Don’t waste time hiding NBN POI locations

[Do we] want “backhoe terrorism” to become the norm

I think you'll find that “backhoe terrorism” has been the norm for a considerable time (and that's in a country with maps and cable detectors).

Tip for the unwary: If you're paying your comms provider for redundant connections make sure they are not running down the same ducts.

HV transmission lines.

I have a small map of HV transmission lines from the late 70's, when I used to plan walking trips.

HV tranmission lines make great cross-country routes, because there is access along the whole route, they end up in major cities, and they cross rural and remote regions.

Sadly, the maps became unavailable in the 80's, when the tide of paranoia, secrecy and 'privacy' returned, after the openness of the 60's and 70's.

HV transmission lines are potential terrorist targets -- they are long, poorly defended, have an immediate economic impact, and have been destroyed by partisans in other countries.

They are also obvious, and marked on many other maps. What went missing was just a nice overview, that showed what existed and where it went.

I think it's just a dog-in-the-manger kind of officiousness, self-importance, and self-rightousness, the same kind of thing as "you can't do that - you're not a policeman/tradesman/socialworker/council employee/trained volunteer'

Its all really easy to take down

Which rather implies that the threat level is low-to-none.

It does seem pointless ...

... but now instead of being prosecuted for, say, criminal damage, someone who interferes with a component of the infrastructure might in future be subject to much heavier 'National Security'-related penalties.