[LINK] McCrann calls on Latham to gazump Howard on Telstra

[Craig Sanders]

On Sun, Feb 22, 2004 at 04:58:02PM +1100, David Lochrin wrote:
> At 01:38 PM 22-02-04 +1000, Chirgwin, Richard wrote:
> 
> >I'm in favour of the idea. If it's so repellant to have anything in
> >government hands [...] I can even offer a third alternative.
> >
> >1) Split "network" and "retail".
> >2) Network is co-owned by everyone with a carrier license.  Share of
> >ownership is determined by the same formula as is currently used for the CSO
> >levy.  Votes on board according to share of ownership.
> 
>    Surely there's a problem?  This model may set Telstra's current market
>    dominance in concrete, regardless of what happens to local services.

the problem is worse than just that.

this co-ownership of network infrastructure idea completely ignores the fact
that that infrastructure was built with public tax dollars and public
subscriptions to the telecom service.

the network infrastructure must remain in public hands.  it is far too
dangerous (to our economy and, more importantly, to our democracy) for telecoms
infrastructure to be in private and/or foreign ownership)

split telstra into retail (private) and infrastructure (govt owned).  if
necessary, provide cash adjustments to share-holders of Telstra I and T II
(although some might say that is going too far - nobody else gets compensated
when stolen property is taken back, they're lucky to avoid being charged with
receiving :)



>    It would be better to keep things as simple as possible and let BGT just
>    buy Telstra.  At least there's then some possibility of the Australian
>    public ditching BGT and going for Chirgwin Telecommunications.

this argument is the same as saying "thieves have robbed me, i may as well
murder myself and save them the trouble".


>    The only way that essential national infrastructure is guaranteed to
>    survive in any form which suits Australia is by keeping the pursestrings
>    100% in public hands and not signing the US FTA.  

yes, of course.

craig