[LINK] Background Briefing - the Sale of Telstra

[David Lochrin]

   This was an interesting program.  It was observed that Telstra is in high demand by overseas investors because it survived the dot-com crash better than most telcos, including British Telecom, in fact Telstra is awash with money.

Q:  Why is Telstra in this happy position?
A:  Because it was 50+% publicly owned, and therefore wasn't able to run riot during the dot-com boom.
Q:  So what does the government propose we do about this state of affairs?
A:  Fully privatise it of course!

   I recommend listening to the repeat of the program next Tuesday at 7:10pm on Radio National, or listening to the streaming audio at  http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/   The transcript will be available on Thursday.

   I've always wondered how our Prime Minister can go around saying that it'll be OK to sell the rest of Telstra as soon as services in the bush are "up to scratch" and be taken seriously.  Even if that was achieved, does the National Party seriously believe that services will stay "up to scratch" once Telstra is sold?  Can they or the people who actually live "in the bush" be so naive?  How can LJH get away with such rubbish?

David Lochrin


At 12:11 21-11-2002 +1100, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
>This Week On ABC Radio National's investigative documentary program
>Background Briefing
>.........................................
>Sunday          24 November  9:10 am
>Tuesday         26 November  7:10 pm
>Wednesday    27 November  4:00 am
>.........................................
>Waiting for T3
>Produced by Stan Correy
>
>Investment bankers are looking to the full sale of Telstra to revive their
>spirits, their pockets and the markets.
>
>For the middlemen there's big money to be made on the way up or down in the
>markets.
>
>There's spruiking, but little independent information. Consumers are
>worried.
>
>"My question is what happens if a large slab of Telstra is bought by the
>next Worldcom?"
>.........................................................
>Last Week
>Anthrax: a Political Whodunnit
>Produced by Brigid Glanville
>http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/stories/s726834.htm
>..........................................................
>[...]

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