Australia's first elected female PM
Soooo. Where were you when you heard the news? Or are you sitting in front of your computer hearing it now? Me, I was in Melbourne shopping centre (Chadstone, they have GAP kids but I digress….) sitting in one of those lounge-ish areas streaming ABC24 live coverage of the independents’s press conference on my phone.
Tony Abbott has phoned Prime Minister Gillard to congratulate her.
Mr Oakeshott warned, “This is not a mandate for any government… this parliament is going to be different.”
Its the slimmest ever margin in the 150-member House of Representatives, with Julia Gillard’s Labor government gaining the support of 76 MP’s. The coalition has 74.
And here is the press conference from Julia and Wayne Swann after they learned they had been handed power by the independents:
Some “Independent” background from MM political editor Julie Cowdroy:
What have the independents been deciding for the past 16 days?
They are deciding which major party they will give their support to. This support means that the independents vow to support the party of their choice in terms of confidence motions and supply. In the minority government situation that Australia faces, there is a chance that the weakened government could face a “no confidence” motion. This is where the party in Opposition moves for the House to vote for “no confidence” if they feel the Government is not governing properly. If a no confidence motion were put to the House by the Opposition, then the independents will not vote against the government that they have chosen. Supply is where bills are put forward that are to do with the budget. It is important in managing the economy that these bills be passed to keep the country running and the independents pledge they will not block supply to ensure the economy keeps ticking over.
The independents are also deciding on which government can best represent what they believe to be in the nation’s interest. We have seen Rob Oakeshott call for parliamentary reform and had both parties sign off on his request. You can read about the reforms here. Katter has a 20 point plan including no carbon tax or mining tax. You can read more about his requests here. Windsor is asking for … well, not quite sure what he wants.
Greens’ MP Adam Bandt has pledged his support to Labor in terms of confidence and supply, as well as other concessions such as a climate change committee and a parliamentary debate on Afghanistan. You can read more about the ALP/Greens deal here.
Tony Crook is the West Australian MP who is a member of the Nationals who took power from Liberal MP Wilson Tuckey. He has pledged his support to the Coalition but will sit on the cross benches. This means he won’t attend Nationals’ or Coalition party room meetings, but has promised his support in terms of confidence and supply.
What will the role of the independents and Adam Bandt be after a decision has been reached?
They will continue as they have done in previous parliaments and scrutinise legislation. However in terms of confidence and supply they will support their chosen government. In terms of the new parliamentary reforms, the independents, Opposition and Greens’ member can put bills to the house and have them costed (couldn’t do that previously) so that the House is more informed about certain pieces of legislation. Also we will see some interesting pieces of legislation introduced by Adam Bandt such as gay marriage and euthanasia which may lead to more conscience votes (where MPs don’t vote along party lines, but rather as their conscience would see fit).
Will the new government have the power to actually do anything or will independents continue to have the same amount of power?
The new government will have limited power compared to what they have been used to having. The new reforms mean the legislature (parliament) have more powers than they used to have. It used to be a very Executive focused structure, but now the rest of the parliament will have more agency. Also, there is a stronger chance for new and interesting pieces of legislation to be introduced by the independents and the Greens. Things will take longer to pass through the HOR but there will be more examination on bills, and don’t forget that this scrutiny will continue in the Senate where the Greens hold the balance of power.
How do you feel?
Here is Bob Katter last night…
And this may make you sing
Comments
243 Comments so far
check this for your all your medical waste disposal michigan
solutions.solutions needs
loading...
What democratic societies should learn lessen from Australia election 2010:
1. What productive action has PM Julia Gillard in office 100 days?
Who behind of soaring rents ever stop that fuel city’s poverty for so many years? Found the answer yourself now?
The Australia historical hung parliament demonstrated the big gap of inequality society between the small educated elite groups who get highest pay by talk feast used mouth work controlling live essential resources of the country in every social platforms against the biggest less educated groups who get lowest pay by hands work squeezed by discriminative policies that sucking live blood from individual poor/less wealth off?
Voters’ voices do not hear?
Voters’ pains do not ease?
Voters’ cries do not care?
1. Poverty will not be phase out if no fairer resources to share;
2. Illness will not be reducing if no preventive measurement in real action;
3. Agriculture will not be revitalize if urbanization continuing its path;
4. Housing affordability will not be reach for young generation if government continues cashing from young generation debt by eating out the whole cake of education export revenue without plough back;
5. Manufacture industry will shrink smaller and smaller if no new elements there to power up to survive;
6. Employability will not in the sustainable mode for so long as manufacture and agriculture not going to boost.
Ma kee wai
(Member of Inventor Association Queensland since 1993)
loading...
Finally, glad they made a decision and glad they’re backing Labor. I don’t know how they thought anything would get done if the Coalition got in and had to share balance of power with the Greens. Coalition would be too busy blocking everything the Greens put forward to get anything done.
It will certainly be a different government to anything most of us have seen before but I think that a lot of good can be achieved.
Sad to some comments emulating the right-wing media with their negativity and scaremongering….
loading...
backstabba’s in da house. Please 3 yrs go fast
loading...
That comment would be equally valid if Abbott had got in!
loading...
I’ve listened to that prime minister song about twenty times or more. It’s so good.
loading...
Hellow
Can you please take the time to answer my survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KVYF99W
Thank you
loading...
i am happy to do surveys but where are you from and what is it for?
loading...
“So, let’s draw back the curtains and let the sun shine in.” Julia Gillard
“To quote Rob Oakeshott, sunshine is the best disinfectant.”
Julia Gillard
“I think it will be beautiful”
Bob Brown
Let me share an insight with you, I have experienced a sunset that literally moved me to tears. It was a vignette, an awe inspiring visceral representation of exquisite aesthetic beauty and truth. Will this “new era” of Australian Politics aspire a “paradigm” of universal truth and beauty? Only time will tell.
“Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.”
William Blake
loading...
thank you mama mia for keeping us updated on all the going’s on re. election. nice bite sized clear pieces, i’ve learnt a lot about how it all works through this site.
loading...
Press conference was precisely time for school pick-up, just like Melbourne Cup. Luckily it was so long-winded that it was still going when I got back to the car. Rob Oakeshott was making me cringe with his self-importance. Who would have thought that the election of the first female PM would be such a fizzer. Not looking forward to three years of moronic comments about redheads either – have read some here today. Feeling sorry for my beautiful redhead daughter as these comments will no doubt find their way into the school playground.
loading...
Agree that it’s pretty sad that people who don’t like Gillard/Labor resort to comments about hair colour rather than intelligent debate about policy or values.
loading...
The next three years will be the longest you have ever lived through………….
loading...
I cant see this government lasting 3 years. The independants demands will see them dictating policy to the point that the labor/green coalition will implode. There wont be 3 long years but probably 18 very entertaining months that will be non-productive & probably quite destructive for the country.
Laurie Oakes will be loving being the most often seen head on telly!
loading...
sounds a bit like the howard era to me
loading...
To be honest I’m over the whole thing but yay lets just get on with it now.
I really wanted to come on here to let Mia (and everybody else) know that Gap and Old Navy now ship to Australia. Sorry that’s pretty shallow considering what’s going on but it’s worth spreading the word as they make the BEST kids clothes.
loading...
thanks, going shopping now!!!
loading...
I think this whole situation is bizarre actually. The Labor party (who are not in a formal coalition with the Greens) only won something like 36% of the primary vote. The rest of their seats came from preference deals, I believe mostly with the Greens.
The Coalition on the other hand won 40-something percent of the primary vote, in their formal, well-known coalition.
Basically, it seems to me like we have a situation now with a government the majority of this country didn’t really vote for.
I would really like it if the preference system was abolished and each vote went only to the person who a voter voted for and to no one else unless that voter voted below the line in the Senate and nominated their subsequent preferences.
Although there are some significant differences, this reminds me of the election in the US that saw Bush Jnr elected for the first time even though Gore actually got more votes. And look how well that turned out…
loading...
While it’s true Labor got less primary votes this time around than the Libs, people who vote Green usually know their votes will count to Labor. The Greens and the Coalition have no common ground so the party who is closest to the majority probably did get in. I just think it’s sad these days that Labor and the Libs are so much the same. i think that’s what a lot of voters lament.
loading...
I think people need to look at where the other votes went: The Greens. So, with Labor and the Greens combined achieving more votes than the Coalition I think it’s safe to say that Australia asked for a move to the LEFT. Abbott and “climate change is crap” Co. cannot provide that.
loading...
Yes! I wonder why “swinging voters” are only ever counted as those who are unsure between Labor and Liberal. Many I know (including myself) were swinging voters, but between Labor and Greens. Ignore us at your peril!
loading...
Vomit-inducing either way…but still,Julia seems the lesser evil-only by a fraction though…Tony Abbott comes across as just plain dumb and arrogant,and i am so glad we won’t have to see and hear him stutter his nonsense every day…
loading...
Those who think there are no gays in kennedy clearly havent been to the irish club on a saturday night..
loading...
I heard about the Labor victory from a colleague at work. Personally, I think it’s a very shallow victory as Gillard won’t be able to make many changes during her term and I would rather have gone back to the polling both. I also think Abbott should be counting his lucky stars as this ‘victory’ I believe will be the ‘poisioned chalice’ and Gillard will need to pull several rabbits from the labor hat.
As for the independents, I think they will keep labor on their toes. I also think the Labor government won’t last the distance of 3 years and we’ll be back voting again in 18months.
loading...
Well it certainly makes sense that Mr Katter has aligned himself with Tony Abbott – they are both proud homophobics it seems!
Have to say it was terribly inconsiderate that they made the announcement at school pick-up time.
I picked up my big girl from school with the radio on zoomed around the corner to preschool to get my middle girl. Left big girl and baby in the car (safe car park to do this in) and by the time I got back to the car my husband had called with the result, my big girl had answered my phone and she was the one that gave me the news. Breathed a huge sigh of relief at that point. Really glad it’s all over with and we can ‘move forward’ ha ha!
Let’s hope that Ms Gillard can really take this opportunity to do some good stuff – I’m glad she was given a chance to do so – I was really worried about Mr Abbott being given any power – I really do believe that would have put Australia in a backwards position. I too have been disappointed by the government but I can’t help thinking I would have been way more disappointed if it had been a Coalition government these past few years and if we’d had one come into power yesterday.
Looking forward to some interesting times ahead.
loading...
I was thinking the exact same thing about the stupid timing. At school pick up time there were all these parents sitting in their cars, radios on, waiting, waiting, waiting for a definitive result. In the end I lost patience, got out, got the kids and sometime after 3.40 finally got the roundabout answer we’d been waiting for! Only, now…what does it mean?!
loading...
The Melbourne Cup is just as inconsiderate…
loading...
I’m glad she was given a chance too. She’ll do more good with the Greens and the independents than service-cutting Abbott. It’s really sad that the right-wing media continue their pathetic means of trying to take her down. THEY need to give her a chance!
loading...
A brand new, fuzzy pink era, with politicians all over the House and Senate promising the people and the nation ‘silver sevice’ in parliamentary behaviour and reform?
Oh come now…
My friends and I remain sweetly cynical enough, that we’re calling the PM “Prime Minister Fanta Pants”; chortling stupidly at our own jokes about Julia’s Special Gift – the Prime Ministership ( thanks Kerry O’Brien for that ) and wondering how Tony-A-Woman’s-Special-Gift-I-Used-to-be-Howards’s-Shit-Kicking-Attack-Dog-Abbott plans to tarnish the PM’s virtue.
Oh well, at least Uncle Bob GreenBrown has the Senate…and Malcolm T is surely just a vote or two away from the leadership…
loading...
I woke up this morning (I’m in London) and the first thing I did was log onto twitter from my phone, which gave me the news. Gotta love twitter.
loading...
I haven’t had time to read the comments here, but I’m feeling really annoyed about all the flak the independents are copping in general. Here are three men who were asked to make a very important decision. One that the voters could not make, and one that was very much not in the job description for which they applied.
Faced with a complex issue, they gathered information, talked to many people, took a mere couple of weeks for careful consideration. They calmly and politely resisted the relentless media pressure for quick headlines, to move on to the next story. They played a straight bat, were honest with the Australian people without shafting those with whom they were negotiating.
Of course. Why would we want any of this from our politicians? Its much better when they churn out half-baked crap to keep headline-hungry journalists and a lazy electorate comfortable.
loading...
I completely agree Bowerbird. I had no problem with how long they took to make up there mind, infact I would have been more annoyed with a quick decision.
loading...
Oh, and…
They then gave the Australian people credit for a bit of intelligence, and articulated in detail the process and reasoning behind their decisions. They did that with passion and conviction, not a focus group or three-word slogan in sight.
Wasn’t that what a lot of us were asking for prior to the election??
loading...
My thoughts exactly Bowerbird, I reckon both your comments are completely spot on. I can be pretty scathing and cynical when it comes to politicians, but really they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
loading...
Couldn’t agree more Bowerbird… we got a result in the end. Can’t have been easy for the Independents – they didn’t ask for that responsibility. I’m just looking forward to them all getting on with it now – let’s see how it all unfolds.
loading...
Really well said, as always, Bowerbird.
loading...
totally agree
loading...
Nailed it. completely agree.
loading...
Yeah, completely agree Bowerbird. I’ve been thinking about everyone bagging Rob Oakeshott’s speech and can’t understand why everyone is whinging that he took the time to explain his decision intelligently and articulately. If they didn’t want to listen turn off the radio/TV/computer and tune in later!
loading...
I had picked up my 12 year old from school and had pulled over into a 10 min parking spot because I had to to the post office. He and I were listening on the radio and following on Twitter on my phone. Kerri Sackville you were particularly entertaining! My son was hassling me to let him go into the supermarket to get a snack but I wanted him to stay and listen. And stay and listen he did, and did, and did, and did. I was hoping there were no parking inspectors around. Finally the decision was announced (yay!) and I let my son have a Hersheys bar to celebrate.
loading...
Well I guess Gillard can move into the lodge now. I think this election was brilliant and has really helped diversify the political landscape. It has sent a very strong message out to people that there are not only two options at the polls and will help force the two major parties to lift their act. The result couldn’t have been more ideal. I’m glad Gillard got this scare, it certainly helped push her into pleading Labor’s history and commitment to the labour movement and education. And it also seems to have melted her infuriating politician’s persona and politikspeak for more genuine talk about focusing on policy. Lets hope she can funnel more of that immense intelligence and energy into leadership and meaningful change and less into being a politician with empty rhetoric.
loading...
I was at work in Northern Ireland, getting on to check my Aussie news and ta-da! There she was! Congratulations Julia and good luck!!
loading...
I’m wondering why we voted in the first place, we should have just asked the three independents to do due diligence and decide.
Hilariously they came up with pretty much the same as the rest of the nation, neither are inspiring!
loading...
Can I just say I’m sick of Julia saying “Can I just say…” or, “Let me say…”, or, in fact, prefacing everything she says… I hope this doesn’t happen for the next 3 years… ugh.
loading...
Ha ha! Just saying!
loading...
Ah relief – that it’s over as much as about the actual result (although a big Phew about the result too)
although the Funniest bit for me was Mr 4 and Miss 2 crowding around and watching the presser on TV parroting me shouting “Come ON Rob. just tell us!” with great passion.
For what it’s worth – Mr T has maintained for the last 2 weeks that Tony and Jules should just share the PM; or maybe they could take turns mummy?
“except if they have to do running mum, and then Tony will definitely win”.
loading...
Good on all the independents. It’s about time regional Australia was given a voice.
For everyone complaining that these independents didn’t cover gay rights, city infrastructure etc in their decision making process maybe have a long hard think about the last time regional Australia was the focus of any national decisions.
If you wanted these issues raised in parliament YOU should have voted for someone to represent you and your interests in YOUR electorate.
loading...
I did and so did everyone else… I think the point is, LAR, that no matter who we voted for, our members don’t have the same opportunities that the independents have been presented with!
loading...
You missed the the most important detail, what did you buy Mia? Baby gap just makes me want to get knocked up!
I worked on the store design for the new Gap store but I think the merchandising is brilliant! So exciting.
loading...
I was there Monday and there was so much stuff I couldn’t decide and just bought a t-shirt for my bub!
loading...
I love Gap for kids too – great clothes, cute and well made. I wish I lived in Melbourne so I could shop there too!
loading...
Well made by SWEATSHOP LABOUR, including by KIDS in India
loading...
Are they really? That completely ruins it.
loading...
you do realise that The Gap use/d child slave labour don’t you? they are into sweatshops. someone elses’s child made those clothes for your kid.
Boycott them. they are evil.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/oct/28/ethicalbusiness.retail
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/08/gap-next-marks-spencer-sweatshops
loading...
We were watching it on my computer at work – with no sound (we’re not allowed sound…). So we basically entertained ourselves by trying to lip read and/or making up dialogue in smurf voices until the ticker told us what was actually happening. It was quite amusing actually!!
Also – if the next election is going to be like this year, can’t we just make Survivor: Canberra or Big Brother Pollies and vote people out week by week? It would take just as long but be FAR more interesting and amusing!!
(Don’t mind me; I’m just bitter because I actually studied for this election, voted below the line, and ended up getting the shits waiting for the result! Thank god they aren’t calling another election – I’d be devastated having to number all those boxes again! You’d be surprised how difficult it is to count backwards from 80something lol)
loading...
amen… didn’t know what i was in for, til I got half way and then had to decide who I hated the least haha… and i kept losing track of my numbers haha!
loading...
I loved watching it. Even though it took ages, it was pretty obvious right from the start who they were backing.
Watched it with my husband (we are pro-Labor) and my in-laws (very pro-Liberal), so it was quite amusing.
He’s a good speaker that Mr Oakeshott!
loading...
I agree – I thought Oakeshott did well – everyone else on mamamia seems to think he’s a tosser! I found myself with quite a bit of respect for both he and Tony Windsor since the election. I think they’ve handled the process, and the media, admirably.
loading...
Not everyone, OnceWasNicky. I couldn’t agree with you more!
loading...
Don’t you just want to give Tony Windsor a big hug… I really like him – he has substance and seems like a good bloke.
loading...
I really like both of them, too. I thought Rob’s speech was long and all, but it was a good story of what they had to go through in the last couple of weeks and their decision making processes.
loading...
Where was I when I heard??
I was at my sisters house trying to work out what I wanted to eat for arvo tea….. chocolate covered scotch finger or bar of cadbury bubbly…… by the end of Rob’s speech I had consumed both, well actually 2 x the former and 1 x the latter…..
http://www.phoodie.wordpress.com
loading...
Whilst there is little doubt that Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott could have been a little snappier with their announcements, they had every right – and the appropriate platform – to fully explain the reasoning behind their decisions.
Personally I’m pretty thrilled to see some genuine passion and thoughtfulness in Australian politics again – the gains the independents have already made by way of parliamentary reform is an impressive beginning.
Here’s hoping it continues!
loading...
i agree they were within their rights to take their time and explain why they did what they did.
loading...
I agree! as long winded as they were it was interesting to hear the thought process behind their decision.
I still however have no idea what Katter was saying…
loading...
i just watched Q&A from last night and am so glad that he went with the libs! i am obviously very naive as i did not know such old-fashioned and homophobic views existed in 2010..
loading...
I was at work surrounded by everyone watching Tony Windsor DRONE on and on and on and on…. I swear, toward the end when he took a breath and started up again everyone in my office groaned simultaneously!
ANYWAY! Happy it is all over and done with.
loading...
Nicky, is this gold-star-rating comments style a glitch? Personally I miss the gold star rating format, it’s nice to be able to give feed back.
loading...
Working on it
It is indeed a glitch
loading...
Lana oh tech deity of Mamamia…I can’t sign in or enter my email for replies from Safari…while you’re working on it
loading...
Thanks Tara *hops to it giggling at the thought anyone thinks I am technical let alone deity*
loading...
Bless his heart and everything, but was anyone else waiting for the orchestra to play off Rob Oakeshott, like they do at the Oscars? Maybe that’d be a good idea for parliament…
loading...
Makes me sad to think the country is divided so much.
loading...
But is it really divided much more than usual? Or to that big an extent – except on some key ideological issues?
I think it’s exciting that we’ll get some genuine discussion and debate about political ideas and directions, rather than the two parties swapping slogans and noone else getting their head on telly. Bring it on, indeed!
loading...
I admit it – I was interested in hearing the outcome from the Independents – then I was slowly losing interest/energy/will to stay & listen to car radio at 3pm in Sydney today.
This drop in my levels of concentration was due to 3 men who have had more power, time, negotiations, meetings, offers, and more to “decide” the winning PM.
OK, that’s it? Not really. Not a good portent for stability in government because only one MP needs to resign/become Ill/ die/take an early retirement and the Govt is teetering..
I don’t think Julia should move all of her stuff into the Lodge just for a bit..it’s been a mighty fall by ALP since the Kevin fail night..lessons need to be learned.
That’s it from me – feel free to disagree- I have been a voter for 42 years.
And, mm commenters, if you want to write about privilege —that’s how you spell it. Definitely (another one that’s often incorrect) a rant from a retired teacher tonight!!
loading...
Rant away Denyse! My (retired Principal) Dad is the same when he comes to spelling… he loves to correct anyone – even complete strangers – as a result I am an excellent speller and I have him to thank for it. I now get to correct my husband (he hates it!) and make sure my girls are going to be ace spellers also.
My absolute pet hate is when people (even very intelligent ones) use the word ‘your’ instead of ‘you’re’ – drives me absolutely nuts!!
loading...
Thank you – glad to have you on board the spelling train! I can’t stand it either if due to “spell bloody check” it’s becomes it’s (see it won’t let me do ITS) xx
loading...
Gah! The incorrect use of possessive apostrophes, especially in the case of plurals. Like at the fruit shop. “Orange’s” what? Simple rule: If it is more than one of something that does not end in x, nearly ten times out of ten, you just add an s. Daughter of English teacher. Rant over!
loading...
bob katter is the most arrogant, ignorant moron on television. he is sickening to watch.
loading...
Bob Katter was on one big power trip. Makes me feel a bit sick watching that footage.
loading...
What about Windsor & oakshott whatever.,,omg shame on both of you for knowing EXACTLY who you were going to support & milking this farcical event for all it was worth. Shame Shame…. God help this country.
loading...
Yayyyy!!!!
loading...
Unlike.
loading...
She doesn’t HAVE to be sworn in again!
loading...
True. She need only ask to continue as Prime Minister and come out of caretaker role.
loading...
Booo!!!!!!
loading...
Oakeshott seems like a bit of a tool
loading...
A bit????
loading...
Basically it came down to Katter supporting Abbott because he likes Rudd. While Oakeshott and Windsor chose Gillard because they think the ALP will lose at the next election.
As a Labor supporter, obviously part of me is happy we will continue to have a Labor government. Another part of me thinks this is the beginning of the end and that we will lose in 2013. Liberal BF is almost as happy as he was after the Swans won last weekend. He thinks the Liberals are guaranteed to win in ’13, sadly I agree with him.
loading...
Don’t you think what happens between now and then might have some bearing on election results in 2013? Like how well the Gillard government does on regional development, climate change, mining tax, education etc etc?
loading...
I do, but I’m very pessimistic about the next 3 years. I think it will be very tough to have a successful term. Other than the NBN I don’t see much coming easily. The mining tax is just about dead and buried (I don’t see it getting out of the lower house). And getting something accomplished with climate change will be almost as hard.
If in three years nothing is happening beyond the NBN I think Labor will be punished on election day, we won’t be able to say “it’s only our first term, give us another chance”.
loading...
Yes… and it would seem he supported Abbott as they’re both homophobic!
loading...
YAY!!!!
the better policies won in the end. rural people need better broadband and better education, they would never have got that from the mad monk.
First elected female PM too! what a great day for Australia (well for labor/green/indie voters!!)
loading...
I reckon there’ll be people claiming she wasn’t elected but was put there by the independents (not that I agree with that, and yes I know we vote for the party not the leader). After all the crap about the “faceless factional people”. I hope that people will judge her on her own merits but I am skeptical that they will.
Nevertheless as a labour supporter I am glad she got in, particularly because I have always thought that Julia has a lot to offer and I was worried that if they lost her political career would be effectively ruined – yes, there is the occasional leader who loses an election and comes back from it, but a lot of them don’t. I want to actually *see* what she can do.
I so so hope that this doesn’t turn out to be a poisoned chalice though. Still, there’s a good chance Libs will implode at some point over the next few years – I couldn’t help but laugh when they went on about labour’s instability during the campaign – um, how many leaders have they had since the last election? I wish both sides would stop being so sanctimonious about things like that.
loading...
i have so much respect for julia’s commitment, and belief in the importance of education.
i think she has a lot to offer and we will see her true potential now.
loading...
Unfortunately a lot of the decision to back Labor was because of Labor’s wasteful NBN scheme. I’m worried we may waste 40 Billion dollars on outdated equipment. A pan -European project funded by the European Union under Polycom will soon deliver plastic optical fibre that is as fast as copper or glass optical fibre at a much cheaper price. Hopefully with a shaky control by Labour all parties may look at these much cheaper and comparable NBN products. Are we installing glass optical fibre at the moment? I’m not sure myself!
loading...
My partner owns a fibre optic installation company so I can shed some light on this for you. We currently do install glass fibre optic, which is much faster than copper and also requires much less cable than copper. Plastic fibre optic is faster than copper but not as good as glass for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it is not as fast as glass and secondly it can only be installed as a single strand which is a major disadvantage. Currently glass fibre is either installed in lots of 144, 72, 24 or 12 meaning that while all of these fibres may not be in use right now they are there for when our useage increases in the future and allow for different levels of useage to be accommodated for. For example a 144 fibre would be installed in a major city street then a 72 fibre may be run into a buildings comms room, then a 24 fibre up to the 30th level and a 12 fibre up to the roof. Generally only one or two fibres are in use but if anything happened to these fibres it would be relatively quick and easy to slice another fibre and be back online compared to having to rehaul the whole thing as you would have to do with a plastic fibre. Plastic fibre would be okay to use in buildings – just – but putting it in the street would be crazy because you would have to install a new cable every time you wanted to get another building or floor on board, meaning it turns out to be more labour intensive and not as convenient an option as glass.
Sorry to be longwinded and I hope this makes sense, it’s actually quite a difficult concept to get your head around and I don’t know that I’ve explained it that well!
loading...
Thanks KellBell – my husband is a tech-head and I was about to ask him this same question but don’t need to now… well explained!
loading...
Getting this fibre out to every home particularly in rural Australia seems virtually impossible though. How many fibre specialists do you think there are in Dunedoo or Cootamundra or Cloncurry or Alice Springs? I cannot for the life of me see how this project can possibly work outside of cities (and even inside cities, are they going to lay it underground or along the telephone poles? Or just run it to hubs and then wireless from there?). I hear the average cost for each subscriber to this fibre network will also be around $160 a month – much, much more than I would be willing to pay for an internet connection.
If you have more details KellBell on how they actually plan to do this I would be really interested to hear them!!
loading...
KellBell
thanks for your info. whatever happens I’d like to go ahead three years and see what was the outcome of the NBN as well as our government!
loading...
UPDATE:
Julia Gillard offered Independent MP Rob Oakeshoot a ministry in the government. Most likely to head up regional reforms. He has not decided what he will do with this as he has a young family.
loading...
Gotta say Julia’s speech was good.
loading...
Its the outcome I was hoping for. HOWEVER I dont think its right for 3 men to have that much power and to be able to make that decision. Glad its over.
loading...
I don’t think those three men asked for that much power. From what I could see they were there to serve the electorate, and because the rest of the country were split, they got stuck there. Unfair on them, actually, but perhaps finally a chance for their regions to get some things heard.
loading...
Yay. Finally.
loading...