Locals will be forced to pay the difference to get fibre to their homes under the Liberal Party’s plans for the National Broadband Network according to Senator for New South Wales, Ms Deborah O’Neill.
According to Senator O’Neill, that would see residents paying tens of thousands of dollars to have fibre connected to their homes in some instances.
“As part of a crude ploy by the Liberal Government to trick consumers into paying for their own fibre connection, NBN Co has released the option for consumers to “change their NBN network infrastructure,” Ms O’Neill said.
With the introduction of the ‘Technology Choice Program’, Sen O’Neill said that homeowners will now have to pay for fibre to their door or continue to live with the shoddy and slow copper network. “The very idea of the Technology Choice Program is a complete sham,” she said.
“It shows the Liberals know they are providing a subpar service, but don’t want to pay for it themselves. “Under Labor, every home and business would have received a fibre connection by the end of 2015. “But under the Liberals, thousands of homes on the Coast still aren’t even on the construction maps, and from now on, no home will receive a fibre connection unless they pay for it themselves.” Senator O’Neill said.
“Right now, locals are getting a second rate broadband network that is still based around the 50 year old copper lines. “What the Liberal Government is saying to thousands of locals is that if you can afford to pay for fibre, you can get world class broadband, but if you can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars, you can just make do with the old system.
“Under the Liberals, the Central Coast is not getting the real National Broadband Network; they are getting the bargain basement version.” Senator O’Neill said.
Ms O’Neill’s comments came after Liberal Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks MP said work has started to deliver the NBN to around 16,000 more premises in the Robertson electorate under a revised rollout approach that, according to federal member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks MP will save months in construction time and see the project completed nationwide years sooner and at less cost.
The NBN’s monthly update shows that preconstruction has begun in Avoca Beach, Copacabana, Macmasters Beach, Kincumber, Kincumber South, Picketts Valley, North Avoca and Terrigal. “For 18 months, locals have been fed lies by the Liberal Government about the rollout of the National Broadband Network,” Senator O’Neill said.
“From day one, the Liberals promised and promised residents and businesses that the NBN would reach their homes or offi ces quicker than it would under Labor at a lower cost. “The Liberals own website shows that to be a lie.
“Locals are waiting years longer, getting slower speeds, and paying thousands of dollars for installation,” Senator O’Neill said.
Media release,
17 June 2015
Richard Mehrtens, Offi ce
of Senator Deborah O’Neill