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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=635261305-20052010>Hi
Noggers,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=635261305-20052010></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=635261305-20052010>Interesting article.
Telstra also announced they are "still in discussions" regarding their
participation in the NBN. I wonder if the opposition is taking the Telstra angle
of rolling out something not so big instead.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=635261305-20052010>Credit: The
Age</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=635261305-20052010><A
href="http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/pm-slams-abbotts-plan-to-scrap-nbn-20100520-vfnb.html">http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/pm-slams-abbotts-plan-to-scrap-nbn-20100520-vfnb.html</A></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>PM slams Abbott's plan to scrap NBN<BR>PATRICK
CARUANA<BR>May 20, 2010 - 7:09AM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>AAP</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The opposition's plans to scrap the national
broadband network will drag Australia "back to a horse and cart past", Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd says.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>In his budget reply speech last week, Opposition
Leader Tony Abbott said the coalition would scrap the national broadband network
(NBN) if elected.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The building of the NBN has already begun in
Tasmania, with Smithton, Scottsdale and Midway Point to be connected to the
high-speed network from July.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Primus announced its pricing for broadband plans in
the three towns on Wednesday.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The Tasmanian Liberals have defied Mr Abbott and
have thrown their support behind the federal government's plan.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>At a community cabinet meeting in Burnie, in
northwest Tasmania, Mr Rudd said the NBN was a critical infrastructure
program.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>"Broadband here in Australia, frankly, is backward
and overpriced," he told the meeting on Wednesday.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>"It's slower and it's more expensive than what is
available in most competitor economies.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>"We are in grave danger of being left behind ...
(but) we have a chance to actually leapfrog the rest of the world."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Mr Rudd said the opposition's threats to scrap the
NBN would be disastrous for the country.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>"It seems that Mr Abbott has a different view,
which is to drag us back to a horse and cart past," he said.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said the NBN
would benefit Tasmania in particular.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>"In Tasmania, you have had the slowest and most
expensive broadband anywhere in Australia," he told the meeting.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>"One of the reasons we decided to start here in
Tasmania was because of that."<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<P align=left><FONT size=2
face=verdana>Regards, <BR> <BR> <BR><STRONG>Darren
Moss<BR></STRONG>General Manager, Director<BR>[p] 1300 131 083 [f] 03 9017
2287<BR>[e] <A
href="mailto:Darren.Moss@em3.com.au">Darren.Moss@em3.com.au</A> [w] <A
href="http://www.em3.com.au/">www.em3.com.au</A></FONT><FONT
face=verdana><BR><FONT size=2><BR><STRONG>em3 People and Technology | Managed
Technology Experts<BR></STRONG>postal: PO Box 2333, Moorabbin VIC
3189<BR><BR><STRONG>New Zealand</STRONG> Airedale Street, Auckland
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