[LINK] RE: Your AAP article re Digital [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Jan Whitaker]

At 08:11 PM 22/10/2007, you wrote:
>The Age has misquoted Senator Coonan's statement regarding licensed
>telecommunications carriers.  A correct copy of the Minister's media
>release is attached.
>
>The Minister's statement regarding Australia's international ranking is
>also explained in the media release.

>Gabrielle Bietola
>
>Electorate Office Manager
>
>gabrielle.bietola at dcita.gov.au


Thanks for the reply, Gabrielle, but the media release doesn't 
address the carriers point. It doesn't say "telecommunications carriers".

from the release:
"
"A fundamental tenet of the Coalition Government's telecommunications 
policy is competition and the proof of this is borne out by failing 
retail prices for consumer and an industry that has gone from 3 
licensed carriers under the previous Labor Government, to 167 
licensed carriers today.
"

The article is about broadband. This is sloppy media release. It's no 
wonder the reporter confused the meaning of Mrs Coonan. Most people would.

Additionally, the media release says: "failing" retail prices. That I 
would agree with since the cost of monthly line rentals has nearly 
doubled during the Howard Govt's time in office. I'm sure whoever 
wrote this release meant 'falling', but that would be wrong, 
obviously. Freudian slip? Or more sloppiness?

from the release:

"Price is a key factor in the broadband debate and one that Labor is 
trying to bury. We know that broadband is important for Australia's 
future and that's why the Government's new high speed broadband 
network will deliver fast, affordable broadband to 99 per cent of 
Australians within two years at a retail cost between $35 and $60 per month.

"Contrast this with Labor's broadband proposal which will be upwards 
of $100 per month and won't even be turned on until 2013.

"So much for yesterday's education rebate, it will be wiped out 
immediately if you are trying to pay for broadband under Labor's plan."

More misleading statements. Too many assumptions in here, assumptions 
about prices of a particular retail service (not smart) and that the 
use of the education rebate would be for HIGH speed broadband. Prove 
either of those, please.

I noticed that you did not copy the newsdesk at The Age nor the 
opposition, so I've done that for you. I won't bother to attach the 
media release because you seem to assume they already have that. But 
one would assume you would want to correct the record in the paper, too.

I would also point out that I believe it's not appropriate to be 
using DCITA facilities during elections, is it? Are you doing that 
while being the Electorate Office Manager for Mrs Coonan? I surely hope not.

Regards,
Jan

Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com
personal: http://www.janwhitaker.com/personal/
commentary: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/

Living, like writing, requires no wisdom. Only revising does. - Jim 
Sollisch, Sept, 2007
'Seed planting is often the most important step. Without the seed, 
there is no plant.' - JW, April 2005
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