High Speed Broadband Plan For Northern Territory

Member for Lingiari and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon said today Labor's plan for high-speed broadband access seeks address the needs of all Australians, regardless of where they live.

Mr Snowdon said Labor's plan will connect almost all Australians to a fibre to the node National Broadband Network - covering regional and rural areas that would not be serviced by private sector provision alone.

Mr Snowdon said Labor will ensure that the two per cent of people that the new fibre to node network will not reach will receive a standard of service, which depending on the available technology, would be as close as possible to that provided by the new network.

'This is not just a one-off hit,' he said.

'Under the proposal a Labor Government would partner with the private sector to build this network.

'This move will liberate the people of the bush – the rural and regional towns, the isolated remote communities - from the tyranny of distance.

'I can't think of a better use of the Future Fund than to underwrite public ownership of a network that will bring significant benefit to the people of Australia.

'High-speed broadband will help all sectors of the regional and remote Northern community.

'It will be a boon for remote towns and a welcome relief for Defence families and others in the North who rely heavily on internet communication with loved ones both within and outside Australia.

'It will also support regional and local economies because it will enable our business to compete without the handicap of slow connectivity.

'In short, Labor's broadband plan is nothing but good news for the bush,' Mr Snowdon said.

2007-03-22