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Opposition will vote against Telstra Bill
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The Federal Opposition has confirmed it will vote against wide-ranging legislation being introduced by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy to reform the telecommunications sector, including the separation of Telstra.
New shadow Communications Minister Tony Smith: Rudd is like a "crazy architect"
(Credit: Office of Tony Smith)
Conroy's last attempt to introduce the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill into the Senate was shot down in flames two weeks ago, but at the time the Greens — who the government will now need to get the Bill across the line — had signalled their readiness to debate it.
The legislation is listed on the Senate run-sheet for today. In a statement yesterday, shadow Communications Minister Tony Smith described the legislation as a "deliberate assault" on Telstra, its 1.4 million shareholders and 30,000 employees.
"As we've said from day one, Telstra shareholders have every reason to be outraged by Labor's plans to force the break-up of the company," said Smith. "The Coalition has never advocated the forced break up of Telstra and this was never part of Labor's plan before the last election."
The politician said the Telstra break-up attempt was "all about trying to prop up" the government's "reckless" $43 billion National Broadband Network plan — which he said the government had embarked upon without a cost-benefit analysis or a business plan.
"This bully boy legislative attack on Telstra and its shareholders is an admission that their NBN isn't commercially viable."
Smith called for Conroy to release both the NBN implementation study as well as the final legislation relating to the NBN Company, which has so far only been released in draft form.
At the beginning of this month, Conroy said that he had not yet received the implementation study, which was being put together by consulting firms McKinsey and KPMG, although it was supposed to be completed by the end of February.
The implementation study was originally slated to determine the operating arrangements for the NBN Company, as well as detailing network design and financial details — for example, attracting private sector investment.
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Talkback
SACK CONROY !
Dear Mr Rudd
better to sack conroy now than face defeat in the next election.
Dear laour MP's
remember what the opposition was like. get ready it's about to happen again
Oh if you think a half baked ( or should that be 60% baked) health policy is going to help you. The public realize that this announcement is full of SH*T. Why didn't you just take over the whole of the health system if you know how to do it right. The public knows in 2 years we will be putting up with the same health issues!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010An apology is needed
This government was happy to apologies to the so-called 'stolen' generation. It should apologise to Telstra shareholders for selling them a company, then destroying shareholder value through their policies (forced seperation, divesting their Foxtel business, exclusion from spectrum auction for 4G etc.), which are more suited to communist Russia than to Australia.
Yet, the Future Fund was aware of the government plans when it dumped billions of dollars of Telstra shares just before the government made public their plans to destroy Telstra.
Telstra shareholders should hold this corrupt government to account and vote them out at the next election.
Chipsteroo March 10th, 2010I agree, An apology is needed
From the Liberal Government for selling off Telstra in the first place and getting us into this mess!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Appropriation without compensation is so like Mugabe
I note Telstra shares are up 2% at midday.
Anonymous March 10th, 2010telstra nbn
It is the perfect oppurtunity for telstra management to act.
The telstra bill now faces defeat, telstra should announce it is building its own fibre to compete against the nbn. It would be run out quicker and cheaper. also as it is a private network it only has to set up in the major cities (ie cherrypick like optus and the likes). Let the nbn supply non profitable rural areas.
All arguements regarding competition will be turned 180 degrees. Mr Conroy and his nbn will be the ones wanting a monopoly without any competition
It's time for the telstra board to act NOW !
Anonymous March 10th, 2010great idea
What an excellent idea. If telstra does build a nbn in viable areas, the governemnt nbn will never get off the ground.
Then Mr Conroy would have to ask telstra very very nicely to provide services to rural australia. Of course at a viable price. No more USO this time!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010More crying from the selfish Telstra Shareholders
Stop thinking of yourselves you selfish lot and allow the competition to improve the services provided to the rest of Oz.
We have been shafted by Telstra for far to long!!!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Selfish ?
I am a tax payer and a shareholder and this NBN does not make sense? Spend $43 billion on a wireless network, be forward thinking. The NBN is like installing gas street lights.
Dargo March 10th, 2010FFS
WIRELESS IS A SHARED MEDIUM, AND IT HAS HIGH LATENCY!
Just the other day, I tested Telstra's Next G network, and despite getting more than 2Mbps on it, I also received a 170ms latency. Then I tested my ADSL connection, resulting in a 1.37Mbps speed, but my ADSL connection had a 49ms latency.
WIRELESS MAY BE FASTER NOW BUT IT HAS HIGH LATENCY AND CANNOT POSSIBLY HANDLE LARGE INTERNET TRAFFIC. FIBRE IS THE FUTURE. LET'S STOP THESE F***IN LUDDITES FROM DESTROYING OUR FUTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There! I feel better now.
RL March 10th, 2010GET A LIFE
did you notice the latency in my reply.
No one is saying a fibre network is not needed.
The main issue is how the government is stuffing up the process.
Lets make it open, accountable and if telstra needs compensation fair.
Pleas don't write back saying I'm a greedy telstra shareholder.
I don't know what would be fair compensation. But I know the governments BULLY BOY tactics are wrong
Anonymous March 10th, 2010I ALREADY HAVE
Look I'm just saying let's build the network NOW, and not wait until the last minute, like the Liberals will very likely do.
I don't like Conjob either, in fact I'm voting against Labour at the election. And I apologise for my outburst, I'm just sick and tired of uneducated people saying that wireless is the future.
Yes I think the government is stuffing up the process, but the NBN doesn't need a cost-benefit analysis, because this government knows that the NBN is the future, regardless. Do you want a cost-benefit analysis on the building of more highways, or railroads?
Oh, and Telstra is a bigger bully than the government (At least Sol was).
RL March 10th, 2010I agree
sounds like we both agree on the nbn needs to be built. Question is could it be done without the governemnt. probably not as they wouldn't roll it out to rural areas or probably quick enough.
Then the government should probably provide some incentives for these areas and US the taxpayer will have to do the Australian thing and realize it's for the good of everybody
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Then change your phone company
To all those people out there claiming that telstra is not providing a good product or service. My advice change phone companies and be quite. If you are that silly you don't know who to go with try
optus
3
dodo
ect,ect
Just do be quite about being shafted it's getting boring. Change providers or just be quite!
Didn't i say in my article telstra should compete against the nbn.
Anonymous March 10th, 2010WHO"S CRYING
RS I think you'll find most shareholders would love it if the company stopped talking to the government about joining the nbn and actually set up it's own nbn.
with it's other assets and services it would sh*t on the government nbn
The only person who would be crying is you because you wouldn't be able to B*tch on about telstra shareholders and how unfair it is. SOB SOB.
But somehow I don't think conroy would build his, do you?
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Ho ho ho
I will be toasting the break up of Telstra and the misguided people who bought the shares thinking the share market gurarantees a strong return on investment.
Anyway, while drowning your sorrows, think of Sol sitting in his jazuzzi, sipping French champagne whilst he laughs at Telstra shareholders.
It's so good to watch Australia's most arrogant company taught an almighty good lesson.
I can assure you it is only the shareholders that give a sh*t. Anyone who has been a customer, employee, supplier to this company are quietly laughing into their beers.
Bring it on - good on ya Conroy for taking them on.
Anonymous March 10th, 2010CONROYS SUBMISSION
Can't wait to watch conroy roll over. Oh yes it will be said that its a win win situation.
That's right telstra will get what it wants and mr conroy and rudd will be re elected.
The health policy seems to be forgotten with no votes gained in less than a week.
bring on the porkbarrelling
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Ho ho ho and a Ho Ho Ho
I am already toasting the very nice profit I made this week, after selling and buying back into Telstra. I hope that Conroy's stupidity, and your unintelligent nonsense, continues to have an up and down effect, as it is a sure way of picking up some easy money at present.
Ho Ho March 12th, 2010Yeah right!
A Telstra FTTN with shared connection, providing speeds of "up to" 100Mbps. Not Open Access. Telstra charging an arm and a leg.
vs.
A Wholesale-only (hopefully) FTTP, providing speeds of approximately 100Mbps. Open Access. Prices reasonable.
I think I know who I would pick!
RL March 10th, 2010BOTH SILLY
then lets have both ie competition. What is so difficult to understand !
Anonymous March 10th, 2010YOU'RE SILLY
Telstra has all the customers, the NBN doesn't. And it would cost a f*^*&in fortune to switch over from Telstra to the NBN. Therefore Telstra has the unfair advantage. And if they're allowed to build their own fibre network, they would regain their monopoly!
RL March 10th, 2010Someone has to make the change
At some point in the future, someone (the government or a company) needs to spend the money to create an alternative to Telstra.
Since that investment will be huge, I doubt a company will be the one doing it. Therefore the government (yes, funded by us taxpayers) needs to implement a plan to build Australia's future.
I would have suggested that the Government fix their mistake and buy back Telstra and move ahead. But the previous management of Telstra has made such little investment in infrastructure to warrant it being worth the buy back price (ie the Government would have to pay double by buying back Telstra, then paying to put in the required infrastructure). Therefore the only real way to move forward is to create the new network and make Telstra operate as a competitive business rather then a mess of a monopoly.
Anonymous March 10th, 2010HALF PRICE
The fact is the government could buy back telstra at 1/2 the price it sold it to the dimwitted public. ( That's not even taking into account inflation)
BUT do you really want the government to be in the telecom busines again. You young people have no idea what it was like. telstra is a little kitten to deal with compared to it's previous government entity!
Here is an idea the government pays telstra nicely to build a nbn, in return it then puts it into a seperate wholesale company and lists it on the ASX
everyone wins
telstrashareholders ( no longer a noose around our necks)
government ( gets re elected)
public ( gets it's wholesale nbn)
Sorry there is one loser thats the sigapore government. WATCH OPTUS SCREAM !
Anonymous March 10th, 2010THIEF
this gentleman now not only wants to steals telstra ducts, he now wants to steal telstra customers.
COULD HIS NAME BE MR CONROY !
Could you explain how it would cost a fortune to switch. Let me explain you let that contract with telstra expire then you go to the nbn. Or did you plan not to forefill your obligations.
If there are 2 networks by definition it's called a duopoly
welcome to the world of competition!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Steal Telstra Customers!!
One thing I can assure you is that if there was an alternative to Telstra we sure as hell would be using them.
So I wouldn't call it stealing, that's what Telstra and its shareholders are afraid of.
Here is a hint Telstra, provide a QUALITY SERVICE (you may not know that word so I will say it again SERVICE) at a reasonable price and your customers will be happy.
Anonymous March 10th, 2010I'M HAPPY
keep up the good work telstra. Have had my mobile internet and home line with you for a decade and no problems. May pay a bit more than my wife , but guess who keeps coming to me when hers keeps dropping out
If telstra is so bad the government just needs to build the nbn then and no problems ! Why then is the government wanting to set up a monopoly rather than compete with telstra. Some how I don't think they are as bad as you make out.
Once again why don't you try optus
Anonymous March 10th, 2010OMG!
I have found a happy Telstra customer!!
Wait, are you a shareholder? You are aren't you!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010BOTH !
You see if I thought they were that bad I could change just like my poor wife did.
As to my shares they are taking a savaging recently, but that's the market. Have recently added to them knowing that Mr Conroy likes being in the cabient rather than the shadow cabient. The Health announcement was just the start of the pork barrelling. do you think rudd and conroy are going to P*SS OFF 1.4 million voters in an election year. Even the silly coalition, bless there soles, now realise there's votes in it!
If I'm wrong will loss a few more dollars.
Would you like to take me up on an offer to walk around any capital and see where yours drops out whilst mine is still working. As I said worth a few extra bucks! However if tls keeps sinking may have to change providers HA! HA! HA!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010No need for that!
We don't need to walk around with mobile services, Telstra takes the cake for mobile service.
Fix line services is what the NBN needs to fix.
Good luck with the share gamble :)
If Labour proceeds with the NBN and Telstra break up they will get my vote, but if they proceed with the Filter, well then I am going with the Opposition.
Anonymous March 10th, 2010WHY
I would like to know why has telstra invested so well to have the best mobile service and yet it let its land line services decay?
OK one could say that they didn't want to erode there high margin copper lines. OK maybe that holds true for a while but if this company saw the light to build a great mobile nextwork. Why didn't it start upgrading it's copper to fibre.
The question is I suppose is the demand really there .There is nothing stopping telstra announcing that it will build it's our fibre network they could even do it in a stepwise approach. But it doesn't do it, WHY ?
Makes me think a nbn may not be viable either from the initial cost or end demand.
This is probable the same reason Mr conroy wants an nbn monoploy.
Now these issues generally always need a compromise.
What about the government gets telstra to build and maintain the nbn at reasonable infrastructure yield.
All telcos are invited to move their customners across and for this they recieve a share of the nbn asx listed wholesale structure ( pro rata rate)
this enables the copper to be upgraded for fibre which as is good for the community, telstra gets payed ( in kind) for making it's cash cow redundant and there is a wholesale fibre provider.
Anonymous March 10th, 2010re OMG
Yes RS, I am. As you know, you and everyone else on the planet that is not a Telstra customer or shareholder hates Telstra. And Conroy of course.
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Correct me if I am wrong
Wasn't it the Libs who sold off Telstra to create the mess we have today in the privatised Telstra Monopoly.
So when a new Government steps in to propose changes to correct the mistakes from the previous Government, the Libs are the first one to go against it.
Libs wake up, you stuffed up, let your mistakes be fixed. Bring on innovation and competition to the Australian market moving towards quality services provided to all Australians, not just the select few!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Yes your right
Yes the lib GOVERNMENT sold telstra in it's present form. The problem is the lab GOVERNMENT is trying to steal it back!
It's like if a labour government gave mining leases to BHP which turned out to be profitable and a liberal government wanted to take them away THAT'S OK IS IT ?
Regarding competition whats your problem want a mobile phone plenty of providers !
want internet once again plenty of providers
want foxtel SH*T you don't even have to go through telstra.
Not sure what these competition idiots are on about. they seem to think they can't wipe their bottoms without telstra.
Anonymous March 10th, 2010No your wrong
If you have an internet connection through Internode, iiNet, AAPT, etc. and your connection somehow goes awry, you contact your ISP to try and fix it, but the problem is Telstra owns the copper connection that is running through your household. Therefore Telstra is responsible and the ISP that you are connected to is powerless to fix the problem.
If Telstra was separated, it would have no choice but to allow the ISP to access the copper and ducts, therefore they would be able to fix the problem without having to go through Telstra. Telstra would still own the network, but only at wholesale.
"want internet once again plenty of providers"
Yeah right! I WANT ADSL2+! BUT TELSTRA IS THE ONLY PROVIDER IN MY AREA! Plenty of providers, my ****!
RL March 10th, 2010I WOULD LIKE ADSL2+
I want makes you sound like a little brat.
If your desire for ADSL2+ is so strong ring optus(ie singapore government) and ask them why they are not providing this service to your community. If you don't get the response you want you could always start direct negotations with the singapore government. GOOD LUCK
I would like a BMW. I known if i really want one and can just pay for one, like you could just pay for ADSL2+. But do I really need it
Anonymous March 10th, 2010SO WOULD I
The car I have now is good enough, thank you very much. My 1989 Mitsubishi can do 120km/h pretty well, and so does a BMW. Your car analogy doesn't work on me!
If Telstra is separated then their network would become open, therefore Optus, along with other providers, will be providing ADSL2+ to me.
Yes, I may sound like a brat, but I'd rather be a brat than a Telstra shareholder!
"optus(ie singapore government)"
Optus is just a company, they don't represent Singapore in any way. Typical racist Telstra shareholder! You're no better than the small minority of Australians who are torturing Indian students in Melbourne.
RL March 10th, 2010Optus structure
optus is owned by singtel and who is the biggest shareholder in singtel ? I wonder !
The Sinapore governemt would not be as stupid as the aussie governement in the way it treats its national carrier ( Sorry mate no racist overtones meant) The Sing government would not have stuffed up their telecomunications sector as bad as the our governemnts have. It pays to have stable governments! not the loosers we have
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Telstra Shareholders=Voters!
Finally some commonsense! Lets all vote Conroy for what he has done to Telstra & Net Filter!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010non-Telstra Shareholders=Voters!
See what I did there!
A little not so secret tip between you and me:
"There more Australian voters who are not Telstra Shareholders!!"
But I agree that the NetFilter plan needs to be scrapped
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Superannuation
Anyone who has superannuation is likely to have part of their contributions held in Telstra shares
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Telstra
So you would prefer that we invest $43 billion in a white elephant. As a taxpayer can you make economic sense of the NBN? If you can, please share the numbers so they can be tested. Don't be selfish saying Telstra is the only provider in my area. There is a few reasons for this, Telstra is bound to certain service standards and one of they is to supply you a phone line so you can get some communication. The other providers are more than welcome to start laying cable to you but the reality is that they won't because it doesn't make economical sense. CONROY has to be STOPPED. Do you trust this government to roll out the NBN? Lets see how they stack up. Grocery watch? a DUD, Fuel Watch? a DUD, Solar Panels? a DUD, initial NBN tender? a DUD, roof insulation? a DUD. Hospital promises at last election? another DUD. I have no faith.
Dargo March 10th, 2010White Elephant?
Telstra and its shareholders are the only ones who call the NBN a white elephant. You do realise we pay taxes for the Government to provide us necessary infrastructure?
The NBN is necessary infrastructure for all Australians to have equal and adequate services (not just the select few who are lucky enough to live in a non-blackspot "financially viable" metro location).
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Economic feasibility
So you have seen the financial model to justify the NBN? How much are you willing to pay for the NBN per month? If the NBN comes in then Telstra should be release from its universal service agreement and be allowed to cherry pick customers like Optus.
Dargo March 10th, 2010NEWS FLASH!!!
Telstra already does cherry pick which customers it provides service to!
As for payment, the more people with access to these services = more people connected. More people connected = lower prices per connection.
I doubt the price for a NBN connection would be any more expensive than what Telstra currently charges for their over priced, slow speed, low data quota plans!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010Price
How do you know the price is going to be the same? We have no numbers to say what it will be. Conroy needs to release the numbers to convince. He won't because he knows you will get sticker shock.
Dargo March 10th, 2010Always costs to remove a monopoly
Either we pay for the infrastructure now or continue to pay high prices for poor services until we eventually pay more for the infrastructure.
It's just going to be cheaper now rather than later.
Paying later will only make the Telstra shareholders happy as they continue to get their fat dividend payments while the rest of us Australians pay dearly for poor services.
Anonymous March 10th, 2010a monopoly for a monopoly
doesn't make cents !, why would you replace a monoploy with a monoploy as it always costs to remove a monoploy which you will have to remove again.
Sounds like Conroy in wonderland
Anonymous March 10th, 2010What new monopoly?
Isn't the Telstra breakup plan to break them into Wholesale and Retail divisions? Then you will have two wholesale providers: Telstra and the NBN with many retail providers Telstra included.
I am all for competition, a monopoly in any market is never good!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010NOT SURE CONROY WANTS COMPETITION
I don't think Mr conroy plans for telstra to compete against the nbn !
could be wrong but think it would put a big whole in its viability.
Then he would have to include it in budget funding as it wouldn't be viable ( or something like that ask the accountants)
Anyway would be good for australian aaa rating
Anonymous March 10th, 2010$120 billion for the ducts
Cough up $10 billion for the ducts or go dig your own. It's really that simple
Dargo March 10th, 2010Oops
just getting excited, should be $12 billion.
Dargo March 10th, 2010Monopoly?
The NBN will be (or should be) a wholesale-only company, therefore consumers can choose whatever ISP they want, as long as they are providing services on the NBN. Competition! The NBN will cover 90% of the population, so anyone who lives within the 90% footprint will get 100Mbps broadband (and have a choice of slower speeds), no matter where they live!
Separating Telstra will create another wholesaler providing wholesale services on another network (although an inferior one at that), meaning that all ISPs who offer ADSL can still provide ADSL and ADSL2+, at more competitive prices. Competition!
Monopoly? What monopoly?
RL March 10th, 2010LET'S FACE IT
let's face it the nbn is not viable without telstra ducts and customners.
Not to say it should not be built. yes the benefiets are wide ranging.
What does need to be addressed is the compensation to telstra for giving up those assets.
the taxpayer would be better off if it took back RIO and BHP iron ore operations in the west, but it's just plan theft.
If the government doesn't want to pay don't threaten telstra compete against it. That is the problem the government doesn't want to compete!
Anonymous March 10th, 2010FINAL AGREMENT
1. NBN definately needed
2. Telstra needs to get its act together with customner service
3. Mr Conroy needs to compenstate telstra fairly or get kicked out of government
Anonymous March 10th, 2010AGREED
If the government can't get this sorted then they will be a 1 term government. Too many stuff ups
Dargo March 10th, 2010Government NBN
Another day another blow out. http://www.theage.com.au/national/100m-to-fix-botched-insulation-program-20100310-pz9q.html
Imagine the blow out on $43 billion.
Dargo March 11th, 2010WIRELESS
If wireless is so bad why do countries like Hong Kong and Singapore embrace it? Singapore? The owners of the biggest free loader whinger telephone company Optus. http://www.ida.gov.sg/Programmes/20061027174147.aspx?getPagetype=36
Give me a break. This NBN is a dog.
Dargo March 11th, 2010NBN
Oh Shut UP, Dargo!
Wireless does have its advantages: Internet that you can take with you, mobility. The problem is wireless cannot handle large traffic. Imagine a wireless home network, there are 3 people on that network, all three of them watching 1080p HD movies, streaming from the net, at the same time. Can wireless handle that? I don't think so. But the NBN can (You'd require speeds of at least 50Mbps though)
What really angers me is that people think that wireless can 'replace' fixed. NO. That's impossible! But wireless and fixed CAN coexist.
As for price, well, when the Next G network first became available, you had to pay $130 per month for only 3GB per month. But now, you only pay $120 per month for 10GB. History has shown that thanks to competition (And there will be competition on an open access network) prices tend to go down. Installation costs for the NBN (FTTH) will go down too in time. It has gone down in the United States, it will go down in Australia too.
And one more thing: what have you Telstra shareholders got against Singapore?
RL March 13th, 2010Power Centre Useful content from our premier sponsors
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1 hour ago by ronsondalby on twitter
Hilarious coverage of the iPhone 4 launch from the CNET guys. http://bit.ly/cTvyuB
2 hours ago by joshgnosis on twitterWhat a sad way to live if the only joy in your life is to queue for a piece of defective technology sold by a vendor who accused his loya...
2 hours ago by fred9999 on iPhone 4 Australian launch: pictures
@Jetttje: outlook-alternatieven: http://www.zdnet.com.au/top-alternatives-to-microsoft-outlook-339295046.htm
6 hours ago by hansstavleu on twitter
RT @NASAWatch: NASA photos mooned in abandoned Maccas (LOIRP) http://bit.ly/arFI4Y
6 hours ago by Stratocumulus on twitter
http://bit.ly/9y8rsU Multimedia Toolbar Icons - Free Software Downloads - ZDNet Australia
7 hours ago by mpzcosehpamq4 on twitterI am happy to know I was right about predicting Symantec's stock price and the furture trend. As I have pointed out a few times, I th...
7 hours ago by strelaoz on iPhone midnight launches across AustraliaJust weirdly found out Michael Yell - Country and Regional Director for OEM, XSP and Services Business at Symantec Asia Pacific and Japan...
7 hours ago by strelaoz on iPhone midnight launches across AustraliaAs I have reported to Symantec Ethics about David Freer’s (VP, Symantec – Norton, APJ) misconducts (fraud, having dissented sex with ...
7 hours ago by strelaoz on iPhone midnight launches across AustraliaDavid Freer (VP, Symantec Consumer Business Units - Norton, APJ) is a BIG LIAR! He lied to me for more than two and half years for my tru...
7 hours ago by strelaoz on iPhone midnight launches across AustraliaMy speed is 33 807 I'm with bigpond cable
9 hours ago by francoo on Broadband SpeedtestThat is a beautiful boat,but, I'd still rather go to sea on a first flight 688 boat.Preferably the 689 if Clinton hadn't decommis...
10 hours ago by rogue689 on Get wet with submarine tech photosFor many other reasons, than just the net filter, the current has to go. Still, I wouldn't trust Abbot either. There are however chec...
11 hours ago by ian_from_oz on Conroy's filter masterstrokeRT: @zdnetaustralia: http://bit.ly/cJU6Mf We've added Virgin to our iPhone 4 pricing table comparison.. See which telco has the best deal.
11 hours ago by japha on twitter
Apple to look at iPhone 3G iOS 4 problems - Software - News http://bit.ly/cmaTAJ _ that's nice of them
12 hours ago by tim_butcher on twitterStop trying to dodge the filter issue, Conboy; it'll bite you in the **** whether you like it or not.
14 hours ago by Hyperion on Conroy pledges NBN map, same policies
Facebook va lansa un serviciu de răspunsuri la întrebările utilizatorilor http://bit.ly/aS4kLC
15 hours ago by adrian_silimon on twitter
Survey proves #AUS e-health demand http://j.mp/ah9Iwf /via @ZDNetAustralia
15 hours ago by ej_butler on twitterA "profound cultural change" is required for a truly open government http://bit.ly/bTht86 /via @zdnetaustralia #gov2au
15 hours ago by ej_butler on twitterAs one who has been as critical as any of the Sol era Telstra...as long as Telstra are leaving feasible room for profit margins for their...
15 hours ago by RS on Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog?David, while the popular opinion, at least in the eyes of Telstra opponents, is to use every devious argument to stifle the operations of...
15 hours ago by sydneyla on Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog?Question two: What is stopping.... "AUSTRALIANS could save up to $1.9 billion a year in travel costs, petrol and time if they spent h...
16 hours ago by Vasso Massonic on Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog?
Survey proves e-health demand: NEHTA http://itrau.com/bt9f8w via @ZDNetAustralia
16 hours ago by AUTechNews on twitterRT @zdnetaustralia: Survey by NEHTA proves there is a demand for e-health http://bit.ly/bXuT1K
16 hours ago by joshgnosis on twitter
RT @zdnetaustralia: Telstra cops $18.55 million fine for exchange capping http://bit.ly/9cL91V
16 hours ago by crupaul on twitter
RT @zdnetaustralia: Survey by NEHTA proves there is a demand for e-health http://bit.ly/bXuT1K #yam
16 hours ago by johnnysd on twitter
A good read..RT @zdnetaustralia: Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog? http://bit.ly/cSgC31
16 hours ago by awmitchell on twitterRT @zdnetaustralia: eBay and the Trading Post online help the Australian Taxation Office catch tax cheats http://bit.ly/dBDXRz
16 hours ago by crupaul on twitter
RT @zdnetaustralia Tesltra tweaks its data plans for all smartphones (not just the iPhone 4) http://bit.ly/bxO0G2
17 hours ago by MacGirlUK on twitterRT @zdnetaustralia: Is Telstra the scorpion or the frog? http://bit.ly/cSgC31
17 hours ago by MacGirlUK on twitter
@mibus http://www.zdnet.com.au/commbank-dives-into-580m-banking-it-revamp-339288467.htm
17 hours ago by jamezpolley on twitter
The tech keeping Plastiki afloat: photos: ZDNet Australia brings you the tech below deck on the epic Plastiki voyage. http://bit.ly/aTj1QU
17 hours ago by tessa_alfred on twitter
http://bit.ly/cJU6Mf We've added virgin to our iPhone 4 pricing table comparison.. See which telco has the best deal.
18 hours ago by zdnetaustralia on twitterThis story has been liked 5 times in the last 24 hours!
1 day ago, Australia's iPhone 4 pricing comparedKeep up with ZDNet Australia
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Bring on the election
All telstra shareholders should vote against this governemnt in the up coming election. It is not a liberal vs labour thing at all.
It is simple how dare politicans sell something at a huge premium one year and the try to take it back by force the next.
It is time for telstra shareholders to stand up to the government. VOTE THEM OUT AT THE NEXT ELECTION.
NBN nightmare
With Telstra appearing to be on the receiving end of a hostile government. Does Telstra management intend to now take a harder line with the government over negotiations for what are prime assets. The government is soon to be facing an election and considering their recent performance with the solar and roof insulation roll out I am wondering if they can roll out a NBN with out access to Telstra's main asset the government wants. That is access to those miles and miles of under ground ducts that would take decades to replicate. I would think the government would be held up for years just getting council permission just to dig up the sidewalk let alone the cost to do so. I would also expect that the community would also not be amused if they tried to hang cable from lamp posts like what happened in the last century. As a Telstra shareholder I would prefer at this stage to take a Sol like approach to the government as it appears to be giving Sol like treatment to Telstra shareholders. There is around 330,000 kms of sealed roads in Australia. If it cost around $25,000 per km to dig and lay cable then the cost would be around $8.25 billion plus the time to do it. By the time the cable was down the NBN would be obsolete. The government has awarded a Leighton consortium the contract to roll out 6,000 kms of NBN. Cost $250 million, that's around $42,000 per km. mmm, where is the feasibility to justify this roll out? This issue is more than if you are a Telstra shareholder. This issue has wider implications and should the government be successful with its break up of a successful Australian company you should be asking what next? Banks, Wesfarmers, Woolworths or BHP? People have choices about what tele-communications companies they want to deal with. I am concerned that like the story by Hans Christian Andersen emperor's new clothes, we will realise once this NBN is built that we will have a $43 billion white elephant. Look around you, look at the 20 year old kids today, they want wireless and don't want to be tied to a phone cord. If only the government would release it's costings on the NBN so we could see how this system was going to be paid for. If the government thinks that people will line up to invest in the NBN they surely must think that investors will have forgotten how Telstra was turned into a political play think for the communications minister.