Australia's Houses of Parliament on Wednesday approved two bills setting out the regulatory framework for the National Broadband Network. The move was quickly welcomed by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.

Senator Conroy said passage of the bills further underpinned the Government's policy to deliver structural reform of the telecommunications industry to promote sustainable retail-level competition, and fair pricing of wholesale services for all Australians.

"With the cooperation of the independents the Government sought to put a Resolution to the House of Representatives confirming our commitment to the principle of uniform wholesale national pricing," Senator Conroy said.

"With the agreement of independents Rob Oakshott, Tony Windsor, Andrew Wilkie, and Greens MP Adam Bandt, the Government has committed to prepare a Community Impact Statement on all future policy decisions on technology, speed and/or price, with a view to continue the application of uniform wholesale national pricing where possible.

"It is outrageous that the Opposition blocked consideration of this Resolution by the House.

"The Opposition claim they support uniform wholesale national pricing, but they weren't even willing to consider a Resolution promoting that important principle, when given the chance."

The National Broadband Network Companies Bill 2010 and the Telecommunications Legislation Amendments (National Broadband Network Measures-Access Arrangements) Bill 2011 passed through the House of Representatives today including some amendments accepted by the Senate on Friday.

"The Bills set out a clear regulatory framework to provide that NBN Co will operate on a wholesale-only, open and equivalent access basis, delivering long term benefits for competition and consumers," Senator Conroy said.

Senator Conroy said passage of the Bills was another step closer to an historic milestone and thanked the Rob Oakshott, Tony Windsor, Andrew Wilkie, Adam Bandt and Bob Katter for their support.

The Companies Bill establishes the regulatory framework for the wholesale-only operation and ownership of NBN Co.

Amongst other things, the Access Bill amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and the Telecommunications Act 1997 to introduce new access, transparency and non-discrimination obligations relating to the supply of wholesale services by NBN Co.

The amendments will also support NBN Co in its delivery of the Government's policy of uniform national wholesale pricing. The Government expects this will translate into retail prices for high speed broadband services that will be both affordable and very competitive for all Australians no matter where they live.