The Rudd government April 7th 2009 announcement of a plan to finance and construct a massive 'fibre-to-the-node' broadband network -- supplying service to 90% of Australian homes is a remarkable sea change in public policy. This article discusses the financing and timing of this proposal - and the PM's remark that it would ultimately be privatised. (Article by Tristan Ewins, originally published on leftfocus.blogspot.com on 7 Apr 09.)

"The case for re-nationalising Telstra" of 13 Jan 09 also by Tristan Ewins (also on Online Opinion), forum discussions "The broadband revolution" and "Monday Message Board" on johnquiggin.com, "Other projects will pay for hare-brained scheme" by Kenneth Davidson in the Age of 9 Apr 09, citizensagainstsellingtelstra.com.

1 July 2005, Telstra share price was AU$5.06. 3.5 years later, Sol Trujillo announced his pending departure [26 February]. With Telstra stock nearing a record LOW on Trujillo's watch - AU$3.68, we're informed that Sol will take with him his AU$13.4-million pay package for this year plus another AU$30-million payout. Plus his eight-digit salary each of the previous three years.

See also: citizensagainstsellingtelstra.com

Tristan Ewins a Victorian teacher argues the case for the re-socialisation of Telstra. The original article was published as "National broadband: what kind of monopoly?" together with a forum discussion on Online Opinion.

Contents: "The logic of privatisation - Australian telecommunications", "'Competition' no value for consumers", "Options for the 'National Broadband Network'", "Re-socialising Telstra ...".

See also: "Open letter commending Senator Scott Ludlam's stance on behalf of telecommunications users" of 20 Dec 08, "Keep broadband in public hands - Australian Greens" of 14 Dec 08, NSW Electricity Privatisation, Citizens Against Selling Telstra.

James Sinnamon recently posted a letter to Greens Senator Scott Ludlam on behalf of Citizens Against Selling Telstra to commend his call for the Australian Government to take a controlling stake in the planned National Broadband Network (NBN) on behalf of the Australian people.

Contents: Australia could have had universal fibre-optic broadband access before 2000, Former Telstra owners at the mercy of imported US management team, Democracy subverted to by-pass public opposition to the sale, Holding to account those responsible for the wreckage, How to fix up the mess?.

Original letter published on citizensagainstsellingtelstra.com See also: "National broadband: what kind of monopoly?" of 13 Jan 09 by Tristan Ewins on Online Opinion and forum discussion, "Keep broadband in public hands - Australian Greens" of 14 Dec 08.

As Telstra places ever more conditions and demands ever more taxpayer funding in return for its participation in the Labor Government's National BroadBand Network (NBN) program, Western Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has called to assume a majority stake in the project in order to guarantee that the public interest be safeguarded.

Also published on citizensagainstsellingtelstra.com. Original media release of 3 Dec 08 from Scott Ludlam's Web site. See also:, "$5bn more needed on broadband: Telstra" in the Australian IT Section of 4 Dec 08, "Telstra call centres in crisis" in the Australian IT Section of 2 Dec 08, "Telstra cuts widow off from world" in the Toowoomba Chronicle of 30 Nov 08, ...

According to Independent candidate for Calare Gavin Priestley the recent announcement of technical staff redundancies in Telstra highlights a lack of service control created by the Coalition Government’s sale of Telstra. Original article is from the Nyngan Observer.