Colin being a tech head is probably like a kid in a candy store with the NBN.

Colin, do you really think that rolling out the last stage at about $6000 per house hold is value for money, even for the 20% of households that don't own computers?

SHADOW.. I tend to support the idea of an NBN...

BUT...

there are many as yet unanswered questions.

1/ Who will run the show ?
2/ How much will it cost?
3/ What is the payback period ?
4/ Will it come by MY place ? ? ? ? (the most important question :)

If the Government keeps it in peoples hands..I can see we might make a few bucks out of it.. (why the HELL they sold telstra when it was a cash cow everrrrrry year is beyond my comprehension.... course it did help reduce debt....ONCE but never again because you can only sell something once.)

I, like many voters, simply don't know enough about the NBN to make an informed descision.

What's to say enough people will actually use it to make it a viable system.

Look at the recent toll roads in Brisbane, simply not enough people using them to make them viable.

Now the really puzzling part for me is why on earth are they pushing what is essentially a 'fixed line product', when so many 'net useres' are turning to mobile networks.

I really think that is has the potential to be yet another 'white elephant' and, 43 Billion is a huge amount to risk when there are unknown variables.

Not enough selling has been done to the average punter for them to make an informed choice.

Labor uses the example of regional doctors being able to better communicat with specialists with the aid of fibre optic network.

Well, what about implimenting some other means of comunication for doctors and businesses that can afford it and leave the average joe household out of it. Is there a solution, after all, if anyone can afford it, they can.

Another example is that of regional towns being on a level playing field, but hang on, they paid but a fraction of the cost to establish thier life in the bush, so how do they expect to have the same facialities and pay the same as those in the cities.

As I have said, there is simply not enough evidence or education to support this policy idear.

And you are all happy about the Labor Party's goal of selling the NBN to that proud, democratic, human rights respecting nation of China?
Any that is a good idea to hand the keys to what will become - if it is built - our major telecommunications backbone to the PRC?
And you'd be in no doubt REALLY happy to know that one of the private companies in the loop for the construction and buyout phase has links to the PLA and is run by a PLA General...
I kid you not.
And you'd be happy to give over command and control of our Telecommunications to a nation that is renowned and feared for its Electonic and Internet Warfare capabilities?
Reputedly, they have penetrated and can shut down the Pentagon at any time of their choosing.
Knowing that they in turn, wouldn't countenance for a nanosecond, any similar ownership on their own turf?
This is the same country that's building a fleet of Nuclear powered and armed Super Carriers, Nuclear Powered and Armed Hunter Killer and Ballistic Submarines.
Whose NBN is it anyway?
How anyone could vote for any party with Conroy in it is beyond me...