Contributed by Jim Hayes

Elon Musk has caused another uproar, and its’s in Australia this time. The reaction against a monopoly takeover by his company Starlink, has crossed the political spectrum. If Starlink is allowed is awarded the contract, Musk will have a lot of control over our mobile phone networks.

The world’s richest man has a track record on not shying back from using his businesses for political ends and milking the pollical system for all he can get for himself.

Photo from the Express Tribune

This controversy arose when Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced telecos companies will have to extend universal coverage obligations to include mobile phone coverage everywhere by 2027. This involves linking to satellite. The challenge is that there are few corporations in this line of business. Starlink is one of them.

Handing over this much power over our communications to be under the influence of someone proven to not be a proper person the wield such power has caused an uproar among members of parliament. They realise this is too big as risk. The pushback comes from Labor’s own party room. The Greens and independents have been loud on this issue. There is even opposition within the ranks of the Liberal and National parties.

Now that this is out in the open, the community backlash is gaining momentum. Starlink poses a risk to Australian democratic rights, from the potential of holding our communication systems hostage to Elon Musk’s wishes, and through similar potential control over the Internet, a threat the right of access to information and news.

In April last year Musk went public over an order by the Australian eSafety Commissioner to take down what amount to pornography on his X platform. He has promised to fight the matter in the courts, and presumably, he will devote some of his billions to the task. He can say and do anything he likes in his opinion.

Last year’s outcry has become a bigger one with the Starlink threat. Given the rising public  opposition, it may be that this will not succeed.

Satellite communication is important, and Australia is falling behind. But it should not fall under the control of a private monopoly. Catching up with mush of the rest of the world depends on the building of as secure public satellite system. At least enough to give remote communities coverage at an affordable cost.