James

The Australian Government considers that the digital economy is important for our future productivity, competitiveness and social and economic well-being. Increasingly, commercial, health, educational, cultural, entertainment and social activities will occur online both within Australia and globally. Competitive? Australian Internet costs are amongst the highest in developed worlds. USA and Europe see significantly better broadband networks and speeds at much cheaper rates. Not to mention the filter. Moving to a dictatorship style internet filter which will further burden business and individuals with increased costs slower speeds, security issues (how secure will secure webpages be after they are not stopped and monitored by your ISP?) and much more. Drop the filter its a joke, The government should have its own wholesale arm which installs the required infrastructure to see that it is fairly and equitably performed throughout Australia and then unbiasedly wholesaled out to all ISP's (Unlikely Telstra which had a retail arm) at prices which can see more affordable internet. Not everything should be done privately. Basic infrastructure, facilities and services should always remain public as these shouldnt be profitable instead tax payer funded to ensure everyone regardless of status or income can have access to these basic needs and lets face it the Internet is a basic requirement in todays day and age.