UPDATE – NOVEMBER 2005 PART THREE
THE GREAT POLITICAL CON JOB
When the Bill for the full sale of Telstra was first introduced into the Lower House there was not one member of the Howard Government Liberal or National who crossed the floor to object.
It was only after a poll in the country electorates of Riverina and Hume showed a disapproval rate of a tad under 90% polled, were against the sale of Telstra. Of the 10,200 polled – 9062 were against the sale.
By the time the Bill had been returned from the Upper House (Senate) to the Lower House for the final stamp of approval the member for Riverina Kay Hull had decided that it was getting too hot in the kitchen, knowing full well that the Howard Liberal – Coalition had the number to pass the Bill without her vote. So she crossed the floor and voted with the Opposition whilst the member for Hume abstained. The vote was carried 75 – 58.
This con trick was pulled in 2004 by the Carr NSW Labor in 2004 when they introduced higher poker machine taxes. The most vulnerable including several back benchers were allowed to cross the floor and vote against the Bill, knowing full well that they had a big enough majority for the Bill to be passed.
A LAW FOR THEM, AND A LAW FOR US
A Law Enforcement Customs Officer of 23 years who was 12 years Federal Secretary of his association issued a write against former NSW Labor Premier Bob Carr re: the invalid and illegal licensing of the Kings Cross trial supervised injecting room. This was a breach of section 109 of the Australian Constitution as well as being indictable offences under Federal Law (the Customs Act).
Because the injection room did not have a direct effect on the plaintiff Bob Spanswick although he has young grandchildren he had to receive permission from the Attorney General (State) Bob Debus and his Federal counterpart Dary Williams for his case to continue.
This legislation of protection was introduced by political party members to avoid any possibility of prosecution. A perfect example was in September 2005 when NSW State Minister Frank Sartor when speaking on Koori Radio he told a representative of the Aboriginal Housing Commission Mick Mundine to “get you Black Ares’ in to see me.”
Opposition spokesman for Legal Affairs Andrew Tink said if Premier Lemma refused to sack Mr Sartor, the Minister should face prosecution under the anti-discrimination act. He was advised prosecution would require the consent of Labor Attorney General Bob Debus to allow the prosecution of one of his senior colleagues to go ahead.
BARNABY JOYCE BETRAYS AUSTRALIAN BUSH
We would like to go on public record re: the following statements, regarding the full sale of Telstra.
NATIONAL’S TELSTRA PACT
“They were keen to ensure we use out position of power to make sure no telecommunications user, regional or urban, are left behind from any privatisation,” Queensland Leader Lawrence Springborg said.
LETTERS, CASH – COW MASSACRED
Telstra once operated as a great cash-cow and although it
may have employed too many people. It
still delivered a service and made successive Governments large fortunes. Like the NRMA, AMP and
One major reason John Howard sold 49% of Telstra was to make it accessible to US business interests. Now he’s crying foul when these same said Americans don’t toe his political line. Well, I have little sympathy when someone sells off a National Asset for a few quick bucks. Mr Howard has had the cash and now he’s stuck with the cow and should wear his mistakes like a man.
After all, the rest of us will have to put up with this
third-rate Telco and watch the share price dive as the company cannibalizes
itself to pay itself to pay dividends to moms and pops in
David Priol – Faulconbridge
As a stake holder in Telstra, what I find incomprehensible
is why a CEO for an iconic corporation in
I am confident there would have been very competent subordinates with an excellent overview to step into the shoes of Ziggy Switkowski.
An Australian at the helm could always be entrusted to do a better job because he is a son of the soil and is accountable.
What allegiance has an expatriate to an Australian Telco than to accept a pre-arranged payout package in the event of non-performance and take the first flight home?
Damon Gray – Hassall Grove
ALL EYES ON TELSTRA
The Prime Minister can float as many provocative proposals as he likes on terrorism or anything else, but nothing will distract us from the Telstra debacle. We know the Government has been preparing to con us on Telstra 3 and we would be naïve not to suspect, that the same milk the punters philosophy, did not prevail in the sale of Telstra 2 shares.
The specious claim that it would have been unlawful for Mr Howard to disclose his inside information on Telstra raises the question of why he did not pursue the lawful course of directing the Telstra board to make a full public disclosure of matter relevant to the company’s share price, he had no hesitation in ringing the chairman more recently when he needed to silence the politically damaging clamour of Telstra’s senior executives.
On other issues voters have not been prepared to use the ballot box to punish the Prime Minister for deceiving them. With Telstra shares more closely connected to the famous hip-pocket nerve, John Howard might find that the electorate has developed a strong distaste for deceptive behaviour.
Marcia Turner – Gosford
Editor’s comments: It’s worth noting that the six State premiers and the two Labor Territorial Chief Ministers have failed to publicly protest the full privatisation of Telstra in support of their Federal Labor Colleagues. Why have they remained silent on the Telstra sale?
Can the Howard Liberal – National Coalition guarantee the Australian Public that an agent for, say, Bin Ladin, will be unable to purchase our telecommunications giant, Telstra? Can they guarantee that our Telco won’t end up in the hands of International Terrorists?
THAT ABOUT TELSTRA’S WORKERS?
Now that the Howard-Vaile Coalition has got its way and is selling off the last publicly owned portion of Telstra has any thought been given to the effect that this will have on those who have least say in the matter, yet will be the most affected, the employees?
As has been demonstrated in previous public asset sell-offs, the employees (and the general public) have borne the brunt of the almost insatiable fetish for increasing profits at any cost. This may benefit some, but for the rest of us, a less than fair outcome in inevitable.
Mark Cudmore –
TELSTRA FUNDING CRISIS
In August a damaging report from Telstra to the Government says the Telco is in crisis and massively under funded for the future. The document written by senior Telstra Executives and given to the Prime Minister and Communications Minister Helen Coonan last month, said another $2 billion to $3 billion should have been invested in the company over the past 5 years to bring it up to scratch.
Telstra’s main market fixed line telephones, was “in limbo,” the company reported, and almost 14% of all phone lines had a fault. Telstra said, it would have to drastically use company reserves to continue paying dividends at the level it has.
The following report showed:
The report found Telstra needed to make $1.74 on all of its other services to cover every $1 loss it recorded on fixed lines. Telstra claimed it would commit, through an undertaking, to provide competitors guaranteed access to broadband levels on current terms. What a load of CRAP!
Once the Howard –Vaile-Liberal-National Coalition fully privatize Telstra and the Multi-National purchaser takes possession, the defunct Telstra Board Executives promises are not worth the paper they’re written on, and the Federal Government loses all controls they had of Telstra.
ELUSIVE BOOM
The Howard Government is spending millions of taxpayers’ money to present us with supposed facts on the proposed Industrial Relations changes. In pages full of hyperbolic assertions, there was one statement that could be tested and it has proved to be false.
University research has exposed the deception in the Howard boast that wages have increased 14% under his rule. Highly paid executives received huge increases while middle and low income earners barely benefited from the boom times.
We would have to be fairly stupid to believe that the non existent wages bonanza is the only confidence trick in the Government’s sale pitch. John Howard is in the habit of inviting workers worried about the impact of the new legislation to look at his record on wages. Guess that invitation is about to be whithdrawn.
Agnes Mack – Chatswood
PARTY POLITICAL HYPOCRITS!
We are fully aware that the only occupation in
All this crap from Politicians and Bureaucrats who in the majority, would not know what a hard day’s work was.
BIRTISH BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES DATABASE EXPORTED TO
The latest bid to export the
According to the newspaper the British Government plans to
transfer a sensitive database containing details of every birth, marriage and
death in
The details of the 250 million Britons are to be sent via
the internet to an office based in
The work is currently undertaken by the ONS and the
controversial move will lead to heavy job losses amongst the 900 staff of the
General Register Office in
The planned move, which is due to take place in mid-July, has aroused cross party criticism amid fears that the security of the personal details of the 250 million Britons, living and deceased could be compromised and give rise to a new wave to identity theft, fraud and immigration using false identities.
The news comes on the same day that a tabloid newspaper claims that confidential details of a thousand UL bank customers were bought from an Indian call Centre worker 4 pounds 25 pence.
The city of London police are not investigating claims
submitted in a dossier complied by an undercover reporter from The Sun who said
that the seller, Karan Bahree, boasted that he could provide details of more
than 2000,000 customer accounts per month, supplying information such as
passwords, addresses, security questions and answers to those security
questions along with passport details.
Although the
The greedy banks that have dumped British workers in favour of cheap Indian labour may find themselves in court and might be forced to cough up under data protection law.
A spokesman for data protection watchdog the Information
Commission said that the issue of call centre theft was of “great concern” and
warned that UK-based companies who outsource their customer services to a call
centre whether in the
We advise all readers to make enquiries with one’s own bank
or building society. Ask if that company
out sources its call centre and administration activities to
As far as our research shows the following banks in the hall
of shame; callously sacking
Abbey National
HSBC
Barclays
Lloyds TSB