Click here to visit the Setel website.

SETEL was established in 1992 to service the research, policy and information needs of the small business members of the Telstra Small Enterprise Policy Panel (TSEPP), plus the wider small business community, and to provide research material from the Small Business sector perspective. Its activities include research, analysis of sector issues, policy development, briefing of the Small Business sector and information dissemination. Up to the end of June 1998 SETEL's operations had been principally supported by grant funding from Telstra.

Following an application by SETEL to the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts for grant funding under section 593 of the Telecommunications Act 1997, the Minister for Communications made an offer of funding to SETEL in July 1998 to represent the interests of small business consumers in telecommunications. This enabled SETEL to continue as an operating entity for the 1998/99 financial year. The Primary Purpose of the Grant was:

"To represent the views of member organisations of the Small Enterprise Telecommunications Centre Limited on matters affecting consumers in all forums, including public, about telecommunications."

The objectives (in relation to the Grant) were to:

Provide a forum for the discussion of telecommunications matters that are of common interest to the small business community.

Focus attention on Small Business consumer telecommunications problems and concerns.

Promote the consideration of Small Business consumer interests in the development of Government and industry policy in relation to telecommunications.