Is Labor antidemocratic for not now releasing NBN report?

[Outlaw Yogi]

They've all got something to hide. All factions of all parties that is.
But its a bit rich for Lib party devotees to bitch/whinge about secrecy or undemocratic antics.
Howard's crew was the most secretive and elitist this country's had .. for ... ahm ... can't remember .. probably decades.

[Super Nova]

I think it is reasonable to assume that they are trying to prevent it being discussed in this years sittings of parliament and that can only mean that it has some fundamental problems.

Rhis is my assumption and fear.

Great technology step. Poorly implemented with cost blow-outs and a monopoly at the end of it.

[Jovial Monk]

What garbage. Quigley has just today talked of lower investment needed, lower prices and a higher return to the govt.

[mantra]

What garbage. Quigley has just today talked of lower investment needed, lower prices and a higher return to the govt.

Monk - I think the government needs to get this scheme before the Productivity Commission - if they don't - they're in trouble. The really annoying thing about it is that it will be privatised after 5 years - and the taxpayers left footing the bill.

Telstra is also getting $11 billion from the government - although we've paid for that twice previously. This will be the third time - although the Coalition can take responsibility for originally privatising it. What are Telstra shares worth today - $2?

[TomB]

No, the bits that have leaked out paint a promising picture

Well derr, who's doing the leaking?

[Jovial Monk]

Quigley is doing the leaking, not the ALP.

Mantra, I wouldn’t mind seeing the NBN stay in govt hands. Experience has shown tho that the bloody Libs will just flog it off without any thought if they get back into power. As a least bad option a carefully planned sale that maximises the ongoing benefits of the NBN would be good.

[Outlaw Yogi]

Keeping up technologically via advancing infrastructure should be a good thing, but the Rudd-Gillard admin's track record so far has been abysmal, so I take it for granted they'll find a way to phuk it up if it isn't already fundamentally floored.
A govt keeping control of communication systems within its boarders, strategically is just common sense.
For example, Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides) let our Telecom/Teltsra run their country's phone system, and when the govt failed to pay their bill Telecom/Telstra cut them off.
I was always opposed to privatisation of publicly owned/taxpayer funded assets and considered it theft by those implementing it. My taxes helped pay for it, so where's my refund or portion of the sale of my asset?
But I'm sick of dealing with little Hitler bureaucunts in govt run departments and corporations, so phuk em, lets privatise the $#!+ out of everything, tip all these spongers with a perverted sense of entitlement on the unemployment scrap-heap and make them compete in the real world.
We let Singaporeans run our spy satelite so we may as well let the Chinese or Indians run our internet services.

[IQSRLOW]

Why hasn't someone sacked this useless sack of crap? Oh, that's right- he is the best Liebor can come up with. A waste of oxygen and taxpayers money just like Garret
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/techno ... rom=smh_sb

NBN minister walks out of chamber amid NBN debate
The federal Coalition has continued to rain insults on Communications Minister Stephen Conroy for trying to hurry along legislation that paves the way for the national broadband network (NBN).

The federal government is trying to push through a bill separating Telstra's wholesale and retail arms before parliament rises on Thursday for the long summer break.

But irate coalition senators rose again today to criticise the minister and tell him they will not be rushed.

"[The government] are in no hurry to subject this NBN to any scrutiny," Liberal senator Mary Jo Fisher told the upper house.

"Unless and until the government makes some effort to deliver accountability and transparency there is no hurry and no haste for this senate to consider this legislation."

She accused Senator Conroy of treating Australians with contempt by refusing to submit the NBN to a cost-benefit analysis or reveal the NBN Co business plan.

She criticised the minister for also defying a Senate order which last week requested the government disclose three sets of information relating to the NBN.

The deadline expired on Monday with no action from the government.

"All the minister had to do over the weekend just gone ... was ask someone to press the green button on the photocopier - that is all," Senator Fisher said.

Senator Conroy was briefly in the chamber this afternoon to hear the targeted attack, although it was his departure that was even more relished by the opposition.

"I note the minister's departing the chamber," Senator Fisher said.

"I presume that he's feeling rather shamefaced and is now going to press green on the photocopier.

"Look forward to delivering minister," she called.

Her Liberal colleagues Alan Ferguson and Cory Bernardi both ridiculed Senator Conroy over his slip-up last week when he stated that the Telstra bill did not mention the NBN.

"It does mention the NBN - 62 times," Senator Bernardi said

[TomB]

Quigley is doing the leaking, not the ALP.

You what?

[Ned Kelly]

You what?

You what, what fraud?