At the garage of porkies and bribes, the truth becomes uncomfortable. As Tony Windsor — may Santa Claus bless him on Christmas day — says in his press release, Barnaby Joyce accepted a bribe — in the sense he rolled over on his stand on Telstra by accepting a mockery of a deal that will take about 40 years to bring the bush to present (2005) city communication levels. I was going to post the entire press release of the Glorious Tony who mentions spineless Nationals but you can read it on his web site.

Of course, as he mentioned the truth about the whole bloody lot he was booted out.... of the sad garage...

An enterprise that was set up with taxpayers' funds & supported by taxpayers' funds for decades was partially offered to us in 1997, not as a demutualisation, as it should have been, but as an initial public offering.

We paid our $3.30 to buy part of something that we owned. 

The Government used the influx of our money to tell us how good its fiscal policies were.

In 1999, we were offered another part of this publicly listed company. We dutifully paid our  $7.40 to buy another part of something we already owned.

 While many small investors were still suffering from the 35 per cent capital loss, the Government used the influx of our money to tell us how good its fiscal policies were.

Now, billions in taxpayers' money is to be set aside to prop up the services that this publicly listed company provides so that we can be offered another part of something that we already own. 

No doubt, at the next election, the Government will again use the influx of our money to tell us how good its fiscal policies are.

David Mynott

Thornleigh