NBN Captain should have the decency to go down with his ship: Greens

2018-02-28

NBN Co is selling WA down the river with its worst technology - Fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) – whilst Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the architect of this disastrous rollout, enlists taxpayer money and Departmental intervention to ensure his mansion gets 100mb per second speeds.

Australian Greens NBN spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said today, in light of figures released during estimates showing more than 60 per cent of West Australian’s would be stuck with the existing, ageing copper network, that WA deserved better.

“This is not a very good look for the Prime Minister; the captain should have the decency to go down with his ship, so to speak,” Senator Steele-John said.

“Malcolm Turnbull is ultimately responsible for the multi-technology mongrel that the NBN has become and it is frankly outrageous that he should be demanding special treatment with regards to his internet connectivity and speed.

“I also have very serious concerns about WA being left even further behind - particularly our rural and regional areas – as Australia slumps in its ability to participate properly in emerging digital markets.

“However I think it is incumbent upon those making comments about the state of the NBN in WA – primarily the Labor party - to offer real solutions, not continue to chirp from the fence.

“With regard to fixing the National Broadband Network it is not a matter of how much money will need to be spent, it is just a matter of when. The Turnbull government must acknowledge that their outdated FTTN technology will cost far more in the long term and hamper our capabilities relative to other countries.

“The Australian Greens are committed to realising a primarily Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) rollout of the NBN as soon as possible, including equitable connectivity and speeds for the people of Western Australia.”

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