What a ridiculous concept of having a copper-wire roll-out, when satellite technology is virtually upon us!

The entire notion is a waste of public monies for nothing more than literally a handful of votes. Regional Australia can wait until we go satellite. Damn! We already have GPS wherever we go, internet is not far away. Better that monies were spent on expediting that, rather than doubling costs by rolling-out old technology.

Don't support old and costly technology!

Apparently, we won't get the fast speed that they are touting anyway, as our receptors from Europe are too small.

It's something that should be read about from the proposals, not the media!

merv09,
The word is reciprocal not reciprical.
Reciprocal trade, yes that's right but a different storey really. This is more about balance of trade and our ability to bring foreign currency to the equation. It may not all arrive as currency but it goes through the books. Start taking away the amounts that farming and mining contribute to the balance of trade and watch the balance get very negative. Also look at the contribution to the balance of trade made by the folks of the urban suburbs. All those new white goods, cars, cloths and consumables all imported. At least when a farmer buys a tractor it is used to make money for the country. When a builder buys a cement mixer made in china they simply send most of the money off shore while the rest goes to make some corporate fact cat richer.
It is so disappointing that urban Australia is not as reciprocal in their attitudes toward rural Australians as they are about the trade agreements that are geared to help them in their greedy lives.

Nairbe
I understand your pain at the information and opinion in my posts, however, sadly I have commitments as do we all, which preclude me from further engagement in this debate at this time.

Be assured though, I have a long history of life in the country, where I was born. I know my “stuff” well enough to form opinions as outlined in my posts above. I base this opinion on first hand observation and living experience in the country, where I made a living in various occupations in many industries operating in the country, while at the same time raising a family in the same country.

In short, I am a country boy, but not in my opinion a “hick”. (Definition of “country hick”= A back woods uneducated narrow minded provincialist). That is a definition that the farming community must attempt to distance themselves from; but sadly, and I believe undeservedly, a tarnished image the farming community suffer from and continue to pay a disproportionate price for, in the halls of political power today.

With the proposed NBN you are being “used-up” as a group. You now must stop resting back on your collective heels and see the big picture. The NBN is a diversionary tactic. It will never happen and should not happen in the proposed form. It is a huge waste of resources.

It is money that should be invested into rural communities in more practical ways than the current proposal of an NBN network. Sorry, but farming communities are sliding in the productivity of farming due to many factors which can and should be addressed in better ways than the unnecessary NBN. (Which will not happen). The NBN is a political diversionary tactic; a con-job for votes, and its working a treat.
cheers

Diver Dan,
you probably won't see this post but thanks for the debate i have enjoyed it. I thought you must have been having a go over the country. The "country hic" problem is a real one just as the "dumb westie" is a real problem. The uneducated provincial fool is common in this country both urban and rural. The problem i have with the sprawling suburbs full of them is the disproportionate amount of influence they have politically. They have been used and manipulated much more than the country voter as they have many more seats, enough to change a government. Country voters are their own worst enemy by voting for the ever useless Nationals all the time.
In the end Dan I'm a tree changer, but did it at a very young age. I moved country after school and have never wanted to go back, have a family a business and an education, i don't find country people unaware of the issues but they are sick of producing massive wealth for this country and then being ignored.
You point out falling productivity in farming, this will turn around quickly as the drought passes and new production is put in place. I think you know that.
If your whole argument is hanging on the idea that the NBN won't get built then it is a very weak argument. It is being built and by the next election it won't even rate a mention. Like all these things, once the political value fades you won't remember it.
The need for the NBN is very basic. It has been outlined so many times by scientists to telecommunications specialists. The cost (43 bil) is over 8 years and in the end bound to be expensive because the government is building it. the problem is that if the government don't build it it won't get built, no commercial operation would spend that money, but our government can because it must serve all its people not just the profitable ones.

if americans can do it with their war robots then we should be able to do it no problems..
Mikk,
Will those Robots provide for those whose jobs are being taken ? Will those robots be so interactive as to be socially active ? Will robots contribute to Superannuation payments ?
You might think it ok to share the planet with robots both machine & human. I prefer people with some sense & integrity & humour. If I wanted to share my time with emotionless beings I'd join the Labor Party.

Mirko Bagaric,

Whatever power Man has been able to gather, from its brute force to the one generated by the contraptions issued from Einstein’s E=mc², has had two opposite directional uses; one for the benefit of his race and the other toward its discomfort or annihilation.

The power of the Internet is not an exception.

Hence Man will continue in its natural, blind, quest of overpowering any living being within its reach, including his fellow man, till the inevitable end.

Your consideration are right and wrong at the same time