Of Vision and National Infrastructure

It is with great interest that I have listened to the ongoing debate surrounding the development of a National Broadband network in Australia - and here I should note that I have no particular leaning to either of the major political parties. I think that both are far more driven by dogma than by national interest and the needs of the voting public.

However, the decision to build a national broadband network is the right thing to do. It is very disappointing, therefore, to hear the Liberal party question this initiative on the basis of whether or not it will make a profit. When did it become the responsibility of the Government to make a profit - particularly on national infrastructure. Today the claim is that the Government has no mandate from the Australian voting public to build such an infrastructure. Hmmm - I wonder whether any Government has ever had a specific mandate to build roads or rail networks. The national broadband is a key capability to enable effective development of Australian industry. Our current national network is archaic.