There’s an element of politics in Communications Minister Stephen Conroy’s decision to break Telstra up. But it’s also good policy that finally corrects the huge mistake Bob Hawke and Kim Beazley made.
Telstra 
Telstra split: good or bad idea?
Online reaction to Telstra’s not-quite-forced “structural separation” is split. Telstra shareholders are angry. Everyone else is quietly jubilant — especially Telstra’s key competitors.
Crikey Clarifier: What on earth is structural separation?
Til now, Telstra has exploited its monopoly as the buyer and seller of wholesale services to gouge the public and its struggling rivals. So the government’s forcing it to “structurally separate”. But what does this mean?
Kohler: Government bludgeons Telstra into submission
It didn’t have to be like this, says Alan Kohler. The government has laid down a condition for issuing spectrum: it won’t be sold to Telstra if it’s an integrated telco at the time. But legislation to ensure this happens is overkill.
Grattan: Good call, Conroy
The government’s decision to split Telstra was the right call to make, says Michelle Grattan — one that will see both parties reap the rewards.
Stutchbury: A long time coming
The government’s break-up of Telstra is a bold move, but one Howard or Hawke should have had the foresight to do years ago, says Michael Stutchbury.
Rudd rips off Telstra’s ma and pa shareholders
“Rudd wants the political kudos of appearing to promote more competition while remaining disinclined to paying tens of billions of dollars’ compensation to his targeted victims: Telstra shareholders”. Unconstitutional, says Peter Swan
Has Conroy bitten off more than he can chew?
The government has created three monster projects that it has prime responsibility for: the creation of the NBN, the dismantling of Telstra, and the re-regulation of a telecommunications market. Good luck.
How Telstra split opens up Foxtel ownership
The announcement that Telstra must separate its retail and wholesale division — including a sell-off of its 50% Foxtel stake — should make Consolidated Media a prime takeover target. Let the media mogul battle begin.
Conroy orders Telstra to do the splits
The government has again smashed Telstra’s monopolistic agenda with a raw display of executive power — announcing its intention to force the company to separate its wholesale and retail arms.
Telstra has to morph into a different kind of beast
The Rudd government’s legislation is the stark choice being offered Telstra: split your wholesale and retail operations or you don’t get any more wireless spectrum.
Telstra to be split up
Stephen Conroy has today announced the government will require Telstra to structurally separate its wholesale and retail arms to increase telecommunications competition. Full text here. Telstra shares have dropped sharply in response.
Concept Economics goes bust, appoints administrators
Concept Economics, helmed by long-time Telstra associate Henry Ergas and favourite economics firm of Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has entered administration.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: Old is new again at Myer
What brand is Myer rehashing as it prepares to flog the business later this year? Also, is there really a worse transport company than our airlines? Apparently so…
Telstra consigns nowwearetalking to the memory hole
Telstra’s often-controversial corporate blog suddenly vanished yesterday afternoon. The conversation had simply moved on. Still, it was an interesting social media experiment, even if it failed to keep up with the times.
Tips and rumours: Bouquets and brickbats for Qantas
In today’s tips & rumours sections, Crikey’s anonymous tipsters tell us that Qantas is running on time… even if it’s pissing off frequent flyers and website users. Oh well, win some, lose some.
Aboriginal art reaches a crossroads under the stars in Darwin
There is nothing in the world quite like the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), with an uneasy coexistence between the commercial art world and Indigenous cultural imperatives, writes Henry F. Skerritt.
The Trujillo shambles that haunts Telstra
Former Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo’s departure with $9.06 million in his pocket was a final insult to long suffering shareholders. Why was he paid so much to deliver so little?
Morning Market Report: Strong day for the market and Wall St
The market was up 54, while the Dow closed up 120. Meanwhile, Telstra released slightly better than expected results.
newspaper death watch Free to good home? Print Trading Post may be put out to pasture
Industry sources claim Telstra could end production of the struggling print version of The Trading Post before the year is out, according to The Oz.
Onerous at the top: executive pay still on the up and up
Falls in executive remuneration have not shown an especially close correlation to shareholder returns, but at least the runaway freight train of CEO pay has ground to a halt.
Telstra set to embrace National Broadband
The possible addition of Telstra means the dominoes are falling into place for the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: In defence of Facebook
Crikey readers defend Facebook, and discuss abortion laws, Telstra bills, same-sex marriage and more.
Tips and rumours: SBS TV: more commercial than ever
A Crikey tipster writes: The steady descent of SBS TV into commercialism continues. Now all ad breaks are broadcast at noticeably higher volumes than the programs — the technique used by “real” TV stations for years.
Media magnates split the bill on political donations
Australia’s media proprietors have given the major political parties around $1.6m in donations in the last two years.
