The problem with the shed
public servant image and Telstra is the employees. A
public servant is a special breed of person and adapting to private enterprise has been rather difficult for these poor souls.
These people are gradually being weeded out by a process known as "retrenchment" and replaced with individuals better suited to private enterprise. There are still a huge number of bitter employees kicking around, which makes the work environment within the organisation rather unpleasant - hundreds of dissatisfied employees whining over email makes a lot of noise.
Some people have been working for Telstra / Telecom their entire lives, and old habits die hard.
The smarter ones start their own contracting companies and consult to their former employer for enormously inflated prices.