NBN Vital to Tasmania: Don’t Switch Us Off
Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Thursday 12th August 2010, 2:16pm
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in Broadband Christine Milne’s Tasmanian Campaigns National Broadband Network Telecommunications
While it is wonderful news to see the National Broadband Network being officially switched on today at Midway Point, it is of grave concern that Tony Abbott wishes to turn it off and condemn us all to slower technology, Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Christine Milne said today.
“The Greens support this vital communications infrastructure because it enables Tasmanians to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the competitive world of business.
“This is an opportunity for Tasmania to be ahead of the pack and to carve out niches before the rest of the country, especially in the promotion and marketing of new agricultural businesses.
“The roll out of the NBN is an essential nation building exercise that will connect Tasmania with the world in ways we have yet to imagine.
“I am proud that Greens support in the Senate will see the NBN staying switched on, expanded and kept in public hands, all in the national interest.
“The network must remain in community hands as it has been the market failure to deliver fast broadband across the nation that has led the government to intervene in the first place.
“The private sector is not the answer to equitable access, public ownership is.
“We are very happy that access to the NBN covers many regional areas in Tasmania, but we want access improved for people currently unable to afford the benefits of faster connection speeds.
“But all this will come to nothing if the Coalition wrecks this 21st century initiative.
“Tony Abbott’s promise is to switch off, and sell off the NBN. That is alarming news for every Tasmanian who wishes to stay connected and competitive in overseas markets.
“The Coalition is promising just 12 megabits per second which will not see us emerge as world leaders in comminations technology. Australia will lag behind in the world of business and innovation under Tony Abbott’s plan.
“Just as the highway and rail networks were critical to rural Australia in the last centuries, fast broadband is the critical infrastructure of the future.”
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