High speed broadband opposed by coalition

According to Senator Stephen Conroy a Coalition government in Australia would mean putting an end to the National Broadband Network plans and reverting to what he described as the ‘failed broadband policies of the Howard government’.

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy has spoken out recently about how a Coalition government in Australia would result in the scrapping of the National Broadband Network plans. He said that this would result in the country having to put up once again with the ‘failed broadband policies of the Howard government’.

Conroy stated that the government was committed to getting high speed broadband rolled out across the country, but the Coalition had indicated that it would be scrapping the NBN plans if they got into power, which would knock the nation back enormously in terms of digital and technological advancement according to the Senator.

Mr Conroy said: “Tony Smith has signalled that a Coalition government would stop the NBN rollout and revert to the failed broadband policies of the Howard government. The Opposition has no credibility when it comes to broadband.

In its 11 ½ years in government the Coalition had 18 failed broadband plans which left Australia languishing behind other OECD nations on broadband take-up, quality and prices.  Now after more than two years in Opposition, the Coalition has no new alternative policy. They claim to be for high speed broadband, but every single position they take, including their obstructionist tactics in the Senate, aims to block its delivery.”

He went on to state: Tony Smith and his colleagues need to reveal who will miss out under their proposal – which home, business, school or hospital would not receive the genuinely high speed broadband services they need in the 21st century. Tony Smith and his colleagues also need to explain why they plan to stand in the way of 25,000 jobs that will be supported every year of the NBN rollout. High speed broadband is critical for all Australians and will drive future growth and productivity across the economy. Under the Government’s NBN every home, business, school and hospital will get high speed broadband and no one will miss out.”

Source – DBCDE.gov.au