http://www.freeaccess.com.au/Structure:%20/2011/01/02/victoria-government-officially-opposing-nbn-opt-out/

With opt in statistics close to 10%, and Victoria, NSW and WA (2/3rds of the population) not implementing the opt out legislation, there is every chance that Julia Gillard will build a network that almost no one uses.

Even for you Shadow Minister that is extraordinary.
10% opt out, so you determine almost no one will use it!
To balanced readers I Offer this question.
Is it not true at least 10% of Australians do not have computers?
I rather think the Liberal Ship Titanic should fear the iceberg.
Duty done I leave your sand box one post is enough lets look for reality else ware.

Belly,

The figures are projections based on the minuscule take up of the NBN in Tasmania, especially since the trial areas did not have the high speeds the cities presently enjoy.

Without Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, the financial justification for the NBN will sink without bubbles.

Too early to rejoice.
If they cannot have it voluntarily, they will take it by force, they will whip us, tearing our flesh till we accept their NBN.

When someone is corrupt and is in power, then only God can stop him/her, but unfortunately He is known to take His time in such matters.

I wish it was not made a political issue, for that only puts red in front of Julia's eyes. I wish she could simply distribute the tax-payer money to her friends and relatives without torturing us with the NBN exercise.

"Without Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, the financial justification for the NBN will sink without bubbles"

But since when do tyrants need a financial justification for their whims? If she really cared for country-people, I wish she just gave those of them who want it their toys, even if the rest of us, tax-payers have to foot the bill, so long as we do not ourselves have to be part of the cover-up operation.

Never mind sparing a thought for the population that does not live in capital city's.
It should be seen as a strategic, importance.
It would not take much to devastate AU's population in one hit.

579, the NBN is nowhere as strategically important as getting the
countries railways up to scratch for when trucks have to be
restricted to local deliveries.
Does anyone suggest that the NBN is more important than any of these;

1. Electrify and duplicate all interstate rail lines.
2. Recondition and reopen a large number of country branch lines.
3. Build additional damns on suitable rivers.
4. Examine if possible to divert some Gulf rivers towards the Darling.
5. Improve public transport nationally, eg the NW line in Sydney.
6. Flood mitigation measures.

These are six projects just straight of the top of my head that are
far more important than the NBN. How many can other readers suggest ?
These more important projects would use many times the $43 billion
being wasted on the NBN especially when you consider that they are
survival projects in a time energy descent.