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Comment by thejosh | Hacker News Reader

Apart from the proposed filter, I guess everything else is good.

The proposed filter was ludicrous and I'm happy to report it has essentially lost all political steam. It appeared primarily as a bargaining tool for the Labour party to work with a number of independents but even those independents have removed support for the proposal now. Last it appeared in the media, it was "delayed indefinitely".

I'm hopeful that the proposed filter is history, thanks in part to a number of ISPs supporting the cause and loud community support.

What is worrying for Woz is that the National Broadband Network (NBN) will likely be axed if the current party (Labour) falls in the coming election. Compared to his situation in California however, where he says no political party is interested in broadband internet, at least the opposition have a broadband plan (even if it's substantially less ambitious and possibly ill conceived).

Either way, I'd be happy to buy Woz a beer if he ever comes over to Sydney :)

It'll be interesting to see where the opposition takes their broadband policy. With Turnbull at the helm of opposition telecommunications policy, it is certainly beginning too seem like they are less likely to completely tear down the NBN. Given that it is becoming abundantly clear that something needs to be done, I think it's probably more likely that they will simply change the scale of the project.

At any rate, they seem to have given up on the ridiculous notion that wireless is a suitable replacement in urban areas, and actually seem to be moving towards a more comprehensive plan...

I'm holding out hope that even with an opposition government that in urban areas there will be optical. The question will be how they manage the future of the infrastructure, and whether or not they adequately provide for rural areas.

P.S. If you do invite Woz out for beers, count me in :P

As long as you aren't Julian Assange. Or a boat person. Or a refuge. Or an aboriginal. Or not white. Or like fast good internet from overseas. Or want to raise money.

There are many reasons why Australia is great, but there are still problems.

That's defeatist in the extreme.. get a grip.

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