Woops! Fine print exposes Labor broadband con
17th August, 2010
Labor’s NBN has been exposed as a massive con by one of its own state ministers, Leader of The Nationals, Warren Truss MP said today. Fine print[1] at the end of a media release issued by Queensland Labor Minister Rob Schwarten and under the authority of NBN Co indicates that not one major city or town in Queensland- including Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast- is guaranteed of receiving full fibre optic coverage.
If Labor can’t guarantee a full service for big provincial cities and the capital Brisbane, what does that say about the likelihood regional communities in Australia will have to access faster and more affordable broadband?
“Despite wanting to spend $43 billion, Labor cannot guarantee that regional towns including Bundaberg, Mackay, Gladstone, and Longreach will receive full fibre coverage. The NBN is a total con and exposes Julia Gillard as having deceived the Australian public into thinking they will receive high speed broadband services under Labor.
“No detailed business plan was ever put forward by Labor on how its $43 billion National Broadband Network will actually deliver affordable, high speed broadband access. The whole policy is a sham, and an expensive one at that. Labor’s NBN has a Rolls Royce price tag but there’s nothing under the bonnet,” Mr Truss said.
Telecommunications experts say the taxpayer contribution to fast broadband in Singapore was around $200 per person and around $330 in New Zealand but Labor’s NBN will cost Australian taxpayers at least $5000 per household and may not even deliver any improved services.
The Coalition’s $6 billion broadband policy is much more affordable and will deliver actual improved broadband to all towns and cities across Australia.
[1] Extract from Robert Schwarten’s media release: This is an indicative list of towns that will receive some fibre coverage. Many of these towns will also receive some wireless coverage. The list is based on initial detailed modelling work done by NBN Co which may be subject to change following more detailed planning and design work. The fibre modelling is based on NBN Co's current optical fibre design rules rather than detailed premise and density and may not result in contiguous coverage of all locations within the indicated fibre footprint.
