Jwolpert,The bigger players are not buying into Grahame Maher's...

Jwolpert,

The bigger players are not buying into Grahame Maher's denial of Vodafone dressing itself up for exit from Australia.

For an example of the difference in Maher's recent style, contrast his Business Sunday interview on 2nd June 2002, to that of his October 2001 interview (same programme).

In October, Maher was full of confidence, in control of his responses, and damning in his condemnation of others in the industry (ie: with subsidies, etc). On Sunday, he was hesitant, lacking on detail, evasive as to questioning, and reactionary in suggesting that it was Hutchison that had to firm itself up, not Vodafone.

Either Maher was ambushed on Sunday (unlikely, otherwise, why appear), did not prepare himself adequately (unlikely, he is the Australian boss after all), was not telling us everything (quite possibly, after all, that's his job), or was trying to downplay on what is being tried out behind the scenes (quite likely).