Phil Burgess your departure will be a sad day for Australia. We had never seen the likes of you before and many were shocked by your confident style and honest projection. You will long be remembered as a vital part of the American team who changed Telstra for the better and allowed Telstra to survive and become a truly great Australian company. You will have learned that Australia sadly does have those who disparage others, because of jealously, fear or some other reason but mate don't forget that there was another good bloke a few thousand years ago who did good too and they crucified him.

All I can add is Dr Phil you turned a new page in Telstra - To stand up for what is correct and reasonbale. Also what a great personality and what great talent.
I take my hat off (do not like wearing hats) to Dr Phil - I sincerely wish you success in all your doing begun, continued and ended.

OMG Sydney Lawrence. Making a parallel with Phil Burgess and Jesus Christ? Your sycophancy knows no bounds. It is not only extremely embarrassing but bordering on the obscene.
Phil Burgess was just another over paid executive with a gift for the gab, with little understanding of Australia and very little respect for Australians, shareholders, the media, or the government and it's instruments. Mr Burgess' departure is not a moment too soon.

George, we disagree. Mr. Lawrence is just using very liberal language. Open and frank discussion has now occured due to what Mr. Burgess PhD has instigated. What you should be asking George is why doesn't Australia have as capable people to fill these positions. Why are so many CEO's and the like from O/seas running Australian businesses - heavens we've had a springbok kill off the Happy Dragon.
Sol, Phil and Mr. Winn have achieved things that should have been done by the previous management - the Government - and those appointed by Howard. Yet those people invested over 600 million dollars in Hong Kong that went down the drain. Money that should have been spent on services for it's customers. So that Telstra would have been even further in front than it is now.

John, I agree with you. Sol, Phil, and Mr Winn certainly have achieved things. How much has Telstra's share price fallen since the 'Happy Dragon' (whatever that is) was killed off?
Remember .."I'll keep that to myself, but I sure wouldn't recommend it to my mother."
Nice to know you feel so ambivalent about the hit Telstra shareholders took as a result of that comment.

Don't know where U live George but the Happy Dragon was the mascot for the St George Bank that now will be eaten by the Westpac Bank. the previous CEO of St. George is now the CEO of Westpac - she's from South Africa. Get the picture.
Anyway, unless U are a share trader the price of Telstra shares is irrelevant. As a share holder it is the dividend you get that's important not the price they're selling at. The worth of the business, in terms of capitialisation, is again only important to U from the view of being a financially viable business - which Telstra is. A large majority of "mum & dad" share holders wouold not trade on the market. If U are a trader, then U would be taking advantage of the market just like any other. Again a non event. Sure I wish the price was $7.00 where it should be, hence my initial point - the government did nothing to make the business more efficient. Sure it is a utility but if managed effectively it can achieve a great deal more. I feel the present management are trying to do that. Whereas the previous mob were only interested in "looking" good.

George Taymar I do not challenge your absolute right to make critical assessment of my above Post but do remark that you ( by your expression) are the typical tall poppy syndrome small minded thinker that holds Australia back in a big world. Do not be offended when I tell you that your opinion of Dr Phil is so wrong and display such ignorance as to be a sad reflection on your knowledge on the subject under discussion. Please read a little of Phil's experience, qualifications and accomplishments before you comment again.