ABC ignores damaging NBN leaks in lengthy Fifield interview

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news The ABC’s political flagship Insiders failed to ask Communications Minister Mitch Fifield a single question about the National Broadband Network in an extensive interview yesterday, despite several damaging leaks regarding the project which dominated parliamentary debate over the past week.

Over the past week, the rationale for the Coalition’s controversial Multi-Technology Mix approach to the National Broadband Network has suffered a series of heavy blows, due to two significant leaks of internal documentation from the NBN company.

The first document — published on Monday last week — showed that the rollout of the Fibre to the Node technology instigated in the NBN by the Coalition was significantly delayed and suffering from many issues. A second leak later in the week showed that the NBN company had carried out a trial of a new rollout model which could bring the cost of Labor’s original FTTP model close to the FTTN price.

Both were major issues debated in Federal Parliament last week, with several days of debate covering the documents as well as NBN-related legislation. The Coalition was forced to significantly modify a NBN-related bill due to significant objections to segments of it from the telco sector and other parties.

The situation led Shadow Communications Minister Jason Clare to label the NBN project “in crisis” and to Communications Minister Mitch Fifield being shouted down by Labor in Senate Question Time. Labor MP Ed Husic said the leaking NBN staff were in active “rebellion” against the Government’s Multi-Technology Mix model.

The NBN is by far the largest current issue in Senator Fifield’s portfolio of Communications and the Arts, and is Australia’s largest ever infrastructure project.

However, Insiders host Barrie Cassidy completely ignored all of the issues in an extensive 10 minute interview with Fifield broadcast on Sunday morning.

Instead, Cassidy chose to question Fifield about Tony Abbott, the upcoming Federal Election, media reform and the passage of sensitive union-related bills through the Senate.

Cassidy has already faced criticism about not questioning Fifield about the issue online. “For those concerned no questions on SMH NBN leak both PM and Minister already given detailed responses easily accessed online,” he responded on Twitter.

The tweet received a strong degree of criticism from Cassidy’s online followers.

“Which year is the collective hive mind of the [press] gallery finally going to acknowledge they stuffed up big time on NBN?” wrote one commenter. “So if Government puts out a statement the media shouldn’t ask about it? Shamefully inconsistent standard, Barrie,” wrote another.

A search of the ABC’s website revealed that the ABC barely covered the series of leaks and legislative action over the past week with relation to the NBN, despite the fact that the topic dominated Federal Parliament.

The only major article which the broadcaster appeared to have published on the topic of the NBN over the past week was an opinionated piece by independent journalist Paddy Manning on the website of The Drum. Manning is not an employee of the ABC.

The ABC’s AM program did conduct an interview with the NBN company’s chief financial officer Stephen Rue — who was previously the CFO of News Limited — in which Rue denied there were any problems with the NBN rollout. It was entitled “NBN Co denies rollout is in crisis”. A second relatively brief piece ran on the ABC’s The World Today radio program, again quoting Rue denying problems, and the NBN was very briefly mentioned in a third segment on ABC Radio’s PM program.

With the exception of Manning’s piece, none of the other articles went into significant detail with regard to either the NBN leaks or the legislative debate last week.

Neither of the ABC’s flagship current affairs programs – -7:30 or Lateline — covered the NBN issues, despite them dominating parliamentary proceedings last week.

Manning has previously investigated the NBN and published material regarding Malcolm Turnbull’s time as Shadow- and then Communications Minister, through the ABC’s Background Briefing program.

The news comes as the broadcaster has recently suffered sustained criticism regarding its coverage of the National Broadband Network.

The broadcaster’s outgoing managing director Mark Scott faced an extensive list of questions about its NBN coverage during the most recent Senate Estimates hearings, particularly relating to the broadcaster’s treatment of departed technology and games editor Nick Ross, but also relating to allegations that the broadcaster has censored NBN coverage in the past on programs such as Q&A.

Image credit: ABC Insiders, believed to be OK to use under Fair Dealing provisions

135 COMMENTS

  1. So not only do we need a royal commission into the liberals destruction of the NBN, now we absolutely need one into their interference with the ABC!

    I’m seriously bloody over this corrupt, fascist government!

    • Their bias is blatantly obvious and an inquiry should be made into political interference, because they must certainly have been “got at”.
      And yes, also a Royal Commission into their behavior.

      • Yes. And a Royal Commission into why there hasn’t been a Royal Commission.

        Ugh.

        What is it about the NBN that makes everyone lose their damn minds?

        Barry Cassidy hasn’t been bloody “got at”. Nor has anyone else at the ABC, past or present, despite whatever delusions Nic Ross comes up with. The NBN just isn’t that important in the scheme of things despite what our little bubble here thinks.

        • Considering the amount of money being invested into it, and what it will afford our nation now and into the future (if implemented correctly) in terms of technological advancement, education, health, media and advantages for new and small-medium businesses, it probably should be considered very important. IMHO it is deserving of far more attention than what the ABC or MSM are giving it. It should be viewed as a utility, as essential infrastructure and as a platform to innovate from.

          • Essential infrastructure. Yep. But how much does the general population care about essential infrastructure? The water pipes, the electricity polls, the garbage collection? They don’t.

            Outside our little tech bubble the NBN just doesn’t rate. That’s why the ABC isn’t covering it. The only reason it’s being brought up in parliament by Labor is because they think they can score points off it on the PM, not because of any attachment to the importance of the project.

            And objectively what is the problem? HFC is a genuine gigabit technology, so with HFC + Fibre 40% of the population will have gigabit access.

            FTTN relative to fibre & HFC is relatively crappy but it is an improvement over ADSL and it does get fibre closer to the premises meaning it can be upgraded, something NBN does appear to be looking into with FTTdp. They’ve just completed the tender process for that hardware.

            Yeah I’d love to still be getting FTTP, yes I think it’s shortsighted to go to MTM, but Copper Magic/HFC is cheaper and an improvement over what we’ve got, and eventually we’ll end up with FTTP. So again what’s the problem? This isn’t institutionalised kiddie fiddling. What’s so scandalous that we need a Royal Commission? My Internet isn’t being upgraded soon enough? Get a grip. Or better yet have a whinge about the NBNs satellite and wireless. Now those people deserve to complain.

          • So Bruce, How do you explain the largest petition in Australian history being the “Libs please keep the FTTP NBN”?

            270,000 people signed it which is more than the 2nd biggest in Australian history (90,000 odd that signed a GetUp petition on refugees iirc).

          • DO,

            Where was the ‘I prefer MtM’ option, and how many signed twice, three times, four times ….?

          • “Copper Magic/HFC is cheaper and an improvement over what we’ve got, and eventually we’ll end up with FTTP.”

            Because in all likelyhood, the overall build cost of going from nothing to FTTN to FTTP is going to be more than just building FTTP in the first place.

            The majority of the costs comes from the labour costs involved, and the labour costs are far higher in the last mile. Labour costs will rise with inflation, so if it currently costs $2000 for a fibre extension from a node in a large scale rollout, in 10 years time it will be more.

          • “Where was the ‘I prefer MtM’ option, and how many signed twice, three times, four times ….?”

            Reality, you could have easily made an “I prefer MtM” poll yourself. Why didnt you?

          • @Bruce

            “Essential infrastructure. Yep. But how much does the general population care about essential infrastructure? The water pipes, the electricity polls, the garbage collection? They don’t.”

            This is just you trolling right ?

            If you think the general pop doesn’t care then remove running water, electricity and garbage collection from your neighbor and see what happens.

            If you were just trolling then I apologize to others for providing food :)

          • IMHO it is deserving of far more attention than what the ABC or MSM are giving it. It should be viewed as a utility, as essential infrastructure and as a platform to innovate from.

            Nailed it.

          • (How much does the general population care about essential infrastructure)
            Turn it any one of them off and you will find out.

          • Sorry Bruce Tog but considering its the mainstay of this ministers portfolio what is the point interviewing him if you won’t at least mention it in passing?

            Its like interviewing the treasurer but only talking about arts etc!

          • Exactly Simon,

            It’s like interviewing the Minister for Health and not asking about hospitals or the Education Minister and not asking about schools…

          • @Bruce Tog
            “… how much does the general population care about essential infrastructure?”

            How can you expect the general public to understand or even know about the issue when the topic has been essentially censored from major media outlets and the ABC, and everything they have published for five years has grossly supported the LNP’s position/propaganda? You can’t stop people knowing about a subject and then point and scream ‘see?! None of them are even interested, of *course* there’s no point talking about it!!’

          • @johnoz

            I’m not trolling. Look at the research on what issues are important to voters.

            On “biased” online surveys broadband at best comes in 6th place, on statistically valid surveys it doesn’t even rate in the top 10.

            You care, I care, everyone else here cares, but we are not representative of the wider community. We live in a bubble.

            @MikeK

            Yep, turn it off an people will care. But when it works people don’t give a shit. Again look at the research. It just doesn’t rate as an issue.

            @Simon M, @Rizz

            If the treasurer or education minister or health minister appeared on the show I’d put good money on them both being asked the same nonsense as Fifield was asked.

            @Rizz

            Why would you ask the education minister about schools or the health minister about hospitals? Those are state responsibilities.

            To everyone again, my question. What was “damaging” about the leak. It showed NBN is still trying to make FTTP work with the limited funding they have, and while they have made progress, they’re still not there. That’s just good management to my mind. They’ve got limited funds. We’re are they supposed to get the money from?

          • Bruce

            First NBN doesn’t have a limited funding going from $29B to $56B would explain that this gov happy to have copper at any cost.

            Second both gov had a cap funding labor was $30B coalition is $29B. The rest of the money coming from private funding.

          • Simon M,

            Its like interviewing the treasurer but only talking about arts etc!

            Which is more pertinent in this case than you think, Fifield is the Minister for the Arts as well, they could have spent 10 mins discussing the Opera and Ballet. ?

          • Jasonk, R?

            First NBN doesn’t have a limited funding going from $29B to $56B

            You mean it doesn’t have unlimited funding, and $56B is incorrect.

            Two out of two descriptions wrong, at least consistent.

          • FFS Bruce (is that you again Tosh…lol) are you retrograde iron wires reverse thinkers, all the same, FUD first, BS second (or vice versa) facts distant last?

            Rhetorical we know the answer……

            But, but, but, they are state issues you say in relation to my common sense education/health minister comment… Really? GOLD Bruce… you are taking the stupidity/childish/FUD baton from the other bloke most admirably…

            Simon Bingham is the Federal Minister for Education and Training.

            Susan Ley is the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care…

            Like tell us, Pyne and Dutton before them, didn’t try to dictate education and Health Australia wide, ROFL.

            Remember your hero Tony offering Wilkie’ a muilti-billion dollar Tassie hospital to buy his support… and he still came up short…

            State issues yes… nice deflection from the MTM fuck up, but no banana, for you.

            As for your dumb question, if you can’t decipher for yourself (without being spoon fed) the damage of the “multiple leaks”, well I pity you as I do your contemporaries. who also scream the iron wires (whoops) copper wires are good enough…

            You’re welcome.

          • Lol devoid of reality can you point me to the pre election policy say there policy would cost us to $56B

            Other wise your comment is invalid please try again

          • So devoid you said my statement is wrong if they have limited funding then show me the pre election policy saying it would cost the current mess. Other wise it has unlimited funding as the $27B blowout has shown.

            And thank you for pointing the $56B wrong as according to hockey it’s $70B for this mess.

          • @Bruce T

            “If the treasurer or education minister or health minister appeared on the show I’d put good money on them both being asked the same nonsense as Fifield was asked.”

            That in and of itself would then agree with this article as the ABC isn’t doing what it should in regards reporting news and issues.

          • @Bruce
            “I’m not trolling. Look at the research on what issues are important to voters.”

            Would you kindly list your source on that? As I recall, this issue has tipped the balance in one Federal Election, and been the source for one of the biggest responses in a petition to date.

            The fact that supposed “journalists” are falling down on the job and downplaying the importance should not be construed as a lack of public concern.

          • @Chas

            Sure.

            The most recent statistically valid survey on whats important to voters I can find is from Nov 2015. Broadband doesn’t even rate a mention.

            http://www.essentialvision.com.au/most-important-election-issues-4

            The most recent survey I can find that does actually rate broadband is from 2013. It’s from ABC. Broadband rates 6, but like all web surveys it isn’t statistically valid given the people voting are like us and not representative of the wider voting public.

            http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-09/vote-compass-data-results-important-issues/4872896

            I’m not talking out of my arse. There is data to back this up. Yes, it’s important to me, you and everyone else here but we’re not representative of the wider community.

            @Simon M

            I don’t think it does show that. The issues that Cassidy quizzed Fifield about are not what you or I may have asked (personally I want to know what happened to his neck) but we’re not representative of the wider community. The questions Cassidy asked were want the wider community wanted to know.

            I think the ABC is doing its job, in very trying circumstances. Everyone dumps on it from all sides. It isn’t just the nutters in the LNP.

          • @Bruce
            Huh? It wasn’t mentioned because the question wasn’t asked…haven’t you ever worked with a professional poll before?
            They don’t ask write-in questions, they are multiple choice.

          • @Chas

            What about the ABC poll that mentions broadband. It comes in as 6th most important with 7% of respondents. And that’s with an audience that’d likely be pro-broadband given it’s the ABC and an online survey. What do you make of that?

            And how about this recent survey just about the NBN. 38% think Labor’s FTTP model was the best, 29% think Liberal MTM and 33% don’t have an opinion. That’s 62% who think copper magic is better or who don’t care. What do you make of that?

            http://www.essentialvision.com.au/nbn-2

            It just isn’t popular. People don’t care.

          • “What about the ABC poll that mentions broadband”

            1. An online poll that did not authenticate respondents
            2. It obviously makes no claims about accuracy
            3. It was taken the month before the election, and voters had those meaningless “assurances” from Malcolm that all was well (meaning it was being defused as an issue until folks started to see the lies for what they were).

            “That’s 62% who think copper magic is better or who don’t care”

            You are confusing “don’t care” with what they actually said…”don’t know”.

            “It just isn’t popular. People don’t care.”

            You are making assumptions not based on evidence…

          • Just FYI Reality the petition wasn’t just some random click a button in the interwebs, you had to identify yourself and your residence from memory (well and an email add).

            We are talking over 10% of the population here and as stated it broke records for its size!

            Also its worth noting that surveys in Australia generally consider not needing to cover more than 1-2000 people to get an appropriate cross section for the country!

          • And that’s with an audience that’d likely be pro-broadband given it’s the ABC and an online survey. What do you make of that?

            Lot of assumptions there Bruce. For one, you’re assuming all Australia is already on line, and that they all visit the ABC website and that they have the time to do a poll.

            I don’t disagree that there are other issues (the economy being a big one) that people would be more worried about, but to say Australians don’t care about what is happening with the NBN is probably flat out wrong.

            @Simon

            Just FYI Reality the petition wasn’t just some random click a button in the interwebs, you had to identify yourself and your residence from memory (well and an email add).

            Yeah, it was a change.org one, and they always verify.

          • I don’t know where the voters of Australia went to vote for FTTP v Mtm. In our local booths, we were only given slips for the Senate and House of Reps. No referenda as far as I remember.

        • I don’t know that Barrie Cassidy has been “got at” but to have a 10 minute interview with the Minister for Communications and Arts and not ask at least a couple of questions about the NBN is a failing. Particularly given the week that’s just been.

          I personally think that after the kicking the ABC got from the LNP just before the election and in the first 6 months after, they have fallen in to a mode of not upsetting the Government of the day. A simplistic view perhaps but more correct than not.

          As for whether or not the NBN is important I think your both right and wrong. Unfortunately the general voting public don’t see it as very important. Technical policies aren’t generally well understood and they confuse a lot of people so we see a lot of “hands over ears”. I believe you are wrong as the NBN is an incredibly important piece of infrastructure work, as much as the installation of power poles and telephone lines was in the last century.

          The future of much of this country is going to be built off the back of this infrastructure and we should be building the best that we can.

        • So bruce, the ABC ignoring the largest single item in a Ministers portfolio (which just happens to be going badly) and also the largest project in the nations history since the snowy hydro doesnt ring alarm bells for you? WOW!!

          • Ignoring? You need to first care about something to ignore it, and that’s my point. The general population just doesn’t care. The tech bubble we live in is in no way indicative of the wider population.

            No it does not ring alarm bells for me.

          • “The general population just doesn’t care”

            Yes, because they’re not informed, because the media aren’t doing their #@&*ing jobs. They care when $100m is wasted, don’t they? I think they’d be pretty appalled if they understood that $56bn is being passed up the wall to make Telstra executives and major shareholders rich(er). Original FTTP NBN $44.3bn, zero (OK, negative) cost to the budget. MTM NBN something like $56bn as a direct cost to the budget because it can’t be cash flow positive (not an investment).

            But don’t just take my word for it – remember there have been suggestions Prime Minister Malcolm ‘Political Vandal’ Turnbull might sell it to Telstra for $20bn because it will be so debt laden. The only reason they would privatise it for less than the cost of construction is because it does not have the potential for positive ROI.

            But I’m sure you’re right – the people don’t care, so they don’t need to know any of this stuff. A strong democracy is built upon obfuscation, secrecy and a subdued and silent press.

          • “The general population just doesn’t care”

            Repeating this doesn’t make it any more true…I think you are mistaken.

        • What is it about the NBN that makes everyone lose their damn minds?

          Yes Bruce, very good question. A question that might be more pertinent if we took a time machine back a few years and asked those opposed to the original proper FttP NBN plan. Remember one of their many irrational objections would be that is was too slow to roll out, it was more important to get slower speeds sooner than adequate speeds later. So look what that got us. A poorly thought out politically motivated clusterfuck of a network costing us even more that will have to be upgraded even before it’s finished and to make matters worse getting everyone the promised speed of 25mbps in the next 298 days seems unlikely.

          • You still haven’t answered my question, only gotten hysterical.

            Look at the headline on this article, “ABC ignores damaging NBN leaks”. What damaging leaks? NBN Co is continuing to investigate ways to make FTTP work and fit within their limited funding? How the fuck is that damaging? I’d be outraged if they weren’t doing that.

            Get a grip.

          • “What damaging leaks?”

            *stares*

            Have you been reading the articles? The one that said FTTN was behind on all measures? The one where Optus HFC cable was unfit to be upgraded? The one where the cost of FTTN copper ballooned out by a factor of ten? All based on internal NBN reports?

            At least read the content before you ridicule it.

          • Bruce. There is a plethora of evidence that the MTM is not only inferior to the original FTTP plan (which we knew going in), but now also more expensive in both long term OPEX and possibly short term CAPEX, but also taking almost as long to do as the original FTTP plan. With a mere year difference at the moment.

            The MTM was all about using existing infrastructure to reduce costs, and increase the speed of the rollout. That was the entire basis of their argument to drop an industry preferred, superior, long term piece of infrastructure.

            To have that premise “demolished” by facts showing that it isn’t cheaper, and isn’t quicker, basically shows that it was not simply wrong of the government to change to the MTM, but either grossly incompetent, or more likely politically/vested interest motivated. In which case the good of the nation was put secondary to something else. In which case the ABC/MSM should be focusing on it as the major fail that it is. Anything else is a disservice to the Australian public whose tax dollars will now likely be spent where they wouldn’t have before.

          • @ Bruce,

            There’s only one person getting hysterical here and that is Bruce… trying to deride everyone here for daring to have an interest in Australia’s comms future.

            But you are half right, the rest of us (well apart from your twin here) are all laughing hysterically, at your hysteria… nice work.

            Anyhoo, apart from my playful facetiousness at your poor sorry expense…

            In case you haven’t noticed (as you seem to miss, well pretty much everything – as Renai pointed out) people here “are interested” which is why places such as Delimiter exist.

            So to use your odd analogy, not everyone is happy to have the water turned off and have shit flowing through their houses as the toilets don’t flush, or to be sitting in the dark, or have fucking costly, snails pace FRAUDBAND, as you appear to be.

            But good for you, nonetheless…

            Regardless, the line of no one else is interested, whilst quaint in a desperate sort of way… it’s not new even for the desperately retrograde who came before you.

            As such and as HC rightfully said, your comments are completely invalid.

            You’re welcome.

          • Don’t forget undermining the financial viability therefore tuning a cash flow positive investment into a debt laden direct cost to tax payers…

          • And with that Bruce, like his twin, disappears, HC.

            Is it a conservative trait or is it just a lack of ticker with a couple of resident mouths, when they are introduced to the hurtful facts?

          • Just the standard spineless conservative “flight reflex” in action.

            It’s a symptom of bringing zero facts to an argument they are on the wrong side of. They’ll go down in history along side the iron wire peddlers and messenger boy purveyors.

          • In case you haven’t noticed (as you seem to miss, well pretty much everything – as Renai pointed out) people here “are interested” which is why places such as Delimiter exist.

            Indeed Rizz. People are interested and for a good reason, we don’t like taxpayer money being pissed away and the lack of transparency from GimpCo since the coalition clowns took over is a concern.

          • @renai

            I don’t think it is damaging. The perception is NBN has been behind from the very start. How’s a leak FTTN is behind going to change that? It’s just more of the same.

            Likewise the state of the Optus HFC cable. We knew already knew it was in a questionable state.

            And NBN Co still trying to reduce the cost of a FTTP rollout? Again, hows that damaging? To my mind they’re just doing their job.

            To us, the leaks are maddening to us yes, but damaging? I don’t think so. The general population does not care like we do. Hell, the government has been playing war for over a decade, and is running refugee concentration camps, and the general population does not care, so why would they give a shit about fibre vs copper magic?

            There you go. Call me more names everyone.

          • @bt don’t question the Borg;-)

            Bruce is correct, most articles misrepresented the leaks. Few here read then, even fewer understand them. Bruce is on target with standard business and risk analysis (few here know anything of).

            The wider public doesn’t care about the tech solution implemented for faster internet; only they can get their YouTube hamster stares and pornography. No innovation /economic revolution will result (gen pop without the skills to commercialise ideas, regulation crushing everyone else), billions will be wasted. By then those heckling Bruce (even grouped with me after one thread) will be supporting the next govt spending program with borrowed money expected to be repaid by others.

          • Leaks aren’t damaging say the faithful… they just show that the government are trying to hide or misrepresent the failure that is MTM…

            Oh that’s a bit damaging for them then, isn’t it?

          • @rizz

            No it isn’t damaging. People inside our bubble already knew and people outside of our bubble don’t care.

            Go look at the Murdoch or Fairfax papers. You’ll see nonsense about Kim Kardasian latest nude photo, Abbott and Credlin allegedly bumping nasties; and sport, sport and more sport. That’s what people care about. Not if we spent a bit more now on laying fibre it will make our long term growth and prosperity so much better.

            I asked before what is it that makes everyone lose their minds whenever the NBN is mentioned. I think I now know. It is the inability of most technically inclined people to see things from other peoples perspectives.

          • It is the inability of most technically inclined people to see things from other peoples perspectives

            You seem to be projecting.

          • Bruce, your circle must be a bit more limited than mine as I know architects, engineers, special effects artists and even tennis coaches who care about the NBN.

            Some for selfish reasons like property values being less than the suburb next door that got the “real NBN”, others who wanted to buy 250/100 FTTP plans so they could spend more time working from home and see their kids instead of spending 80 hours a week in the office and others who could see the NBN had enormous potential to boost our countries capabilities.

          • @ Bruce

            Oh well it’s settled then because the Murdoch media talk of Kardashians, this equates to no one being interested in the NBN, which justifies the government cover up and lies.

            Nice rationale Bruce *sigh*

            Of course the Murdoch media is the only media outlet of choice for some and as such they believe it the be all and end all so it must be so, go figure?

            Funny though, the Murdoch media now fixated on the Kardashians so you say, was the first to criticize FttP and keep criticizing, when it was going much smoother than the, shh MTM, which is a complete farce as we all (with two eyes anyway) know, though.

            Curious, how they alter their media to suit the narrative just as the faithful do.

            It’s as if you are all on the same side, in the nice safe 1950’s safety bubble, eh?

            BTW – Fairfax media also backed and suggested their readers support Tony Abbott at the last election…

          • @Derek O

            Bruce I know architects, engineers, and designers who are pro FTTP NBN too. I work with a lot of them. But collectively we’re not indicative of the wider population. That is my point. Unless you can somehow integrate tits or sport or Muslim refugees riding sharks into the NBN the wider population just doesn’t care.

            @rizz

            You see to come to the conclusion I’m some sort of neo-conservative LNP supporting luddite nutter and are railing against that. That really couldn’t be further from the truth. Please re-read what I’ve written.

            The nonsense presented by the Murdoch *and* Fairfax media is indicative of what the wider community wants. At least those that care to pay attention.

            We can all point and laugh A Current Affair, and Sunrise and The Today show, Murdoch and Fairfax but they’re popular because that’s what people want. Those of us that look to the ABC, or independent outlets like Delimeter or my fav Crikey are the minority.

            This isn’t some grand conspiracy. It’s democracy. And democracy may be the best thing we’ve got but it’s still pretty stupid.

          • @Renai
            “Have you been reading the articles? The one that said FTTN was behind on all measures? The one where Optus HFC cable was unfit to be upgraded? The one where the cost of FTTN copper ballooned out by a factor of ten? All based on internal NBN reports?

            At least read the content before you ridicule it.”

            Sorry Renai, but BT is actually close on the mark here.

            You can have the biggest baddest bomb on earth, but if you drop it on a target that is worthless, does it make a difference?

            Not that upgraded internet is worthless by any stretch, but it is not perceived as worthwhile beyond a very limited pool of people, in regards to the electorate. And perception is everything.

            For all the hype about the leaks, has your site attendance jumped in to the millions of hits per day? Have protests broken out in the street? I’d really be curious to see what your unique views per day are as you are one of the most active commentators on this issue, might be an interesting litmus test for general interest (or lack thereof).

            As for Barrie Cassidy, he has always had a great deal of integrity and insight in to issues that matter to the electorate. If he omitted to discuss the leaks, perhaps that a fairly clear sign that they really aren’t viewed as that important in the grand scheme of things.

            Might want to take a pass on the Kool Aid the majority of your followers around here are gulping down.

          • Let’s be fair Rizz, there is only conclusive evidence for one of those attributes he described :-)

          • Wow eh HC,

            The lengths the subservients will go to to try to deflect from the fact that NBN are showing us all that the government are suppressing, misleading and err, out and out lying…is either laughable or pitiful.

            Go back to Quigley and if he was a liitle late on his roll out timetable or didn’t have an answer for a particular question within seconds, he was lambasted by the faithful.

            Whereas these clowns excuse their master clowns every lie, 4 year hold ups and up to $70B (c/- Joe Hockey) blowouts…

            Wow just wow…

          • @ Bruce

            Let me reiterate the question I asked and you ignored… when it waddles and quacks like a duck it’s normally a ?

            “I don’t think it is damaging. The perception is NBN has been behind from the very start. How’s a leak FTTN is behind going to change that? It’s just more of the same”

            But FTTN was supposed to be soooo much faster and yet it ISN’T and soooo much cheaper yet it ISN’T… that was the trade off for inferiority.

            So NO…it’s not more of the same at all… if you can’t comprehend the angst because we will be getting a shitty, obsolete network instead of a world class network and it’s not proving to be any faster or cheaper as promised, after all, and the government are trying to hide this fact, even with NBN leaks, well……

            One huge quack for you.

            “Likewise the state of the Optus HFC cable. We knew already knew it was in a questionable state.”

            Which is why the FttP plan of not using HFC but compensating those who invested and inducing their clientele to FttP was wise, whilst eliminating the costly repairs and maintenance… but alas if you can’t accept this either, enter another…

            Quack

            “And NBN Co still trying to reduce the cost of a FTTP rollout? Again, hows that damaging? To my mind they’re just doing their job.”

            Indeed kudos here… but of course, the government who oppose universal (for the want of a better word) FttP, simply because their political foes were the one’s who were smarter than them and introduced it, cannot not let it happen under any circumstances, or egg/face big time… see the quandary now? If not, add another juicy …

            Quack

            “To us, the leaks are maddening to us yes, but damaging? I don’t think so. The general population does not care like we do.”

            Be the pedant and argue all you like that it’s not damaging, but really FFS… You have commented what about a dozen times to say the same thing for no apparent logical reason, but to be argumentative. But in the end you admit it’s maddening not damaging? Is that simple word damaging, actually that hard for you to accept… apparently yes, ergo add…

            Quack x 2 for semantics and ridiculous stubbornness.

            “There you go. Call me more names everyone.

            DUCK.

            You’re welcome

          • NBNCo passed over 40k new serviceable brownfields last week. A rate which sees more than Quigley’s total passed in 4.5yrs every month.

            But back to the “expert” commentary of the leaked documents (they haven’t read), abusing anyone not 100% FTTH and squealing royal commission (into what?).

          • Richard can you break it down on FTTP FTTN FTTB HFC wireless consider is more than what NBN has connected in 7 months with FTTN

          • @Richard

            I don’t think that is a fair comparison. It’s taken nearly 3 years to get to the point 40k premises are serviceable.

            Quigley was sidled with the ACCC/121 POI fiasco, Telstra dragging their heals, and bizare political choices for regional rollout locations rather than the capital citites. He was behind to before he even started. If the FTTP rollout been allowed to continue after the 2013 election NBNCo would have easily surpased that 40k figure.

            Quigley did a damn fine job and the amount of grief he cops from the LNP, especially from our PM, is a disgrace.

          • Blah, blah, blah, Dick’.

            And yet MTM is 4 years behind the promised finish date… something you always ignore… but are quite willing to accept, because there were revisions…

            Wow, but keep banging the drum to deflect from what is happening NOW…

          • @ Bruce,

            Perhaps I was harsh and jumped the gun a little in relation to what you were conveying here…

            Sadly, due to having been involved with the usual suspect us vs. them posters here, who are clearly politically motivated in supporting all things MTM, even completely sans facts… you have been tarred with the same brush, in the crossfire.

            After reading your very rational comment relating to Quigley (something the faithful simply can’t/would never be allowed to do) where the rest otherwise agree, Quigley wasn’t perfect (no one is)… he did indeed, do a sterling job in very trying circumstances in building the NBN from scratch (for the current management).

            So an apology may well be appropriate.

            :)

          • @Rizz re:

            “Sadly, due to having been involved with the usual suspect us vs. them posters here, who are clearly politically motivated in supporting all things MTM, even completely sans facts… you have been tarred with the same brush, in the crossfire.

            After reading your very rational comment relating to Quigley (something the faithful simply can’t/would never be allowed to do) where the rest otherwise agree, Quigley wasn’t perfect (no one is)… he did indeed, do a sterling job in very trying circumstances in building the NBN from scratch (for the current management).

            So an apology may well be appropriate.”

            Gee shit, ya think?!?

            That has been the problem with this entire “debate”, and it’s seen some significant people (including Renai) cop an absolute shellacking because they don’t carry the line required by zealots 100% of time…

            There is very little tolerance for anyone not in absolute lockstep, and all to often, insightful comment is lost in a dogpile of cheapshit throw away comments like “luddite”, or +1’s/me too posts.

            More pearls…

            “Alain, Richard and now a Bruce, their like turds that won’t flush.”

            “@ Bruce,

            There’s only one person getting hysterical here and that is Bruce… trying to deride everyone here for daring to have an interest in Australia’s comms future.

            But you are half right, the rest of us (well apart from your twin here) are all laughing hysterically, at your hysteria… nice work.”

            “And with that Bruce, like his twin, disappears, HC.

            Is it a conservative trait or is it just a lack of ticker with a couple of resident mouths, when they are introduced to the hurtful facts?”

            /snort, apology may well be appropriate? Bit of an understatement. No wonder the care factor nationally about the NBN is so low. Asking a question or stating an opinion around here is like wading in to a minefield with toxic jerks like yourself just waiting to explode.

          • For onlookers, I would recommend reading every single post made by people calling themselves Richard, Reality and org’asmo and all the ensuing replies in the last 4 years to have an understanding of where most people sit.

            TL;DR 2 people at any given time consistently throwing rubbish claims despite all evidence to the contrary. It’s enough to make a saint agitated.

            Typical responses such as the above do nothing to serve the debate and only attempt to make the poster feel superior about themselves. This all fits with the ideology.

            The summary of the above exchange is one of a single poster stepping out of line, admitting it, manning up and sincerely apologising – for which he is lambasted.

        • Because it’s $56Billion being misspent. That’s more money than the new subs, the JSF…it’s a hell of a lot of money to be a political plaything, where vested interests are able to change the situation to suit their own agendas and line their own pockets. I’m surprised that apparently noone from the right wants an investigation? Is it because it will be the TURC in reverse?

        • @Bruce Tog a week long session of parliamentary debate on it would tend to disagree with you.

          • Have you ever watched parliamentary Question Time? It is devoid from reality. To the wider community the most memorable thing to come out of Question Time over the past couple of weeks were those two idiots with the My Little Ponies. A complete farce.

            In fact spreading the net wider the three most important things to come out of Canberra are the idiots with the My Little Ponies, The Brick With Eyes wearing shorts, and Peta Credling allegedly rooting Tony Abbott… ewwwwwww!

        • “whatever delusions Nic Ross comes up with.”
          Yes a 45 minute recorded delusion, amongst others.

          ” The NBN just isn’t that important in the scheme of things despite what our little bubble here thinks.”
          The nations single most expensive, largest ever infrastructure project that was initially designed to serve Australia for the next 50+ years? Yeah you’re right. It’s small fry.

  2. I assume it went something like this
    “You want to keep your job Barry?”
    “Yes”
    “Don’t ask NBN questions then, simples”

  3. This simply disgusting. Someone needs to remind the ABC that they work for the people of Australia, not the LNP. Interviewing the minister responsible for this nations largest ever infrastructure project, and not even bringing it up? WTF ABC?

    • Nothing new, it’s been happening since 2013.

      PS the Ministers of the LNP are also supposed to be working for the people of Australia.

  4. I’d argue that the lack of NBN coverage and the background of it at the ABC is more reflective of the broadcaster aspiring to compete with the commercial channels. They have an over emphasis on the entertainment of the politics game, rather than analysis of policy. It’s fairly reflective across a number of their shows, eg. breakfast, 7:30 report etc that once would have formed an investigative critique of the policy.

    • This. The ABC news editors lately seem to think they need to compete with the jokers in the commercial world to reach the bottom of the barrel first…

    • “what else would Fifield say other than repeating himself?”

      Who knows. That’s kind of the point of interviewers grilling politicians who try and hide behind pre-written scripts. If they’re not going to bother, we can just do away with journalists and have news websites print media releases from polticians.

    • The idea is to put politicians under pressure and see what happens.

      It’s the same reason I often go and sit in Parliament to watch tech-related proceedings — so that they know we are watching them and so that they feel they can’t put a foot wrong. It’s all about ‘keeping the bastards honest’ … ;)

      As a side note, Fifield would definitely have prepared to be asked about the NBN. It was Cassidy in this case that let things down. I can assure you that Fifield would have breathed a sigh of relief after the interview, not having to answer questions about the most contentious area he has responsibility for.

      • I doubt Fifield breathed a sigh of relief, he could just stonewall if asked and say as the Minister in charge I don’t respond to leaks only to official NBN Co reports ratified by the NBN Co Management and the Board and audited, and Cassidy has know where to go, after all it was only a 10 min interview.

        At least he wasn’t asked about the Abbott book. :)

        • I was told back in 2013 that Abbott was bonking Credlin everyone knew about it except the public. You can’t blame her, we all make mistakes. That’s when “on your bike Abbott” had meaning, well in political circles it did.

          • So was I. But I expressed surprise that any female could be that stupid. Seems I was terribly wrong! God, was it a bag job?

          • If I were going to be rude I’d suggest Credlin was a double bagger…. Oh wait…. :p

          • @Mike
            do you mean Credlin put a bag over Abbotts head, she should have used a plastic bag.

        • Or he could have been (cough, splutter) honest..

          ROFL.

          I’d suggest, like the “Men in Black” who have no sense of humour, that they are aware of… I’m sure all politicians, especially this latest breed of “blame everybody else” conservatives, don’t do honesty…

          …that they are aware of, anyway.

        • It’s better not to be asked something and look slightly cleaner for the public then have to resort to stonewalling/spin and look your typical evasive politician.

    • It would show to the audience that he once again refuses to acknowledge the facts and diminishing them in their eyes. Imagine what people would think of someone that against all logic continually refused to acknowledge reality? Imagine what a low life people would think he is if he kept that up for years? Well, I am sure you’ve seen peoples reactions to that sort of behaviour.

    • He could answer the actual questions rather than parroting the same nonsense time and again as he has been doing. You could also try the same thing.

      Repeating PR designed sound bites is not an answer Alain, no matter how often our lying politicians do it, it doesn’t make it so.

    • oh shit sorry!

      We didn’t realise they released a press release. Sorry we withdraw all our questions.

      The answer of: “That isn’t an officially released document” will do! Thanks for pointing out our sillyness Reality! Wouldn’t want the poor politicians to have to think!

      On the same note we will stop asking about when the next election will be, or what their opinion on when the next election will be, also I’ll make sure we withdraw all our questions of our politicians because it might put them on the spot, we all know that politicians have a very demanding job that requires us to avoid interrupting them, ESPECIALLY when they are conducting an interview about their job and portfiolio!

      No; we should let them conduct their “Interview” by making all their statements from their prepared “talking points” memo provided to them by their staff. Once finished we let the adults get back to running the country!

      • Hear! Hear! When will they stop asking about the date of the next election? It just gives the pollies more exposure (which they crave) and tells us nothing.

  5. The ABC knows better than to report on confidential, leaked internal documents, they don’t want to be embroiled in a criminal investigation, unlike Delimiter.

    • Let me fix this for you:

      The ABC knows better than to report on confidential, leaked internal documents, they don’t want to be embroiled in a serious, fact based investigation, unlike Delimiter.

    • “The ABC knows better than to report on confidential, leaked internal documents, they don’t want to be embroiled in a criminal investigation”
      This must be correct; they refuse to even take to court anyone who releases information pertaining to the ABC!

  6. Do what i just did, email the ABC. The ABC web site has a neat form to fill out. Easy.

  7. The cost of FTTP does not include the extra cost to the consumer having to rewire their homes and replace their equipment.
    Barrie Cassidy, like all ABC journos, does not want to lose his job nor sabotage potential future interviews. He has always been a weakling.

    • But they, but FttP, but, but…

      An offer to the “iron wires are good enough, reverse thinkers brigade” – feel free to join us, here in the present and talk about the current MTM.

    • The cost of FTTN also does not cover the cost of additional equipment required in the home, removal or installation of central line filters, or the supply of 3G for medical devices and alarm systems.
      The cost to the end user for FTTN can be significantly higher than FTTP, and they end up with far less.
      Voip line subject to dropouts from streaming etc.
      Almost back to dialup days – Everyone off the internet so I can make a call

      Ongoing costs are also higher. +$20 for alarm monitoring via 3G, +$50 for the medical alert (unless paid for by state health)
      And since the profitability of FTTP was questioned, the profitability of a service with no ‘premium’ or additional services and OPEX far higher than FTTP, and increasing above inflation rate. This means escalating costs for the consumer, and FTTN/HFC connections subsidised by those with FTTP.

      Barry is as short sighted as Malcolm in not including NBN discussion in his interviews. It damages his reputation and that of the ABC far beyond the term of the current government. It shows that we do not have an independant broadcaster, but just a publicity arm of the current government. Is that what public money should be spent on?

  8. You have to laugh, one measly 10 min interview with Fifield and because the time was not devoted 100% with MtM bashing the ‘ABC has failed in its duty’.

    Of course if the full 10 mins was devoted to MtM bashing the FTTP fans would be crowing about a job well done, of course any criticism would be howled down with personal attacks and dismissed as right wing bias.

    What I would like to see is the Insiders interview Clare on the content of Labor NBN policy for 2016, assuming Cassidy can get Clare off the subject of negative MtM bashing long enough to get some committed Labor NBN action plan that will ‘save us’ from the Coalition MtM.

    • But, but, but…

      Feel free to copy/paste that for all of your future comments.

      While you await the solution from Clare, you said was needed for the current MTM crisis.

      You’re welcome

    • @Reality, I think thou doth protest too much.

      No one expects 10 mins dedicated to the NBN. We would have like to have seen the key initiative, in Fifields major portfolio, receive just one question, just bloody one!

    • It’s not about bashing, but getting answers from the minister regarding his own portfolio..

      • It’s not the one only interview Fifield is going to do between now and the election, it’s amazing you all think the Coalition MtM has not got enough media attention and that one 10 minute interview on the ABC tucked away on a Sunday morning at 9am! is crucial to the ‘media balance’.

        lol

        • @ Dick.

          Yes but one interview/question about the MTM CRISIS, is one too many, for you but, but, but… iron wires, invertebrate backward thinkers eh, DICK?

          Whilst you await Labor’s solution (your words) to fix the MTM CRISIS..

          You’re welcome

        • “It’s not the one only interview Fifield is going to do between now and the election”

          But it IS the one and only portfolio he is supposed to be an expert on…

    • It’s rather interesting to be on the other side of the fence and be the defensive party these days eh?

      I seem to recall the very many calls for “transparency” and whatnot back in the Rudd days but of course that was the Media doing their job right when they asked about the “Coffee Incident” right?

      is it really so hard to hold *both* sides of the incumbent parties to the same amount of scrutiny or is just one side allowed a free pass because their “correct” according to your personal political views?

  9. Insiders must have had a late cancellation to have Mr Potato Head on the program,
    “Mr Potato Head do you mind if we talk the price of tea in China instead of you portfolio.”

  10. I wonder if those defending the ABCs lack of questioning on a minister’s portfolio would have the same relaxed view if it were a Labor government.

    I suspect not.

    I also suspect those asking why no questions would be equally curious in that scenario.

    • Exactly. And this is the real issue here. ABC have traditionally been the “most balanced” coverage of topics.

      However here we are seeing seeming deliberate avoidance of issues that may be problematic for the current government. This is a disturbing trend towards state owned media in other nations that simply parrots what the government wants them to.

      I want our state owned media to be as balanced as possible.
      I want our MSM to be balanced as well, unfortunately our weak(and about to get weaker) media laws have allowed a single viewpoint to dominate the majority of the media, whether that viewpoint is correct or not. So rather than have robust information that is both factual and relevant, we are bombarded with misinformation and sensational tripe, more often than not from other countries.

      • I agree, I think we need to hold a referendum to put the protection of the ABC and it’s funding into the constitution. With the funding, it could be tied to a percentage of GDP and its charter could also be locked in – hopefully with some changes that prevent it from reverting to BS “he said, She said” journalism.

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