But apparently, they now just skip the middle bit and aim to simply get elected in any way they can.

Secondly, Turnbull’s job is to get elected, and beyond that to try and get into government. It is entirely a matter for the people who vote for him to decide anything beyond that. He has a duty to make his investments visible to the voting public, and he has done that.

You forgot to mention, the Australian Government is now offering bonds at a secure 4% yield (way above inflation due to the good economic management if the Australian Government). Malcolm might find them a great investment.

(that’s the ones funding the NBN…)

No inconsistency or conflict there.
Cherry picking is good for business.

The problem though is that he is aspiring to be the future Minister of Communications, not the Minister of Telecom Shareholder Profits. His job is to provide the better comms at the best price for ALL Australians, not just the best business deal for the telecom corporations.

http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/434335/macquarie_telecom_targets_business_nbn_market/#closeme

“However, capturing the business market for the NBN could provide a saviour for Macquarie Telecom’s falling telco revenues.

Chris Greig, group executive of Macquarie Telecom’s telco business, told Computerworld Australia it plans to bring NBN business plans to the market in October this year.

While the company is still working out the finer details of what its plans will comprise, he said existing business clients have already shown interest in switching onto the NBN once it is available.”
“He said so far companies are considering two options for the migration to the NBN. “There are some customers who have said, ‘I want to wait for the whole NBN to roll out across my sites and then I’ll do one project’. Then there are a number of others who have said, ‘I want to plan to roll it out as it comes through in my territory’,” he said. ”

Read the whole article. No demand?, No demand for the up to 1Gb capability which will be lifting the ARPU and lowering wholesale prices and guaranteeing the ROI for the NBN.?

Then compare with the reports on the same report in the AFR and News Ltd. rags

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/earnings-season/macquarie-telecom-gets-thrifty-for-modest-gains-20120823-24o4z.html
http://afr.com/p/technology/macquarie_telecom_impresses_ahead_K4Kax1uzYWb4owRj7lc5OK
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/breaking-news/macquarie-telecom-net-profit-up-106pct/story-e6frg90f-1226456513012
http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/434332/macquarie_telecom_delivers_record_full_year_profit_/?fp=4&fpid=56736#closeme

Then we have the CBA putting in their rwo bobs worth

Methinks the supposedly pro business Coalition doesn’t have a clue what the needs of business and the economy actually are their Playschool imitation NBN just won’t cut the mustard, so focussed on Video purely because of the threat to their masters Pay TV monopoly, economic incompetence

http://delimiter.com.au/2012/02/28/conroy-misleads-public-on-internet-filter/

http://delimiter.com.au/2010/06/28/conroy-re-commits-to-filter-slams-lundy-amendments/

Let’s not confuse experience and a genuine interest in the industry with “conflict of interest”.

When are people going to start to question NBNCo’s “transparency” around selecting Alcatel for the bulk of its CPE?

Malcolm, tell that idiot party leader you have to put up with to shut up, and start supporting what you know is the right thing.

I hope thats sarcasm Greg, because every sentence is wrong. France Telecom IS significant in Australia, Their global links, including being a big provider for Rio Tinto, for starters. 400 people from their global empire isnt a large amount, but there are other telcos and ISP’s that have around that many in Australia

As for expecting him to be knowledgable about the technology, well thats pretty much the point with MT. He has significant experience in the IT industry (try doing some research), which gives him enough credibility that we listen to him with some respect.

As for the ‘back of a coaster’ remark, again I hope that was sarcasm. The basics of the NBN were outlined on a napkin, according to lore, so I’m not quite sure where you FUD’d up the CBA angle.

How about this, lets NOT give him a break, and hold him accountable in the same way every other public service member is held accountable? We all have to declare conflicts of interest, perceived or real, regardless of the size of our involvement.

It says either that he does not believe an Australian commercially operated company, the NBN Co Ltd. can make money doing the same thing a French company is doing, or that he’ll say anything to get into power.

Investigated, no issue found, yet the mere fact there was an investigation at all is enough for people to call for her head?

Thats the sort of sensationalising that happens when things are shown to be fine, what do you think would happen if even the suggestion of impropriety existed? Thats where conflict of interest comes into it.

However, as seems to be the case in Australian politics today (especially a speciality of of Tony Abbott, imo), the size of the discrepancy and even the “small fact” that a discrepancy may not even exist, simply doesn’t matter.

The aim is to go straight for the jugular (personally I think it may inevitably cost TA the PM-ship, because people are starting to tire of the endless beat-ups, negativity and muckraking) but I digress…

Look at Mike Quigley for example, exonerated of any wrong doing with AL but that still hasn’t stopped Turnbull himself (ironically with a similar GS legal matter under his belt) from trying to discredit Mr Quigley.

These people have set the rules John and imo, live by the sword.

We can’t expect a politician to be that knowledgeable about the technology. From what I know Turnbull is credible and would certainly do more than a costs benefit analysis on the back of a coaster as his opposite is reputed to have done.

Lets give him a break and cocentrate on making the Minister do his job properly

Congratulations to Delimiter on obtaining its Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL)!!!

(I’m just having a little trouble finding the actual licence no. listed on this website.)

This isn’t about whether he should divest because of a real conflict, this is about the political reality that he should divest to remove the certain public perception of a conflict.

Anything else makes Malcolm susceptible to the wrong sorts of perceptions. Conflict of interest is as much about percieved conflicts as real ones. People will see this as an unacceptable conflict – it doesn’t matter who thinks that they should or shouldn’t percieve it differently.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/nz-minister-says-fibre-to-home-is-best/story-e6frf7kf-1226456590229