129 )     4,516  
             

F-170


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(l) Reconciliation of balance sheet under previous AGAAP to A-IFRS as at transition date, 1 july 2004, for the consolidated Telstra Group.
                                         
            Telstra Group  
            1 July 2004  
                    Effect of transition to A-IFRS        
            Previous     Presentation     Accounting        
            AGAAP     adjustments     adjustments     A-IFRS  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Current assets
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  36(a)     687             3       690  
Trade and other receivables
  36(a),(m)     3,608       (192 )           3,416  
Inventories
            229                   229  
Derivative financial assets
  36(m)           169             169  
Other assets
  36(k)     803       (286 )     (205 )     312  
             
Total current assets
            5,327       (309 )     (202 )     4,816  
             
Non current assets
                                       
Trade and other receivables
  36(a),(i)(m)     740       (387 )     (273 )     80  
Inventories
            10                   10  
Investments accounted for using the equity method
            40                   40  
Available for sale investments
            80                   80  
Property, plant and equipment
  36(g),(h),(k)     22,863       (23 )     (421 )     22,419  
Intangibles
  36(g),(h),(k),(m)     3,605       2,580       (242 )     5,943  
Deferred tax assets
            2                   2  
Derivative financial assets
  36(m)           238             238  
Other assets
  36(f),(k)     2,326       (2,292 )     503       537  
             
Total non current assets
            29,666       116       (433 )     29,349  
             
Total assets
            34,993       (193 )     (635 )     34,165  
             
Current liabilities
                                       
Trade and other payables
  36(k)     2,338             3       2,341  
Borrowings
            3,246                   3,246  
Current tax liabilities
            539                   539  
Provisions
            358                   358  
Revenue received in advance
            1,095                   1,095  
             
Total current liabilities
            7,576             3       7,579  
             
Non current liabilities
                                       
Trade and other payables
  36(e),(k)     49             130       179  
Borrowings
  36(m)     9,014       (429 )           8,585  
Deferred tax liabilities
  36(c)     1,807             (36 )     1,771  
Provisions
            778                   778  
Derivative financial liabilities
  36(m)           410             410  
Revenue received in advance
            408                   408  
             
Total non current liabilities
            12,056       (19 )     94       12,131  
             
Total liabilities
            19,632       (19 )     97       19,710  
             
Net assets
            15,361       (174 )     (732 )     14,455  
             
Equity
                                       
Share capital
  36(a)     6,073       (174 )     (113 )     5,786  
Reserves
  36(c),(g),(i)     (105 )           154       49  
Retained profits
            9,391             (773 )     8,618  
             
Equity available to Telstra Entity shareholders
            15,359       (174 )     (732 )     14,453  
Minority interests
            2                   2  
             
Total equity
            15,361       (174 )     (732 )     14,455  
             

F-171


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(l) Reconciliation of balance sheet under previous AGAAP to A-IFRS as at transition date, 1 july 2004, for the Telstra Entity.
                                         
            Telstra Entity  
            1 July 2004  
                    Effect of transition to A-IFRS        
            Previous     Presentation     Accounting        
            AGAAP     adjustments     adjustments     A-IFRS  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Current assets
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  36(a)     543             3       546  
Trade and other receivables
  36(a),(m)     3,258       (192 )           3,066  
Inventories
            206                   206  
Derivative financial assets
  36(m)           169             169  
Other assets
  36(k)     687       (249 )     (205 )     233  
             
Total current assets
            4,694       (272 )     (202 )     4,220  
             
Non current assets
                                       
Trade and other receivables
  36(a),(m)     1,047       (387 )     (65 )     595  
Inventories
            10                   10  
Investments accounted for using the equity method
            32                   32  
Investments — other
    36 (c)     5,435             77       5,512  
Property, plant and equipment
    36 (h)     21,600             (367 )     21,233  
Intangibles
  36(h),(k),(m)     236       2,354       (63 )     2,527  
Derivative financial assets
    36 (m)           238             238  
Other assets
  36(f),(k)     2,160       (2,126 )     495       529  
             
Total non current assets
            30,520       79       77       30,676  
             
Total assets
            35,214       (193 )     (125 )     34,896  
             
Current liabilities
                                       
Trade and other payables
            1,891                   1,891  
Borrowings
            5,527                   5,527  
Current tax liabilities
            512                   512  
Provisions
            331                   331  
Revenue received in advance
            885                   885  
             
Total current liabilities
            9,146                   9,146  
             
Non current liabilities
                                       
Trade and other payables
  36(e)     46             37       83  
Borrowings
  36(m)     9,014       (429 )           8,585  
Deferred tax liabilities
  36(c)     1,748             248       1,996  
Provisions
            740                   740  
Derivative financial liabilities
  36(m)           410             410  
Revenue received in advance
            398                   398  
             
Total non current liabilities
            11,946       (19 )     285       12,212  
             
Total liabilities
            21,092       (19 )     285       21,358  
             
Net assets
            14,122       (174 )     (410 )     13,538  
             
Equity
                                       
Share capital
  36(a)     6,073       (174 )     (113 )     5,786  
Reserves
  36(c)     277             (83 )     194  
Retained profits
            7,772             (214 )     7,558  
             
Total equity
            14,122       (174 )     (410 )     13,538  
             

F-172


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(l) Reconciliation of balance sheet under previous AGAAP to A-IFRS as at 30 June 2005 for the consolidated Telstra Group.
                                         
            Telstra Group  
            30 June 2005  
                    Effect of transition to A-IFRS        
            Previous     Presentation     Accounting        
            AGAAP     adjustments     adjustments     A-IFRS  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Current assets
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  36(a)     1,540             8       1,548  
Trade and other receivables
  36(a),(m)     3,577       (28 )           3,549  
Inventories
            232                   232  
Derivative financial assets
  36(m)           4             4  
Other assets
  36(i),(k)     796       (305 )     (242 )     249  
             
Total current assets
            6,145       (329 )     (234 )     5,582  
             
Non current assets
                                       
Trade and other receivables
  36(a)     272       (131 )     (44 )     97  
Inventories
            15                   15  
Investments accounted for using the equity method
  36(b),(i)     49             (1 )     48  
Property, plant and equipment
  36(d),(f),(g),(h),(k)     23,351       (24 )     (436 )     22,891  
Intangibles
  36(b),(c),(g),(h),(i),(k),(m)     3,868       2,864       (403 )     6,329  
Deferred tax assets
            2                   2  
Other assets
  36(f),(k)     2,608       (2,546 )     185       247  
             
Total non current assets
            30,165       163       (699 )     29,629  
             
Total assets
            36,310       (166 )     (933 )     35,211  
             
Current liabilities
                                       
Trade and other payables
  36(d),(i),(k)     2,809             (2 )     2,807  
Borrowings
  36(m)     1,518       (11 )           1,507  
Current tax liabilities
            534                   534  
Provisions
  36(i)     389             32       421  
Derivative financial liabilities
  36(m)           11             11  
Revenue received in advance
            1,132                   1,132  
             
Total current liabilities
            6,382             30       6,412  
             
Non current liabilities
                                       
Trade and other payables
  36(d),(e),(k)     122             128       250  
Borrowings
  36(m)     11,816       (875 )           10,941  
Deferred tax liabilities
  36(c)     1,885             (81 )     1,804  
Provisions
  36(i)     836             58       894  
Derivative financial liabilities
  36(m)           864             864  
Revenue received in advance
            388                   388  
             
Total non current liabilities
            15,047       (11 )     105       15,141  
             
Total liabilities
            21,429       (11 )     135       21,553  
             
Net assets
            14,881       (155 )     (1,068 )     13,658  
             
Equity
                                       
Share capital
  36(a)     5,793       (155 )     (102 )     5,536  
Reserves
  36(c),(g),(i)     (157 )           4       (153 )
Retained profits
            9,243             (970 )     8,273  
             
Equity available to Telstra Entity shareholders
            14,879       (155 )     (1,068 )     13,656  
Minority interests
            2                   2  
             
Total equity
            14,881       (155 )     (1,068 )     13,658  
             

F-173


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(l) Reconciliation of balance sheet under previous AGAAP to A-IFRS as at 30 June 2005 for the Telstra Entity.
                                         
            Telstra Entity
            30 June 2005
                    Effect of transition to A-IFRS        
            Previous     Presentation     Accounting        
            AGAAP     adjustments     adjustments     A-IFRS  
    Note     $m     $m     $m     $m  
Current assets
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
    36 (a)     1,360             8       1,368  
Trade and other receivables
    36(a), (m)     3,566       (28 )           3,538  
Inventories
            194                   194  
Derivative financial assets
    36 (m)           4             4  
Other assets
    36(i), (k)     679       (264 )     (242 )     173  
             
Total current assets
            5,799       (288 )     (234 )     5,277  
             
Non current assets
                                       
Trade and other receivables
    36 (a)     290       (131 )     (44 )     115  
Inventories
            15                   15  
Investments accounted for using the equity method
    36 (i)     44             (3 )     41  
Investments — other
    36 (c)     6,029             107       6,136  
Property, plant and equipment
    36(f), (h)     21,573             (350 )     21,223  
Intangibles
    36(b),(h),(i),(k), (m)     194       2,523       34       2,751  
Other assets
    36(f), (k)     2,332       (2,270 )     180       242  
             
Total non current assets
            30,477       122       (76 )     30,523  
             
Total assets
            36,276       (166 )     (310 )     35,800  
             
Current liabilities
                                       
Trade and other payables
    36 (i)     1,957             (1 )     1,956  
Borrowings
    36 (m)     3,903       (11 )           3,892  
Current tax liabilities
            519                   519  
Provisions
    36 (i)     324             32       356  
Derivative financial liabilities
    36 (m)           11             11  
Revenue received in advance
            912                   912  
             
Total current liabilities
            7,615             31       7,646  
             
Non current liabilities
                                       
Trade and other payables
    36 (e)     13             48       61  
Borrowings
    36 (m)     11,782       (875 )           10,907  
Deferred tax liabilities
    36 (c)     1,826             135       1,961  
Provisions
    36 (i)     779             58       837  
Derivative financial liabilities
    36 (m)           864             864  
Revenue received in advance
            381                   381  
             
Total non current liabilities
            14,781       (11 )     241       15,011  
             
Total liabilities
            22,396       (11 )     272       22,657  
             
Net assets
            13,880       (155 )     (582 )     13,143  
             
Equity
                                       
Share capital
    36 (a)     5,793       (155 )     (102 )     5,536  
Reserves
    36 (c)     277             (83 )     194  
Retained profits
            7,810             (397 )     7,413  
             
Total equity
            13,880       (155 )     (582 )     13,143  
             

F-174


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(l) Reconciliation of equity under previous AGAAP to A-IFRS for the consolidated Telstra Group.
                                                                         
                    Reserves                  
                            Foreign             Consoli-                    
            Share     Asset     currency             dation     Retained     Minority        
            capital     revaluation     translation     General     fair value     profits     interests     Total  
            $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
Balance at 1 July 2004 under AGAAP
            6,073       32       (186 )     5       44       9,391       2       15,361  
Share-based payments
    36 (a)     (287 )                             51             (236 )
Income taxes
    36 (c)           (32 )                       68             36  
Operating leases
    36 (e)                                   (37 )           (37 )
Net defined benefit asset
    36 (f)                                   537             537  
Foreign currency
    36 (g)                 46                   (343 )           (297 )
Expensing of borrowing costs previously capitalised
    36 (h)                                   (462 )           (462 )
Equity accounting for Reach Ltd
    36 (i)                 140                   (348 )           (208 )
Expensing handset subsidies previously deferred
    36 (k)                                   (239 )           (239 )
             
Balance at 1 July 2004 under A-IFRS
            5,786                   5       44       8,618       2       14,455  
             
 
                                                                       
Balance at 30 June 2005 under AGAAP
            5,793       32       (231 )     4       38       9,243       2       14,881  
Share-based payments
    36 (a)     (257 )                             66             (191 )
Cease amortisation of goodwill
    36 (b)                                   147             147  
Income taxes
    36 (c)           (32 )     9                   167             144  
Deferred payment for equipment
    36 (d)                                   (27 )           (27 )
Operating leases
    36 (e)                                   (48 )           (48 )
Net defined benefit asset
    36 (f)                                   271             271  
Foreign currency
    36 (g)                 (111 )                 (332 )           (443 )
Expensing of borrowing costs previously capitalised
    36 (h)                                   (458 )           (458 )
Equity accounting for Reach Ltd
    36 (i)                 140                   (450 )           (310 )
Recognition of Hong Kong 3G spectrum licence
    36 (k)                 (2 )                 (3 )           (5 )
Expensing handset subsidies previously deferred
    36 (k)                                   (303 )           (303 )
             
Balance at 30 June 2005 under A-IFRS
            5,536             (195 )     4       38       8,273       2       13,658  
             

F-175


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(l) Reconciliation of equity under previous AGAAP to A-IFRS for the Telstra Entity.
                                                 
                    Reserves              
            Share     Asset             Retained        
            capital     revaluation     General     profits     Total  
            $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Balance at 1 July 2004 under AGAAP
            6,073       277             7,772       14,122  
Share-based payments
    36 (a)     (287 )                 51       (236 )
Income taxes
    36 (c)           (83 )           (88 )     (171 )
Property, plant and equipment
    36 (d)           (194 )     194              
Operating leases
    36 (e)                       (37 )     (37 )
Net defined benefit asset
    36 (f)                       529       529  
Expensing of borrowing costs previously capitalised
    36 (h)                       (430 )     (430 )
Expensing handset subsidies previously deferred
    36 (k)                       (239 )     (239 )
             
Balance at 1 July 2004 under A-IFRS
            5,786             194       7,558       13,538  
             
 
                                               
Balance at 30 June 2005 under AGAAP
            5,793       277             7,810       13,880  
Share-based payments
    36 (a)     (257 )                 66       (191 )
Cease amortisation of goodwill
    36 (b)                       4       4  
Income taxes
    36 (c)           (83 )           55       (28 )
Property, plant and equipment
    36 (d)           (194 )     194              
Operating leases
    36 (e)                       (48 )     (48 )
Net defined benefit asset
    36 (f)                       266       266  
Expensing of borrowing costs previously capitalised
    36 (h)                       (431 )     (431 )
Accounting for investments
    36 (i)                       (6 )     (6 )
Expensing handset subsidies previously deferred
    36 (k)                       (303 )     (303 )
             
Balance at 30 June 2005 under A-IFRS
            5,536             194       7,413       13,143  
             

F-176


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(l) Reconciliation of the statement of cash flows under previous AGAAP to A-IFRS.
                                                         
            Year ended 30 June 2005  
            Telstra Group     Telstra Entity  
            Previous                     Previous              
            AGAAP     Adjustments     A-IFRS     AGAAP     Adjustments     A-IFRS  
            $m     $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
           
Cash flows from operating activities
  (i),(ii),(iii)     8,163       797       8,960       7,742       810       8,552  
Cash flows from investing activities
  (i),(iii),(iv),(v)     (3,809 )     43       (3,766 )     (2,890 )     80       (2,810 )
Cash flows from financing activities
  (ii),(iv),(v)     (3,512 )     (835 )     (4,347 )     (4,035 )     (885 )     (4,920 )
                 
Net increase in cash
      (v)     842       5       847       817       5       822  
                 
 
As a result of the adoption of A-IFRS, the following reclassifications have been made to the statement of cash flows:
(i) Interest received has been reclassified from operating activities to investing activities (Telstra Group: $80 million, Telstra Entity: $81 million);
(ii) Borrowing costs paid has been reclassified from operating activities to cash flows from financing activities and renamed finance costs (Telstra Group: $879 million, Telstra Entity: $892 million);
(iii) Dividends received are classified as cash flows from investing activities after previously being included in cash flows from operating activities (Telstra Group: $2 million, Telstra Entity: $1 million);
(iv) Loans to jointly controlled and associated entities was reclassified from financing activities to investing activities (Telstra Group: $37 million, Telstra Entity: nil); and
(v) Adjustments required as a result of the consolidation of Growthshare. For further information refer to note 36(a).

F-177


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
A-IFRS adjustments with effect from 1 July 2005
(m) AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” (AASB 132), AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (AASB 139) and AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures” (AASB 7)
We have elected to apply the exemption available under AASB 1 to apply AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” and AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” from 1 July 2005. Accordingly, we have changed our accounting policies for financial instruments from 1 July 2005.
In addition, we have elected to early adopt AASB 7 from 1 July 2005. AASB 7 supersedes the disclosure requirements, but not the presentation requirements of AASB 132.
The transitional rules for first time adoption of A-IFRS required that we restate our comparative financial report using A-IFRS, except for financial instruments within the scope of AASB 132 and AASB 139 where comparative information was not required to be restated. The early adoption of AASB 7 did not require comparative information for fiscal 2005 to be restated and disclosed. Accordingly, we have applied previous AGAAP in the comparative information on financial instruments within the scope of AASB 132 and AASB 139.
Under previous AGAAP disclosures, derivative financial instruments were classified within other assets and other liabilities. For comparative purposes these previous AGAAP amounts have been reclassified to derivative financial assets or liabilities on the balance sheet on transition to A-IFRS. The effect of changes in the accounting policies for financial instruments including derivatives, as a result of the adoption of AASB 132 and AASB 139 as at 1 July 2005 is shown below.

F-178


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(m) Reconciliation of balance sheet under A-IFRS for AASB 132/139 adoption as at 1 July 2005 for the consolidated Telstra Group
                                 
            Telstra Group  
            A-IFRS     AASB 132/139     A-IFRS  
            30 June 2005     adjustments     1 July 2005  
    Note   $m     $m     $m  
 
Current assets
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
            1,548             1,548  
Trade and other receivables
            3,549             3,549  
Inventories
            232             232  
Derivative financial assets
    (i )     4       6       10  
Prepayments
            249             249  
             
Total current assets
            5,582       6       5,588  
             
Non current assets
                               
Trade and other receivables
            97             97  
Inventories
            15             15  
Investments accounted for using the equity method
            48             48  
Property, plant and equipment
            22,891             22,891  
Intangibles
            6,329             6,329  
Deferred tax assets
            2             2  
Derivative financial assets
    (i )           512       512  
Defined benefit assets
            247             247  
             
Total non current assets
            29,629       512       30,141  
             
Total assets
            35,211       518       35,729  
             
Current liabilities
                               
Trade and other payables
            2,807             2,807  
Borrowings
  (ii)     1,507       3       1,510  
Current tax liabilities
            534             534  
Provisions
            421             421  
Derivative financial liabilities
    (i )     11       5       16  
Revenue received in advance
            1,132             1,132  
             
Total current liabilities
            6,412       8       6,420  
             
Non current liabilities
                               
Trade and other payables
            250             250  
Borrowings
  (ii)     10,941       219       11,160  
Deferred tax liabilities
  (iii)     1,804       32       1,836  
Provisions
            894             894  
Derivative financial liabilities
    (i )     864       185       1,049  
Revenue received in advance
            388             388  
             
Total non current liabilities
            15,141       436       15,577  
             
Total liabilities
            21,553       444       21,997  
             
Net assets
            13,658       74       13,732  
             
Equity
                               
Share capital
            5,536             5,536  
Reserves
  (iv)     (153 )     79       (74 )
Retained profits
    (v )     8,273       (5 )     8,268  
             
Equity available to Telstra Entity shareholders
            13,656       74       13,730  
             
Minority interests
            2             2  
             
Total equity
            13,658       74       13,732  
             

F-179


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(m) Reconciliation of balance sheet under A-IFRS for AASB 132/139 adoption as at 1 July 2005 for the Telstra Entity
                                 
            Telstra Entity  
            A-IFRS     AASB 132/139     A-IFRS  
            30 June 2005     adjustments     1 July 2005  
    Note   $m     $m     $m  
 
Current assets
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
            1,368             1,368  
Trade and other receivables
            3,538       3       3,541  
Inventories
            194             194  
Derivative financial assets
    (i )     4       6       10  
Prepayments
            173             173  
             
Total current assets
            5,277       9       5,286  
             
Non current assets
                               
Trade and other receivables
            115       1       116  
Inventories
            15             15  
Investments accounted for using the equity method
            41             41  
Investments — other
            6,136             6,136  
Property, plant and equipment
            21,223             21,223  
Intangibles
            2,751             2,751  
Derivative financial assets
    (i )           512       512  
Defined benefit assets
            242             242  
             
Total non current assets
            30,523       513       31,036  
             
Total assets
            35,800       522       36,322  
             
Current liabilities
                               
Trade and other payables
            1,956             1,956  
Borrowings
  (ii)     3,892       3       3,895  
Current tax liabilities
            519             519  
Provisions
            356             356  
Derivative financial liabilities
    (i )     11       5       16  
Revenue received in advance
            912             912  
             
Total current liabilities
            7,646       8       7,654  
             
Non current liabilities
                               
Trade and other payables
            61       1       62  
Borrowings
  (ii)     10,907       219       11,126  
Deferred tax liabilities
  (iii)     1,961       32       1,993  
Provisions
            837             837  
Derivative financial liabilities
    (i )     864       185       1,049  
Revenue received in advance
            381             381  
             
Total non current liabilities
            15,011       437       15,448  
             
Total liabilities
            22,657       445       23,102  
             
Net assets
            13,143       77       13,220  
             
Equity
                               
Share capital
            5,536             5,536  
Reserves
  (iv)     194       82       276  
Retained profits
    (v )     7,413       (5 )     7,408  
             
Total equity
            13,143       77       13,220  
             

F-180


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
36. Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (continued)
(m) AASB 132: “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation” (AASB 132), AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (AASB 139) and AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures” (AASB 7) (continued)
Adjustments were made at the date of transition (1 July 2005) to restate the opening balance sheet of the Telstra Group to a position consistent with the accounting policies specified in note 2. These are listed below. Also included is where the transitional provisions will have an effect on future periods.
(i) From 1 July 2005, the recognition and measurement of all derivatives (including any embedded derivatives) is at fair value. Changes in fair value are either taken to the income statement or an equity reserve. At 1 July 2005, a $328 million increase in net assets for the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity was recognised representing:
  a gain of $333 million on the remeasurement of our interest rate swaps and cross currency swaps to fair value; and
 
  a loss of $5 million on the remeasurement of forward foreign exchange contracts to fair value.
These adjustments are reflected in the previous table as:
  an increase in current assets (derivative financial assets) of $6 million for the Telstra Group and the Telstra Entity;
 
  an increase in non current assets (derivative financial assets) of $512 million for the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity;
 
  offset by an increase in current liabilities (derivative financial liabilities) of $5 million for the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity; and
 
  an increase in non current liabilities (derivative financial liabilities) of $185 million for the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity.
At 1 July 2005, there were no material embedded derivatives which required separate measurement and reporting.
(ii) From 1 July 2005, the carrying value of the hedged item in fair value hedges is adjusted for fair value movements attributable to the hedged risk. At 1 July 2005 a loss of $222 million was recognised for the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity on the remeasurement of our foreign currency borrowings in fair value hedges. This loss is capped such that the adjustment is the lower of:
  the remeasurement to fair value of the hedged item for the designated hedged risk; and
 
  the remeasurement to fair value of the hedging instrument.
At 1 July 2005, the impact of ‘capping’ the fair value movement on our foreign currency borrowings in fair value hedges was $70 million for both the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity. This ‘capping’ amount will be amortised to the income statement on an effective yield to maturity basis over the term of the underlying borrowing.
This adjustment is reflected in the above table as an increase in current borrowings of $3 million and an increase in non current borrowings of $219 million for both the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity.
(iii) At 1 July 2005, a $32 million increase in non current deferred tax liabilities was recognised for both the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity, representing the tax effect of the above adjustments.
(iv) From 1 July 2005, the effective portion of the movement in fair value of derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges is deferred in equity until such time as the hedged item affects profit or loss. The ineffective portion is recognised immediately in the income statement. At 1 July 2005 a post tax net increase in reserves of $79 million for the Telstra Group and $82 million for the Telstra Entity was recognised representing:
  an increase of $81 million for both the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity to the cash flow hedging reserve, comprising the deferred portion of the fair value of our interest rate swaps and cross currency swaps in cash flow hedges relating to our foreign currency borrowings; and
 
  a decrease of $2 million (Telstra Entity: an increase of $1 million) to the cash flow hedging reserve, comprising the deferred portion of the fair value of our forward foreign exchange contracts in cash flow hedges of highly probable forecast transactions.
(v) At 1 July 2005, the reduction to retained earnings of $5 million for both the Telstra Group and Telstra Entity comprised:
  a decrease of $222 million on the remeasurement of our foreign currency borrowings in fair value hedges;
 
  an increase of $215 million on the remeasurement of our derivatives, excluding the portion deferred in equity relating to our cash flow hedges; and
 
  an increase of $2 million for the tax effect.
(vi) From 1 July 2005, movement in the fair value of derivatives accounted for as fair value hedges, together with the gain or loss on the related hedged item attributable to the hedged risk will be recognised in the income statement.

F-181


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures
Reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP
Our consolidated financial report is prepared in accordance with the Australian equivalents of International Financial Reporting Standards (A-IFRS), which differs in certain respects from the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (USGAAP). The significant differences between A-IFRS and USGAAP are presented throughout note 37.
                                 
            Telstra Group  
            Year ended 30 June  
                            Restated  
            2006     2006     2005  
    Note   $m     US$m     $m  
 
Reconciliation of net income to USGAAP
                               
 
                               
A-IFRS net income reported in income statement
            3,181       2,362       4,309  
 
                               
Adjustments required to agree with USGAAP
                               
Property, plant and equipment
    37 (c)     (26 )     (19 )     (61 )
Borrowing costs
    37 (d)     (27 )     (20 )     (18 )
Investments
    37 (e)                 17  
Retirement benefit (expense)/gain
    37 (f)     (44 )     (33 )     1  
Income tax expense
    37 (g)     (85 )     (63 )     (10 )
Employee compensation expense
    37 (h)                 (7 )
Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities
    37 (i)     192       144       (96 )
CSL New World Mobility Limited (formerly Telstra CSL Limited)
    37 (j)     (634 )     (471 )      
Fair value / general reserve adjustments
    37 (k)                 5  
Redundancy and restructuring provision
    37 (m)     161       119        
Mobile handset subsidies
    37 (n)                 64  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, net of tax
    37 (b)     (245 )     (181 )      
             
Net income per USGAAP
            2,473       1,838       4,204  
             
 
                               
Income statement measured and classified per USGAAP(i)
                               
 
                               
Operating revenue
            22,779       16,909       22,167  
Operating expenses:
                               
Labour
            4,381       3,252       3,865  
Goods and services purchased (ii)
            4,235       3,144       3,442  
Depreciation and amortisation
            4,871       3,616       3,715  
Other operating expenses
            4,829       3,585       4,556  
             
Total operating expenses
            18,316       13,597       15,578  
             
Operating income
            4,463       3,312       6,589  
Net interest expense
            (672 )     (499 )     (767 )
Share of net gain/(loss) of jointly controlled and associated entities
            5       4       (94 )
Other income
            387       288       232  
             
Net income before income tax expense and minority interests
            4,183       3,105       5,960  
Income tax expense
    37 (g)     1,465       1,086       1,756  
             
Net income before cumulative effect adjustments
            2,718       2,019       4,204  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, net of tax
    37 (b)     (245 )     (181 )      
             
Net income per USGAAP
            2,473       1,838       4,204  
             
 
            ¢     US¢     ¢  
             
Dividends paid per share per USGAAP(iii)
            40.0       29.7       33.0  
             

F-182


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
USGAAP earnings per share
                                 
            Telstra Group  
            Year ended 30 June  
                            Restated  
            2006     2006     2005  
    Note   ¢     US¢     ¢  
 
Basic earnings per share before cumulative effect of change in accounting principles
            22.0       16.3       33.8  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principles (net of tax):
                               
Mobile handset subsidies
    37 (b)     (1.7 )     (1.3 )      
Capitalisation of pension cost
    37 (b)     (0.3 )     (0.2 )      
             
Basic earnings per share per USGAAP (cents)
            20.0       14.8       33.8  
             
 
                               
Dilutive earnings per share before cumulative effect of change in accounting principles
            21.9       16.3       33.7  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principles (net of tax):
                               
Mobile handset subsidies
    37 (b)     (1.7 )     (1.3 )      
Capitalisation of pension cost
    37 (b)     (0.3 )     (0.2 )      
             
Diluted earnings per share per USGAAP (cents)
            19.9       14.8       33.7  
             

F-183


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Total comprehensive income disclosure
Total comprehensive income is calculated by adding net income and other comprehensive income.
                 
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005  
    $m     $m  
 
Net income per USGAAP
    2,473       4,204  
USGAAP other comprehensive income/(loss)
    125       (273 )
     
USGAAP total comprehensive income
    2,598       3,931  
     
Other comprehensive income/(loss) represents movements in shareholders’ equity that are not related to contributions from owners or payments to owners.
                 
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2005  
    $m     $m  
 
Foreign currency translation reserve
    125       (241 )
Unrealised gain on available-for-sale securities, after tax of $nil (2005: $4 million decrease)
          14  
Realised gain on sale of available-for-sale securities transferred to net income, after tax of $nil (2005: $10 million decrease)
          (46 )
     
USGAAP other comprehensive income/(loss)
    125       (273 )
     
The reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income/ (loss) to net income was determined on the basis of specific identification. Included within other comprehensive income for the year ended 30 June 2006 is the reclassification of $132 million from the foreign currency translation reserve to the dilution loss recognised as part of the merger between CSL and New World PCS Holdings Limited (New World Mobility). Refer to note 37(j) for further details.
In fiscal 2006, the proceeds from sales of available-for-sale equity securities was $nil (2005: $141 million).
The gain recorded as part of other comprehensive income/(loss) in relation to derivative and non derivative instruments that have been designated as hedges of the foreign currency exposure of our net investments in foreign operations for fiscal 2006 was $50 million (2005: $31 million gain).
(i) Income statement reclassifications
Various income statement items under A-IFRS have been reclassified to comply with USGAAP presentation rules. These include:
  net gain on disposal of non current assets of $85 million (2005: $88 million) is recorded as other operating income under A-IFRS but other non-operating income for USGAAP;
 
  rent from property and motor vehicles of $22 million (2005: $20 million) is recorded as other operating revenue under A-IFRS but other non-operating income for USGAAP;
 
  loss on foreign currency transactions of $2 million (2005: $40 million gain) is recorded as other operating expenses under A-IFRS but other non-operating income for USGAAP;
 
  miscellaneous income of $243 million (2005: $173 million) is recorded in other operating income under A-IFRS but other non-operating income for USGAAP; and
 
  under A-IFRS, dealer commissions and bonuses of $493 million (2005: $711 million) are included in goods and services purchased as they are directly related to our sales revenue. Under USGAAP they are classified as other operating expenses.
(ii) Goods and services purchased
Cost of sales includes both direct and indirect costs involved in the sale of the Company’s goods and services. For a service company this would commonly include depreciation and other indirect costs associated with the provision of services. However, we do not report our costs according to this description and classify all of our expenses according to the nature of the expense, referred to as “goods and services purchased” in relation to the sale of goods and services.
Goods and services purchased mainly comprises:
  network service capacity from external communication service providers;
 
  mobile handsets sold to customers;
 
  cost of goods sold (other than mobile handsets); and
 
  directory paper costs.
Goods and services purchased does not equate to cost of sales due to the non inclusion of depreciation and other indirect costs associated with the provision of our telecommunications services.
(iii) Dividends paid per share
Dividends paid per share for USGAAP includes TESOP97 and TESOP99 options outstanding as issued shares. Refer to note 37(h).

F-184


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
                                 
            Telstra Group  
            As at 30 June  
                            Restated  
            2006     2006     2005  
    Note   $m     US$m     $m  
 
Reconciliation of shareholders’ equity to USGAAP
                               
 
                               
A-IFRS shareholders’ equity per balance sheet
            12,832       9,525       13,658  
 
                               
Cumulative adjustments required to agree with USGAAP
                               
Property, plant and equipment
    37 (c)     (203 )     (151 )     (177 )
Borrowing costs
    37 (d)     543       403       570  
Investments
    37 (e)     (63 )     (47 )     (63 )
Minority interests(iii)
            (246 )     (183 )     (2 )
Retirement benefits
    37 (f)     (1,242 )     (921 )     (193 )
Income tax
    37 (g)     255       189       (59 )
Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities
    37 (i)     (195 )     (145 )     (370 )
CSL New World Mobility Limited (formerly Telstra CSL Limited)
    37 (j)     (56 )     (42 )     542  
Fair value / general reserve adjustments
    37 (k)     (54 )     (40 )     (54 )
Goodwill and other intangible asset adjustments
    37 (l)     71       53       41  
Redundancy and restructuring provision
    37 (m)     161       120        
Mobile handset subsidies
    37 (n)                 303  
             
Shareholders’ equity per USGAAP
            11,803       8,761       14,196  
             
 
                               
Balance sheet measured and classified per USGAAP
                               
 
                               
Current assets
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
    10       689       511       1,548  
Receivables
            3,701       2,747       3,515  
Inventories
    12       224       166       232  
Deferred tax asset
    37 (g)     376       279       294  
Other assets
            243       181       249  
             
Total current assets
            5,233       3,884       5,838  
             
Non current assets
                               
Receivables
            121       90       65  
Derivative financial instruments
            214       159       369  
Inventories
    12       20       15       15  
Investments — accounted for using the equity method
            27       20       52  
Property, plant and equipment
            50,632       37,584       48,380  
Accumulated depreciation of property, plant and equipment
            (26,663 )     (19,792 )     (25,037 )
Goodwill, net
            2,087       1,549       2,618  
Other intangible assets, net
            4,101       3,044       4,662  
Prepaid pension assets
    37 (f)     5       4       78  
             
Total non current assets
            30,544       22,673       31,202  
             
Total assets
            35,777       26,557       37,040  
             

F-185


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
                                 
            Telstra Group  
            As at 30 June  
                            Restated  
            2006     2006     2005  
    Note   $m     US$m     $m  
 
Balance sheet measured and classified per USGAAP (continued)
                               
 
                               
Current liabilities
                               
Payables
            3,570       2,650       2,766  
Borrowings — short term debt
            1,583       1,175       463  
Borrowings — long term debt due within one year
            401       298       1,061  
Income tax payable
            428       318       534  
Provisions
    19       662       491       421  
Other current liabilities
            1,187       881       1,150  
             
Total current liabilities
            7,831       5,813       6,395  
             
Non current liabilities
                               
Payables
            112       83       257  
Derivative financial instruments
            525       390       859  
Borrowings — long term debt
            11,734       8,710       11,641  
Deferred tax liability
    37(g)       1,971       1,463       2,300  
Provisions
            888       659       894  
Accrued pension liability
    37(f)       172       128        
Other non current liabilities
            495       367       496  
             
Total non current liabilities
            15,897       11,800       16,447  
             
Total liabilities
            23,728       17,613       22,842  
             
 
                               
Minority interests(iii)
    23       246       183       2  
 
             
Net assets
            11,803       8,761       14,196  
             
 
                               
Shareholders’ equity
                               
Share capital — 12,443,074,357 shares issued at 30 June 2006 (2005: 12,443,074,357 shares) (i)
    21       5,793       4,300       5,793  
Share loan to employees - 55,104,025 shares at 30 June 2006 (2005: 60,378,525 shares)
    21       (130 )     (96 )     (154 )
Shares held by employee share plan trusts - 17,931,918 shares at 30 June 2006 (2005: 20,216,091 shares)
            (99 )     (73 )     (113 )
Additional paid in capital from employee share plans
            390       289       395  
             
Total share capital
            5,954       4,420       5,921  
             
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (ii)
            (604 )     (448 )     (729 )
Retained earnings
            6,453       4,789       9,004  
             
Total shareholders’ equity
            11,803       8,761       14,196  
             

F-186


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
(i) Share capital
Number of shares issued includes shares issued to employees under share loans and shares held by employee share plan trusts. Net balance of shares issued and outstanding at 30 June 2006 is 12,370,038,414 shares (2005: 12,362,479,741 shares).
(ii) Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of related tax, for USGAAP consists of the following components:
                 
    Telstra Group  
    As at 30 June  
    2006     2005  
    $m     $m  
 
Foreign currency translation reserve
    (591 )     (716 )
     
 
Derivative financial instruments
    (19 )     (19 )
(tax effect)
    6       6  
     
 
    (13 )     (13 )
     
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax)
    (604 )     (729 )
     
As part of the merger between CSL and New World Mobility, $132 million was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to the dilution loss recognised on the merger. Refer to note 37(j) for further details.
(iii) Minority interest
Under A-IFRS, minority interests are presented within equity, but separate from the parent shareholders’ equity. Under USGAAP, minority interests are presented outside equity, in between liabilities and equity. The effect of this adjustment has been disclosed in the reconciliation of shareholders’ equity to USGAAP.
37(a) Immaterial adjustments to previously reported USGAAP amounts
As discussed in note 36, we have adopted A-IFRS from 1 July 2005. This adoption required us to restate our financial information for the year ended 30 June 2005 to comply with A-IFRS. As part of this process, a number of immaterial adjustments have been made to our previously reported USGAAP amounts. As such we have restated certain USGAAP financial measures for the year ended 30 June 2005. The impact of these adjustments is as follows:
         
    Telstra Group  
    30 June 2005  
    $m  
Reconciliation of net income
       
Net income per USGAAP — as previously reported
    4,172  
Adjustments:
       
- Hong Kong 3G spectrum licence
    (5 )
- Reach committed capex liability
    (90 )
- Operating leases
    (11 )
- Functional currency
    11  
- Income taxes
    123  
- Tax effect of above adjustments
    4  
 
     
Net income per USGAAP — restated
    4,204  
 
     
         
    cents per  
    share  
Basic earnings per share per USGAAP — as previously reported
    33.6  
Basic earnings per share per USGAAP — restated
    33.8  
Diluted earnings per share per USGAAP — as previously reported
    33.5  
Diluted earnings per share per USGAAP — restated
    33.7  
         
    $m  
Reconciliation of shareholders’ equity      
Shareholders’ equity per USGAAP — as previously reported
    14,367  
Adjustments:
       
- Hong Kong 3G spectrum licence
    14  
- Reach committed capex liability
    (93 )
- Operating leases
    (34 )
- Income taxes
    (58 )
 
     
Shareholders’ equity per USGAAP — restated
    14,196  
 
     
Hong Kong 3G spectrum licence
Our subsidiary in Hong Kong, HKCSL, has a licence to utilise 3G spectrum in Hong Kong until 2016. As part of this licence agreement, HKCSL are required to make annual payments for the right to use this spectrum. Under previous AGAAP we expensed these payments as incurred and historically we have not recorded a USGAAP adjustment for this licence.

F-187


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
Hong Kong 3G spectrum licence (continued)
However, under USGAAP this licence should have been capitalised as an intangible asset on acquisition, based on the present value of the expected future payments, with a corresponding liability also recorded.
The adjustment to decrease net income per USGAAP for the year ended 30 June 2005 of $5 million is a result of additional amortisation of $5 million and an increase in net interest expense of $4 million associated with the unwinding of the present value discount, offset by a decrease in other operating expenses of $4 million due to the reversal of the licence payments expense.
The increase in shareholders’ equity per USGAAP as at 30 June 2005 of $14 million represents an increase in intangible assets ($108 million), a decrease in property, plant and equipment ($24 million), an increase in current and non-current payables ($2 million and $87 million respectively) and a decrease in deferred tax liabilities ($19 million).
Due to the adoption of A-IFRS there is no longer a USGAAP adjustment for this 3G spectrum licence. Refer to note 36(k).
Reach committed capex liability
During fiscal 2005, we agreed to fund the committed capital expenditure of our jointly controlled entity Reach, together with our co-shareholder PCCW Limited, for the period until 2022. Our share of this commitment was disclosed as a contingent liability under previous AGAAP and a USGAAP adjustment was recorded in our 30 June 2005 financial statements to recognise additional equity accounted losses only to the extent of our actual payments under the commitment to 30 June 2005.
However, under USGAAP we were required to recognise additional equity accounted losses in Reach for our entire capital expenditure commitment, not just the amount paid. This adjustment has given rise to an additional $88 million of equity accounted losses and an additional $2 million of interest expense for the year ended 30 June 2005.
The decrease in shareholders’ equity per USGAAP as at 30 June 2005 of $93 million represents an increase in current and non-current provisions of $32 million and $58 million respectively and a decrease in investments accounted for using the equity method of $3 million.
Due to the adoption of A-IFRS there is no longer a USGAAP adjustment for our commitment to Reach. Refer to note 36(i).
Operating leases
Under previous AGAAP we expensed our operating lease payments as incurred and in our previously published financial statements we did not record a USGAAP adjustment to recognise operating lease expenses on a straight line basis. The impact of this adjustment is an increase to other operating expenses of $11 million for the year ended 30 June 2005. Non-current payables increased by $48 million and deferred tax liability decreased by $14 million as at 30 June 2005.
Due to the adoption of A-IFRS there is no longer a USGAAP adjustment for operating leases. Refer to note 36(e).
Functional currency
During the assessment of the functional currency for each of our overseas operations as part of our adoption of A-IFRS, we discovered that the functional currency of Telstra Global Limited under USGAAP was incorrect. This restatement has resulted in a decrease in other operating expenses of $11 million for the year ended 30 June 2005, with a corresponding increase in other comprehensive income.
Due to the adoption of A-IFRS there is no longer a USGAAP adjustment for the functional currency of our overseas operations. Refer to note 36(g).
Income taxes
In our 30 June 2005 financial statements, the USGAAP adjustment to net income for income taxes has been adjusted by $123 million due to the following:
  adjusting the tax effect of our USGAAP adjustments for property, plant and equipment, resulting in a decrease in tax expense of $44 million;
 
  adjustment to the deferred tax on our investments accounted for using the equity method, resulting in a decrease in tax expense of $93 million; and
 
  not appropriately recognising deferred taxes for various balances, including intangible assets recognised on acquisitions, resulting in a $14 million increase in tax expense.
The majority of these adjustments to tax expense have arisen as a result of the related deferred tax balances being written off under USGAAP during the year ended 30 June 2005. However, with the adoption of A-IFRS these adjustments were recorded in the A-IFRS opening transition balance sheet at 1 July 2004. As such, the different timing of recording these adjustments for A-IFRS and USGAAP purposes has resulted in the majority of these adjustments. The decrease in shareholders’ equity for USGAAP as at 30 June 2005 of $58 million represents a decrease in goodwill of $6 million and an increase in deferred tax liability of $52 million. Accumulated other comprehensive income was also reduced by $26 million.

F-188


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(b) Changes in accounting principles under USGAAP
Mobile handset subsidies
We previously deferred subsidies on mobile handset sold as part of a bundled arrangement under USGAAP. This was based on the fact that the revenue allocated to subsidised handsets in accordance with EITF 00-21 “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables” (EITF 00-21), is contingent upon the delivery of the contracted services and is therefore recognised over the expected customer contract life. As such we previously recognised the subsidised cost of the handsets on a similar basis.
From 1 July 2005, we have changed our accounting principle to expense handset subsidies as incurred. This change was adopted in order to ensure consistency with the accounting principle we have elected to adopt under A-IFRS. Furthermore, this change in principle treats the handset as a separate deliverable from a cost viewpoint which is consistent with the principles of EITF 00-21.
This change in accounting principle has resulted in the write off of $303 million of previously deferred handset subsidies as at 1 July 2005, with an adjustment to deferred tax liability of $91 million.
Capitalisation of pension cost
Historically we have recorded a USGAAP adjustment to recognise an expense (or benefit) for the defined benefit plans that we sponsor (refer to note 37(f)). From 1 July 2005 we have changed our accounting principle to capitalise a portion of our pension cost/benefit under USGAAP, where that cost/benefit is attributable to employees who are directly engaged in the construction of our property, plant and equipment, for the period of time that those employees spend on the construction work. Previously we have not capitalised a portion of this cost/benefit.
This change in accounting principle is preferable as the pension cost/benefit is considered an additional labour cost and this change would ensure consistency with how we treat other labour costs. It is also consistent with our accounting principle under A-IFRS.
This change has resulted in a decrease to property, plant and equipment on 1 July 2005 of $47 million, with an associated increase in deferred tax liability of $14 million.

F-189


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP
37(c) Property, plant and equipment
Revaluations
Certain items of property, plant and equipment had been previously revalued under A-IFRS. Revaluations of property, plant and equipment are not allowed under USGAAP, except for permanent impairments. As such we have reversed previously revalued property, plant and equipment to historical cost for USGAAP purposes.
Under A-IFRS, we have deemed the carrying value of our property, plant and equipment to be cost and as such we no longer revalue property, plant and equipment.
Depreciation expense and disposal gains or losses under A-IFRS are based on the recorded amount of the asset and are therefore higher (or lower for disposal losses) for assets that had been previously revalued upwards. Depreciation expense and disposal gains and losses have been adjusted to reflect amounts based on the original cost of the asset for USGAAP.
Impairment loss reversal — Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) cable network
In fiscal 1997, we wrote down the value of our HFC cable network by $587 million. This writedown continues to be reflected in the HFC network’s carrying value under A-IFRS. Under USGAAP, the initial future undiscounted cash flows derived from our HFC network were greater than the recorded value and continue to be as at 30 June 2006. As a result, the writedown has been reversed for USGAAP.
Depreciation expense has also been increased under USGAAP due to the higher asset value.
Indirect costs
Before 1 July 1996, we expensed all indirect costs as incurred. Under USGAAP, those indirect costs associated with operations and management personnel directly involved in the construction of our communication assets have been systematically allocated and recorded as part of the cost of those assets and depreciated accordingly.
From 1 July 1996, we changed our accounting policy in relation to indirect cost capitalisation to be consistent with USGAAP.
Sale of property sold as part of a sale and lease back transaction
In fiscal 2003, we sold certain land and buildings under a sale and leaseback arrangement. The net gain on the sale was recognised in net income.
Under USGAAP, the gains made on the sale of land and buildings as part of the sale and leaseback transaction were deferred and are currently being recognised over the period of the underlying leases. The original gain deferred for USGAAP was $177 million.
Purchase of radio access network (RAN) assets
In fiscal 2005, we entered into an arrangement with Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Ltd (H3GA) to jointly own and operate H3GA’s existing third generation RAN assets and fund future network development. The purchase consideration for our share of the RAN assets was $447 million, payable over 2 years.
Under A-IFRS, the purchase consideration was discounted using an asset specific discount rate. Under USGAAP, an incremental borrowing rate was used to discount the purchase consideration. The difference in the discount rate has resulted in a higher asset value and depreciation expense under USGAAP, offset by lower borrowing costs associated with the unwinding of the discount.
Refer to note 37(e) for further information on the 3G Partnership.
Summary of property, plant and equipment adjustments
                                 
    Telstra Group  
                    Shareholders’  
    Net Income     Equity  
    Year ended / As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Revaluations
    6       6       (593 )     (599 )
HFC cable network
    (23 )     (25 )     144       167  
Indirect costs
    (39 )     (60 )     342       381  
Sale and leaseback
    18       18       (108 )     (126 )
RAN assets
    12             12        
     
 
    (26 )     (61 )     (203 )     (177 )
     
37(d) Borrowing costs
Under A-IFRS, we expense all borrowing costs when incurred. Under USGAAP, borrowing costs relating to the construction of property, plant and equipment and software developed for internal use are recorded as part of the asset cost. The capitalised borrowing costs also result in higher depreciation expense under USGAAP.
For USGAAP purposes, we have capitalised borrowing costs with a net book value of $543 million as at 30 June 2006 (2005: $570 million). Additional depreciation and disposals of $108 million (2005: $108 million) have been recorded for the year ended 30 June 2006, offset by a decrease in interest expense of $81 million (2005: $90 million).

F-190


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(e) Investments
3GIS Partnership
The 3GIS Partnership was established to operate the third generation radio access network (RAN) as discussed in note 37(c). The partners each made an initial investment of $1 but provide additional capital as required in the form of interest-free loans.
Under A-IFRS, we recognise our share of the RAN assets held by the partnership within property, plant and equipment. Expenses incurred by the partnership are on-charged to the partners in equal proportion.
Under USGAAP, we account for the 3GIS Partnership using the equity method. As such, the interest-free loans are considered to form part of the investment in the partnership, and we record our share of the partnership’s results against this investment.
PCCW Limited (PCCW) Converting Note
Under A-IFRS, our converting note issued by PCCW was carried at face value, with adjustments for accrued interest and foreign exchange movements recorded in the income statement in operating expenses. Under USGAAP, the instrument was classified as an available-for-sale security with changes in fair value being recorded in other comprehensive income.
On 30 June 2005, the note expired and was redeemed for $76 million. Under USGAAP, the balance recorded in other comprehensive income was transferred to net income on redemption.
Reach Ltd (Reach)
In fiscal 2001, as a part of the strategic alliance with PCCW, a jointly controlled entity, Reach, was formed through the combination of our international wholesale business and certain other wholesale assets together with certain PCCW assets.
Under USGAAP, this investment was recorded at the net book value of the assets and liabilities transferred, reduced by the amount of cash received. This resulted in a negative carrying value, with the excess credit being recognised as an adjustment to the amount of goodwill on other components of the interdependent transactions — in this case a reduction in the goodwill of CSL (refer to note 37(l)).
As at 31 December 2002, we wrote down the entire carrying amount of our investment in Reach under both A-IFRS and USGAAP, which eliminated most of the USGAAP difference previously reported for Reach.
For both A-IFRS and USGAAP we ceased equity accounting our investment in Reach in fiscal 2003 due to the investment, including other non-participating interests in Reach, being written down to zero.
Summary of investment adjustments
                                 
    Telstra Group  
                    Shareholders’  
    Net Income     Equity  
    Year ended / As at 30 June      
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
3GIS partnership
          27       27       27  
PCCW converting note
          (10 )            
Reach Ltd
                (90 )     (90 )
     
 
          17       (63 )     (63 )
     

F-191


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(f) Retirement benefits
Under USGAAP, our defined benefit plans are accounted for under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87 (SFAS 87) “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions”. While the requirements of this standard are broadly consistent with our policy under A-IFRS (refer note 2.24), there are a number of key differences.
Under A-IFRS, actuarial gains and losses are recognised directly in retained earnings. Under USGAAP, the recognition of certain gains and losses is delayed. Aggregated unrecorded gains and losses exceeding 10% of the greater of the aggregated projected benefit obligation or the market value of the plan assets are amortised over the average expected service period of active employees expected to receive benefits under the plan.
Under USGAAP, future investment and contribution taxes of the fund are not taken into account, with only current taxes reflected in the measurement of the net periodic pension cost and prepaid pension asset.
Based on industry practice in Australia, under A-IFRS the defined benefit asset is adjusted for the estimated impact of future investment and contribution taxes of the fund, which are considered part of the ultimate cost to settle the obligation. Future investment tax is taken into account through an adjustment to the discount rate, while a separate tax reserve is created to take into account future contribution tax benefits.
Due to a change in accounting principle we now capitalise a portion of the net period pension cost under USGAAP (refer to note 37(b)), consistent with our policy under A-IFRS. However, under A-IFRS we have only applied this policy from 1 July 2004, our transition date to A-IFRS. Under USGAAP, we have adjusted our property, plant and equipment to reflect this policy as if it had always been applied. Furthermore, differences in the pension cost have lead to differences in amounts capitalised. These differences between A-IFRS and USGAAP have an ongoing impact on depreciation and amortisation.
Presented below are the disclosures required by USGAAP that are different from A-IFRS. These disclosures have been prepared with respect to only the defined benefit components of our pension plans.
                         
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2006     2005  
    $m     US$m     $m  
 
Net periodic pension cost
                       
The components of net periodic pension cost for our defined benefit plans are as follows:
                       
 
                       
Service cost on benefits earned
    214       159       200  
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
    226       168       223  
Expected return on assets
    (333 )     (247 )     (317 )
Expenses and taxation
    16       12       16  
Member contributions for defined benefits
    (20 )     (15 )     (21 )
Transfer of funds to defined contribution plan (i)
    93       69       78  
Curtailment loss
    58       43        
Settlement gain
    (7 )     (5 )     (4 )
     
Net periodic pension cost per USGAAP
    247       184       175  
Net periodic pension cost per A-IFRS
    182       136       201  
Net impact on net income due to different pension cost capitalised
    21       15       (25 )
     
Total USGAAP adjustment
    44       33       (1 )
     
 
                       
We used the following major assumptions to determine net periodic pension cost/(benefit) under USGAAP :
                       
Discount rate
    5.98 %     5.98 %     5.99 %
Expected rate of increase in future salaries
    3.02 %     3.02 %     3.97 %
Expected long-term rate of return on assets
    7.00 %     7.00 %     7.50 %
     

F-192


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(f) Retirement benefits (continued)
                         
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2006     2005  
    $m     US$m     $m  
 
Projected benefit obligations
                       
 
                       
Reconciliation of change in projected benefit obligation
                       
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year
    3,964       2,942       3,540  
Service cost
    214       159       200  
Interest cost
    226       168       223  
Member contributions
    7       5       4  
Benefit payments (i)
    (715 )     (531 )     (69 )
Curtailment loss
    58       43        
Foreign currency exchange rate changes
    2       1       (7 )
Actuarial (gain)/loss
    (379 )     (281 )     73  
     
Projected benefit obligation at end of year per USGAAP
    3,377       2,506       3,964  
     
 
                       
We used the following major assumptions to determine benefit obligations under USGAAP:
                       
Discount rate
    5.98 %     5.98 %     5.48 %
Expected rate of increase in future salaries
    3.02 %     3.02 %     3.99 %
     
 
                       
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year
    2,374       1,762       2,472  
     
 
                       
Plan assets
                       
 
                       
Reconciliation of change in fair value of plan assets
                       
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
    4,519       3,354       4,302  
Actual return on plan assets
    825       612       360  
Transfer of funds to defined contribution plan (i)
    (93 )     (69 )     (78 )
Employer contributions
    3       2       3  
Member contributions for defined benefits
    20       15       21  
Transfers/member contributions for accumulation benefits
    7       5       4  
Benefit payments (i)
    (715 )     (531 )     (69 )
Plan expenses
    (16 )     (12 )     (17 )
Foreign currency exchange rate changes
    2       1       (7 )
     
Fair value of plan assets at end of year per USGAAP
    4,552       3,377       4,519  
     

F-193


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(f) Retirement benefits (continued)
                         
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
    2006     2006     2005  
    $m     US$m     $m  
 
Reconciliation of funded status of plan
                       
Projected benefit obligation
    (3,377 )     (2,506 )     (3,964 )
Plan assets at fair value
    4,552       3,377       4,519  
     
Funded status
    1,175       871       555  
Unrecognised net transition liability
    4       3       4  
Unrecognised net actuarial gain
    (1,346 )     (998 )     (481 )
     
Pension (liability)/asset per USGAAP
    (167 )     (124 )     78  
Prepaid pension asset per A-IFRS
    1,029       764       247  
Differences in pension cost capitalised
    46       33       24  
     
Total USGAAP adjustment
    (1,242 )     (921 )     (193 )
     
(i) Benefits payments include payments out of the defined benefit plan into the defined contribution plan.

F-194


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(g) Income tax
Under A-IFRS, we apply the balance sheet liability method of accounting for deferred taxes, which is broadly consistent with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 (SFAS 109) “Accounting for Income Taxes”.
Our other USGAAP adjustments disclosed in note 37 have amended the carrying values of certain assets and liabilities under USGAAP and has resulted in an adjustment to the deferred tax balances.
Under A-IFRS, deferred taxes that arise on the initial recognition of an asset or liability are not recognised where the transaction is not a business combination and affects neither accounting profit nor taxable profit at the time of the transaction. USGAAP contains no such exemption and as such additional deferred tax balances have been recognised for USGAAP.
We have a number of intangible assets with an indefinite life, most notably our Trading Post mastheads. Under A-IFRS, the tax base used in the deferred tax calculation is the asset’s disposal value. It is assumed that the accounting carrying value will only be consumed upon disposal due to the fact that these intangible assets are not being amortised for accounting purposes.
However, under USGAAP the tax base used in the deferred tax calculation is the depreciable tax value, which is generally nil for these assets. This is because the intangible assets are not being specifically held for disposal and therefore the disposal value cannot be used for USGAAP purposes. This has resulted in an increase in deferred tax liability for USGAAP, with a corresponding increase in goodwill.
For A-IFRS, we classify all deferred tax balances as non current. For USGAAP, the classification between current and non current is based on the balance sheet classification of the underlying net current and non current asset or liability. Where there is no underlying asset or liability the classification is based on when the temporary difference is expected to reverse. The effect of this has been disclosed in the balance sheet measured and classified per USGAAP.
Summary of income tax adjustments
                                 
    Telstra Group  
                    Shareholders’  
    Net Income     Equity  
    Year ended / As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
 
Initial recognition exemption
    (7 )     1       (43 )     (35 )
Indefinite life intangibles
                8       8  
Property, plant and equipment (note 37(c))
    10       18       68       58  
Borrowing costs (note 37(d))
    7       4       (157 )     (164 )
Investments (note 37(e))
    (3 )     (5 )     (5 )     (2 )
Retirement benefits (note 37(f))
    14       (2 )     373       56  
Derivatives and hedging (note 37(i))
    (58 )     29       59       111  
CSL New World Mobility (note 37(j))
          (33 )            
General reserve (note 37(k))
          (3 )            
Redundancy and restructuring (note 37(m))
    (48 )           (48 )      
Mobile handset subsidies (note 37(n))
          (19 )           (91 )
     
 
    (85 )     (10 )     255       (59 )
     

F-195


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(g) Income tax (continued)
                         
    Telstra Group  
    As at 30 June  
    2006     2006     2005  
    $m     US$m     $m  
Deferred tax assets
                       
Foreign exchange translation, hedge and other finance costs
    58       43       117  
Employee entitlements
    268       199       281  
Revenue received in advance
    148       110       130  
Provisions
    164       122       64  
Trade and other payables
    57       42       38  
Accrued pension liability
    68       50        
Tax losses
    291       216       230  
Other
    78       58       23  
     
Total gross deferred tax assets under USGAAP
    1,132       840       883  
Valuation allowance
    (185 )     (137 )     (161 )
     
Total net deferred tax assets under USGAAP
    947       703       722  
     
 
                       
Deferred tax liabilities
                       
Property, plant and equipment
    2,047       1,520       2,003  
Prepaid pension asset
                23  
Intangible assets
    495       367       611  
Mobile handset subsidies
                91  
     
Total deferred tax liabilities under USGAAP
    2,542       1,887       2,728  
     
 
                       
Net deferred tax liability under USGAAP
    (1,595 )     (1,184 )     (2,006 )
Net deferred tax liability under A-IFRS
    1,703       1,264       1,802  
     
Difference
    108       80       (204 )
     
 
                       
Reported as follows for the USGAAP balance sheet:
                       
Net current deferred tax asset
    376       279       294  
Net non current deferred tax liability
    (1,971 )     (1,463 )     (2,300 )
     
 
    (1,595 )     (1,184 )     (2,006 )
     
As at 30 June 2006, our foreign operations have operating loss carryforwards of $291 million of which $9 million will expire in 2027. The remaining balance does not have an expiration date. We have established a valuation allowance of $185 million to provide for the operating loss carryforward due to our uncertainty over our ability to utilise these operating loss carryforwards.
As at 30 June 2005, our foreign operations have operating loss carryforwards of $230 million of which $13 million will expire in fiscal year 2027. We have established a valuation allowance of $161 million to provide for the operating loss carryforward due to our uncertainty over our ability to utilise these operating loss carryforwards

F-196


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(g) Income tax (continued)
The following table represents the domestic and foreign components of net income before income tax expense and minority interests and income tax expense/(benefit), calculated in accordance with USGAAP:
                         
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended / As at 30 June  
    2006     2006     2005  
    $m     US$m     $m  
Net income before income tax expense and minority interests consists of:
                       
Domestic
    4,829       3,586       5,940  
Foreign
    (646 )     (481 )     20  
     
Net income before income tax expense and minority interest
    4,183       3,105       5,960  
     
 
                       
Income tax expense/(benefit) consists of:
                       
Current:
                       
Domestic
    1,785       1,325       1,718  
Foreign
    15       11       22  
     
Total current income tax expense
    1,800       1,336       1,740  
     
 
                       
Deferred:
                       
Domestic
    (326 )     (243 )     22  
Foreign
    (9 )     (7 )     (6 )
     
Total deferred income tax expense/(benefit)
    (335 )     (250 )     16  
     
Income tax expense, net
    1,465       1,086       1,756  
     
Actual income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the statutory Australian income tax rate of 30% to net income before income tax expense and minority interests. The following table represents the reconciliation of the expected income tax expense to actual income tax expense:
                         
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended / As at 30 June  
    2006     2006     2005  
    $m     US$m     $m  
Expected income tax expense
    1,255       931       1,788  
 
                       
(Decrease)/increase in income taxes resulting from:
                       
Effect of different rates of tax on overseas income
    (19 )     (14 )     (11 )
Non assessable and non deductible items
    88       64       (23 )
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    105       78        
Under/(over) provision of tax in prior years
    36       27       2  
     
Actual income tax expense for USGAAP
    1,465       1,086       1,756  
     

F-197


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(h) Employee share plans and compensation expenses
Our employee and executive share plans are described in note 31.
As at 1 July 2005 for USGAAP purposes, we have adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 Revised (SFAS 123R), “Share-Based Payment” using the modified prospective application method. This standard requires entities to recognise an expense for the issue of employee stock options and similar awards based on their fair value on the grant date and recognised over the associated service period, which is usually the vesting period. However there is no financial statement effect for us upon adoption of SFAS 123R, as we previously adopted the fair value method of valuing employee stock options and similar awards under SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation”.
Under A-IFRS, we have adopted AASB 2 “Share-based Payment” which is broadly consistent with SFAS 123R. As permitted under A-IFRS and described in note 31, we have elected to apply AASB 2 only to equity instruments granted after 7 November 2002, which have not vested as at 1 January 2005. Therefore a USGAAP adjustment is still required to record the compensation expense for equity instruments issued prior to 7 November 2002.
As a result of this adjustment, we have recorded nil compensation expense for the year ended 30 June 2006 in the reconciliation of net income to USGAAP (2005: $7 million).
37(i) Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities
Our risk management policies and objectives of entering into derivative financial instruments have been disclosed in note 35, “Financial and capital risk management.”
As permitted on the first-time adoption of A-IFRS, the Company elected to not restate comparative information for financial instruments within the scope of AASB 139: “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (AASB 139). Therefore, for the year end 30 June 2005 the fair value of derivatives were not recorded under A-IFRS. Beginning 1 July 2005, derivative financial instruments are recognised and measured at fair value.
Under USGAAP, certain derivative instruments are designated as fair value hedges. The gain or loss on the derivative instrument, as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk, is recognised in other income expense as part of net income during the period of the change in fair values.
Under A-IFRS, the same derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedges. The effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and reclassified into net income in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects net income. The remaining gain or loss on the derivative instrument in excess of the cumulative change in the present value of future cash flows of the hedged item, if any, is recognised in other income/expense as part of net income during the period of change.
We enter into forward foreign exchange contracts to hedge certain firm commitments denominated in foreign currencies relating to our capital expenditure programs. Under A-IFRS, realised gains and losses on termination of these hedges are recognised as a net cost of the equipment acquired.
We do not designate specific forward foreign exchange contracts as hedges under USGAAP. As a result, changes in fair value of the forward foreign exchange contracts are required to be recognised in net income for USGAAP purposes. We have recorded a marked to market adjustment in other income per USGAAP for the forward foreign exchange contracts outstanding at 30 June 2006.
As a result of the change in the capital expenditure foreign exchange contract rates, we also recorded an adjustment to increase fixed assets and depreciation expense. Additionally, another adjustment to other income per USGAAP was recorded to reverse net realised foreign exchange gains/losses capitalised in property, plant and equipment under A-IFRS.
We enter into interest rate swaps to manage our exposure to interest rate risk relating to our outstanding short-term commercial paper. We do not designate the interest rate swaps used to manage our interest rate exposure as hedges under USGAAP. As a result, changes in the fair values of these interest rate swaps are required to be included in the reconciliation of net income to USGAAP. We have recorded a marked to market adjustment in other income under USGAAP for changes in fair value of interest rate swap contracts outstanding at the fiscal year end.
We enter into cross currency interest rate swaps to hedge our exposure to the risk of overall changes in fair value relating to interest rate and foreign currency risk of our foreign currency borrowings. The ineffective portion of our hedging instruments (inclusive of the time value of money) is taken to other income/expense.
Under USGAAP we record our derivative instruments on a net basis by counterparty where a master netting agreement is in place. Under A-IFRS we are precluded from netting our derivative instruments by counterparty in the balance sheet.

F-198


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(i) Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities (continued)
Summary of derivative financial instruments and hedging activities adjustments
                                 
    Telstra Group  
                    Shareholders’  
    Net Income     Equity  
    Year ended / As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
Forward foreign exchange contracts
    1       2       3       2  
Interest rate swaps
    21       (85 )           (163 )
Cross currency interest rate swaps
    (214 )     (13 )     (198 )     (209 )
     
 
    192       (96 )     (195 )     (370 )
     
37(j) CSL New World Mobility Limited (formerly Telstra CSL Limited (CSL))
Original acquisition
Under previous AGAAP, acquisition costs of $999 million were written off on acquisition of CSL in January 2001. USGAAP did not allow such a write-off, as it could not be supported by an analysis of the undiscounted cash flows of the entity. Accordingly, the goodwill write-off was reversed and is carried forward as a difference in the reconciliation of shareholders’ equity to USGAAP.
USGAAP adjustments were also recorded on the acquisition of CSL for the following:
  losses of $30 million on the hedge of the purchase of CSL were included in the cost of acquisition under previous AGAAP, but were recognised in net income under USGAAP; and
 
  recognition of a deferred tax asset of $33 million under USGAAP associated with fair value acquisition adjustments, with a corresponding decrease to goodwill. This deferred tax asset was realised in fiscal 2005.
Goodwill impairment
On 31 March 2006, we merged the CSL Group with the mobile operations of New World PCS Holdings Limited and its controlled entities (New World Mobility Group) to form the CSL New World Mobility Group. Our carrying value of goodwill under USGAAP for CSL has historically been higher than under A-IFRS due to the USGAAP adjustments on original acquisition, and the merger transaction indicated that a pre-existing impairment under USGAAP existed in CSL.
We performed an impairment test on our goodwill balance in CSL prior to recording the merger and as a result we recognised an impairment loss in our net income per USGAAP. The fair value of CSL for the purposes of the impairment test was calculated using a discounted cash flow technique.
Historically under USGAAP, we have recorded impairment losses of $394 million. These impairment losses were based on a discounted cash flow technique used to calculate the fair value of CSL.
New World Mobility merger
Under the merger agreement, CSL issued new shares to New World Mobility Holdings Limited for 100% of the issued capital of the New World Mobility Group and $44 million cash. The issue of new shares diluted our ownership interest in the merged group to 76.4%.
Under A-IFRS, a dilution gain was recognised directly in equity, being the difference between the fair value of the interest acquired in the New World Mobility Group and the carrying value of the diluted interest in the merged group, including any foreign currency translation reserve balance.
Due to the USGAAP impairment recorded in CSL goodwill just prior to the merger transaction, the carrying value of CSL at the date of the merger was lower under USGAAP compared to A-IFRS. Furthermore, the foreign currency translation reserve balance associated with CSL under USGAAP at the date of the merger was significantly higher than the balance under A-IFRS due to the USGAAP adjustments described in note 37(l). This lead to us recording a dilution loss on the merger under USGAAP primarily due to the reclassification of $132 million from accumulated other comprehensive loss. This dilution has been recorded directly in equity for USGAAP purposes.

F-199


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(j) CSL New World Mobility Limited (continued)
Summary of CSL New World Mobility adjustments
                                 
    Telstra Group  
                    Shareholders’  
    Net Income     Equity  
    Year ended / As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
Original acquisition
                936       936  
Goodwill impairment
    (634 )           (1,028 )     (394 )
New World Mobility merger
                36        
     
 
    (634 )           (56 )     542  
     
37(k) Fair value and general reserve adjustments
Under A-IFRS, we recorded a reserve of $54 million on the acquisition of a controlling interest in TelstraClear Limited in December 2001, representing our share of the fair value adjustments attributed to our previous equity accounted ownership interest. Under USGAAP this reserve adjustment was offset against goodwill.
Under A-IFRS, the effect of dilutions of ownership due to equity transactions conducted by third parties are recorded in a reserve. Under USGAAP, this is treated as a sale of ownership interest and taken to net income. For the year ended 30 June 2006, the adjustment to net income was $nil (2005: $5 million gain).
37(l) Goodwill and other intangible asset adjustments
Under both A-IFRS and USGAAP, goodwill is not amortised but reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if certain indicators or triggers arise. However, we ceased amortising goodwill under USGAAP from 1 July 2002 but did not cease amortisation under A-IFRS until 1 July 2004. As such we continue to record a historical USGAAP adjustment.
Under both A-IFRS and USGAAP, goodwill in foreign controlled entities is denominated in the functional currency of the foreign operation, with translation adjustments recorded in equity. Where there is a difference between the A-IFRS and USGAAP balance of goodwill, an adjustment is also made to the translation effect. Furthermore, on transition to A-IFRS we reset our foreign currency translation reserve to zero, which has been reversed for USGAAP purposes.
Summary of goodwill and other intangible asset adjustments
                                 
    Telstra Group  
                    Shareholders'  
    Net Income     Equity  
    Year ended / As at 30 June  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
    $m     $m     $m     $m  
Amortisation difference
                229       229  
Translation differences of goodwill in foreign operations
                (158 )     (188 )
     
 
                71       41  
     
Intangible assets subject to amortisation
Our intangible assets still subject to amortisation are brandnames, customer bases, patents, trademarks and licences. The carrying amount of these intangibles are disclosed in note 15. The following table represents the estimated aggregate amortisation expense for these intangible assets which are still amortised under USGAAP:
                                         
    Telstra Group  
    Year ended 30 June  
    2007     2008     2009     2010     2011  
    $m     $m     $m     $m     $m  
Estimated aggregate amortisation expense
    169       141       107       104       102  
     

F-200


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(l) Goodwill and other intangible asset adjustments (continued)
The following table is a reconciliation of the carrying amount of our goodwill under USGAAP by reportable segment:
Telstra Group
                                         
    Telstra                
    Enterprise &   Telstra            
    Government   International   Sensis   Other   Total
    $m   $m   $m   $m   $m
Carrying amount of goodwill (USGAAP) at 30 June 2004
    83       1,962       235       1       2,281  
Additional goodwill recognised
    360       2       153       4       519  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (6 )     (176 )                 (182 )
     
Carrying amount of goodwill (USGAAP) at 30 June 2005
    437       1,788       388       5       2,618  
Additional goodwill recognised
    4       287       33             324  
Disposals
    (4 )     (272 )                 (276 )
Foreign currency translation adjustment
          55                   55  
Impairment losses
          (634 )                 (634 )
     
Carrying amount of goodwill (USGAAP) at 30 June 2006
    437       1,224       421       5       2,087  
     
37(m) Redundancy and restructuring
The principal difference between A-IFRS and USGAAP with respect to accruing for restructuring costs is that A-IFRS places emphasis on the recognition of the costs of the exit plan as a whole whereas USGAAP requires that each type of cost be examined individually to determine when it may be accrued. The differences are primarily related to the timing of the recognition of restructuring costs.
As a result we have recorded an adjustment of $46 million to reduce the provision related to contractual obligations. Under USGAAP, a liability is incurred for contractual obligations when the Company ceases using the right conveyed by the contract. As of 30 June 2006, the Company has not ceased using the rights conveyed by these contracts.
An adjustment of $115 million is recorded to reduce the provision for other exit costs. Under USGAAP, a liability is incurred for other exit costs if the Company has already incurred the cost. As of 30 June 2006, the Company has not incurred these expenses.
There is no significant GAAP difference between A-IFRS and USGAAP in relation to the redundancy provision we have recognised at 30 June 2006.
37(n) Mobile handset subsidies
In fiscal 2005 under USGAAP, we deferred our mobile handset subsidies and recognised them over the expected customer life. Under A-IFRS we expense handset subsidies as incurred.
On 1 July 2005, we changed our accounting principle under USGAAP to expense handset subsidies as incurred, consistent with our policy under A-IFRS. As such there is no longer a USGAAP adjustment. Refer to note 37(b) for further details.
The impact of this adjustment on net income for the year ended 30 June 2005 was an increase of $64 million. Shareholders’ equity under USGAAP at 30 June 2005 increased by $303 million.

F-201


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(o) Consolidation of variable interest entities
A-IFRS requires consolidation of an entity where we are able to dominate decision making, directly or indirectly, relating to the financial and operating policies of that entity to enable it to operate with us in achieving our objectives. Ownership percentage as a single factor does not determine consolidation under A-IFRS.
USGAAP requires a beneficiary to consolidate a variable interest entity if it is the primary beneficiary of that entity. The primary beneficiary is defined as having a variable interest in a variable interest entity that will absorb a majority of the entity’s expected losses, receive a majority of the entity’s expected residual returns (if no party absorbs a majority of the entity’s expected losses), or both. A variable interest entity is any legal structure used to conduct activities or hold assets that either:
  has an insufficient amount of equity to carry out its principal activities without additional subordinated financial support;
 
  has a group of equity owners that are unable to make significant decisions about its activities; or
 
  has a group of equity owners that do not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns generated by its operations.
We have identified the following variable interest entities for which we are considered to be the primary beneficiary:
  Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plan Trust (TESOP97);
 
  Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plan Trust II (TESOP99); and
 
  Telstra Growthshare Trust.
These entities have been consolidated under both A-IFRS and USGAAP.
We have also identified the 3GIS Partnership to be a variable interest entity, of which we have a significant variable interest, but we are not the primary beneficiary. As such, we have not consolidated the 3GIS Partnership. For further information, refer to notes 30 and 37(c).
37(p) Arrangements that contain leases
Based on the requirements of Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 01-8 (EITF 01-8), “Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease”, an arrangement contains a lease if fulfilment of that arrangement is dependent upon the use of specific property, plant and equipment and it conveys the right to control the use of the specific property, plant and equipment to the purchaser.
If an arrangement is considered to contain a lease under EITF 01-8 then it is split into its lease and non-lease components using the relative fair value method, with each component accounted for separately. EITF 01-8 is only applicable to arrangements that we entered into or modified after 1 July 2003.
Currently under A-IFRS, and for arrangements entered into prior to 1 July 2003 for USGAAP, we account for these types of arrangements as service agreements. There is no material impact on the reconciliations of net income and shareholders’ equity to USGAAP of this difference in accounting for embedded leases.
37(q) Recently issued United States accounting standards
In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognised in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This Interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition requirements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new Interpretation.
In April 2006, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FIN 46(R)-6, “Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)” (“FSP 46(R)-6”), which provides additional guidance to consider when determining:
  whether an entity is a variable interest entity;
 
  which interests are considered to be variable interests in the entity; and
 
  which party, if any, is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity.
The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new interpretation.

F-202


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
37. United States generally accepted accounting principles disclosures (continued)
Notes to the reconciliations to financial reports prepared using USGAAP (continued)
37(q) Recently issued United States accounting standards (continued)
In March 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets” (“SFAS 156”), which amends SFAS 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities”. SFAS 156 requires recognition of a servicing asset or liability at fair value each time an obligation is undertaken to service a financial asset by entering into a servicing contract. SFAS 156 also provides guidance on subsequent measurement methods for each class of servicing assets and liabilities and specifies financial statement presentation and disclosure requirements. SFAS 156 is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006 and is required to be adopted by us in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this new Standard but believes that it will not have a material impact on the Company’s balance sheet, income statement or cash flows.
In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments” (“SFAS No. 155”), which amends SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivatives Instruments and Hedging Activities” and SFAS No. 140, SFAS No.155 amends SFAS No. 133 to narrow the scope exception for interest-only and principal-only strips on debt instruments to include only such strips representing rights to receive a specified portion of the contractual interest or principle cash flows. SFAS No. 155 also amends SFAS No.140 to allow qualifying special-purpose entities to hold a passive derivative financial instrument pertaining to beneficial interests that itself is a derivative instrument. SFAS No. 155 is effective for fiscal years beginning after 15 September 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this new Standard but believes that it will not have a material impact on the Company’s balance sheet, income statement or cash flows.
In November 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position SFAS 123(R)-3, “Transition Election Related to Accounting for the Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards” (“FSP 123(R)-3”). FSP 123(R)-3 provides an elective alternative method that establishes a computational component to arrive at the beginning balance of the accumulated paid-in capital pool related to employee compensation and a simplified method to determine the subsequent impact on the accumulated paid-in capital pool of employee awards that are fully vested and outstanding upon the adoption of SFAS 123(R). The Company does not believe that this FSP will have a material impact on the income statement or balance sheet.
In November 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) Nos. SFAS 115-1 and SFAS 124-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments. This FSP addresses the determination as to when an investment is considered impaired, whether that impairment is other than temporary and the measurement of an impairment loss. This FSP also includes accounting considerations subsequent to the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments. The adoption of the FSP did not have a material impact on the income statement and balance sheet.
In October 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position SFAS 123(R)-2, “Practical Accommodation to the Application of Grant Date as Defined in SFAS 123(R)” (“FSP 123(R)-2”). FSP 123(R)-2 provides guidance on the application of grant date as defined in SFAS 123(R). In accordance with this standard a grant date of an award exists if:
  the award is a unilateral grant; and
 
  the key terms and conditions of the award are expected to be communicated to an individual recipient within a relatively short time period from the date of approval
The Company does not believe that this FSP will have a material impact on the income statement or balance sheet.
In May 2005, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections — a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3” (“SFAS 154”). SFAS 154 replaces APB Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes”, and FASB Statement No. 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements” and changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. This statement applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle. It also applies to changes required by an accounting pronouncement in the unusual instance that the pronouncement does not include specific transition provisions. When a pronouncement includes specific transition provisions, those provisions should be followed. SFAS 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after 15 December 2005 and requires prospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new Standard.

F-203


 

Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Directors’ Declaration
This directors’ declaration is required by the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia.
The directors of Telstra Corporation Limited have made a resolution that declared:
(a)   the financial statements and notes, set out on pages F-3 to F-203 of Telstra Corporation Limited and the Telstra Group:
      (i) comply with the Accounting Standards and Corporations Regulations;
 
      (ii) give a true and fair view of the financial position as at 30 June 2006 and performance, as represented by the results of the operations and cash flows, for the year ended 30 June 2006; and
 
      (iii) in the directors’ opinion, have been made out in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001.
(b)   they have received declarations as required by S.295A of the Corporations Act 2001;
 
(c)   at the date of this declaration, in the directors’ opinion, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Telstra Corporation Limited will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable in Australia; and
 
(d)   at the date of this declaration there are reasonable grounds to believe that the members of the extended closed group identified in note 29(a) to the full financial statements, as parties to a Deed of Cross Guarantee, will be able to meet any obligations or liabilities to which they are, or may become subject to, under the Deed of Cross Guarantee described in note 29(a).
In accordance with subsection 334(5) of the Corporations Act 2001, the directors have elected to adopt the following Australian accounting standards early for the year ended 30 June 2006:
    AASB 119: “Employee Benefits” (issued in December 2004);
 
    AASB 7: “Financial Instruments: Disclosures”;
 
    AASB 2005-3: “Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards”; and
 
    AASB 2005-10: “Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards”.
For and on behalf of the board
     
-s- Donald G McGauchie
  -s- Solomon D Trujillo
 
   
Donald G McGauchie
  Solomon D Trujillo
Chairman
  Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
 
   
Date: 10 August 2006
   
Melbourne, Australia
   

F-204


 

Annex A
Remuneration Report
from Telstra’s 2006 Annual Report

 


 

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Remuneration report
Remuneration report
The Remuneration Report forms part of the Directors’ Report and is set out under the following headings:
REMUNERATION AT TELSTRA
The Remuneration Committee
Remuneration policy
Changes to the remuneration strategy
CEO AND SENIOR EXECUTIVES
Remuneration strategy
Remuneration structure
Linking the remuneration structure to the business strategy
Remuneration mix
Fixed remuneration
Short term incentive (STI)
Long term incentive (LTI)
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REMUNERATION AND TELSTRA’S PERFORMANCE
Defining “company performance”
Remuneration vs company performance
DETAILS OF SENIOR EXECUTIVES’ REMUNERATION
Contract arrangements
Relocation costs associated with overseas senior executives
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Remuneration policy and strategy
Remuneration structure
Retirement benefits
Other benefits
Details of non-executive directors’ remuneration
This report for the year ended 30 June 2006 was prepared by the directors in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001. Under AASB 124 “Related Party Disclosures”(AASB 124), we are required to disclose remuneration details for our “key management personnel” (KMP). In addition to the directors, our KMP also includes the Chief Operating Officer and the Group Managing Directors listed in Figure 17. For the remainder of this report the KMP (other than the directors) will collectively be referred to as senior executives.
REMUNERATION AT TELSTRA
Telstra proactively manages executive and director remuneration arrangements to ensure that their remuneration is a key element supporting our business strategy by aligning reward to the achievement of strategic objectives. We also ensure that it is competitive in the markets we draw our talent from and that the needs of all stakeholders are taken into consideration when remuneration decisions are made.
THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
The policy, strategy and structure for the Board, CEO and senior executive remuneration is overseen and regularly reviewed by the Board’s Remuneration Committee.
The Telstra Board Remuneration Committee (Committee) is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the Board the remuneration policy, strategy and structure for Telstra’s Board, the CEO and senior executives. The Committee’s roles and responsibilities, composition and membership is detailed on our website. The Committee also has a responsibility to ensure that our remuneration strategy considers corporate governance principles and expectations of stakeholder bodies.
Any decision made by the Committee concerning an individual executive’s remuneration is made without that executive being present.
REMUNERATION POLICY
The remuneration policy consists of principles that guide the Committee in its deliberations, and which should be taken into consideration when formulating the strategy and structure of remuneration.
The Committee is guided by the following principles when formulating remuneration strategy and structure.
             
Senior executive   Non-executive director
remuneration should:   remuneration should:
  reflect the size and scope of the role and be market competitive in order to attract and retain talent  

  be distinguished from executive remuneration

be fee based, not performance based
 
           


  be competitive in domestic and global markets

motivate executives to deliver short and long term business objectives
    be partly remunerated in the form of equity in order to align with the returns to shareholders
 
           
  be aligned with shareholder value
creation
       
 
           
  be differentiated based on individual
performance
       
CHANGES TO THE REMUNERATION STRATEGY
In line with major changes to Telstra’s business strategy this fiscal year, we have reviewed and updated our remuneration structure.
During fiscal 2006 the Board approved a new business strategy for Telstra. The new strategy will transform the company over several years in order to meet the challenges of a competitive global market.
With the new business strategy significantly changing the company’s commercial and operational focus, it was important to update the metrics used to determine incentive outcomes to give appropriate weight to Telstra’s new priorities. In parallel with the development of the business strategy, the Committee commissioned an extensive review of the remuneration strategy.
The focus of the remuneration review was to advise on contemporary market practice, the relationship between fixed and variable remuneration and the measures which would drive remuneration outcomes in the context of a significant strategic realignment of the business. The aim was to reward the CEO and senior executives on the delivery of transformational and operational outcomes in line with the key elements of the new business strategy. An additional objective of the review was to link the successful delivery of the transformation to future shareholder wealth creation. Management, with input from an external remuneration consultant, formally presented the results of the review to the Committee in December 2005.
The review concluded that the CEO and senior executive remuneration strategy would need to have increased flexibility in order to:

A-1


 

Remuneration report
  focus on achieving long term transformation of the company while delivering on short term performance;
 
  reinforce and reward performance measures that will evolve with the company’s changing objectives;
 
  attract and retain world-class executive talent; and
 
  support a variety of employment arrangements and durations.
Introduction of new performance measures
The three elements of Telstra’s remuneration structure—fixed remuneration, short term incentives (STI) and long term incentives (LTI) — complement each other and will support the execution of business strategy in both the short and long term. These elements are consistent with previous years’ incentive plans. However, new performance measures (which are discussed in detail later in this report) have been introduced to encourage executives to focus on key business outcomes and to ensure that reward payouts occur when the company and the individual achieve the transformational and operational goals set by the Board.
Figure 1 below illustrates how the remuneration strategy and structure are aligned to, and support, the business strategy through the use of performance measures.
CEO AND SENIOR EXECUTIVES
REMUNERATION STRATEGY
Our remuneration strategy for the CEO and senior executives includes performance measures that are aligned to the key elements of Telstra’s new business strategy.
The senior executive remuneration strategy has been repositioned to drive the delivery of the transformation milestones that have been outlined in Telstra’s business strategy. Over the next 3—5 years, the remuneration strategy will be based on performance measures that are strongly aligned to those transformation outcomes as well as on other traditional business measures. The weighting of performance measures is expected to evolve over time from initial weighting on transformation measures to:
  operational measures for the STI; and
 
  growth and return measures for the LTI.
Figure 2 below shows the proportion of the STI and LTI that depends on transformation measures for fiscal 2006. It is also indicative of how the emphasis on the transformation measures will diminish progressively as our transformation milestones are achieved. (However, it is not intended to represent future weightings of remuneration elements.)
Figure 1: Alignment of the business and remuneration strategies
(FLOW CHART)
Figure 2: Remuneration structure that supports Telstra’s transformational goals
(FLOW CHART)

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REMUNERATION STRUCTURE
The remuneration structure ensures that rewards are linked to strategic outcomes.
When reviewing the structure and mix of the remuneration packages of the CEO and senior executives, the Committee takes into account:
  remuneration practices in other major corporations in Australia (in terms of both salary levels and the ratio between fixed and “at risk” components);
 
  remuneration practices of global corporations within our comparative peer group; and
 
  a range of macro-economic indicators used to determine likely movements in broad salary rates.
For fiscal 2006, the remuneration structure for the CEO and senior executives consisted of:
  fixed remuneration;
 
  short term incentive (“at risk”); and
 
  long term incentive (“at risk”).
LINKING THE REMUNERATION STRUCTURE TO THE BUSINESS STRATEGY
The main benefits of linking senior executives’ rewards to specific performance measures are to increase focus and understanding by senior executives of the key strategic objectives of the business and provide motivation by rewarding employees on strategy execution.
Figure 3 below shows in detail how the remuneration structure is designed to satisfy the requirements of the new business strategy, by setting and monitoring specific performance measures for the various elements of remuneration.
Ordinarily, the Committee considers, and recommends to the Board, the measures and targets for the incentive plans during the annual budget setting process. However, for fiscal 2006, the Committee considered the remuneration strategy in parallel with the strategic review of the company. The Committee recommended that the incentive measures should focus on the transformation through to fiscal 2010.The fiscal 2010 strategic targets outlined to shareholders in November 2005 were used as a starting point to determine the fiscal 2006 STI and LTI performance measures.
Figure 3: Performance measures selected to ensure a focus on key business strategies
             
           
Remuneration element   Performance measures   How is it measured?   Link to business strategy
STI
(Cash)
  Company Financial   EBITDA — Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation.   To achieve earnings objective.
           
  Cost Reduction   Amount of accelerated cost savings.   To identify and deliver near term operating cost saving benefits that enable investment in transformation initiatives.
           
  3G — 850 Network   The number of sites that are 3G equipped and receiving transmission.   To deliver on the wireless strategy that enables mobile revenue growth, reduces cost and optimises the mobile business.
           
  Broadband marketshare   The increase in Telstra’s share of retail broadband customers.   To achieve an increase in Telstra’s retail broadband marketshare.
           
  Individual
accountabilities
  The achievement of personal goals which include business unit specific targets.   To align the individual’s personal goals with the business’ goals.
 
           
LTI
(Performance Rights)
  Revenue Growth   The year over year revenue growth rate over the periods — 3 and 5 years.   To drive the development of new revenue and overall growth.
           
  Operating Expense   The total operating expense growth rate over the periods — 3 and 5 years.   To drive cost control and restructure the cost base of the company.
           
  IT Transformation
milestones
  The time taken to achieve a targeted reduction of Business Support Systems (BSS) and Operational Support Systems (OSS).   To reduce complexity, reduce cost and provide an enhanced customer experience by reducing the number of systems.
           
  Network Transformation
milestones
  The time taken to achieve network simplification and build a new platform.   To simplify the network to reduce complexity and cost, while providing a new platform for revenue growth.
           
  Return on Investment (ROI) over 3 years   EBIT over Average Investment (Average of Net Debt plus Shareholder Funds).   To measure the return gained from the financial investment in the transformational goals.
           
  Total Shareholder Return (TSR) Growth over 5 years   Absolute growth in share price and accumulated dividends from 19 August 2005.   To measure the value derived from execution of the business strategy.

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To link the remuneration structure to business strategy, the Committee prioritised the business’ strategic objectives by considering:
  what could be measured;
 
  what objectives would have the greatest impact; and
 
  what aggregate of measures would best support the key themes of the strategy.
At the end of each financial year, the Committee reviews the company’s audited financial results and the results of the other performance measures, and assesses performance against each measure to determine the percentage of STI and LTI that is payable. Measures are tracked by an internal project office and, where appropriate, the achievement against targets will be independently audited.
In the case of Bruce Akhurst the STI is measured against specific financial metrics for Sensis in lieu of the Telstra financial and transformational measures detailed above. Sensis EBIT contribution and Cashflow make up 80% of his STI and the remaining 20% is based on individual accountabilities.
To ensure the continued alignment of transformation objectives, the creation of value and executive reward, the Committee initiated a review of the linkage between the remuneration strategy and business strategy. Any changes to the remuneration strategy as a result of this review will be reported to shareholders.
REMUNERATION MIX
Executive remuneration is composed of both “fixed” and “at risk” elements.
The remuneration mix describes the ratio of the different components of an executive’s pay. To strengthen the link to company performance, the Board has determined that a significant proportion of the total remuneration for the CEO and senior executives should be “at risk” representing components that are awarded based on performance. This means senior executives can only earn significant rewards if pre-determined company measures and targets are achieved. The “at risk” components of a senior executive’s remuneration package are calculated by reference to that individual’s fixed remuneration.
Figure 4 below shows the remuneration mix based on the maximum level of reward for the CEO and senior executives.
Figure 4: Telstra’s remuneration mix
(BAR CHART)
 
(1)   The value of LTI granted. Performance targets must be met before any of this value vests to the executive over 3 and 5 years.
 
(2)   The maximum amount that could be payable should all STI targets be met.
If the minimum performance level is not achieved, no STI or LTI will be awarded and the executive receives 100% of fixed remuneration and 0% of their “at risk” remuneration. The percentage of “at risk” pay increases with the increase in accountability.
FIXED REMUNERATION
Fixed remuneration is in line with similar roles in the applicable market
Fixed remuneration is made up of:
  base salary including salary sacrifice benefits and applicable fringe benefits tax; and
 
  superannuation.
Fixed remuneration is influenced by the scope of the role and the knowledge, skills and experience required of the position holder. To ensure remuneration is market competitive, the Committee takes into account local, home country and global market rates. In determining what market rates to use for comparison purposes the Committee assesses a range of factors including company size (based on market capitalisation), industry in which the comparative company operates and global footprint.
For superannuation, in addition to mandatory contributions, the CEO and senior executives may contribute additional amounts, subject to legislative requirements.
Fixed remuneration is reviewed annually as part of the company’s overall remuneration review process and is assessed against the company’s and the individual’s performance.
For fiscal 2006, the CEO was responsible for reviewing and determining the remuneration of the company secretary. However, the remuneration policy described in this report in relation to the senior executives and the discussion of the relationship between that policy and our performance applies to the company secretary.The company secretary participates in the STI plan and the LTI plan on the terms set out in this report.
SHORT TERM INCENTIVE (STI)
The STI component delivers reward on achievement of annual performance targets.
The STI is an annual “at risk” component of remuneration for the CEO and senior executives. During fiscal 2006, the Committee ceased the Short Term Incentive Equity (STIE) Plan. As such the annual STI payment for fiscal 2006 is delivered in cash, compared with fiscal 2005 when the STI was delivered half in cash and half in equity instruments. The objective of the STI plan is to encourage executives to meet annual business objectives and their own individual performance targets.
How STI is calculated
The CEO and senior executives’ STI payment is based on their fixed remuneration, individual STI opportunity (explained on page 48) and achievements against performance measures.This is illustrated in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Calculating the STI payment
(FORMULA)

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Figure 6: STI opportunity for differing levels of performance
                 
Level of performance       CEO   Senior Executives
(% of STI opportunity)   Description   (% of fixed remuneration)
 
Gateway (25%)  
The “gateway” level must be reached before any value can be attributed to each measure.
    25 %   25% — 35%
   
 
           
Target (50%)  
The “target” level represents challenging but achievable levels of performance.
    50 %   50% — 70%
   
 
           
Maximum (100%)  
Achievement of the “maximum” level requires significant performance above and beyond normal expectations and will result in significant improvement in key operational areas.
    100 %   100% — 140%
STI opportunity and performance levels required
Depending on the role they perform, each senior executive has an STI opportunity ranging from 100%—140% of fixed remuneration where maximum performance is met.The maximum STI opportunity varies according to the role. As illustrated in Figure 6 above, each of the performance measures has three different levels of performance.
The level of performance determines the level of payment against each weighted measure. Achieving the target level of performance on each measure therefore equates to 50% of an individual’s maximum STI payment.
The STI performance measures
Performance against specific measures is assessed before any individual’s STI payment can be determined. The individual accountabilities for the CEO are determined by the Board and that of the senior executives are determined by the CEO. All individual measures are strongly aligned to the individual’s contribution towards corporate and business unit objectives.
STI payment for the CEO
The CEO’s contract provides for an STI payment for fiscal 2006 of up to a maximum of $3 million, of which $1.5 million was paid on commencement of employment. The initial $1.5 million was paid subject to the successful delivery of the new business strategy and transformation plan for the company. This payment was disclosed in the 2005 Remuneration Report.
The remaining maximum potential payment of $1.5 million will be paid subject to the CEO satisfying the performance measures described in Figure 3 on page 46.
LONG TERM INCENTIVE (LTI)
The LTI is the second “at risk” component of remuneration and it is delivered in the form of performance rights for fiscal 2006. Performance rights are the right to acquire a Telstra share at minimal cost to the employee ($1 exercise price per parcel of shares exercised on any single day) when specified performance measures are achieved. The performance rights are administered through the Telstra Growthshare Trust.
In prior years the equity instruments allocated as part of the LTI plans included restricted shares, options, deferred shares and performance rights.
The LTI plan supports the business strategy by aligning executive compensation with key performance measures and targets that support the transformation. The LTI is limited to the 220 most senior employees, as this group is responsible for leading the transformation and will drive the success of the business.
How performance rights are allocated
The CEO and senior executives receive an allocation of performance rights that is calculated as a percentage of their fixed remuneration.
Figure 7: Calculating the allocation of performance rights
(FORMULA)
 
*   The full market value of a Telstra share is used when we allocate performance rights (5 day volume weighted average share price). This differs from the accounting value under the executive remuneration table in Figure 17 on page 52, which reflects the amortised accounting valuation of these rights and any other LTI equity granted in previous years.
Vesting
The performance rights that the CEO and senior executives receive will vest depending upon the company’s achievement of the relevant performance measures. Performance rights that have vested means that the executive has a full interest in the right and is free to exercise the right at any time until the expiry date. The allocation, test and expiry dates are illustrated in Figure 8 below.
Figure 8: Performance right timeline
(BAR CHART)
The value of the LTI at vesting
The actual value to the executive of the LTI at vesting can be calculated using the formula in Figure 9 below.
Figure 9: Determining the market value of performance rights at vesting dates
(FORMULA)
 
*   This value is likely to be different from the values at allocation and the accounting values disclosed in the remuneration table in Figure 17 on page 52.

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Figure 10: LTI vesting arrangements for fiscal 2006
                 
               
    Year 3   Year 5
 
Target not
achieved
    25% of performance rights for Year 3 tranche lapses.     All unvested performance rights will lapse.
    The remaining 75% of performance rights will be added to the Year 5 tranche and may vest based on performance against the Year 5 performance scale.        
 
               
Target achieved
but below
Maximum
    The number of performance rights vest on a scale between Target and Maximum.     For the Year 5 tranche the number of performance rights vest on a scale between Target and Maximum.
    Any performance rights that do not vest will be discounted by 25% and the balance added to the Year 5 tranche and may vest on the Year 5 performance scale for each measure.     The carried forward Year 3 balance will be added to the Year 5 tranche and assessed against the Year 5 performance targets.
 
            Any performance rights that do not vest as a result of not reaching the Maximum of the Year 5 hurdle will lapse.
 
               
Maximum
achieved
    All performance rights for the Year 3 tranche (up to 60% of the 2005 allocation) will vest if all maximum targets are achieved.     All performance rights for the Year 5 tranche (up to 40% of the 2005 allocation), and any remaining Year 3 tranche, will vest if all maximum targets are achieved.
The LTI performance measures
Similar to the STI plan, the LTI performance measures are also linked to the business strategy and transformation of the company. This approach ensures that any rewards derived from the LTI plan by the senior executives are consistent with the successful execution of the initiatives over a number of years. Successful execution of the initiatives should, in turn, drive sustainable increases in shareholder wealth.
The measures will be assessed based on a scale of performance at 30 June 2008 and 30 June 2010.The vesting arrangements are explained in Figure 10 above.
Exercising performance rights
A performance right can only be exercised (that is, a share can only be acquired by the executive) if the performance right vests. Once vested, the performance right can be exercised by the executive at any time up to 7 years from the grant date. Once the performance rights have been exercised the participant becomes the beneficial owner and is entitled to any dividend, bonus issue, return of capital or other distribution in respect of those shares.
Restrictions on hedging
The CEO and senior executives are restricted from entering into arrangements which effectively operate to limit the economic risk of their security holdings in shares allocated under the LTI plan during the period the shares are held in trust.
Lapsed performance rights
Where a performance right does not vest by year 5, because the performance measures have not been achieved, the right will lapse and no benefit will accrue to the executive.
If the CEO or a senior executive:
  resigns and their performance rights are not yet exercisable, those rights will lapse;
 
  retires or ceases employment due to death or total permanent incapacity, and their performance rights are not yet exercisable, those rights will be exercisable if the relevant performance measure is met in accordance with the prescribed schedule;
 
  is made redundant, and their performance rights are not yet exercisable, the number of unvested rights is adjusted to reflect the executive’s service period and will be exercisable if the relevant performance measure is met in accordance with the prescribed schedule; or
 
  ceases employment with Telstra for any other reason and their performance rights are not yet exercisable, the Board will decide whether those rights should lapse or remain available for exercise if the relevant performance measure is met.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REMUNERATION AND TELSTRA’S PERFORMANCE
The payment levels of the “at risk” components of remuneration should reflect Telstra’s corporate performance.
DEFINING “COMPANY PERFORMANCE”
Telstra ultimately assesses its company performance by reference to increases in “shareholder wealth” and “earnings”.
Shareholder wealth
Shareholder wealth is the total return to an investor over a given period. It consists of three components: dividends paid, the movement in the market value of shares over that period, and any return of capital to shareholders, excluding buy-backs.
Dividends paid
Over the five years to 30 June 2006 we have increased the total amount returned to shareholders through dividends and special dividends each year. Our total dividends paid per share each fiscal year for the last five years is shown in Figure 11 on page 50.
Market value of shares
During fiscal 2006 Telstra’s daily closing share price has fluctuated between a low of $3.63 and a high of $5.14. Figure 11 on page 50 shows the share price on 30 June for the last five years.

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Figure 11: Share price at year end and dividends paid per share for the last 5 years
                                         
    Year ended     Year ended     Year ended     Year ended     Year ended  
    30 June 2006     30 June 2005     30 June 2004     30 June 2003     30 June 2002  
 
Share Price ($)
    3.68       5.06       5.03       4.40       4.66  
 
                                       
Total dividends paid/declared per share (c)
    34.0       40.0       26.0       27.0       22.0  
Return of capital
During the five years to 30 June 2006 we undertook two off-market share buy-backs as part of our capital management strategy, returning $1,751 million (excluding associated costs) to shareholders. All ordinary shares bought back were subsequently cancelled.
Figure 12: Share buy back
                                                 
            Cost             Franked dividend     Capital  
    Number of     Purchase     Transaction     Buy-back price     component     component  
  ordinary shares     consideration     costs     per share     per share     per share  
Date   bought back     $m     $m     $     $     $  
 
24 Nov 2003
    238,241,174       1,001       8       4.20       2.70       1.50  
 
                                               
15 Nov 2004
    185,284,669       750       6       4.05       2.55       1.50  
EARNINGS
Our company’s earnings over the five years to 30 June 2006 are summarised in Figure 13 below.
Figure 13: Our 5 year earnings history
                                         
                             
    Year ended 30     Year ended     Year ended     Year ended     Year ended  
    June 2006     30 June 2005     30 June 2004     30 June 2003     30 June 2002  
    $m     $m     $m(1)     $m(1)     $m(1)  
 
Sales revenue
    22,750       22,161       20,737       20,495       20,196  
 
                                       
EBITDA
    9,584       10,464       10,175       9,170       9,483  
 
                                       
Net profit available to Telstra
    3,181       4,309       4,118       3,429       3,661  
 
(1)   During fiscal 2006, we adopted Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (A-IFRS). We restated our comparative information for the year ended 30 June 2005. The previous financial years ended 30 June 2004, 30 June 2003 and 30 June 2002 are presented under the previous Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (AGAAP).
REMUNERATION VS COMPANY PERFORMANCE
Telstra’s remuneration strategy aligns with the new business strategy by assigning clear transformational and operational targets with longer term objectives which will deliver increases in shareholder wealth.
As stated in our remuneration strategy, a significant proportion of the CEO and senior executives’ total remuneration depends on the achievement of specific short and long term targets.
STI results and payments
Financial measures have represented a significant percentage of the STI plan over the last five years and therefore financial performance has a direct impact on the rewards received through the plan.The financial measures:
  provide a strong correlation with our ability to increase shareholder returns;
 
  have a direct impact on our bottom line; and
 
  are measures over which the executives can exercise control.
The average STI received by senior executives as a percentage of the maximum achievable payment for achieving those short term measures is reflected in Figure 14 below.
The calculation below is made by aggregating the actual STI payments to the CEO and senior executives for the financial year and dividing that by the aggregate maximum achievable payments for those same executives. The result is then expressed as a percentage of the maximum achievable STI payment.
Figure 14: Average STI payment as a % of maximum payment
                                         
    Fiscal     Fiscal     Fiscal     Fiscal     Fiscal  
    2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
 
STI received
    73.8 %     54.6 %(1)     31.4 %     41.1 %     57.6 %
 
(1).   This includes both the cash and equity components for fiscal 2005. While the total equity component is included in determining the above percentage, the value of the rights to Telstra shares granted in fiscal 2005 will be reflected in remuneration over the following 3 years as the shares vest over their performance period.

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Relationship between company performance and STI payments
Figure 15 below demonstrates the relationship between the company’s performance in the form of EBITDA and the percentage of STI payments that were made in each fiscal year.
Figure 15: Relationship between company performance (EBITDA) and STI payments
(BAR CHART)
LTI results and payments
Any LTI awarded to an executive is required to be reported in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This requires a value to be attributed to the LTI equity granted before vesting has occurred. That value is then amortised over the vesting period (ie the five-year performance period for fiscal 2006 allocations). However, as vesting of any equity allocated under the LTI plans is subject to a range of internal and external performance measures, senior executives may or may not ultimately derive any value from these equity instruments.
As at 30 June 2006 the vesting status of LTI equity set out in Figure 16 below.
DETAILS OF SENIOR EXECUTIVES’ REMUNERATION
Detailed explanation of the various components of remuneration received by the CEO and senior executives in fiscal 2006.
In this section we set out the remuneration of our CEO and the senior executives who are key management personnel. These executives had authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of Telstra and its controlled entities during fiscal 2006. They also include the five highest remunerated executives.
Figure 17 on page 52 sets out the short term employee benefits, post-employment benefits and share-based remuneration received during the fiscal year as calculated under applicable accounting standards. It also details the remuneration components of those senior executives who ceased employment with Telstra during fiscal 2006 and would otherwise have been included in this report.
Figure 18 on page 53 sets out the details of the annual STI for fiscal 2006, and Figure 19 on page 53 sets out the amortised value of the CEO and senior executive allocations under the LTI plans.
Remuneration received in fiscal 2006
The remuneration of our key management personnel (excluding non-executive directors) are set out in the following tables. In accordance with the requirements of AASB 124, the remuneration disclosures for fiscal 2006 only include remuneration relating to the portion of the relevant periods that each individual was considered a KMP. As a result this approach can distort year-on-year remuneration comparisons.
Termination payments to Dr Switkowski in fiscal 2006
As specified in the remuneration report for fiscal 2005 Dr Switkowski ceased employment with the company on 1 July 2005 and was entitled to receive termination payments in accordance with his employment contract including:
  a termination payment of 12 months fixed remuneration — $2,092,000; and
 
  accrued annual and long service leave — $1,059,526.42.
These payments have been aggregated and appear in Figure 17 on page 52 under “Termination benefits” in accordance with the prescribed accounting standards.
Dr Switkowski also received a payment of $1,961,000 under the 2004/05 STI plan.This payment is not included in Figure 17 on page 52 as it has previously been disclosed in the remuneration report for fiscal 2005.
In addition, and consistent with last years remuneration report, Figure 21 on page 55 shows Dr Switkowski’s retained allocations of equity under the Deferred Remuneration and LTI plans.
Figure 16: LTI Status
         
       
Status of plan   Result   Next steps
 
The fiscal 2001 plans (September 2000 and March 2001*) did not meet the performance measure.
  All instruments have lapsed.   The performance period for these plans expired in fiscal 2006 and both plans have ceased.
 
       
The fiscal 2002 plans (September 2001 and March 2002*) did not meet the performance measure in the first quarter of the performance period.
  Half of all allocations lapsed.   For September 2001, the performance measures were subsequently achieved in fiscal 2005 and the remaining half of the allocations vested. The March 2002 plan performance measures are currently below the required performance hurdle.
 
       
The fiscal 2003 plan did not meet the performance hurdle in the first quarter of the performance period.
  Half of all allocations lapsed.   The performance measures are currently below the required performance hurdle.
 
       
Fiscal 2004, 2005 and 2006 plans have yet to enter their respective performance periods.
  No instruments have lapsed or vested yet.   Performance measures have not yet reached the assessment points.
 
*   March allocations were mid-cycle allocations to accommodate new executives.

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Figure 17: Senior executives’ remuneration
                                                                                             
          Salary and Fees: Includes salary, salary sacrificed benefits (other than superannuation), leave provisions and fringe benefits tax       Short Term Incentives: Includes annual bonuses payable in relation to fiscal 2006       Non-monetary benefits: Such as the value of goods and services provided as well as expatriate benefits including medical insurance, housing, private air travel                                                     Other equity: Performance rights, restricted shares & options granted under Telstra’s LTI plans. This includes amounts accrued for current and prior year LTI grants        
                                        Post-             Other              
                                        employment     Termination     long term     Equity settled        
        Short term employee benefits     benefits     benefits     benefits     share-based payments        
                        Non-                             Accrued     Short term                    
        Salary     Short term     monetary             Super-     Termination     long service     incentive     Deferred     Other        
        and fees(1)     incentives(2)     benefits(3)     Other(4)     annuation(5)     benefits     leave     shares(6)     shares(7)     equity(8)     Total  
Name       ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)  
Solomon Trujillo
  Commenced     2,987,861       2,581,200             1,745,011       1,012,139             75,000                   309,305       8,710,516  
— Chief Executive Officer   1 July 2005                                                                                        
Bruce Akhurst
  Ongoing     984,974       1,519,035       11,740             188,026             29,325       276,443       115,592       650,036       3,775,171  
— Chief Executive Officer, Sensis
                                                                                           
Kate McKenzie
  Appointed     223,280       180,950                   20,787             6,026       22,067             30,871       483,981  
— Group Managing Director,
  GMD 16 Jan 2006                                                                                        
Telstra Wholesale
                                                                                           
David Moffatt
  Ongoing     876,970       1,019,991       18,138             316,030             29,825       131,095       129,101       779,461       3,300,611  
— Group Managing Director, Telstra Consumer Marketing & Channels                                                                                            
Deena Shiff
  Ongoing     645,857       768,951       6,062             116,643             20,000       155,829       37,438       214,391       1,965,171  
— Group Managing Director, Telstra Business                                                                                            
John Stanhope
  Ongoing     919,499       655,412       9,668             101,001             25,825       126,792       76,968       335,804       2,250,969  
— CFO and Group Managing Director Finance & Administration                                                                                            
David Thodey
  Ongoing     1,031,086       926,798       8,248             52,914             27,100       108,869       105,198       560,789       2,821,002  
— Group Managing Director, Telstra Enterprise & Government                                                                                            
Gregory Winn
  Commenced     1,280,944       1,408,918       1,685       1,101,907       10,814             32,178                         3,836,446  
— Chief Operating Officer
  11 Aug 2005                                                                                        
SUB-TOTAL
        8,950,471       9,061,255       55,541       2,846,918       1,818,354             245,279       821,095       464,297       2,880,657       27,143,867  
Past Employees
                                                                                           
Zygmunt Switkowski
  Ceased 1 July 2005     5,451             35             281       3,151,526 (9)                 491,049 (10)     4,516 (11)     3,652,858  
SUB-TOTAL
        5,451             35             281       3,151,526                   491,049       4,516       3,652,858  
TOTAL
        8,955,922       9,061,255       55,576       2,846,918       1,818,635       3,151,526       245,279       821,095       955,346       2,885,173       30,796,725  
 
(1)   Includes salary, salary sacrifice benefits (excluding salary sacrifice superannuation which is included under Superannuation) and fringe benefits tax.
 
(2)   Short term incentive relates to performance in fiscal 2006 and is based on actual performance for Telstra and the individual.
 
(3)   Includes the benefit of interest-free loans under TESOP97 and TESOP99, the value of personal home security services provided by Telstra and the value of the personal use of products and services related to Telstra employment.
 
(4)   Includes payments made to executives on commencement of employment with Telstra and relocation payments made in accordance with their relocation agreement and which are classified as remuneration under the accounting standards.
 
(5)   Represents company contributions to superannuation as well as any additional superannuation contribution made through salary sacrifice by executives.
 
(6)   This represents the value of Short Term Incentive Shares allocated under the 2004/05 STI Equity plan whereby 50% of the STI payment was provided as shares to be distributed over 3 years at 12 month intervals. The values shown represent the annualised value for fiscal 2006 in accordance with the relevant accounting standards.
 
(7)   The value included in deferred shares relates to the current year amortised value of vested and unvested shares issued in fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2004 under the Deferred Remuneration Plan. The values shown represent the annualised value for fiscal 2006 in accordance with the relevant accounting standards
 
(8)   The value represents the annualised value of restricted shares, performance rights and options as detailed in figure 21. The executive only receives value if the performance hurdles are met.
 
(9)   Includes payments made on cessation of employment with Telstra in accordance with his employment contract. The payments include unused annual and long service leave and an eligible termination payment equal to 12 months fixed remuneration.
 
(10)   The value represents the remaining amortised value of deferred shares which has been brought forward due to the early vesting of Deferred Shares following separation from Telstra.
 
(11)   The value represents the pro-rated amortised value of restricted shares, options and performance rights following Dr Switkowski’s separation from Telstra on 1 July 2005.

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Remuneration report
Figure 18: STI for fiscal 2006
                         
            Where the actual STI payment is less than the maximum potential, (eg achieved performance was Less than maximum performance level) the difference is forfeited and does not become payable in subsequent years.       The minimum value of the STI may be $0 where the performance measures fail to meet the specified threshold levels.  
    Maximum             % of the  
    potential STI     Actual STI     maximum-  
Name   ($)     ($)     potential  
Solomon Trujillo
    3,000,000 *     2,581,200       86.0 %
Bruce Akhurst
    1,642,200       1,519,035       92.5 %
Kate McKenzie
    241,041       180,950       75.1 %
David Moffatt
    1,670,200       1,019,991       61.1 %
Deena Shiff
    1,120,000       768,951       68.7 %
John Stanhope
    1,055,294       655,412       62.1 %
David Thodey
    1,517,600       926,798       61.1 %
Gregory Winn
    2,030,000       1,408,918       69.4 %
 
*   $1,500,000 for strategic plan & $1,500,000 based on fiscal 2006 performance measures.
Tax Equalisation of foreign earned income
As prefaced in their employment contracts, Mr Trujillo and Mr Winn received re-imbursement for the additional personal income tax payable due to a double taxing in Australia and the United States as a result of the international taxation rules covering foreign earned income. This only applies for fiscal 2006 as changes to the international taxation provisions come into effect on 1 July 2006 and no further payments will be required.
Equity valuations
Figure 19 below provides the amortised accounting value of all LTI equity instruments, including allocations of equity made from
fiscal 2001 — 2006.
The senior executives have not received any monetary value from any of these equity grants apart from the September 2001
Performance Rights plan and the September 2002 Deferred Share plan (see Figure 20 on page 54), either because the LTI performance measures were not satisfied during the performance period or the performance period is continuing. The value attributed to the unvested instruments allocated on 8 September 2000 and 16 March 2001 only reflects the notional value until 8 September 2005 and 16 March 2006, respectively, when they lapsed.
Where allocations have been made to the CEO and senior executives for fiscal 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and have not yet vested, the CEO and senior executives may or may not derive any value from these allocations as they are still subject to performance measures and the performance period has not yet expired.
Figure 19: Amortised accounting value of all LTI equity for fiscal 2006
                                 
    Amortised value of LTI equity allocations(1)(2)     Total  
            Performance     Restricted        
    Options     rights(3)     shares        
    ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)  
Solomon Trujillo
          309,305             309,305  
Bruce Akhurst
    290,185       354,513       5,338       650,036  
Kate McKenzie
          30,871             30,871  
David Moffatt
    367,050       391,010       21,401       779,461  
Deena Shiff
    82,016       131,691       684       214,391  
John Stanhope
    113,080       220,808       1,916       335,804  
David Thodey
    241,368       319,421             560,789  
Gregory Winn
                       
Zygmunt Switkowski(4)
    1,743       2,737       36       4,516  
 
(1)   The value of each instrument is calculated by applying option valuation methodologies as described in note 31 to the financial statements and is then amortised over the relevant vesting period. The values included in the table relate to the current year amortised value of all LTI instruments detailed as other equity in the remuneration table. The valuations used in current year disclosures are based on the same underlying assumptions as the previous year. Please refer to note 31 for details on our employee share plans.
 
(2)   Where a vesting scale is used, the table reflects the maximum achievable allocation.
 
(3)   The September 2002 plan failed to satisfy the performance measure in the first quarter of the performance period. In accordance with the terms of the plan half the maximum potential allocation of performance rights lapsed on 6 December 2005. Although an accounting value is recorded above, the executives received no value from this plan.
 
(4)   This represents the pro-rated amortised value of LTI instruments up to date of separation in accordance with accounting standards. These equity instruments are still subject to meeting performance hurdles and Dr Switkowski may or may not derive any value from these instruments.

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Remuneration report
Outstanding equity-based instruments
The accounting value and actual number of the CEO and senior executives’ performance rights, restricted shares and options that were granted, exercised and lapsed in fiscal 2006 are set out in Figure 20 below and Figure 21 on page 55. As the values shown in Figure 20 represent the accounting value, the executive may not have actually received these amounts. The value of lapsed instruments in Figure 20 is based on the accounting value. This value is included to address our reporting obligations only. Where these instruments lapse, there is no benefit at all to the executive, and therefore no transfer of any equity or equity-related instrument. All instruments that have lapsed were subjected to the external performance measure of Total Shareholder Return (TSR).
The actual number of LTI instruments that were granted, exercised and lapsed in fiscal 2006 is set out in Figure 21 on page 55. Of the performance rights allocated in fiscal 2006,100% of the allocations were granted and none were forfeited, lapsed or vested during fiscal 2006. However, all unvested equity instruments may lapse in future years if the performance measures are not satisfied.
Figure 20: Value of equity instruments granted, exercised and lapsed in fiscal 2006
                                         
                                    Aggregate of  
                                    rights granted,  
                                    exercised  
                    Exercised     Lapsed     and lapsed  
    Granted during period (1)     ($)     ($)     ($)  
            % of Total                          
    ($)     Remuneration(2)                          
 
Solomon Trujillo
    2,482,011       28.5 %                 2,482,011  
Bruce Akhurst
    436,714       11.6 %                 436,714  
Kate McKenzie
    164,838       34.1 %                 164,838  
David Moffatt
    444,159       13.5 %                 444,159  
Deena Shiff
    297,846       15.2 %                 297,846  
John Stanhope
    384,589       17.1 %                 384,589  
David Thodey
    403,578       14.3 %                 403,578  
Gregory Winn
                             
Zygmunt Switkowski
                             
 
(1)   This represents the accounting value at grant date of performance rights granted in fiscal 2006.
 
(2)   Total Remuneration is the sum of short term benefits, post employment benefits and share based payments detailed in Figure 19
on page 53.

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Remuneration report
Figure 21: Number of equity-based instruments — granted, vested, exercised and lapsed
                                                     
                                                Vested but  
        Balance at     Granted     Exercised     Lapsed     Balance at     not exercised  
    Instrument   1 July 2005     during period (1)   during period     during period (2)   30 June 2006 (3)   during period (4)
 
Solomon Trujillo
  Performance Rights           836,821                   836,821        
 
Bruce Akhurst
  Performance Rights     473,600       147,240       59,000       66,900       494,940        
 
  Restricted shares     39,000                   39,000              
 
  Options     805,000                   188,000       617,000        
 
  Deferred shares     135,300             66,900             68,400        
 
  Incentive shares           120,967                   120,967        
 
Kate McKenzie
  Performance Rights     36,000       55,576                   91,576        
 
  Restricted shares                                    
 
  Options                                    
 
  Deferred shares                                    
 
  Incentive shares           18,905                   18,905        
 
David Moffatt
  Performance Rights     521,600       149,750       71,000       76,300       524,050        
 
  Restricted shares     40,000                   40,000              
 
  Options     890,000                   150,000       740,000        
 
  Deferred shares     152,400             76,300             76,100        
 
  Incentive shares           57,365                   57,365        
 
Deena Shiff
  Performance Rights     151,600       100,420       17,000       19,800       215,220          
 
  Restricted shares     5,000                   5,000              
 
  Options     202,200                   24,200       178,000        
 
  Deferred shares     42,300             19,800             22,500        
 
  Incentive shares           68,188                   68,188        
 
John Stanhope
  Performance Rights     290,000       129,666       23,000       23,800       372,866        
 
  Restricted shares     14,000                   14,000              
 
  Options     310,000                   69,000       241,000        
 
  Deferred shares     73,200             23,800             49,400        
 
  Incentive shares           55,482                   55,482        
 
David Thodey
  Performance Rights     427,200       136,068       51,000       59,000       453,268        
 
  Restricted shares                                    
 
  Options     534,000                         534,000        
 
  Deferred shares     121,600                         121,600       59,000  
 
  Incentive shares           47,639                   47,639        
 
Greg Winn
                                     
 
Zygmunt Switkowski
  Performance Rights     1,643,600                         1,643,600        
 
  Restricted shares     96,000                         96,000        
 
  Options     1,810,000                         1,810,000        
 
  Deferred shares     500,700                         500,700        
 
 
(1)   Instruments granted during fiscal 2006 relate to the annual LTI plan for fiscal 2006 and the STI plan for fiscal 2005.
 
(2)   No equity instruments granted during fiscal 2006 lapsed in fiscal 2006.
 
(3)   This represents the number of vested and unvested equity instruments which have not been exercised or lapsed as at 30 June 2006, or in the case of Dr Switkowski, the date of cessation with Telstra.
 
(4)   The number of instruments that vested during fiscal 2006 relate to the September 2002 Deferred Shares and had not been exercised at 30 June 2006.

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Remuneration report
Figure 22: Summary of contract arrangements for CEO and senior executives
                         
        Fixed remuneration     Additional       Termination
Name   Term of agreement   at 30 June 2006     conditions   Notice Period(1)   payment(2)
 
Solomon Trujillo
  Ongoing   $ 3,000,000     nil   30 days   12 months(3)
Bruce Akhurst
  Ongoing   $ 1,173,000     nil   6 months   12 months
Kate McKenzie
  Ongoing   $ 530,000     nil   6 months   12 months
David Moffatt
  Ongoing   $ 1,193,000     nil   6 months   12 months
Deena Shiff
  Ongoing   $ 800,000     nil   6 months   12 months
John Stanhope
  Ongoing   $ 1,033,000     nil   6 months   12 months
David Thodey
  Ongoing   $ 1,084,000     nil   6 months   12 months
Gregory Winn
  11 August 2005 to 10 August 2007(4)   $ 1,450,000     $500,000 sign on bonus paid 12 Sept 2005. Contract completion payments(5)   3 months   6 months + pro-rata at target STI + pro-rata contract completion payment (where pro-rata performance met)
Zygmunt Switkowski
  1 September 2003 to 31 December 2007   $ 2,092,000     nil   6 months   12 months
 
                     
 
(1)   Upon notice being given Telstra can require the executive to work through the notice period or terminate employment immediately by providing payment in lieu of notice.
 
(2)   Payment is calculated on fixed remuneration as at date of termination. There will be no payment if termination is a result of serious misconduct or redundancy (in which case Telstra’s redundancy policy applies).
 
(3)   A 24 month termination payment applied where MrTrujillo’s employment was terminated in the first 12 months. As this period has now expired the standard 12 month termination payment will apply.
 
(4)   Where both parties mutually agree, the contract can be extended by 12 months until 8 August 2008. Where extended, and termination occurs between 2-3 years of employment, Mr. Winn is paid the lesser of: remaining fixed remuneration to completion or 6 months fixed remuneration and pro-rata 3rd year contract completion payment (where pro-rata performance is met).
 
(5)   Contract completion payments are in lieu of LTI participation (due to fixed term contract). Payment of up to $1.8m subject to performance against pre-determined measures. Where contract is extended an additional contract completion payment of $500,000 is available.
2 CONTRACT ARRANGEMENTS
The key terms and conditions for the CEO and senior executive service contracts are set out in Figure 22 above.
A contract typically outlines the components of remuneration paid to the executive but does not prescribe how remuneration levels are to be modified from year to year.
Generally, contracts can be terminated by either the company or senior executive providing 6 months notice. Upon notice being given Telstra can require the executive to remain employed by Telstra for the notice period or terminate employment immediately by providing payment in lieu of notice.
RELOCATION COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OVERSEAS SENIOR EXECUTIVES
During the year the Board implemented significant changes to the executive management team. In addition to Solomon Trujillo joining Telstra as the Chief Executive Officer, a number of key executives were recruited to drive the major transformational changes required under the new business strategy.
Where executives have been recruited from overseas, appropriate reward to secure their employment was negotiated. This can include overseas relocation benefits in accordance with our relocation policies or the executives’ contract of employment.
The range of benefits and services provided to these senior executives under those arrangements may include:
  travel to Australia for themselves and their immediate family on commencement;
 
  a defined number of round-trip air tickets to their place of origin for themselves and their family;
  furniture storage and removal costs;
  rental assistance while in Australia for an initial period of time;
  a relocation allowance to cover incidental and miscellaneous expenses;
  health insurance;
  tax advice; and
  tax equalisation of foreign earned income.
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
REMUNERATION POLICY AND STRATEGY
In order to maintain their independence and impartiality, non-executive directors are remunerated with fees which are not linked to company performance. The total fee pool is approved by shareholders.
Our non-executive directors are remunerated in accordance with our constitution, which provides for the following:
  an aggregate limit of fees is set and varied only by approval of a resolution of shareholders at the annual general meeting; and
  the Board determines how those fees are allocated among the directors within the fee pool.

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Remuneration report
In recognition of the increased time and responsibility of non-executive directors, on 25 October 2005, shareholders approved an increase to the directors’ fee pool to $2,000,000 per annum (previously $1,320,000 per annum). As a result of this increase:
  fees paid to Board members, including additional fees paid for service on Board committees were increased; and
  existing retirement benefits to non-executive directors, employed before 1 July 2002, were integrated into the overall fee pool.
In determining the required level for the fee pool and individual director fee levels, the Committee makes recommendations to the Board, and in the case of the fee pool, the Board makes a recommendation to shareholders, taking into account:
  the company’s existing remuneration policies;
  independent professional advice;
  the fee pools of other comparable companies (based on company size using market capitalisation);
  fees paid to individual directors by comparable companies;
 
  the general time commitment and responsibilities involved;
  the risks associated with discharging the duties attaching to the role of director; and
  the level of fees necessary to attract and retain directors of a suitable calibre.
In order to maintain their independence and impartiality, the remuneration of the non-executive directors is not linked to the performance of the company, except through their participation in the Directshare plan, which is explained below.
REMUNERATION STRUCTURE
Non-executive directors receive a total remuneration package based on their role on the Board and their committee memberships. Non-executive directors must sacrifice at least 20% of their fees into Telstra shares to align their interests with those of our shareholders.
All Board and committee fees, including superannuation, paid to non-executive directors in fiscal 2006 remain within the new fee pool. Board and Committee fees were increased in fiscal 2006 to take into account the changes to retirement benefits made following the 2005 Annual General Meeting and prevailing market rates for directors’ fees. Following these increases the Board and Committee fees payable to directors in fiscal 2006 are set out below.
Board fees
                 
    Chairman     Director  
 
Board
  $ 450,000     $ 130,000  
Committee fees
Board members, excluding the Chairman, are paid the following additional fees for service on Board committees:
                 
Committee   Chairman     Member  
 
Audit Committee
  $ 70,000     $ 35,000  
Remuneration Committee
  $ 14,000     $ 7,000  
Nomination Committee
        $ 7,000  
Technology Committee
  $ 7,000     $ 7,000  
The Board considered these fees appropriate given the additional time requirements of committee members, the complex matters before the committees and, in the case of the Audit Committee, an increased number of committee meetings and governance requirements.
Components of the total remuneration package (TRP)
The Board has determined that a non-executive director’s total remuneration will consist of three components: cash, shares (through the Directshare plan) and superannuation. Each year directors are asked to specify the allocation of their total remuneration between these three components, subject to the following conditions:
  at least 30% must be taken as cash;
  at least 20% must be taken as Directshares; and
  the minimum superannuation guarantee contribution must be made, where applicable.
The Board will continue to periodically review its approach to the non-executive directors’ remuneration structure to ensure it compares with general industry practice and best practice principles of corporate governance.
Equity compensation — Directshare
Directshare aims to encourage a longer-term perspective and to align the directors’ interests with those of our shareholders.
Through our Directshare plan, non-executive directors are required to sacrifice a minimum of 20% of their TRP towards the acquisition of restricted Telstra shares. The shares are purchased on-market and allocated to the participating non-executive director at market price. The shares are held in trust and are unable to be dealt with for 5 years unless the participating director ceases to be a director of Telstra.
If a non-executive director chooses to increase their participation in the Directshare plan, they take a greater percentage of TRP in Telstra shares, and their cash component is reduced. As the allocation of Directshares is simply a percentage of the non-executive director’s TRP, it is not subject to the satisfaction of a performance measure.
Directors are restricted from entering into arrangements which effectively operate to limit the economic risk of their shareholdings allocated under the Directshare plan during the period the shares are held in trust.
Superannuation
Mandatory superannuation contributions are included as part of each director’s total remuneration. Directors may choose to increase the proportion of their remuneration taken as superannuation, subject to legislative requirements.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
In accordance with good corporate governance practice, we do not provide retirement benefits for directors appointed after 30 June 2002. However, non-executive directors appointed before that date were eligible to receive retirement benefits on retiring as a director.
At the annual general meeting on 25 October 2005, we explained that as a result of the increase in the directors’ fee pool, retirement benefits would cease to accrue. This means that directors who were appointed before 30 June 2002 will receive cash equal to the benefits accrued to 25 October 2005. These benefits will be indexed by reference to changes in Telstra’s share price between that date and the date the director’s retirement takes effect.

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Remuneration report
This approach:
  aligns directors’ interests with those of stakeholders and with the long term success of the company;
  subjects the value of the retirement benefit to movement in Telstra’s share price and dividend payments; and
  maintains the principle that this payment be made when the director retires, rather than provide an early cash payout of the retirement benefits at the time these arrangements were approved.
Figure 23 below shows the increase in retirement benefits payable to non-executive directors appointed before 30 June 2002 and the value of the payment to the director if he or she had retired on 30 June 2006.
OTHER BENEFITS
Directors also receive reimbursement for reasonable travelling, accommodation and other expenses incurred in travelling to or from meetings of the Board or committees, or when otherwise engaged on company business. We also provide directors with telecommunications and other services and equipment to assist them in performing their duties. From time to time, we may also make products and services available to directors without charge to allow them to familiarise themselves with our products and services and with recent technological developments.
To the extent any of these items are considered a personal benefit to a director, the value of the benefit is included in the “non-monetary benefits” column in Figure 24 on page 59.
Figure 23: Non-executive directors — increases in retirement benefits
                                         
                                    Payment to  
            Increase     Total     Indexed increase     director if he/she  
    Balance     in value to     value to     in value to     had retired on  
    as at 2005     25 October 05     25 October 05     30 June 06     30 June 2006 (1)
    (a)     (b)     (a) + (b)     (c) - (a)     (c)  
Name   ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)  
 
Donald G McGauchie
    340,673       76,169       416,842       60,094       400,767  
John E Fletcher
    126,138       13,829       139,967       8,437       134,575 (2)
Belinda J Hutchinson
    103,794       16,584       120,378       11,943       115,737  
Catherine B Livingstone
    143,074       18,059       161,133       11,849       154,923  
Charles Macek
    117,949       17,315       135,264       12,099       130,048  
John W Stocker
    342,176       27,273       369,449       13,026       355,202  
 
(1)   The value is calculated by multiplying the number of notional shares plus additional notional sharesallocated for re-invested dividends by $3.68 being the volume weighted average price of Telstra shares traded on 30 June 2006.
 
(2)   John Fletcher resigned as a director on 30 June 2006 and was paid this amount in accordance with the retirmenet benefit policy.This amount is also included as a termination payment in Figure 24 on page 59.

A-15


 

Remuneration report
DETAILS OF NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION
Figure 24 below provides the details of all remuneration paid to our non-executive directors in fiscal 2006.
Figure 24: Non-executive directors — details of remuneration
                                                                     
                                                        Equity settled    
                                                Termination   share-based    
        Short term employee benefits   Post-employment benefits   benefits   payments    
                Non-                            
        Salary   monetary           Super-   Retirement   Termination   Direct    
        and Fees(1)   benefits(2)   Other   annuation   benefits   benefits(3)   share   Total
Name       ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)
Donald G McGauchie
  Ongoing     312,236       3,078             12,158       60,094             81,099       468,665  
Chairman
                                                                   
John T Ralph(4)
  Retired COB     17,474       380             (5)           462,548             480,402  
Deputy Chairman
  11 Aug 2005                                                                
Anthony J Clark(4)
  Retired COB     9,015       458             970             278,846             289,289  
Director
  11Aug 2005                                                                
John E Fletcher(6)
  Resigned COB     94,209       2,775             8,056             134,575       26,422       266,037  
Director
  30 June 2006                                                                
Belinda J Hutchinson
  Ongoing     100,611       2,288             18,551       11,943             29,740       163,133  
Director
                                                                   
Catherine Livingstone
  Ongoing     113,063       2,288             10,998       11,849             31,015       169,213  
Director
                                                                   
Charles Macek
  Ongoing     123,032       2,748             11,227       12,099             33,565       182,671  
Director
                                                                   
John W Stacker
  Ongoing     110,817       2,288             39,006       13,026             37,390       202,527  
Director
                                                                   
Peter Willcox(7)
  Commenced     11,872                   1,069                   3,235       16,176  
Director
  17 May 2006                                                                
John Zeglis(7)
  Commenced     12,941                                     3,235       16,176  
Director
  17 May 2006                                                                
Total
        905,270       16,303             102,035       109,011       875,969       245,701       2,254,289  
 
(1)   Includes fees for membership on Board committees.
 
(2)   Includes the value of the personal use of products and services.
 
(3)   These payments relate to eligible retirement benefits payable on cessation as Directors of Telstra.
 
(4)   Mr Ralph and Mr Clark retired as Directors of Telstra effective 11 August 2005.
 
(5)   Undercurrent superannuation legislation Mr Ralph did not receive superannuation benefits as he had passed his 70th birthday.
 
(6)   Mr Fletcher resigned as a Director of Telstra on 30 June 2006.
 
(7)   Mr Willcox and Mr Zeglis were appointed as Directors on 17 May 2006.Mr Zeglis is based in the United States.
There are no individual contracts for service with our non-executive directors other than as described above in relation to post-employment benefits.

A-16


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)

 


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
20 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager
  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
   
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
 
  Facsimile   03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
Telstra 3 Share Offer – Final Canadian Offering Memorandum
In accordance with the listing rules, I attach a copy of an announcement for release to the market.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

Canadian Confidential Offering Memorandum
Private Placement in Canada
Telstra Corporation Limited
(A.B.N. 33 051 775 556)
ordinary shares in the form of instalment receipts
(TELSTRA LOGO)
 
     This Canadian Offering Memorandum constitutes an offering of the securities described herein only in those jurisdictions and to those persons where and to whom they may be lawfully offered for sale, and therein only by persons permitted to sell such securities. This Canadian Offering Memorandum is not, and under no circumstances is it to be construed as, an advertisement or a public offering of the securities referred to in this document in Canada. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada has reviewed or in any way passed upon this Canadian Offering Memorandum or the merits of the securities described herein and any representation to the contrary is an offence.
     The official daily noon rate of exchange between the Australian dollar (the “A$”) and the Canadian dollar (the “C$”) as reported by the Bank of Canada on November 17, 2006, the latest practicable date, was approximately A$1.14 = C$1.00.
 
Price
First Instalment: A$2.10 per share
Final Instalment: A$1.60 per share
Final Price: A$3.70 per share
 
Joint Global Coordinators
         
ABN AMRO Rothschild   Goldman Sachs JBWere   UBS Investment Bank
Co-lead Managers
             
Citigroup   Credit Suisse
Lehman Brothers
  Daiwa Securities SMBC
Morgan Stanley
  JPMorgan
Co-Manager
RBC Capital Markets
The date of this Canadian Offering Memorandum is November 18, 2006.

 


 

CANADIAN OFFERING MEMORANDUM
(British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec)
     The Commonwealth of Australia (the “Commonwealth”) is hereby offering 3,693,955,817 shares of Telstra Corporation Limited (“Telstra”) in a global offering (the “Global Offering”). The Global Offering includes an offering of 467,785,111 shares by the Commonwealth to qualified institutional buyers in the United States in reliance on the exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), afforded by Rule 144A thereunder (the “U.S. Offering”), and to institutional investors in the rest of the world (excluding Australia, New Zealand and Japan), including to accredited investors in Canada, in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (the “ROW Offering” and, together with the U.S. Offering, the “International Offering”). The ROW Offering includes the offer of shares to investors in Japan by way of a “public offer without listing” under a Japanese Prospectus (the “Japanese Offering”). In addition, the Global Offering will consist of a concurrent offering by the Commonwealth of shares by way of a general public offering to retail and institutional investors in Australia and New Zealand (the “Australian Offering”). The institutional component of the Australian Offering is referred to as the “Australian Institutional Offering” and the International Offering and the Australian Institutional Offering are referred to collectively as the “Institutional Offering”.
     Purchasers of the shares must pay for them in two instalments. The first instalment is due on the closing of the Global Offering and the second instalment is due on or before May 29, 2008 (Sydney time). Purchasers may prepay the final instalment of A$1.60 per share, in Australian dollars, before its due date. After payment of the first instalment, purchasers will receive instalment receipts. After payment of the final instalment, purchasers will receive shares.
     Attached hereto and forming part of this Canadian Offering Memorandum is the institutional offering memorandum dated November 18, 2006 (the “Offering Memorandum”) prepared in connection with the Institutional Offering. Except as otherwise provided herein, capitalised terms used in this document without definition have the meanings assigned to them in the Offering Memorandum. The offering of shares in Canada is being made solely by this Canadian Offering Memorandum and any decision to purchase shares should be based solely on information contained in this document. No person has been authorised to give any information or to make any representations concerning this offering other than as contained herein. This Canadian Offering Memorandum constitutes an offering of the shares described herein in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec only. Canadian investors are advised to review the sections entitled “Relationship between Shares and Instalment Receipts”, “Description of Shares and our Constitution”, “Description of the Instalment Receipts and Trust Deed” and “Plan of Distribution” contained within the Offering Memorandum for further details relating to the shares, the instalment receipts, over-allotment options and the inter-relationships and allocations between the U.S. Offering, the ROW Offering, the Australian Offering and the Japanese Offering.
     This Canadian Offering Memorandum is for the confidential use of only those persons to whom it is delivered by the Joint Global Coordinators, the Co-Lead Managers, the Co-Manager and their respective affiliates or an authorised dealer in connection with the offering of shares in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec. The Commonwealth, Telstra and the Joint Global Coordinators, the Co-Lead Managers, the Co-Manager and their respective affiliates reserve the right to reject all or part of any offer to purchase shares for any reason or allocate to any purchaser less than all of the shares for which it has subscribed.
     Investing in the shares involves a degree of risk. Canadian investors should refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained within the Offering Memorandum for additional information.
RESPONSIBILITY
     Except as otherwise expressly required by applicable law or as agreed to by contract, no representation, warranty, or undertaking (express or implied) is made and no responsibilities or liabilities of any kind or nature

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whatsoever are accepted by the Commonwealth, the Joint Global Coordinators, the Co-Lead Managers, the Co-Manager and their respective affiliates or any dealer as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained within this Canadian Offering Memorandum or any other information provided by Telstra in connection with this offering.
RESALE RESTRICTIONS
     The distribution of shares in Canada is being made on a private placement basis only and is exempt from the requirement that the Commonwealth and Telstra prepare and file a prospectus with the relevant Canadian regulatory authorities. Accordingly, any resale of shares must be made in accordance with applicable securities laws which may require resales to be made in accordance with prospectus and registration requirements or exemptions from the prospectus and registration requirements.
     Telstra is a “reporting issuer” as such term is defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation in each province in which the shares may be offered. Canadian investors are advised that Telstra currently does not intend to file a prospectus or similar document with any securities regulatory authority in Canada qualifying the resale of the shares to the public in any province or territory of Canada. Canadian investors are advised to seek legal advice prior to any resale of the shares both within and outside of Canada and to review the section entitled “Notice to Investors” contained within the Offering Memorandum.
REPRESENTATIONS OF PURCHASERS
     Each Canadian investor who purchases shares will be deemed to have represented to the Commonwealth, Telstra, the Joint Global Coordinators, the Co-Lead Managers, the Co-Manager and their respective affiliates and any dealer who sells shares to such purchaser that:
  (a)   the offer and sale of the shares was made exclusively through the final version of the Canadian Offering Memorandum and was not made through an advertisement of the shares in any printed media of general and regular paid circulation, radio, television or telecommunications, including electronic display, or any other form of advertising in Canada;
 
  (b)   such purchaser has reviewed and acknowledges the terms referred to above under the section entitled “Resale Restrictions”;
 
  (c)   where required by law, such purchaser is purchasing as principal, or is deemed to be purchasing as principal in accordance with applicable securities laws of the province in which such purchaser is resident, for its own account and not as agent for the benefit of another person; and
 
  (d)   such purchaser, or any ultimate purchaser for which such purchaser is acting as agent, is entitled under applicable Canadian securities laws to purchase shares without the benefit of a prospectus qualified under such securities laws, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
  (i)   in the case of a purchaser resident in the province of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Québec, such purchaser is an “accredited investor” as defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus and Registration Exemptions (“NI 45-106”); and
 
  (ii)   in the case of a purchaser resident in Ontario, such purchaser:
  (1)   is an “accredited investor”, other than an individual, as defined in section 1.1 of NI 45-106 and is purchasing shares from a dealer registered as an international dealer in Ontario within the meaning of section 98(4) of the Regulation to the Securities Act (Ontario); or
 
  (2)   is an “accredited investor”, including an individual, as defined in section 1.1 of NI 45-106 and is purchasing shares from a dealer registered as an investment dealer or limited market dealer in Ontario within the meaning of section 98(5) and section 98(6) of the Regulation to the Securities Act (Ontario), respectively; and

3


 

  (e)   such purchaser is not a person created or used solely to purchase or hold the shares as an “accredited investor” as described in paragraph (m) of the definition of “accredited investor” in section 1.1 of NI 45-106.
     Each Canadian investor who purchases shares in Canada will also be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed as set forth under the section entitled “Notice to Investors” contained within the Offering Memorandum and is advised to review carefully the materials contained thereunder.
     In addition, each resident of Ontario who purchases shares, by the purchaser’s receipt of a purchase confirmation, will be deemed to have represented to the Commonwealth, Telstra, the Joint Global Coordinators, the Co-Lead Managers, the Co-Manager and their respective affiliates any dealer from whom such purchase confirmation was received, that such purchaser:
  (a)   has been notified by the Commonwealth and Telstra that
  (i)   the Commonwealth and Telstra may be required to provide personal information pertaining to the purchaser as required to be disclosed in Schedule I of Form 45-106F1 under NI 45-106 (including its name, address, telephone number and the number and value of any shares purchased) (“personal information”), which Form 45-106F1 is required to be filed by the Commonwealth and Telestra under NI 45-106;
 
  (ii)   such personal information may be delivered to the Ontario Securities Commission (the “OSC”) in accordance with NI 45-106;
 
  (iii)   such personal information is collected indirectly by the OSC under the authority granted to it under the securities legislation of Ontario;
 
  (iv)   such personal information is collected for the purposes of the administration and enforcement of the securities legislation of Ontario; and
 
  (v)   the public official in Ontario who can answer questions about the OSC’s indirect collection of such personal information is the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Corporate Finance at the OSC, Suite 1903, Box 55, 20 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3S8, Telephone: (416) 593-8086; and
  (b)   has authorized the indirect collection of the personal information by the OSC.
     Furthermore, each Canadian purchaser acknowledges that its name, address, telephone number and other specified information, including the number of shares it has purchased and the aggregate purchase price paid by the purchaser, may be disclosed to other Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may become available to the public in accordance with the requirements of applicable Canadian laws. By purchasing the shares, each Canadian purchaser consents to the disclosure of such information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
     Telstra is a “reporting issuer” in each province where the shares may be offered and, as such, files reports and other information, including audited financial statements for the five (5) year period ended June 30, 2006, with provincial securities regulatory authorities in Canada. These materials are available over the internet at www.sedar.com.
EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION AND OTHER LIMITATIONS AFFECTING INVESTORS
Financial Statements
     Telstra prepares its financial statements in Australian dollars, the legal currency of tender in the Commonwealth of Australia. The summary consolidated financial information for Telstra for the five (5) year period ended June 30, 2006 included within the Canadian Offering Memorandum has been prepared from Telstra’s audited financial statements. Canadian investors are referred to the section entitled “Additional Information” contained

4


 

within this Canadian Offering Memorandum and should review the section entitled “Selected Consolidated Financial and Statistical Data” contained within the Offering Memorandum.
Historical Foreign Exchange Rate Information
     The official daily noon rate of exchange between the Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar as reported by the Bank of Canada on November 17, 2006, was approximately A$1.14 =C$1.00.
     The Offering Memorandum contains financial information for the period ended June 30 for the years 2002 through 2006. The official average daily noon rate of exchange between the Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar as reported by the Bank of Canada on June 30, 2002, June 30, 2003, June 30, 2004, June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2006 was, respectively, approximately A$1.17 = C$1.00, A$1.10 = C$1.00, A$1.07 = C$1.00, A$1.07 = C$1.00 and A$1.21 = C$1.00. The official average daily noon rate of exchange between the Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar as reported by the Bank of Canada for each of the years ended June 30, 2002, June 30, 2003, June 30, 2004, June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2006 was, respectively, approximately A$1.22 = C$1.00, A$1.14 = C$1.00, A$1.04 = C$1.00, A$1.06 = C$1.00 and A$1.15 = C$1.00.
     The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain information concerning the official rate of exchange for the Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar as reported by the Bank of Canada. Such rates were not used by Telstra in the preparation of its financial statements or other financial information included in this Canadian Offering Memorandum and this table should not be construed as a representation of the Australian dollar, at present, could be converted at the rate indicated.
A$=C$
         
Year ended December 31,   At Period End   Average Rate(1)
2001
  1.23   1.25
2002
  1.12   1.17
2003
  1.03   1.10
2004
  1.07   1.04
2005
  1.17   1.08
 
(1)   The average of the official rate on the working days of the relevant year.
Exchange Controls and Foreign Ownership — Australia
     Canadian investors are referred to the section entitled “Exchange Controls and Foreign Ownership” contained within the Offering Memorandum. Canadian investors are advised to consult with their own legal advisers concerning foreign exchange controls and regulations in Australia, restrictions on the level of foreign ownership of shares in Telstra and the consequences of an investment in the shares in their particular circumstances.
TAXATION AND ELIGIBILITY FOR INVESTMENT
Withholding Tax
     Australia has concluded a tax treaty with Canada for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income (the “Canada-Australia Income Tax Convention”). Under the Canada-Australia Income Tax Convention, dividends paid to a shareholder of Telstra who is regarded as a resident of Canada may be subject to Australian dividend withholding tax at a rate not exceeding 15% of the gross dividend or 5% in the case of a franked dividend paid to a corporate shareholder that directly holds at least 10% of the voting power in Telstra.
     Fully franked dividends (being a dividend which is franked) paid to residents of Canada are not subject to dividend withholding tax under current Australian law. This is notwithstanding the terms of the Canada-Australia Income Tax Convention.

5


 

     Dividends paid to a non-resident shareholder to the extent that they are not fully franked are generally subject to dividend withholding tax at the rate of 30% (unless reduced under the provisions of a relevant double tax treaty).
     In the case of a resident of Canada, the reduction under Article 10 of the Canada-Australia Income Tax Convention to 15% requires that the shares are not effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base of the resident of Canada in Australia through which the resident of Canada carries on business in Australia or provides independent personal services.
     The unfranked part of any dividends paid by Telstra to a resident of Canada will be subject to dividend withholding tax. Telstra will deduct dividend withholding tax from the relevant dividend paid and pay the balance to the resident of Canada.
     Fully franked dividends paid to residents of Canada and dividends that have been subject to dividend withholding tax are not subject to any further Australian income tax.
Treatment of gains
     In general, as the holding of an instalment receipt constitutes an interest in an Australian resident trust estate, under the current capital gains tax provisions, a capital gain on the disposal of instalment receipts by tax nonresidents will be subject to Australian income tax.
     Under the current capital gains tax provisions, in general, a capital gain on disposal of shares by tax nonresidents should not be subject to Australian income tax where the tax non-resident’s holding, together with the holding of associates, over a prescribed period is less than 10% of issued shares in Telstra.
     The Canada-Australia Income Tax Convention may exempt a gain from taxation, if the gain represents “business profits” and the resident of Canada does not, amongst other things, have a permanent establishment in Australia to which those business profits are attributable. The Canada-Australia Income Tax Convention specifically excludes capital gains from “business profits”. Residents of Canada who wish to rely on the Canada-Australia Income Tax Convention for relief from liability to pay Australian tax are urged to consult their tax advisers.
     Under the proposed changes to the Australian capital gains tax provisions, a capital gain from an instalment receipt or a share by a resident of Canada should be subject to Australian income tax only in limited circumstances. This is, in general terms, where the value of the relevant interest is wholly or principally attributable to Australian real property. Residents of Canada should seek their own advice in relation to the potential impact of the proposed changes to take into account their own circumstances.
     For further information on the relevant Australian income tax considerations associated with the payment of distributions by Telstra and the future disposal of the shares, Canadian investors should see the section entitled “Taxation — Australian Taxation” contained within the Offering Memorandum for further details relating to taxation of payments in respect of the shares and instalment receipts in Australia.
Taxation and Eligibility for Investment
     Any discussion of taxation and related matters contained in this Canadian Offering Memorandum does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase the shares by Canadian investors and, in particular, does not address Canadian tax considerations. Canadian purchasers of the shares should consult their own legal and tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of an investment in the shares in their particular circumstances and with respect to the eligibility of the shares for investment by the purchaser under relevant Canadian federal and provincial legislation and regulations.
RIGHTS OF ACTION FOR DAMAGES OR RESCISSION
     Securities legislation in certain of the Canadian provinces provides purchasers of securities pursuant to this Canadian Offering Memorandum with a remedy for damages or rescission, or both, in addition to any other rights they may have at law, where this Canadian Offering Memorandum and any amendment to it contains a “misrepresentation”. Where used herein, misrepresentation means an untrue statement of a material fact or an

6


 

omission to state a material fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to make any statement not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it was made. These remedies, or notice with respect to these remedies, must be exercised or delivered, as the case may be, by the purchaser within the time limits prescribed by applicable securities legislation.
Ontario
     Section 130.1 of the Securities Act (Ontario) (the “Ontario Act”) provides that every purchaser of securities pursuant to an offering memorandum (such as this Canadian Offering Memorandum) shall have a statutory right of action for damages or rescission against the issuer and any selling security holder on whose behalf the distribution is made in the event that the offering memorandum contains a misrepresentation. A purchaser who purchases securities offered by an offering memorandum during the period of distribution has, without regard to whether the purchaser relied upon the misrepresentation, a right of action for damages or, alternatively, while still the owner of the securities, for rescission against the issuer and the selling security holders, provided that:
  (a)   if the purchaser exercises its right of rescission, it shall cease to have a right of action for damages against the issuer or any selling security holders;
 
  (b)   the issuer and the selling security holders, if any, will not be liable if they prove that the purchaser purchased the securities with knowledge of the misrepresentation;
 
  (c)   the issuer and the selling security holders, if any, will not be liable for all or any portion of damages that they can prove do not represent the depreciation in value of the securities as a result of the misrepresentation relied upon; and
 
  (d)   in no case shall the amount recoverable exceed the price at which the securities were offered.
     Section 138 of the Ontario Act provides that no action shall be commenced to enforce these rights more than:
  (a)   in the case of an action for rescission, 180 days after the date of the transaction that gave rise to the cause of action; or
 
  (b)   in the case of an action for damages, the earlier of:
  (i)   180 days after the date that the purchaser first had knowledge of the facts giving rise to the cause of action; or
 
  (ii)   three years after the date of the transaction that gave rise to the cause of action.
     This Canadian Offering Memorandum is being delivered in reliance on exemptions from the prospectus requirements contained under NI 45-106 (the “accredited investor exemption”). The rights referred to in section 130.1 of the Ontario Act do not apply in respect of an offering memorandum (such as this Canadian Offering Memorandum) delivered to a prospective purchaser in connection with a distribution made in reliance on the accredited investor exemption if the prospective purchaser is:
  (a)   a Canadian financial institution or a Schedule III bank (each as defined in NI 45-106);
 
  (b)   the Business Development Bank of Canada incorporated under the Business Development Bank of Canada Act (Canada); or
 
  (c)   a subsidiary of any person referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), if the person owns all of the voting securities of the subsidiary, except the voting securities required by law to be owned by directors of that subsidiary.
Saskatchewan
     The Securities Act, 1988 (Saskatchewan) (the “Saskatchewan Act”) provides that, subject to certain limitations, where an offering memorandum (such as the Canadian Offering Memorandum), together with any amendment to the offering memorandum sent or delivered to a purchaser contains a misrepresentation, a purchaser who purchases a security covered by the offering memorandum or an amendment to the offering memorandum is

7


 

deemed to have relied on that misrepresentation, if it was a misrepresentation at the time of purchase, and has a right of action for damages against:
  (a)   the issuer and the selling security holder on whose behalf the distribution is made;
 
  (b)   every promoter and director of the issuer and the selling security holder, as the case may be, at the time the offering memorandum or any amendment to it was sent or delivered;
 
  (c)   every person or company whose consent has been filed respecting the offering, but only with respect to reports, opinions or statements that have been made by them;
 
  (d)   every person or company that, in addition to the persons or companies mentioned in clause (a) to (c), signed the offering memorandum or the amendment to the offering memorandum; and
 
  (e)   every person who or company that sells securities on behalf of the issuer and the selling security holder under the offering memorandum or amendment to the offering memorandum.
     Alternatively, where the purchaser purchased the security from the issuer or a selling security holder, the purchaser may elect to exercise a right of rescission against the issuer or selling security holder and, when the purchaser so elects, the purchaser shall have no right of action for damages against the issuer or selling security holder.
     In addition, where an individual makes a verbal statement to a prospective purchaser that contains a misrepresentation relating to the security purchased and the verbal statement is made either before or contemporaneously with the purchase of the security, the purchaser is deemed to have relied on the misrepresentation, if it was a misrepresentation at the time of purchase and has a right of action damages against individual who made the verbal statement.
     No action may be commenced to enforce any of the foregoing rights:
  (a)   in the case of rescission, more than 180 days after the date of the transaction that gave rise to the cause of action; and
 
  (b)   in the case of any other action, other than an action for rescission, more than the earlier of (i) one year after the purchaser first had knowledge of the facts giving rise to the cause of action, or (ii) six years after the date of the transaction that gave rise to the cause of action.
     The Saskatchewan Act also provides a purchaser who has received an amended offering memorandum delivered in accordance with subsection 80.1(3) of the Saskatchewan Act, has a right to withdraw from the agreement to purchase the securities by delivering a notice to the person or company that is selling the securities, indicating the purchaser’s intention not to be bound by the purchase agreement, provided such notice is delivered by the purchaser within two business days of receiving the amended offering memorandum. The foregoing summaries are subject to the express provisions of the Ontario Act and the Saskatchewan Act, respectively, and the rules, regulations and other instruments thereunder, and reference is made to the complete text of such provisions contained therein. Such provisions may contain limitations and statutory defences on which the Commonwealth, Telstra and the Joint Global Coordinators, the Co-Lead Managers, the Co-Manager and their respective affiliates may rely. The enforceability of these rights may be limited as described herein under the section entitled “Enforcement of Legal Rights”.
     The rights discussed above are in addition to and without derogation from any other right or remedy which purchasers may have at law.

8


 

ENFORCEMENT OF LEGAL RIGHTS
     Telstra is organized in Australia. All or substantially all of the directors and officers of Telstra and the experts named herein, may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible for Canadian purchasers to effect service of process within Canada upon Telstra or such persons. A substantial portion of the assets of Telstra and such other persons may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible to satisfy a judgement against Telstra or such persons in Canada or to enforce a judgement obtained in Canadian courts against Telstra or persons outside of Canada.
     The Commonwealth is foreign sovereign state. Therefore, it may not be possible for Canadian investors to effect service of process within Canada upon the Commonwealth or to satisfy a judgement against the Commonwealth in Canada or to enforce a judgement obtained in Canadian courts against the Commonwealth.
LANGUAGE OF DOCUMENTS
     Upon receipt of this document, each Canadian investor hereby confirms that it has expressly requested that all documents evidencing or relating in any way to the sale of the securities described herein (including for greater certainty any purchase confirmation or any notice) be drawn up in the English language only. Par la réception de ce document, chaque investisseur canadien confirme par les présentes qu’il a expressément exigé que tous les documents faisant foi ou se rapportant de quelque manière que ce soit à la vente des valeurs mobilières décrites aux présentes (incluant, pour plus de certitude, toute confirmation d’achat ou tout avis) soient rédigés en anglais seulement.

9


 

[INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

10


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
24 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager
  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
   
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
 
  Facsimile    03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
Appendix 3Y — Change in director’s interest notices
In accordance with the listing rules, I attach an announcement for release to the market.
The table below summarises the purchase of instalment receipts by Telstra directors under the Telstra 3 share offer.
                         
    Direct interest   Indirect Interest   Total IRs
D McGauchie
    27,800       3,000       30,800  
S Trujillo
    250,000             250,000  
B Hutchinson
          155,000       155,000  
C Livingstone
    10,000       10,000       20,000  
C Macek
          50,000       50,000  
J Stocker
          24,150       24,150  
P Willcox
          12,500       12,500  
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

Rule 3.19A.2
Appendix 3Y
Change of Director’s Interest Notice
Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.
Introduced 30/9/2001.
Name of entity TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
ABN 33 051 775 556
We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.2 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act.
     
Name of Director
  BELINDA HUTCHINSON
 
   
Date of last notice
  24 AUGUST 2006
Part 1 — Change of director’s relevant interests in securities
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
     
Direct or indirect interest
  CHANGE TO INDIRECT INTERESTS ONLY
 
   
Nature of indirect interest
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
(including registered holder)
   
Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.
   
 
   
Date of change
  24 NOVEMBER 2006
 
   
No. of securities held prior to change
  DIRECT — 38,912 (FPO)
 
  INDIRECT — 40,426 (FPO)
 
   
Class
  INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
 
   
Number acquired
  155,000
 
   
Number disposed
  NIL
 
   
Value/Consideration
  $310,000
Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and estimated valuation
   
 
   
No. of securities held after change
  DIRECT — 38,912 (FPO)
 
  INDIRECT — 40,426 (FPO) & 155,000 (IR)
 
   
Nature of change
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
Example: on-market trade, off-market trade, exercise of options, issue of securities under dividend reinvestment plan, participation in buy-back
   
Part 2 — Change of director’s interests in contracts
NIL

 


 

Rule 3.19A.2
Appendix 3Y
Change of Director’s Interest Notice
Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.
Introduced 30/9/2001.
Name of entity TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
ABN 33 051 775 556
We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.2 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act.
     
Name of Director
  CATHERINE LIVINGSTONE
 
   
Date of last notice
  24 AUGUST 2006
Part 1 — Change of director’s relevant interests in securities
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
     
Direct or indirect interest
  CHANGE TO INDIRECT AND DIRECT INTERESTS
 
   
Nature of indirect interest
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
(including registered holder)
   
Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.
   
 
   
Date of change
  24 NOVEMBER 2006
 
   
No. of securities held prior to change
  DIRECT — 11,637 (FPO)
 
  INDIRECT — 27,800 (FPO)
 
   
Class
  INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
 
   
Number acquired
  DIRECT — 10,000
 
  INDIRECT — 10,000
 
   
Number disposed
  NIL
 
   
Value/Consideration
  $40,000
Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and estimated valuation
   
 
   
No. of securities held after change
  DIRECT — 11,637 (FPO) &10,000 (IR)
 
  INDIRECT — 27,800 (FPO) & 10,000 (IR)
 
   
Nature of change
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
Example: on-market trade, off-market trade, exercise of options, issue of securities under dividend reinvestment plan, participation in buy-back
   
Part 2 — Change of director’s interests in contracts
NIL

 


 

Rule 3.19A.2
Appendix 3Y
Change of Director’s Interest Notice
Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.
Introduced 30/9/2001.
Name of entity TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
ABN 33 051 775 556
We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.2 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act.
     
Name of Director
  CHARLES MACEK
 
   
Date of last notice
  24 AUGUST 2006
Part 1 — Change of director’s relevant interests in securities
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
     
Direct or indirect interest
  CHANGE TO INDIRECT INTERESTS ONLY
 
   
Nature of indirect interest
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
(including registered holder)
   
Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.
   
 
   
Date of change
  24 NOVEMBER 2006
 
   
No. of securities held prior to change
  DIRECT — NIL
 
  INDIRECT — 53,704 (FPO)
 
   
Class
  INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
 
   
Number acquired
  50,000
 
   
Number disposed
  NIL
 
   
Value/Consideration
  $100,000
Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and estimated valuation
   
 
   
No. of securities held after change
  DIRECT — NIL
 
  INDIRECT — 53,704 (FPO) & 50,000 (IR)
 
   
Nature of change
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
Example: on-market trade, off-market trade, exercise of options, issue of securities under dividend reinvestment plan, participation in buy-back
   
Part 2 — Change of director’s interests in contracts
NIL

 


 

Rule 3.19A.2
Appendix 3Y
Change of Director’s Interest Notice
Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.
Introduced 30/9/2001.
Name of entity TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
ABN 33 051 775 556
We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.2 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act.
     
Name of Director
  DONALD MCGAUCHIE
 
   
Date of last notice
  24 AUGUST 2006
Part 1 — Change of director’s relevant interests in securities
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
     
Direct or indirect interest
  CHANGE TO DIRECT AND INDIRECT INTERESTS
 
   
Nature of indirect interest
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
(including registered holder)
   
Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.
   
 
   
Date of change
  24 NOVEMBER 2006
 
   
No. of securities held prior to change
  DIRECT — 1,866 (FPO)
 
  INDIRECT — 68,278 (FPO)
 
   
Class
  INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
 
   
Number acquired
  DIRECT — 27,800
 
  INDIRECT — 3,000
 
   
Number disposed
  NIL
 
   
Value/Consideration
  $61,600
Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and estimated valuation
   
 
   
No. of securities held after change
  DIRECT — 1,866 (FPO) & 27,800 (IR)
 
  INDIRECT — 68,278 (FPO) & 3,000 (IR)
 
   
Nature of change
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
Example: on-market trade, off-market trade, exercise of options, issue of securities under dividend reinvestment plan, participation in buy-back
   
Part 2 — Change of director’s interests in contracts
NIL

 


 

Rule 3.19A.2
Appendix 3Y
Change of Director’s Interest Notice
Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.
Introduced 30/9/2001.
Name of entity TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
ABN 33 051 775 556
We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.2 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act.
     
Name of Director
  JOHN STOCKER
 
   
Date of last notice
  24 AUGUST 2006
Part 1 — Change of director’s relevant interests in securities
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
     
Direct or indirect interest
  CHANGE TO INDIRECT INTERESTS ONLY
 
   
Nature of indirect interest
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
(including registered holder)
   
Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.
   
 
   
Date of change
  24 NOVEMBER 2006
 
   
No. of securities held prior to change
  DIRECT — 2,953 (FPO)
 
  INDIRECT — 99,985 (FPO)
 
   
Class
  INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
 
   
Number acquired
  24,150
 
   
Number disposed
  NIL
 
   
Value/Consideration
  $48,300
Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and estimated valuation
   
 
   
No. of securities held after change
  DIRECT — 2,953 (FPO)
 
  INDIRECT — 99,985 (FPO) & 24,150 (IR)
 
   
Nature of change
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
Example: on-market trade, off-market trade, exercise of options, issue of securities under dividend reinvestment plan, participation in buy-back
   
Part 2 — Change of director’s interests in contracts
NIL

 


 

Rule 3.19A.2
Appendix 3Y
Change of Director’s Interest Notice
Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.
Introduced 30/9/2001.
Name of entity TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
ABN 33 051 775 556
We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.2 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act.
     
Name of Director
  SOLOMON TRUJILLO
 
   
Date of last notice
  4 JULY 2005
Part 1 — Change of director’s relevant interests in securities
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
     
Direct or indirect interest
  CHANGE TO DIRECT INTERESTS ONLY
 
   
Nature of indirect interest
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
(including registered holder)
   
Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.
   
 
   
Date of change
  24 NOVEMBER 2006
 
   
No. of securities held prior to change
  DIRECT — NIL
 
  INDIRECT — NIL
 
   
Class
  INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
 
   
Number acquired
  250,000
 
   
Number disposed
  NIL
 
   
Value/Consideration
  $525,000
Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and estimated valuation
   
 
   
No. of securities held after change
  DIRECT — 250,000 (IR)
 
  INDIRECT — NIL
 
   
Nature of change
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
Example: on-market trade, off-market trade, exercise of options, issue of securities under dividend reinvestment plan, participation in buy-back
   
Part 2 — Change of director’s interests in contracts
NIL

 


 

Rule 3.19A.2
Appendix 3Y
Change of Director’s Interest Notice
Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.
Introduced 30/9/2001.
Name of entity TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
ABN 33 051 775 556
We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.2 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act.
     
Name of Director
  PETER WILLCOX
 
   
Date of last notice
  24 AUGUST 2006
Part 1 — Change of director’s relevant interests in securities
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
     
Direct or indirect interest
  CHANGE TO INDIRECT INTERESTS ONLY
 
   
Nature of indirect interest
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
(including registered holder)
   
Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.
   
 
   
Date of change
  24 NOVEMBER 2006
 
   
No. of securities held prior to change
  DIRECT — NIL
 
  INDIRECT — 31,897 (FPO)
 
   
Class
  INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
 
   
Number acquired
  12,500
 
   
Number disposed
  NIL
 
   
Value/Consideration
  $25,000
Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and estimated valuation
   
 
   
No. of securities held after change
  DIRECT — NIL
 
  INDIRECT — 31,897 (FPO) & 12,500 (IR)
 
   
Nature of change
  PURCHASE OF T3 INSTALMENT RECEIPTS
Example: on-market trade, off-market trade, exercise of options, issue of securities under dividend reinvestment plan, participation in buy-back
   
Part 2 — Change of director’s interests in contracts
NIL

 


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
24 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager
  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
  AUSTRALIA
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
   
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
 
  Facsimile 03 9632 3215
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
Dear Sir or Madam
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations
Following on from the adoption of Telstra’s new constitution, attached please for release to the market is a copy of the updated Foreign Ownership Regulations.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)
     Effective from 14 November 2006
     Approved under Management Delegations
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations
Telstra Corporation Limited
Foreign Ownership Regulations

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)
Contents
      Table of contents
             
1
  Definitions     2  
 
  1.1 Definitions     2  
 
  1.2 Members who will be deemed Foreign Members     3  
 
           
 
           
2
  Foreign Register     4  
 
  2.1 Establishment of Foreign Register     4  
 
  2.2 New Zealand branch share register and ADR program     4  
 
  2.3 Reliance on information provided by members and in Foreign Register     4  
 
           
3
  Obligations of members to notify company of Foreign Holding     5  
 
  3.1 Members to provide information regarding foreign ownership of shares     5  
 
  3.2 Initial notification obligations – acquisitions through CHESS     5  
 
  3.3 Initial notification obligations – acquisitions other than through CHESS     5  
 
  3.4 Continuing notification obligations     5  
 
  3.5 Consequences of a failure to notify     6  
 
  3.6 Number of shares deemed to be in a member’s Foreign Holding     7  
 
           
4
  Mixed Members to endeavour to use different HINs or SRNs     7  
 
           
5
  Procedures for Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation     7  
 
  5.1 Directors’ power to dispose of shares     7  
 
  5.2 Treatment of proceeds of sale     8  
 
           
6
  Procedures for Unacceptable Aggregate Foreign-Ownership Situation     8  
 
  6.1 Procedures when Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit exceeded     8  
 
  6.2 Foreign Members must dispose of Breach Shares     8  
 
  6.3 Directors’ power to dispose of Breach Shares     9  
 
  6.4 Determining priority among Foreign Members – date on which shares considered “registered”     9  
 
  6.5 Treatment of foreign to foreign transactions     10  
 
           
7
  Procedures when Individual Foreign-Ownership Limit exceeded     11  
 
           
8
  Telstra’s obligations to notify the Exchange     11  
 
  8.1 Obligation to notify Exchange on exceeding certain limit     11  
 
  8.2 Obligation to notify Exchange when cease to exceed certain limit     11  
 
           
9
  Co-operation with TIRT     11  
 
           
10
  Share registrar may act on the company’s behalf     12  
 
           
 
  Schedules        
 
           
 
  TIRT Regulations     14  
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 1

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)
1   Definitions
 
1.1   Definitions
 
    Capitalised terms used but not defined below have the meaning given in the company’s constitution. The meanings of the terms used in this document are set out below.
     
Term   Meaning
 
ADRs
  American Depository Receipts
 
   
Aggregate Foreign
  the meaning given in regulation 8.1
Ownership Limit
   
 
   
Breach Shares
  the meaning given in regulations 6.1(b) and regulation 7
 
   
CHESS
  the Clearing House Electronic Subregister System
 
   
CHESS participant
  a participant in CHESS
 
   
Disposal Notice
  a notice issued by the directors to a Foreign Member under regulations 5.1(a) or 6.1(b) containing the information set out in regulation 5.1(c)
 
   
Divestment Date
  the last day of a period specified in a Disposal Notice as the date by which shares must be disposed or the date determined under regulation 6.2, as the case may be
 
   
Domestic Member
  a member who in relation to a HIN or SRN holds only Domestic Shares. Such a member is to be considered a Domestic Member in relation to that HIN or SRN only
 
   
Foreign Member
 
(a) a Foreign Person or an Associate of a Foreign Person who holds an interest in the shares registered in the name of that member;
 
 
 
(b) the registered holder of shares in which a Foreign Person or an Associate of a Foreign Person has an interest; and
 
 
 
(c) any person who is deemed a Foreign Member under regulation 1.2 or TIRT Regulation 4.
 
   
Foreign Ownership
Notification Form
  the form required to be lodged by certain new members upon initially acquiring shares in the company under regulation 3.3
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 2

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)   1 Definitions
     
Term   Meaning
 
IRs
  the meaning given in the company’s constitution
 
   
level of foreign ownership
  the meaning given in regulation 8.11
 
   
Non-Commonwealth
Shares
  the total number of shares in the company held by persons other than the Commonwealth
 
   
Notification Date
  the meaning given in regulation 6.4(a)
 
   
Special SRNs
  the meaning given in regulation 6.1(a)
 
   
Specified Day
  the meaning given in regulation 6.1(a)
 
   
TIRT
  Telstra Instalment Receipt Trustee
 
   
TIRT Regulations
  the regulations relating to the Telstra Instalment Receipt Trustee and foreign ownership set out in the schedule to these regulations
 
   
Warning Notice
  a notice issued by the directors to a Foreign Member under regulation 5.1(a) informing the Foreign Member that the Foreign Member may be required to dispose of shares
1.2   Members who will be deemed Foreign Members2
 
(a) For the purposes of these regulations, the following persons shall be deemed a Foreign Member:
  (1)   the depository for the ADRs or its custodian or nominee;
 
  (2)   those persons holding an interest in shares represented by ADRs;
 
  (3)   members holding shares registered on any New Zealand branch share register, in respect of those shares only;
 
  (4)   Mixed Members in respect of their Foreign Holding only (unless the directors determine otherwise);
 
  (5)   members:
  (A)   whose registered address is not in Australia; and
 
  (B)   who the directors elect to treat as a Foreign Member because the member is required, but fails to return a Foreign Ownership Notification Form within the time period specified in regulation 3.3(a) or 3.4(c), as the case may be; and
 
1   See also TIRT Regulation 5.2, which applies as long as IRs are on issue.
 
2   See also TIRT Regulation 4, which applies as long as IRs are on issue.
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 3

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)   2 Foreign Register
  (6)   members who the directors elect to treat as a Foreign Member because a response has not been received from the member under regulation 3.4 (other than regulation 3.4(c)) within 30 days after the date the response was required by that regulation.
2   Foreign Register
 
2.1   Establishment of Foreign Register
 
(a)   The directors may establish and maintain a Foreign Register which will record, amongst other things, those members who are Foreign Members and the number of shares in the Foreign Holding of each Foreign Member.
 
(b)   The Foreign Register does not form part of the Register of the company.
 
(c)   The Foreign Register may be prepared or kept by recording or storing the information by means of a mechanical, electronic or other device.
 
2.2   New Zealand branch share register and ADR program
 
(a)   The directors may determine that only shares which are not, and may not become, subject to a Warning Notice or a Disposal Notice under regulation 5.1(a) may be:
  (1)   recorded or remain on any New Zealand branch share register; or
 
  (2)   transferred into the ADR program,
 
  and may:
 
  (3)   decline to record on the New Zealand branch share register or transfer into the ADR program; or
 
  (4)   in the case of shares already recorded on the New Zealand branch share register, remove to the company’s Register,
    shares which they believe, or are concerned, may become, subject to a Warning Notice or a Disposal Notice.
 
(b)   Notwithstanding regulation 2.2(a), shares may only be transferred onto the New Zealand branch share register or into the ADR program if:
 
(1)   Disposal Notices have not been issued and are not able to be issued in relation to the relevant shares; or
 
(2)   the transfer would not result in the shares being placed in a Special SRN in accordance with regulation 6.1.
2.3   Reliance on information provided by members and in Foreign Register
 
(a)   The information in the Foreign Register is to be taken as correct unless proven otherwise.
 
(b)   The directors may rely on information in the Foreign Register when forming a belief as to whether an Unacceptable Foreign Ownership Situation exists.
 
(c)   For the purposes of the Foreign Register, the directors and the company will be entitled to rely on information provided by CHESS participants, members and persons acting or purporting to act on their behalf, TIRT and the registrar of TIRT’s Foreign Register under these regulations or otherwise.
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 4

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)   3 Obligations of members to notify company of Foreign Holding
3   Obligations of members to notify company of Foreign Holding
 
3.1   Members to provide information regarding foreign ownership of shares
 
    Members must provide the directors with information regarding the foreign ownership of their shares at the times and in the manner set out in this regulation 3.
 
3.2   Initial notification obligations – acquisitions through CHESS
 
    If shares in the company are initially acquired through CHESS, the CHESS participant must provide the information required by the ASTC Settlement Rules to ensure that the company is notified whether the CHESS participant will be a Foreign Member or a Mixed Member.
 
3.3   Initial notification obligations – acquisitions other than through CHESS
 
(a)   If, for any reason, shares in the company are initially acquired other than through CHESS and the acquirer will be a Foreign Member or a Mixed Member, the member (on its own behalf or through an agent) must complete and return a Foreign Ownership Notification Form within 5 business days after the registration of the acquisition of the shares, except that:
  (1)   acquirers of shares to be registered on the New Zealand branch share register; and
 
  (2)   the depository for the ADRs (or its custodian or nominee),
    do not need to return a Foreign Ownership Notification Form.
 
(b)   For the avoidance of doubt, a Foreign Ownership Notification Form is only required in respect of a member’s initial acquisition of shares and not in relation to each acquisition of shares by a member unless the shares are to be registered in a different HIN or SRN.
 
(c)   Foreign Ownership Notification Forms are available from brokers, the Exchange, the company and the company’s share registrar.
 
(d)   A Foreign Ownership Notification Form requires each new member to indicate if they are a Foreign Member or a Mixed Member. A Foreign Ownership Notification Form is only valid if the relevant HIN or SRN is quoted.
 
3.4   Continuing notification obligations
 
(a)   Ongoing obligations of members
 
    Members must notify the directors:
  (1)   within 5 business days if they become, or cease to be, a Foreign Member or Mixed Member;
 
  (2)   within 5 business days if there is a change to their Foreign Holding;
 
  (3)   as soon as practicable if they become aware that an Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation exists in relation to any of the shares held by them;
 
  (4)   as soon as practicable if they become aware that an Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership situation exists in relation to any person who has an interest in any shares held by the member (and, if so, the name of the relevant person and total number of shares in which that person has an interest).
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 5

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)   3 Obligations of members to notify company of Foreign Holding
(b)   Annual audit
 
    Each year (or at such other intervals as the directors determine from time to time), each member registered as holding more than 0.05% of the Non-Commonwealth Shares will be requested to state in relation to each of their HINs or SRNs:
  (1)   whether they are a Foreign Member or Mixed Member;
 
  (2)   the number of shares (if any) in the member’s Foreign Holding;
 
  (3)   to the knowledge of the member:
  (A)   the identity of each Foreign Person or Associate of a Foreign Person who has an interest in the shares registered in the name of the member;
 
  (B)   the total number of shares in which that person has an interest; and
 
  (C)   if that person is an Associate of a Foreign Person, the name of the relevant Foreign Person; and
  (4)   whether the member is aware of an Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation of the type referred to in regulations 3.4(a)(3) and 3.4(a)(4) (and, if so, details of that situation).
    Members must respond to a request under this regulation 3.4(b) within 5 business days after receipt of the request.
 
(c)   Occasional request for information
 
    The directors may, at any time, send to a member who:
  (1)   has an address which is not in Australia;
 
  (2)   has notified the directors that they are a Foreign Member or Mixed Member;
 
  (3)   has not provided a notification required to be provided under this regulation 3;
 
  (4)   holds an interest representing more than 0.05% of the Non-Commonwealth Shares;
 
  (5)   the directors have reason to believe, or are concerned, may be a Foreign Member; or
 
  (6)   the Minister has requested be sent such a request,
    a request for information in a form approved by the directors which requires the member to inform the directors of any (or all) of the information set out in regulations 3.4(b)(1) to 3.4(b)(4) and any other information relating to foreign ownership as determined by the directors. The request may specify a time by which the member must provide the information and the penalty, if any, for failure to comply with the request.
 
3.5   Consequences of a failure to notify
 
(a)   Subject to any penalty determined by the directors under regulation 3.4(c), no penalty will be imposed for a failure to provide a Foreign Ownership Notification Form or to otherwise comply with the notification obligations in this regulation 3 except that:
  (1)   a Foreign Member may lose priority in the Foreign Register for the purposes of regulation 6.4; and
 
  (2)   the directors may treat all the shares registered in the member’s relevant HIN or SRN as constituting a Foreign Holding.
(b)   The company is not required to follow-up any members who have not complied with the notification obligations in this regulation 3.
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 6

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)   4 Mixed Members to endeavour to use different HINs or SRNs
3.6   Number of shares deemed to be in a member’s Foreign Holding
 
(a)   A member who in relation to a HIN or SRN is, or is deemed to be, a Foreign Member will remain a Foreign Member in relation to that HIN or SRN until notice is received under this regulation 3 that the member is no longer a Foreign Member in relation to all or part of the holding in that HIN or SRN.
 
(b)   The number of shares in a Foreign Member’s Foreign Holding at any time shall be the lower of the number of shares:
  (1)   deemed to constitute a member’s Foreign Holding under regulation 3.5(a)(2);
 
  (2)   registered in the HIN or SRN containing the Foreign Holding; and
 
  (3)   notified by the member under regulations 3.2, 3.3 or 3.4 as constituting the Foreign Holding for that HIN or SRN.
(c)   Notwithstanding any other regulation of these regulations, a Mixed Member may be treated by the directors, for the purposes of these regulations, as if the member were two separate members, one with Domestic Shares and the other with a Foreign Holding, whether or not the Mixed Member has been allocated different HINs or SRNs in relation to their Domestic Shares and their Foreign Holding.
 
4   Mixed Members to endeavour to use different HINs or SRNs
 
(a)   Where possible, a Mixed Member should maintain two separate HINs or SRNs, with all Domestic Shares held in one of the HINs or SRNs and all shares constituting the Foreign Holding held in the other HIN or SRN.
 
(b)   Where a Mixed Member has been allocated different HINs or SRNs under regulation 4(a), the Mixed Member must ensure that only Domestic Shares are recorded in the HIN or SRN allocated to hold the Domestic Shares.
 
5   Procedures for Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation
 
5.1   Directors’ power to dispose of shares
 
(a)   If the directors believe that an Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation exists, the directors may (but are not obliged to) issue:
  (1)   a Warning Notice; or
 
  (2)   a Disposal Notice,
    to the relevant member in any form approved by the directors from time to time.
 
(b)   For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in these regulations require the directors to issue a Warning Notice to a member before issuing that member with a Disposal Notice.
 
(c)   The Disposal Notice may:
  (1)   require the member to dispose of all or any of the member’s shares as specified in the Disposal Notice;
 
  (2)   require disposal to take place by the Divestment Date; and
 
  (3)   specify circumstances, consistent with these regulations, in which the member need not dispose of all or any of the shares the subject of a Disposal Notice if certain events happen.
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 7

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)   5 Procedures for Unacceptable Aggregate Foreign-Ownership Situation
(d)   If the terms of a Disposal Notice are not complied with by a member, the directors may, at any time, sell all or any of the member’s shares specified in the Disposal Notice in accordance with regulation 5.1(e).
 
(e)   For the purposes of regulation 5.1(d):
  (1)   the directors may sell the member’s shares at the best price reasonably obtainable at the relevant time and any sale of shares by the directors on the Exchange will be regarded as discharging this obligation;
 
  (2)   each member appoints the company and each of the directors jointly and severally as its attorney (with power to appoint sub-attorneys) in the name of the member and on behalf of the member to execute any documents and implement any procedures as may be necessary or desirable in the opinion of the attorney to procure the sale and transfer of shares on behalf of the member; and
 
  (3)   the title of the transferee to any shares sold under regulations 5.1(d) and 5.1(e) is not affected by any irregularity or invalidity in connection with the sale and transfer of the shares to the transferee (but nothing in this regulation 5.1 prevents the exercise by the directors of their powers under these regulations if the transferee is a Foreign Member).
5.2   Treatment of proceeds of sale
 
(a)   The proceeds of any sale of shares under regulation 5.1 will be dealt with in accordance with rule 9 of the constitution.
 
(b)   The net amount payable to the member may be paid in any manner determined by the directors under rule 12.7(a) of the constitution.
 
6   Procedures for Unacceptable Aggregate Foreign-Ownership Situation
 
6.1   Procedures when Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit exceeded
 
(a)   If, as a result of a day’s (Specified Day) registrations, the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit is exceeded, all shares registered in the names of Foreign Members as a result of that day’s registrations (including those shares which are deemed registered on that day under regulation 6.4) will be registered in separate SRNs (one for each affected Foreign Member) in the company’s issuer sponsored sub-register (Special SRNs).
 
(b)   The shares registered in the Special SRNs (Breach Shares) must be divested and the company will send a Disposal Notice to all Foreign Members holding Breach Shares.
 
(c)   No Warning Notices will be issued in relation to Breach Shares.
 
(d)   If, even after the Breach Shares have been dealt with in accordance with this regulation 6, the company’s level of foreign ownership still exceeds the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit, the limit shall be treated as also having been exceeded on the day preceding the Specified Day, and so on until the company’s level of foreign ownership does not exceed the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit.
 
6.2   Foreign Members must dispose of Breach Shares
 
(a)   Foreign Members must dispose of Breach Shares and register a transfer to give effect to that disposal prior to the 5th business day of the month following the month in which the Disposal Notice was issued (also a Divestment Date). However, if that 5th business day is less than 30 calendar days after the date the Disposal Notice was issued, the Foreign
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 8

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)   6 Procedures for Unacceptable Aggregate Foreign-Ownership Situation
Member must dispose of the Breach Shares and register a transfer to give effect to that disposal prior to the 5th business day of the next month (also a Divestment Date).
  Example 1:   If a Disposal Notice is issued to a Foreign Member on 6 August, the Breach Shares must be disposed of and the transfer registered prior to the 5th business day of September.
 
  Example 2:   If a Disposal Notice is issued to a Foreign Member on 20 August, the Breach Shares must be disposed of and the transfer registered prior to the 5th business day of October.
6.3   Directors’ power to dispose of Breach Shares
 
(a)   If a transfer of Breach Shares has not been registered before the relevant Divestment Date, the directors may sell all or any of the Breach Shares.
 
(b)   For the purposes of regulation 6.3(a), the directors may transfer the relevant Breach Shares from the Special SRN to another holding for the purposes of sale by the directors so that the Foreign Member will not be able to settle any transaction involving the Breach Shares (and this will apply to prevent settlement, even if a transaction has been entered into, but not settled before the relevant Divestment Date).
 
(c)   The timing and manner of the sale of Breach Shares will be solely within the discretion of the directors but may not be more than 20 business days after the relevant Divestment Date.
 
(d)   The proceeds of any funds required to be remitted to the relevant member under this regulation 6.3 will be dealt with in accordance with rule 9 of the constitution.
 
(e)   Disposal Notices issued in relation to Breach Shares will not be withdrawn prior to the relevant Divestment Date. However, Breach Shares will not be divested if, on the relevant Divestment Date, the level of foreign ownership is at or below the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit. In this event, an announcement will be made to the Exchange and notices will be sent to the holders of the relevant Breach Shares informing them that the Disposal Notices previously issued have been withdrawn.
 
(f)   The directors and the company will be under no liability to any member for any loss or disadvantage suffered by the members as a result, whether directly or indirectly, of any divestment (including the timing of the divestment).
 
6.4   Determining priority among Foreign Members – date on which shares considered “registered”
 
(a)   For the purposes of these regulations, regardless of the date of registration of a share in the name of a member, the date of registration of a share in the name of a member shall be the notification date as determined under regulation 6.4(b) (Notification Date).
 
(b)   For the purposes of regulation 6.4(a):
  (1)   Initial notifications of the status of a member (ie. Foreign Member or Mixed Member) in relation to a HIN or SRN will be treated as if the Notification Date for that HIN or SRN by the share registrar was the date of registration of all the shares then held by that member in that HIN or SRN;
 
  (2)   Notifications of a change of status of a member (eg. Foreign Member to Domestic Member or Domestic Member to Mixed Member) in relation to a HIN or SRN will be treated as follows:
  (A)   notification of a change of status from domestic to foreign will be treated as if the Notification Date was the date of registration of all of the shares then held by that member in that HIN or SRN;
 
  (B)   notification of a change of status from domestic to mixed will be treated as if the Notification Date was the date of registration of that
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 9

 


 

     
(FREEHILLS LOGO)   6 Procedures for Unacceptable Aggregate Foreign-Ownership Situation
      portion of the shares held by that member in that HIN or SRN which, upon notification, will constitute a Foreign Holding;
 
  (C)   notification of a change of status from mixed to foreign will be treated as if the Notification Date was the date of registration of that portion of the shares held by that member in that HIN or SRN which immediately prior to notification constituted Domestic Shares; and
 
  (D)   notification of a change of status from foreign to domestic, foreign to mixed or mixed to domestic will not increase the level of foreign ownership and the shares the subject of such a notification will, following registration of the change and receipt of any supporting material requested, not be liable to be divested.
  (3)   The Notification Date for a response by a Mixed Member to a notice given by the directors under regulations 3.4(b) or 3.4(c) will be treated as if it were the date of registration of that portion of the shares held by that member which equals the increase (if any) in the number of shares notified in the relevant notice as constituting that member’s Foreign Holding over the number of shares then treated as being in that member’s Foreign Holding under regulation 3.6.
 
  (4)   The date on which the directors elect to treat a member as a Foreign Member in relation to a HIN or SRN in accordance with regulations 1.2(a)(5) or 1.2(a)(6) or TIRT Regulation 4(b) will be treated as the date of registration of all the shares then held by that member in that HIN or SRN.
(c)   For the purposes of regulation 6.4(b), the Notification Date means:
  (1)   in relation to notifications given through CHESS, the date an electronic notification received through CHESS is processed in accordance with the scheduled times specified in the ASTC Settlement Rules; and
 
  (2)   in relation to notification not given through CHESS (including, but not limited to, Foreign Ownership Notification Forms) the date of processing of the Foreign Ownership Notification Form or other notification, such date being within 5 business days of the receipt of the notification.
(d)   For the purposes of these divestment procedures:
  (1)   a notification (including, without limitation, a Foreign Ownership Notification Form) will only be valid if the relevant HIN or SRN is quoted;
 
  (2)   for the purposes of non-CHESS transactions, Foreign Ownership Notification Forms and other notifications will be treated as being processed on the date the registrar matches the Foreign Ownership Notification Form or other notification with the relevant transfer or transmission application, and in any event no earlier than the date of registration of that transfer or transmission application; and
 
  (3)   both notifications given through CHESS and otherwise may be treated by the company as being given in relation to both IRs and shares in the relevant HIN or SRN, even if not so expressed.
6.5   Treatment of foreign to foreign transactions
 
(a)   For transactions other than through CHESS, there will be no special facility through which “foreign to foreign” transfers may be quarantined from the divestment procedures in this regulation 6.
 
(b)   Transfers of shares not held in a Special SRN, and which are traded through the special CHESS “foreign to foreign allocation system”, will not be recorded in a Special SRN and, therefore, will not potentially be liable to divestment. These purchases will be recorded in the normal CHESS HINs or SRNs.
 
(c)   Disposal Notices will not be issued in relation to shares registered on the New Zealand branch register or represented by ADRs (except pursuant to regulation 5).
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 10

 


 

     
(FREEHILLS LOGO)   7 Procedures when Individual Foreign-Ownership Limit exceeded
7   Procedures when Individual Foreign-Ownership Limit exceeded
 
(a)   If, as a result of the enquiries and notifications described in these regulations, and having regard to the information recorded in the Foreign Register in relation to shares, the company believes that an Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation exists, the directors:
  (1)   will identify the number of shares in which they believe the Foreign Person has an interest and which are in excess of the individual foreign ownership limit (Breach Shares);
 
  (2)   may register the Breach Shares in a separate SRN in the company’s issuer sponsored sub-register under regulation 6.1(a);
 
  (3)   will issue a Disposal Notice to the Foreign Member in respect of the Breach Shares under regulation 6.1(b); and
 
  (4)   if such disposal does not occur within 30 days of the date of the Disposal Notice, will sell the relevant number of shares and regulation 6.3 will apply.
8   Telstra’s obligations to notify the Exchange
 
8.1   Obligation to notify Exchange on exceeding certain limit3
 
    By 9.00 am each day, the company will determine, by reference to the Foreign Register, the total number of shares held or treated as being held by Foreign Members (level of foreign ownership) and will, in accordance with the Listing Rules, inform the Exchange (and the market) when it becomes aware that the level of foreign ownership:
 
(a)   is equal to or exceeds a number of shares representing a percentage of the Non-Commonwealth Shares which is 5 percentage points below the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit and, thereafter, where it has changed by a number of shares representing more than 1% of the Non-Commonwealth Shares; or
 
(b)   equals or exceeds a number of shares representing the percentage of shares which is 35% of all Non-Commonwealth Shares (the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit).
 
8.2   Obligation to notify Exchange when cease to exceed certain limit
 
    The company will, in accordance with the Listing Rules, inform the Exchange (and the market) when the level of foreign ownership has ceased to equal or exceed a number of shares representing the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit of the Non-Commonwealth Shares or falls to less than 5% below that limit.
 
9   Co-operation with TIRT
 
(a)   The company and TIRT have agreed to cooperate in respect of the implementation of these regulations and the TIRT Regulations and the TIRT Rules.
 
(b)   Anything required or permitted to be done by TIRT under the TIRT Regulations or TIRT Rules may be done by the company or by the company’s share registrar on its behalf.
 
3   See also TIRT Regulation 5.2, which applies as long as IRs are on issue.
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 11

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)   10 Share registrar may act on the company’s behalf
(c)   The company may direct TIRT in respect of anything to be done by TIRT under the TIRT Regulations or the TIRT Rules. TIRT has agreed that it will act on the company’s instructions.
 
(d)   Information provided to the company under these regulations will be made available to TIRT, and TIRT has agreed to make information provided to it under the TIRT Regulations or the TIRT Rules available to the company.
 
10   Share registrar may act on the company’s behalf
 
    Anything required or permitted to be done by the company under these regulations may be done by the company or by the company’s share registrar on its behalf.
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 12

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)
Schedules
Table of contents
             
 
  TIRT Regulations     14  
 
           
1
  Definitions     14  
 
  1.1 Definitions     14  
 
           
2
  Operation of TIRT Regulations     14  
 
           
3
  TIRT’s Foreign Register and Joint Foreign Register     15  
 
  3.1 TIRT’s Foreign Register     15  
 
  3.2 Joint Foreign Register     15  
 
  3.3 Transfer of IR Register information to company     15  
 
           
4
  Identification of Foreign Holdings     15  
 
           
5
  Obligation to notify of Foreign Holdings     16  
 
  5.1 Continuing notification obligations     16  
 
  5.2 Telstra’s obligation to notify the Exchange     16  
 
           
6
  Procedures when Aggregate Foreign-Ownership Limit exceeded     17  
 
           
7
  Procedures when Individual Foreign-Ownership Limit exceeded     17  
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 13

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)
Schedule 1
    TIRT Regulations
 
1   Definitions
 
1.1   Definitions
 
    Capitalised terms used in this schedule but not defined in these regulations (including the TIRT Regulations in this schedule) have the meaning given in the company’s constitution. The meanings of the terms used in this schedule are set out below.
     
Term   Meaning
Breach IRs
  the meaning given in TIRT Rule 6.1(b) and TIRT Rule 7
 
   
Final Instalment
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Final Instalment Due
Date
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Foreign IR Holder
  the meaning given in the TIRT Rules
 
   
Initial IR Holder
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Joint Foreign Register
  the meaning given in TIRT Regulation 3.2(a)
 
   
Mixed IR Holder
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
Offer
  the meaning given in the IR Trust Deed
 
   
TIRT Rules
  the meaning given in TIRT Regulation 3.1(a)
 
   
TIRT’s Foreign Register
  the meaning given in TIRT Regulation 3.1(a)
2   Operation of TIRT Regulations
 
    These TIRT Regulations become operative on the date on which IRs are first traded on the Exchange, then remain operative as long as IRs are on issue.
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 14

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)   <Schedule 1 TTIRT RegulationsT
3   TIRT’s Foreign Register and Joint Foreign Register
 
3.1   TIRT’s Foreign Register
 
(a)   TIRT has agreed to establish and maintain a foreign register (TIRT’s Foreign Register) of holders of IRs and to maintain rules and procedures regulating foreign ownership which parallel these regulations (TIRT Rules), for so long as any IRs remain outstanding, and to take action to enforce the TIRT Rules when requested by the company.
 
(b)   The company may include in the Foreign Register information relating to foreign ownership recorded in TIRT’s Foreign Register.
 
3.2   Joint Foreign Register
 
(a)   The company and TIRT have agreed that the Foreign Register will be maintained jointly (in such manner as TIRT and the company may agree from time to time) with TIRT’s Foreign Register. These jointly maintained registers (together the Joint Foreign Register) will contain the information required to be kept by TIRT in respect of Foreign IR Holders and by the company in respect of Foreign Members.
 
(b)   The Joint Foreign Register will also, where relevant, contain an aggregation of the numbers of IRs and shares held by each Foreign IR Holder and each Foreign Member. If, for any reason, the company determines that this is not practicable, the company’s share registrar will perform this aggregation each day for the 200 Foreign IR Holders having the largest IR Holdings on the Joint Foreign Register and the 200 Foreign Members having the largest share holdings on the Joint Foreign Register (and this daily aggregation will become part of the information comprising the Joint Foreign Register).
 
3.3   Transfer of IR Register information to company
 
(a)   At and after the Final Instalment Due Date, the information contained in the IR Register maintained by TIRT will be transferred to the company’s share register, as will information on holdings of IRs by Foreign Persons and any other information relating to foreign ownership incorporated in TIRT’s Foreign Register. This information will supplement information already contained in the company’s Foreign Register.
 
(b)   After TIRT has transferred information to the company under TIRT Regulation 3.3(a), the company will give TIRT access to that information during office hours to the extent TIRT needs the information to perform its obligations to the Commonwealth under the IR Trust Deed in respect of the sale of shares where the Final Instalment is not paid on the Final Instalment Due Date.
 
4   Identification of Foreign Holdings
 
(a)   Where a person has given notice (whether physically or electronically through CHESS) that it is (or where the person is deemed by these regulations to be):
  (1)   a Foreign Member;
 
  (2)   not a Foreign Member; or
 
  (3)   a Mixed Member,
in respect of any shares held in a particular HIN or SRN, TIRT and the company may, notwithstanding anything else in these regulations, also treat the person as being, respectively:
  (4)   a Foreign IR Holder;
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 15

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)   <Schedule 1 TTIRT RegulationsT
  (5)   not a Foreign IR Holder; or
 
  (6)   a Mixed IR Holder,
    in respect of any IRs held in that HIN or SRN.
 
(b)   Where a person has given notice (whether physically or electronically through CHESS) that it is (or where the person is deemed by the TIRT Rules to be):
  (1)   a Foreign IR Holder;
 
  (2)   not a Foreign IR Holder; or
 
  (3)   a Mixed IR Holder,
    in respect of any IRs held in a particular HIN or SRN, TIRT and the company may, notwithstanding anything else in these regulations, also treat the person as being, respectively:
  (4)   a Foreign Member;
 
  (5)   not a Foreign Member; or
 
  (6)   a Mixed Member,
    in respect of any shares held in that HIN or SRN.
 
5   Obligation to notify of Foreign Holdings
 
5.1   Continuing notification obligations
 
(a)   The company and TIRT have agreed that if the company makes a request under regulation 3.4(b) or 3.4(c), such request also will be made to IR Holders jointly by TIRT and the company under the TIRT Rules and the request will relate to both shares (in accordance with these regulations) and to IRs (in accordance with rule 3.4(b) or 3.4(c) and 3.4(d) of the TIRT Rules) held by the IR Holders, and that the answers to such request (both as regards IRs and shares) will be provided to both the company and TIRT.
 
5.2   Telstra’s obligation to notify the Exchange
 
(a)   By 9.00 am each day, the company will determine, by reference to the Joint Foreign Register, the total number of IRs held or treated as being held by Foreign IR Holders (the IR level of foreign ownership).
 
(b)   The company will aggregate the IR level of foreign ownership with information drawn from the Joint Foreign Register regarding the number of shares (excluding shares held by TIRT) held or treated as being held by Foreign Members (the share level of foreign ownership) for the purposes of notifying the Exchange (and the market) of the level of foreign ownership under regulation 8.
 
(c)   For so long as these TIRT Regulations apply, for the purposes of regulation 8:
  (1)   “level of foreign ownership” will include the IR level of foreign ownership aggregated with the share level of foreign ownership; and
 
  (2)   a reference to “shares” will include a reference to “shares and/or IRs”.
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 16

 


 

(FREEHILLS LOGO)   <Schedule 1 TTIRT RegulationsT
6   Procedures when Aggregate Foreign-Ownership Limit exceeded
 
(a)   Regulation 6 specifies the procedures the company will follow when the Aggregate Foreign Ownership Limit is exceeded. TIRT has agreed that similar steps will be taken by TIRT, in consultation with the company, in respect of IRs registered in the names of Foreign IR Holders as a result of that day’s registrations or deemed registrations.
 
(b)   Notwithstanding TIRT Regulation 6.1(a), IRs registered in the names of Initial IR Holders on settlement of the Offer (Offer Registrations) shall not be registered in Special SRNs or treated as Breach IRs.
 
(c)   TIRT Regulation 6.1(b) does not affect the treatment of other registrations and deemed registrations occurring on the same day as the Offer Registrations, which will be dealt with in accordance with TIRT regulation 6.1(a) and TIRT Rule 6.
 
(d)   For the purposes of regulation 6.1 and TIRT Rule 6, the number of Breach IRs and Breach Shares will be combined to determine whether an Unacceptable Aggregate Foreign Ownership situation exists.
 
7   Procedures when Individual Foreign-Ownership Limit exceeded
 
(a)   Regulation 7 specifies the procedures the company will follow when the Individual Foreign-Ownership Limit is exceeded. The company and TIRT have agreed that if the directors, as a result of the enquiries and notifications described in the regulations, and having regard to the information recorded in the Joint Foreign Register in relation to both shares and IRs, believe that an Unacceptable Individual Foreign-Ownership Situation exists, the directors:
  (1)   will identify the number of shares in which they believe the Foreign Person and its Associates have an interest (including IRs) and which are in excess of the individual foreign ownership limit (Breach Shares and Breach IRs) and inform TIRT of their determination;
 
  (2)   may direct TIRT to register any Breach IRs in a separate SRN in accordance with the TIRT Rules;
 
  (3)   may direct TIRT to issue a Disposal Notice (as defined in the TIRT Rules) to the Foreign IR Holder in respect of the Breach IRs in accordance with the TIRT Rules; and
 
  (4)   if such disposal does not occur within 30 days of the date of the Disposal Notice (as defined in the TIRT Rules), will direct TIRT to sell the relevant number of IRs in accordance with the TIRT Rules.
(b)   TIRT has agreed that, upon being informed by the company that IRs are Breach IRs in accordance with TIRT Regulation 7(a)(1) above and TIRT Rule 7, it will follow the company’s directions in respect of the Breach IRs.
Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations page 17

 


 

(TELSTRA LOGO)
     
24 November 2006
  Office of the Company Secretary
 
   
The Manager
   
 
  Level 41
 
  242 Exhibition Street
Company Announcements Office
  MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Australian Stock Exchange
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
  AUSTRALIA
SYDNEY NSW 2000
  Telephone 03 9634 6400
 
  Facsimile   03 9632 3215
 
   
ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT
   
 
   
Dear Sir or Madam
   
 
   
SEC deregistration
   
Telstra confirms its intention to terminate its United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 registration and reporting obligations regarding each class of its securities under section 12(g) and section 15(d) of that Act. Telstra intends to file its application with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as soon as possible after the final rules are released, which is expected to be in mid December 2006.
Yours sincerely
-s- Douglas Gration
Douglas Gration
Company Secretary
Telstra Corporation Limited
ACN 051 775 556
ABN 33 051 775 556

 


 

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
         
 
  TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED    
 
       
 
  /s/ Douglas Gration    
 
       
 
 
 
Name: Douglas Gration
   
 
  Title: Company Secretary    
 
       
 
  Date: 27 November 2006