Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 21 October 2008 18:22
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 3
And it was also today that both communications minister, Stephen Conroy, and Telstra seized on the results of a
CEO survey conducted by Australian Industry Group and Deloitte claiming that it vindicated the need for the National Broadband Network. ASAP.
Conroy said: "The High Speed to Broadband survey notes an urgent need for broadband improvement in Australia to support business growth and productivity."
Well, no. Because the survey made no attempt to determine whether businesses are pushing the limits of what is available today, or simply ticking boxes in a questionnaire to express a vague wishlist of broadband requirements.
Telstra had the hide to urge the government use the report as an excuse to award it the NBN contract right now! Quilty said: "This report is extremely timely as the Prime Minister is holding a summit with small business this Friday. Announcing that the Government is expediting the rollout of the National Broadband Network would be a clear demonstration of its commitment to securing the future of Australia's small businesses in this difficult economic climate."
In your dreams, Telstra! Rather than rush the NBN through and hand it to Telstra on a plate, it is time for the government to put the whole thing on hold; to demonstrate that it and not Telstra is running telecoms policy and that it is not being held to ransom by either the dominant former monopoly or by the opportunism of foreign investors.
As Broad said: "Rather than have this debate through a bidding process, there should be an independent, non-aligned body and the Industry Commission would be a good place to start."
O'Sullivan devoted much of his speech this morning to boasting about Optus' achievements as the champion of competition in its almost two decades of existence. He branded the NBN as "one of one of the biggest transformations since competition began in 1992."
CONTINUED
