Globalisation
Channel 9 news actually ran two stories supportive of the local operators on successive nights. And while community funded outfits have a 'feel good' aspect I think they will loose out to the world players eventually.
You cannot believe the economies of scale the multi nationals have. They can usually wipe the floor with you price wise & if they can't beat you that way then they just buy you out with an offer you can't refuse.
Seventy percent of my (water industry) customer base has been taken over by the same mulit national in the last five years. The 'big-is-beautiful' express is on a roll & I can't see it being derailed as a concept in my lifetime.
One day one of 'em will make a 20 trillion dollar offer on Oz & we can each take our one million & move to NZ?