Election 2010 – The tech issues that matter
- 19 July, 2010 08:40
- Comments 22
Senator Stephen Conroy (left) and Tony Smith
- IN DEPTH: ELECTION 2010 - Your first stop on the political trail. An ARN supersite with news, comment, analysis, interviews, and debate from a channel and IT perspective
As the Federal election draws near the battle lines are being drawn between our Labor Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and her long-term Liberal party sparring partner, Tony Abbott. In preparation, here are some of the top technology and communications issues that will affect business and people throughout Australia along with a breakdown of where the situation stands. We start with a breakdown of stances on mandatory filtering, Telstra's separation and the National Broadband Network.
1. MANDATORY FILTERING
This hot-button topic has been top of mind for Australians in the know when it comes to technology. The Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, and the Shadow Communications Minister, Tony Smith, have both spoken on this topic with a range of sources, including ARN.
But outside technology, religious and civil libertarian, circles, the issue has failed to ignite mainstream speculation in the same way mining taxes and environmental issues have.
Labor Party
The latest news is that Minister Conroy has delayed the introduction of draft legislation until after a meeting of the Federal and State attorneys-general. This means it won’t be put together until after the election.
In the mean time, a filter system will be introduced by Telstra, Optus and Primus. All customers of these internet service providers will be filtered through a system that bans sites according to an Australia Communications and Media Authority blacklist.
Although this ‘voluntary’ system is expected to have several other ISPs sign up soon, it won’t be in place for at least a few months pending discussions around how to do it and who will pay for it.
The Coalition
The Coalition’s Shadow Communication Minister, Tony Smith, has labelled the Government’s decision to postpone the filtering bill’s drafting as a ‘humiliating backdown’. He’s also criticised Conroy for being too slow in releasing filtering trial results and called it complex and problematic.
But the Shadow Minister has also been keen not to come out against filtering as a concept. During in-depth interviews with ARN, Smith has been keen to note his main objection is to the potential speed slowdowns and not the principle of a filter.
To this end, the Coalition has officially welcomed steps taken by Australia’s ISPs to sign up for the voluntary filter.
2. TELSTRA'S SEPARATION
The former Government telco monopoly, Telstra, had its market strength eroded by the Labor party and was privatised by the Coalition. Both parties have battled against the Telstra’s strength in an effort to change the telco scene.
The Labor government’s push to build a National Broadband Network has meant a deal with Telstra for its existing infrastructure would save a large amount of taxpayer money.
But Telstra’s 1.4 million shareholders hold plenty of votes in key electorates around Australia and the company’s public listing on the Australian Stock Exchange means it has to do what’s best for them alone.
Labor Party
The ALP has let Minister Conroy take the lead on this issue on behalf of the Federal Government. Conroy has played a hard game and threatened firm action against Telstra using legislation.
Most recently, it signed a deal worth $11 billion that will get the NBN access to its infrastructure while appeasing shareholders. This has been a major feather in Labor’s cap and provides a good news story in the run up to the election.
The Coalition
The Shadow Communications Minister has tried to keep Telstra’s shareholders in mind. The party moved firmly against the splitting of Telstra and will not force it to structurally separate if it wins the election.
Smith has promised to review access regimes to boost competition between the companies in an effort to appease Telstra’s rivals, who have lobbied long and hard to split Telstra up.
3. THE NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK
The NBN and its original $43 billion price tag will play a major role in the upcoming election. This nationwide infrastructure project aims to see a fibre optic network linking every house and premise in Australia with Internet speeds of up to 100Mbps.
All communities with more than 1000 people will be linked in by fibre, while satellite services, wireless technology and other methods will bring the rest of rural Australia up to speed with high-speed broadband.
Labor Party
Conroy’s signing of a financial heads of agreement with Telstra to use its existing infrastructure for NBN Co’s build takes a massive weight off the Government’s shoulder. While the Government claims it could’ve been built without Telstra’s cooperation, the price would have very high and embarrassing.
The ALP’s use of NBN Co to start and run the work ensures Conroy and his party already have firm progress to point at during the election campaign. Some MPs are already using their electorate’s inclusions in the first and second release sites as evidence of their hard work.
With the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program hitting major snags in public schools and the housing insulation program causing severe embarrassment (and potentially deaths), the NBN will be main example of nation building used by Gillard and Conroy throughout the election season.
The Coalition
Since Telstra’s deal has not been finalised, the Coalition will continue to use the NBN and its potential $42 billion price tag as a key example of irresponsible spending. This will form a key part of its argument that the ALP cannot be trusted with the finances of Australia.
But Government ads promoting the benefits of an NBN on prime time television around Australia will most likely result in the Coalition bringing out an alternative plan of its own.
Private enterprise will play a major role in any proposal brought forward, as will the use of existing infrastructure. The Coalition’s version will not be as fast as the Government’s NBN, but it won’t cost nearly as much either.
Nominations for the 2012 ARN IT Industry Awards open on Tuesday, June 12.
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Comments
Peter H
I wouldn't trust whatever NBN replacement the Libs come out with. Whatever they say will be a simple "we don't know what to do, we still believe in dial-up, Telstra has not abused their position, but please vote for us and we'll work something out later (exactly what we attacked Labor for doing!) but int he meantime here's the back of OUR bus ticket on which we have drawn up an idea which 95% of Australia won't understand - but it will sound cheaper so they'll vote for us!".
Short-term cheap = long-term expensive. Remember that!
Peter H
Exetel's NBN prices for Tassie () who are already live with their service are just $10/mth (5Gb) with NO line rental - just add the cost of your calls (Min $5-$10 incl 20-50 calls then extras at @ 10c-12c each. So, an average family's 5Gb usage (non-teenagers) with 50 calls per month to landlines Nationwide PLUS 50mins calls to mobiles every month for just $20 - that's less than you pay now for line rental with no calls, and internet connection at faster than ADSL2 speeds (25Mb down, 2Mb up).
THIS is one of many reasons the NBN must be built. Bye bye Telstra monopoly. No more suffering for all the people who can't get broadband, and still have to pay a fortune for phone calls. Don't let the Libs kill it off!
Peter H
Remember - ONLY The Greens both support the NBN and reject the filter. The Libs want the filter (they have been very careful not to oppose it!) and will kill the NBN. Labor will finish the NBN and implement the filter.
Vote 1 Green then also choose your 2nd choice carefully. If the Green candidate in your area doesn't win, your 2nd vote will count. REMEMBER - NUMBER EVERY BOX OR YOUR VOTE WON'T COUNT! And make sure you're on the electoral roll immediately! Enrol now - copy/paste this link: http://www.aec.gov.au/Enrolling_to_vote/Update_enrolment.htm
And don't believe all the rubbish about "a vote for the greens is a vote for Labor" - preference your votes yourself! Whilst The Greens may agree with Labor on some issues, they have been against many of them: the filter, CPRS (in its current form with all the subsudies to the big polluters), and remember it was The Greens at the last election that drew the majors' attention to the low Pension payments, and negotiated a higher increase for them.
Steve L
Looks like I will be voting Greens, i DO NOT want the filter but WANT NBN.
Sydney Lawrence
All Australians would want a NBN service the same as they would all want a Bentley convertible, but the gigantic spend (up to 43 billion) should be used for better purposes elsewhere, to help the aged pensioners the poor and to improve hospital facilities.
Of course Australians should be given a better Broadband service where it is not available. Tony Abbott must have discussions with Telstra as to what this Australian company could suggest to deliver better services to the Australian people for a cost much cheaper than the taxpayer destroying 43 thousand million dollar proposal from Conroy.
robby
Come on ARN - are you serious? Three issues and no look at the business side of things at all?
As a channel publication and not even mentioning procurement, industry and skills development - that's a disgrace.
I guess we can get it at CRN instead...
john
David, you can add the channel to that list of industries that really don't care about the filter.
@Robby - well said. you know what ARN stands for? Australian Reseller News....
Tom
@robby & john
I'm in the channel too, but the election really isn't going to do anything for it. I've helped on Government accounts and the systems in place really didn't change much between Howard and Rudd - just the faces at some departments.
Besides seriously, CRN? Really? They used to be a great publication but recently they've dropped off the radar. Plenty of important stories go entirely unreported there. ARN isn't as good as it used to be but it's the only semi-decent channel site.
Tom
In fact, I just checked CRN and they've got nothing, zip on the election or politics. Hell, they're DiData story is just a crappy shell from the US!
peterh_oz
Sydney ...
"Of course Australians should be given a better Broadband service where it is not available." Ummm that would be about 75% of the country. Everyone over 2km from a telephone exchange.
"Tony Abbott must have discussions with Telstra as to what this Australian company could suggest to deliver better services to the Australian people". They had their chance. Even in areas where they are now providing resellable fibre (Point Cook) lets compare prices shall we?
Retail prices via Exetel:
Fibre In Point Cook
Speed Down/Up Price Download Data $ (Upload free)
8 mbps/384 kbps $40.00 $0.50 per GB
30 mbps/1 mbps $60.00 $0.50 per GB
100 mbps/5 mbps $80.00 $0.50 per GB
Fibre In Tasmania
Speed Down/Up Price Download Data $ (Upload free)
25 mbps/2 mbps $0.00 $2.00 per GB
50 mbps/4 mbps $25.00 $1.00 per GB
100 mbps/8 mbps $50.00 $0.75 per GB
I know which one I'd rather pay for. Oh, and data to/from Tas is more expensive than the mainland, so I wouldn't be surprised to see even lower plans once the NBN is nationwide.
And remember there is no line rental added - Exetel's phone call costs for ALL the Fibre services:
Monthly
Minimum Local/National Calls to
Charge Included Calls Landline Rate mobiles
$5.00 20 local/national landline
& 20 mins call to mobile $0.12 per call $0.18/min
$10.00 50 local/national landline
& 50 mins call to mobile $0.10 per call $0.15/min
10Gb usage on Telstra Fibre = $45 - $85
10Gb usage on NBN Tasmania = $20 - $57.50
So Sydney, which one will be cheaper in the long run for ALL Australians? The one which is government owned and built, or the one which siphons off about 20% of everyone's charges to a minority (albeit a large minority) of shareholders?
I'd prefer 21 million Australians all share the wealth rather than 1.4 million (possibly such as yourself?) have it.
Oh - and this was forecast in the prospectuses so don't bleat about changing the rules.
I look forward to your response. And I will still be voting Green 1 and Labor 2. Declaration: I am a Greens member (there is now an election as it has been called, so I believe declarations should be declared in these debates - for the record I DO support the legislation that SthAust tried to introduce a few months ago - printing online should be no different to printing on paper).
Peter
Vote Greens, the only mob that will ditch the filter and continue with the NBN.
Sydney Lawrence
peterh_oz thank you for you reply and your wealth of information which was gratefully received. To be perfectly truthful, and prior to the relevant information from Tony Abbott of his NBN intentions, I do believe that the Labor plan for the NBN may be the best result for Telstra and others involved in the industry as the (up to 43billion dollars) which the Government plans to inject into the program would be gratefully received.
My only question is would it be better for the long-suffering Australian taxpayer if there could be another solution found to the commendable effort to supply Australians with acceptable Broadband and at reasonable cost. As every Australian, I do have a financial interest in the well being of Telstra and as an Australian company Telstra should be given a fair go by any Australian Government. Not sure who I will vote for yet will closely study the Policies.
RS
Sydney... for the last 15 months, because of your interest in Telstra as a "direct TLS shareholder" and as an active Telstra supporter (two things every Australian is NOT) you have vehemently fought against the NBN, with daily commentary in many online forums.
But now you say the NBN "may be the best result for Telstra"?
Gee, you called me a deceiving, disparging opponent of the Aussie icon Telstra, out for my own financial agenda, when I said that.
You also told us that the reckless, Telstra hating, communist (or similar words) Labor government, must go...
Now with an election called, you don't know who you are going to vote for?
Please just for once, TTTS!
scott
Great to see a tech election wrap on your site. Why have you chosen to exclude the Australian Greens? ARN's been pretty reasonable in keeping people informed of Greens work in the ITC sector, but for some reason we fell off your election radar. What's the story?
robby
@Tom - you are right about CRN.com.au - but I usually use the US site as both ARN and CRN here just don't do channel anymore. Or at least not even half as well as they used to.
You may be right that the election might not do much for the channel - but I'd at least like to see a channel publication address that point and not just go for whirlpool traffic to boost their ad numbers.
neilmc
I'd like to give an honourable mention to the Australian Luddite Party. Using backward thinking to take us forward to 1984
http://www.movingaustraliaforward.com/
iTnoX
Robby: ARN will delve further into the business side of matters as our coverage progresses. This is just an opening statement of fact.
Other that that, I think Tom said it all. And Scott: The Greens position will certainly be covered. Senator Ludlam's interview is already on the election site.
David
I am a little disappointed with this story. It pits Labor against Liberal with no mention of the Greens. The comments had more information that the actual story did.
People are looking for a way to vote against the filter but for the NBN. Peter H at comment (3) I believe said what the voters really wanted to hear.
Glen
@ sydney
"Sydney Lawrence
Sat 17/07/2010 - 08:06
The gigantic spend (up to 43 billion) should be used for better purposes elsewhere, to help the aged pensioners the poor and to improve hospital facilities.
So removing the need for pensioners and the poor to pay $30 a month line rental isn't a good thing? Paying it directly to pensioners instead is just giving the money to Telstra.
The money being MY tax dollars that keeps getting shoved off to pay for pensioners while I get virtually nothing. To top it off, the pension system will be gone when my turn comes around.
Havelclown
Totally agree with 19 Glen on this one. 43 billion dollars is very embarrassing considering our health and education systems are waning fast and receiving far less funding. Most of us have sufficient Internet that allows us some extra luxuries like online banking and purchases, if we didn't god forbid we'd have to actually visit the bank or a store! Obese anyone? Although Internet is classed as a utility it certainly isn't a necessity, the world survived before its conception - I think we've maybe become too reliant on it. Those that don't have 'sufficient' Internet such as rural areas should know what they're in for - it's a big country.
Entity
@ Havelclown " Those that don't have 'sufficient' Internet such as rural areas should know what they're in for "
Yes - they know exactly what they are in for - drought, lower employment opportunities, access to education, information and healthcare services. The LAST thing they need is to be isolated from the rest of the world with poor internet.
Yes we survived before it's conception (the internet), but we also survived once without vaccinations, penicillan and higher education for the masses. The majority of the developed world has moved on and its time we caught up!
mutatedwombat
The free market is a wonderful thing. In a competitive environment, businesses respond to perceived demand by offering what the public wants, in an effort to gain competitive advantage.
Why then, has no mainstream ISP offered the feature of a censored Internet feed? Could it be that there is no public demand? Given that there is no demand for optional censorship, why then is the Government hell bent on imposing mandatory censorship?
Freedom is precious. So precious that thousands of Australians have sacrificed their lives in two world wars fighting to defend it. It would be a tragedy if the freedoms that were defended so vigorously were to be signed away by a small minority of wowsers and zealots.
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