Rudd short changes the regions on broadband, says Govt’s own expert
18th January, 2010
The coverage in regional areas of the Rudd Government’s proposed National Broadband Network was today given a severe caning – by one of the members of the Government’s own expert panel which gave advice on the project.The highly critical comments today by Professor Reg Coutts confirm those of the Coalition that Labor has broken an election promise to provide fast broadband to 98 percent of households.
At least 10 percent of the population are left out – or about two million Australians, who largely live in the regions.
The Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Warren Truss, said Prof Coutts article in Fairfax media was accurately headlined “NBN neglects those left in broadband wilderness”.
“I and many in the community are frustrated at the lack of progress in planning services for the 10 percent of the population who are beyond the NBN footprint,” Prof Coutts wrote.
“To my mind, there will be no credible national broadband network policy and plan unless the solution to the 10 percent of premises is addressed.”
“This is beyond embarrassing for the Government,” Mr Truss said. “From day one, the NBN has looked like an over-priced white elephant, complete with dodgy timelines and heroic assumptions.
“The build of the network would begin in the cities, which are already comparatively well–served by broadband, and then slowly move out to areas which are less well catered for. Worst of all, 10 percent of the population would be excluded from the fast broadband.
“The one thing we know for sure is that any towns or communities with less than 1000 people will miss out entirely – a disgraceful situation that the Government has already been forced to admit.
“If the former Coalition government’s Opel contract has been allowed to progress, the regions would be receiving fast broadband NOW.
“But the Rudd Government cancelled that project and has put nothing in its place, except a slogan and a white piece of paper with the figure ‘$43 billion’ written on it,” Mr Truss said.
