Thinker2

Compared to the present Labor government, the liberals are economic giants.

The present incumbents have not implemented one policy that improves the lot of the average Aussie.

PS. As Telstra is tanking, it was a good call to sell what ever they could. With the NBN, the government is attempting to set up another bureaucratic state owned monopoly.

Of course if we do have a state owned National Broadband Network, then the benefits and the rewards
(in terms of profits) will go back to the taxpayer.

When Howard sold the farm in Telstra it was a monopoly. I think it economic stupidity
to sell a public monopoly owned by the people, to private interests from overseas.
It is tantamount to selling the home you own and renting it back off the person you sold it too.
I am reminded of the nursery rhyme "Little Jack Horner".

There are also national security reasons why you should not allow monopoly private interests to own your tele-communications
as Salvadore Allende found out when murdered and overthrown by Pinochet in a coup.

In addition Howard sweetened the pot for the purchaser of Telstra and the purchasers of other privatised utilities
by weakening the trade practices act, virtually allowing them to charge what they like for these essential services,
resulting in price rises we see today, way beyond the inflation figure.

I was appalled by Joe Hockey attempting to make a link, (7.30 Report 12 aug), between the current Gov't
and the dis-proportionately rising prices of things like electricity power and gas. When it is the privatisation mantra, (that his party continues to espouse), and a weakened trade practices act that is the root cause of these obscene price rises.

Strangely he also mentioned the trade practices act (something I've never heard his side of politics mention)
since they meddled with it in favour of business interests.

Are you Joe Hockey SM?