Good news that Macquarie are to advise Telstra on the financial aspects of the NBN proposed roll-out. It is to be hoped that the exceptional knowledgeable experts at Macquarie in combination with Telstra can explain to the Government the necessity of a reasonable return on investment and security of regulation for such a large and risk exposed investment.

This represents another nail in the collective coffin of the antis who believe that anyone other than Telstra has the experience, knowledge and backing to successfully deliver NBN to Australia. As detailed in http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23906648-15306,00.html Terria has now effectively admitted that they can't even afford to build the network in the unlikely outcome they should win the the bid, and Macquarie has apparently applied their considerable economic experience to the issue and come to the same conclusion. The move by such a mature financial organisation to become a backer of the winning team as opposed to merely another bit player should demonstrate to everyone that there is only solution to the NBN debate that will deliver a real solution to Australian broadband users. The choice is now down to three main proposals: - Terria, compromised of members who can't even afford to deliver the network in the first place, and those who can't even afford to contribute in the first place - they're just shouting from the sideline, but they're happy to reap the benefits when they come. Is this the team you want to entrust with our one-chance-to-get-it-right NBN investment? Australia deserved a world-class NBN with guaranteed performance and access for all, not a scrapheap challenge effort, done on the cheap, cheered on from the sidelines by organisations willing to profit from the network but too timid to invest in it. - A regional state-based network that will result in a mishmash of interconnecting systems with variable results for Australian users, with the ultimate performance determined by the lowest common denominator. We have one chance to get this right, and Australia deserves the best NBN we can deliver; this isn't the time for amateur hour, we need to strive for a single integrated solution that will deliver everywhere, to all users, when and where it's needed. - Telstra, the single operator with the experience, knowlege and financial backing to ensure that the network works properly for all Australians, and delivers a powerful, scaleable, future-proof network now and in the coming years. Australia's economic and social future will depend to a significant degree on the federal government making the right choice on NBN - all Australians need to let their federal member of parliament know that they support Telstra's bid as a positive step forward for Australia.

The G9 first tried: - Plan A: Depend on the ACCC to stop Telstra's FTTN, as they did in 2005 and it worked! Then... Plan B: The dangling carrot (we will supply it cheaper and better --- e-v-e-n-t-u-a-l-l-y). Then... Plan C: Name change to TERRiA (terriaustralis, terria-ist or something). Then... Plan D: Bringing in the new Mick's - Michael Simmons (from Soul - no further comment needed) and good ol' Labor guy Michael Egan - ooh. Then... Plan E: The fear campaign - the monopolist's will this and the monopolist's will that. Then... Plan F: The fear campaign MK2 - unless Telstra is structurally separated it will be the end of the world or worse! After all this hullabulloo, what have TERRiA actually achieved, apart from Plan A of course? Nothing! So in that case, what's Plan G you may well ask?: Well good question. Read on and guffaw like I did - Western Australian 24/6: "Optus director of government and corporate affairs Maha Krishnapillai warned that Telstra’s decision to appoint Macquarie as a financial adviser was likely to be a matter for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission". When all else fails revert to Plan A ~ Uncy Graeme - lol! My how laughably predictable! And what makes it even more laughable is - TERRiA don't actually want to win, they are just involved to attempt to manipulate proceedings, for their own optimum outcome - disgraceful!