The government has repeatedly claimed it won't sell the rest of Telstra until it's satisfied that its rural services are up to scratch. The findings of an inquiry into Telstra's rural services have now been released, and it says that Telstra's rural services have improved, which will pave the way for the full privatisation of Telstra. It's quite obvious that this report is a sham, just ask anyone who lives in the country and they will tell you that Telstra gives lousy service. Anyway, it is likely that any proposed sale of Telstra would get defeated in the senate, which would allow the government to call a double dissolution election.

What do you think of the prospect of a double dissolution election? Can Howard win on a "lets sell Telstra" platform? If an election is called with the sale of Telstra being the primary debate, which way would you vote?

(For the non Australians - Telstra is Australia's major telecommunications company. It used to be 100% government owned and it used to have a monopoly, but despite there being some competition now it is still Australia's most powerful telco. The party that is currently in power (The Liberal Party, with it's leader being John Howard) is a centre-right "pro-enterprise" party and has so far been able to privatise 49.9% of Telstra and they are bending over backwards to try to sell the rest of it, despite the fact that Telstra has recently been caught out tapping it's own clients phones and attempting to cover it up, and has a history of providing crappy service to everyone while increasing prices for its services. Full privatisation of Telstra is not as popular among the people of Australia as the government thinks.

1, the government is a coalition government, between the liberal party and the national party, as im sure you are aware.

2, the national party won't let them sell it off for a long time, or at least until much more of an improvement has been made. that report certainly hasnt changed there mind.

3, the howard government have not claimed that services are of a standard to facilitate the further sale.

4, with the reduced power of the democrats. there is a chance they might get the numbers if they go for it soon.

now 1+2+3+4 = no dissolution.

I really can't offer an opinion of the candidates or the election, but I am for the privitazation of all governement held monopolies.