- Joined
- 10 July 2004
- Posts
- 2,913
- Reactions
- 3
Telstra 'rejects Govt broadband plan'
Posted 4 hours 34 minutes ago
Telstra has reportedly ridiculed the Federal Government's plan for a public-private partnership to build a national broadband network.
During the election campaign, Labor pledged to invest up to $4.7 billion, in partnership with the private sector, to build a fibre-to-the-node broadband network.
Labor said the plan would, within five years, connect 98 per cent of Australians to broadband internet, at speeds up to 40 times faster than most current connections.
But Telstra chief executive Sol Trujillo has told The Australian the company would never agree to any form of joint ownership, writing it off as a "kumbaya, holding hands" theory.
"We are only going to participate in the things that we own and control," the paper quotes him as saying.
Mr Trujillo says Telstra is happy to invest $4 billion of its own money - rather than taxpayers' - in a broadband network, but only on its own terms and pricing.
Mr Trujillo says Telstra is also concerned the Competition and Consumer Commission would set the prices that could be charged for using the network.
He has warned that the Australian economy risks severe damage without a a significant investment in broadband.
ABC shut out
Yesterday's media briefing by Mr Trujillo and Donald McGauchie was confined to Fairfax and News Limited editors and selected reporters. Other media organisations, including the ABC, were excluded.
Spot on RafAlso liking the way knowlegable apolitical public servants are been given more of a role in making the decisions rather that politicians... whose only ever interest can only be short term.
So far, you'd have to say the big win is for the Westminster system itself....
I think separating water and climate change out of Garretts portfolio is fair enough. After all he is still an unexperienced politician so needs a lightened load. And there are thousands of environmental issues unrealted to climate change and he also has Arts - so its far from a nothing portfolio.
Much better than expected
So what! Rudd won't even consider going on shows that ask hard questions, he even avoids the ABC. Now thats saying something.Hold on a sec., the issue I believe is that Garrett cant even answer questions on climate change in the house of representatives......
Hold on a sec., the issue I believe is that Garrett cant even answer questions on climate change in the house of representatives.....he is the minister for the environment and yet, god help us, it will be Wayne Swan, the treasurer, that will deal with questions in the house about climate change..
the Member for Kingsford is a curious thing......minister for environment without portfolio.
I think separating water and climate change out of Garretts portfolio is fair enough. After all he is still an unexperienced politician so needs a lightened load. And there are thousands of environmental issues unrealted to climate change and he also has Arts - so its far from a nothing portfolio.
Garrett is more experienced than Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water. Garrett's first entered politics in 1984, when he co founded the Nuclear Disarmament Party and stood for a seat in the Australian Senate in New South Wales at the December 1984 federal election.
Even as a parliamentarian, Penny Wong has only 18 months more experience.
I'm not sure being an advisor to the Carr Govt was a good thing or not. Look at the mess it's (NSW) in now, although Iemma hasn't done a good job you can't blame it all on him... there are alot of things that Carr didn't do which he should have.Penny Wong was elected to the Senate since 2001 (Garrett attempting to 'stand' for a seat hardly compares). Prior to that she was also employed as an advisor to the Carr Gov.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?